Waddle Like a Penguin
An action poem for the classroom
Waddle like a penguin
jump like a roo
leap like a monkey
on bars in the zoo.
Wriggle like a snake
flap like a goose
snap like a crocodile
trot like a moose.
Blink like an owl
shake your fur like a dog
cluck like a fowl
or croak like a frog.
Swim like a fish
scurry like a mouse
crawl like an ant
on the floor of the house.
Chew grass like a cow
peck worms like a bird
tear flesh like a lion
stampede like a herd.
Scuttle like a crab
swoop like a hawk
flutter like a butterfly
or, like a parrot, squawk.
Sit down – like a boy or girl
and cross your legs and arms.
You’re back in the classroom now –
not jungles, zoos or farms!
jump like a roo
leap like a monkey
on bars in the zoo.
Wriggle like a snake
flap like a goose
snap like a crocodile
trot like a moose.
Blink like an owl
shake your fur like a dog
cluck like a fowl
or croak like a frog.
Swim like a fish
scurry like a mouse
crawl like an ant
on the floor of the house.
Chew grass like a cow
peck worms like a bird
tear flesh like a lion
stampede like a herd.
Scuttle like a crab
swoop like a hawk
flutter like a butterfly
or, like a parrot, squawk.
Sit down – like a boy or girl
and cross your legs and arms.
You’re back in the classroom now –
not jungles, zoos or farms!
This poem is copyright (©) Barbara Bleiman 2024
About the Writer
Barbara Bleiman
Barbara is an ex-English teacher and writer of adult and YA fiction, with two novels published and a recent collection of short stories for adults, Kremlinology of Kisses. Barbara has an anthology of short stories for secondary school students coming out in the autumn via the English and Media Centre where she works.
