Uh-oh...

I love my Christmas presents;
They're exactly what I wanted.
Each and every one is just what I preferred.

Mom and Dad got all these presents.
And they decided where to hide them.
Luckily for me, I overheard.

So now I have one giant problem,
With my brand new Christmas presents:
I opened them December Twenty-third.


©2015-Art Belliveau

Good Question

Tommy is drawing a picture.
Carol's chatting on her phone.
Tray is singing his favorite song.
Clara's showing how bubbles are blown.

Kiki is snoring quite loudly.
Terry is going berserk.
All while the teacher is trying to teach.
So how can I do my class work?

©2015-Art Belliveau

A Fairy Good Idea!

The tooth fairy came to my house last night.
And I'll tell you the truth--
She left me a brand new $5 bill,
In place of my fallen out tooth!

But that is nothing to the dough I'll get,
Tonight when I put underneath
My pillow a guaranteed money maker--
Grandpa's full set of false teeth!!


©2015-Art Belliveau

Table Manners

I didn't set the table;
I didn't cook the food;
I didn't clean up after--
At the restaurant that is rude.

©2015-Art Belliveau

No Luck?

I want to find a four-leaf clover.
I've been searching hard all day.
I hope to find one 'fore the sun sets,
That's all I have to say.
I just can't seem to find one,
Though my hope is still alive.
I'll just wish I find a four-leaf clover
On this clover that has five.



©2015-Art Belliveau

So Far, So Good

So far today is going great,

Not one thing has gone wrong.

I have not once been running late,

Nor felt I don’t belong.

So far today I’ve not felt tired,

Nor the need to procrastinate.

I’ve not felt all uninspired,

Or the least inadequate.

Not one time have I felt depressed, nope,

Not once have I felt spineless.

I’m positive and full of hope,

Filled with the milk of human kindness.

I really want to keep this up,

And help these feelings spread.

I yawn and open my eyes, yup,

It’s time to get out of bed!

©2015-Art Belliveau

Winter Poem

It's really windy out today,
It's blowing really hard.
I just saw the neighbor's doghouse
Flying through my yard.

And even though the sun is out,
It's really super cold.
I saw a flock of penguins,
As through my yard they strolled.

I think that I will stay inside,
Where it's so nice and warm.
Drink my cocoa, read my book,
That's my cold weather norm.

©2015-Art Belliveau

the question (4/18)

the other day
in my second period class
i was on fire!

i had those kids right there
in the palm of my hand

i was making grammar
GRAMMAR
relevant to them
it was a sight to behold

in the front row she sat
eyes shining
head nodding along
rapt attention personified

i gave the assignment
and asked if there were any questions

up went her hand
shooting toward the ceiling
like a rocket
and I was ready for it
ready to go deeper
to be more nuanced

I gave her the nod

then she asked it
"what are we supposed to be doing?"


©2014-Art Belliveau

senryu #4 4/28/13

"Pull my finger, kid!"
"I'm not falling for that one!"
It didn't matter...

©2013-Art Belliveau

Summer Cold

A summer cold is just the worst,
Because no matter how well it's nursed,
I'm not just sick, I feel like a fool--
For wasting this cold--I should have saved it for school!

©2013-Art Belliveau

senryu #3 4/28/13

a frog's been stepped on--
on second thought, that's not right--
just me, breaking wind...

©2013-Art Belliveau

senryu #2 4/28/23

just passed the exit
next one's fifty miles away--
now i have to poop...

©2013-Art Belliveau

Not Quite the Last Minute

I brought my papers to Mr. Green's desk,
The pile was three feet high.
Mr. Green turned red, his jaw hit the floor,
He croaked out a strangled, "Why?"
I told I needed to bring up my grade,
Improve that F to an A.
I don't understand why he's so darn upset,
After all, tomorrow's the last day.

©2013-Art Belliveau

Yawning Trouble 4/05/13

My head's on my chin, precariously propped,
When I feel it coming--it can't be stopped.
It builds up deep inside my chest,
Cause all I want to do is rest.
The teacher is droning on and on.
Here it is--a ginormous YAWN!!!
It starts out quiet, but soon gets loud,
And really starts to draw a crowd.
The kids in the class all turn around,
At that intake of breath and sighing sound.
The teacher just glares from up at the board.
But, hey, I'm improving, last time I snored.

©2013-Art Belliveau

senryu

a beautiful day
too pretty to be in school--
i’m playing hooky

©2013-Art Belliveau

senryu 01/13/12

friday the thirteenth
i laugh at your evil rep--
oh crap! where's my car?

©2012-Art Belliveau

Splash! 02/26/11

Sami swims just like a fish.
Allie swims like a croc.
Maggie swims like a dolphin.
I swim like a rock.

©2011-Art Belliveau

Whine-oserous

I have a pet rhinoceros,
Who always is complaining.
He doesn't care for winter days;
He hates it when it's raining.

He has an itch that he can't scratch,
Right behind his ear.
He wants a pair of glasses,
'Cause his vision isn't clear.

He cannot fall asleep at night,
Which makes him cranky every day.
I buy him the most expensive food,
He claims it's just, "Okay."

I think I'll teade this big pain in,
It's gotten too preposerous.
It seems that what I really have,
Is a giant pet Whine-oceros.

© 2011 Art Belliveau

Be Wild at Heart

Be Wild at Heart

Never lose your smile.
Never lose your laugh.
Always keep your head up high,
Just like a giraffe.

Don’t give in to crying,
And sticking out your lippo.
Whenever worries weigh you down,
Float just like a hippo.

When problems start to hit you
From the back and from the front
Put on your thickest, toughest skin,
Just like the elephant.

When people start to get you down,
Don’t become a hater.
Keep a smile on your face,
Just like the alligator.

The going sometimes will get tough,
And the road seem all uphilla.
Just remember that inside,
You’re stronger than a gorilla.

So chase your troubles all away,
Like a bee just stinged ‘em.
Be as happy and as strong,
As our friends in the animal kingdom.

©2011-Art Belliveau

Nature Makes Me Itch

Nature Makes Me Itch

We went on a camping trip,
Mom and Pop and me.
We pitched our tent and built our fire
Down by the live oak tree.

The mosquitoes, they all loved me;
They thought I tasted swell.
I also was a free buffet
To all the other bugs, as well.

My marshmallow caught fire,
And fell off of the stick.
I think my hot dog was too raw,
It really made me sick.

My tent got leaky in the rain,
And my sleeping bag got soaked.
The ground was covered with tons of rocks--
My back and sides got poked.

I have a rash all up my arms,
My legs, my chest, my face.
It’s spread across my tummy,
And most every other place.

I wanna go home to city life,
Where I can turn on a light with a switch.
I never wanna go camping again--
Nature makes me itch!