Lighthouse Isle
It’s a wild and windy living
on the rocks of Lighthouse Isle,
the people sailing past all
wave, but never pause a while.
No one stops to share a scone
or cups of seaweed tea,
now they’re nearly back in port
and safe, as safe can be.
Do not worry gentle reader,
this lightkeeper’s not alone.
There’s something small and playful
keeping company in their home.
They manage all the birds and fish,
and sunbathe on the mat -
of course I mean the ginger,
hazel-eyed lightkeeper’s cat.
on the rocks of Lighthouse Isle,
the people sailing past all
wave, but never pause a while.
No one stops to share a scone
or cups of seaweed tea,
now they’re nearly back in port
and safe, as safe can be.
Do not worry gentle reader,
this lightkeeper’s not alone.
There’s something small and playful
keeping company in their home.
They manage all the birds and fish,
and sunbathe on the mat -
of course I mean the ginger,
hazel-eyed lightkeeper’s cat.
This poem is copyright (©) Melinda Szymanik 2026
About the Writer
Melinda Szymanik
Melinda is an award-winning New Zealand author of picture books, short stories and novels for children and young adults. Notable titles include The Were-Nana (Scholastic, 2008) winner of Children’s Choice at the 2009 NZ Post Children’s Book Awards, A Winter’s Day in 1939 (Scholastic, 2013) winner of Librarian’s Choice at the 2014 LIANZA Awards, and Fuzzy Doodle (Scholastic, 2016) a 2017 White Raven selection. She also writes poetry for adults and children, and regularly teaches creative writing.
