The Penguin

By, Joni (written at age 11 for the Portland Zoo’s Annual Poetry Contest, I placed third in my age category)

Poem

The penguin is humble,

So close to the ground,

He slides down an ice bank,

And jumps with a bound.

He squawks and waddles

And fishes for fish,

Fish is his favorite,

A perfect dish.

He slides on the ice

And has lots of fun,

But he cries a lot

When the fun is done.

He hides in ice caves

On a stormy night,

But he comes back out

When it is light.

From the day he’s born

To the day he’s dies,

He’s my favorite bird

And that’s no lie.