That was poetry for children and you can write many, many more. There's always a market for children's humor so - let's being with a grin. How would you begin a funny poem? Your first line is very important, if you can attract attention immediately you are on to a winner. Writers call that first sentence the 'hook' for obvious reasons. In a poem, especially a humorous one, it is more important than ever as you have a only short time to get across what you want to say.

Take a look at these two beginning lines:

First this one -- Once upon a time a little furry cat - yep... boring.

Now try something like -- A cat spat at a rat, the rat spat back. It's already more interesting. Apart from the punchiness of the words, there's a good chance that something is going to happen and kids will want to know what.

Take a minute to find out.

A Cat spat at a rat
the Rat spat back.
Drat said a cross cat
and gave the Rat a smack.

Bully said a big Dog,
try someone your size.
Drop that fatty Ratty
or you'll get a big surprise.

A passing Horse said nay
I'm not allowing that.
Just look at you, you nasty dog
you're bigger than the cat.

No one made a movement,
they just stood still and glared.
Until their mothers came for them
then everyone was scared.

I had no idea what was going to happen to the Cat and the Rat when I first began writing that poem. Which shows you that as long as you start with interesting words your brain will take up the challenge. Starting in an unusual way is good for the writer as well as the reader.

Short and snappy work well for the nonsense poem -- try starting with just two words, two words that create a picture in your mind. I recently opened a dictionary and picked two words at random -- arachnid and egg. Not an obvious poem and I struggled with it but came up with:

An egg-head
arachnid
wanted to be marr-i-ed.
he was bright
but too timid
in his spider web he hid.

Not wonderful, but it does show how much better you could do with words you choose for yourself. Maybe I'll think of an ending to our shy spider's problem one day but lets concentrate on beginnings for now. If you can't think of something that conjures up a strange picture how about a first sentence that starts with some action: A lion nearly ate me. That should get some attention lets try it.

A lion nearly ate me.
a tiger tried to too.
It's lucky they were in a film
and not outside a zoo.

I'm sure you get the idea. Start your children's poem with words that grab your reader and you're halfway there.

© 2009 Sharon Tregenza MA

Sharon Tregenza has published over 400 children's poems, stories and articles worldwide. Her children's mystery novel TARANTULA TIDE http://www.tarantulatide.com recently won the prestigious Kelpies Award for children's fiction and is published by Floris Books. For free downloadable stories, fun facts and loads more secrets on writing for kids go to -- http:/http://www.sharontregenza.com