National Poetry Day Play Poems Anthology. Let Your Imagination Play!
- Mark Bird
- Sep 23
- 10 min read
Updated: Oct 6
National Poetry Day: Celebrating the Joy of Play in Poetry
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National Poetry Day is an annual celebration of poetry held on the first Thursday of October, which is October 2nd, 2025. The theme for 2025 is "Play," encouraging imaginative, creative, and playful activities with language.
The National Poetry Day Play Poems Mini Anthology
I have put together fourteen of my poems to create a National Poetry Day Play Poems mini anthology. This collection features various types of poems: a villanelle, a sonnet, a list poem, free verse, an action poem, and narrative poems for kids. Some of the poems play with words, personification, and grammar. One explores the past, while another imagines the future. Some are for younger children, and others cater to older readers.
Many of these poems celebrate the joy and chaos of playtime. They capture the essence of childhood, where imagination knows no bounds.
If my National Poetry Day Play Poems mini anthology is of use in class, please share your children's poetry outcomes, either in the Comments below or by emailing me at dreambeastpoems@yahoo.com. I would love to share them on my blog.
Also, please consider supporting me by adding a tiny tip by hitting the button below. Thank you so much.
The Importance of Poetry in Education
Poetry plays a vital role in education. It enhances language skills, encourages creativity, and fosters emotional expression. Engaging with poetry allows children to explore their feelings and thoughts in a structured yet imaginative way.
By incorporating poetry into the classroom, teachers can create a dynamic learning environment. This encourages students to express themselves freely and develop a love for language.
A Call to Action
I invite you to explore the world of poetry with your students. Encourage them to write their own poems, inspired by the theme of play. Share their creations with me, and let’s celebrate their creativity together!
Have a great National Poetry Day 2025!
Go Read A Poem (A Villanelle)
Go read a poem every day
Let words and lines design your mind
Let inspiration out to play
Let metaphors be passageways
Let similes like lightbulbs shine
Go read a poem every day
Let your imagination stray
Let onomatopoeia chime
Let inspiration out to play
Let repetition stay, stay, stay
Let rhythm rap, recite and rhyme
Go read a poem every day
Let inspiration out to play
Let idioms keep boredom at bay
Let stanzas sing and march in time
Let inspiration out to play
Let verses free to find their way
Let neural pathways realign
Go read a poem every day
Let inspiration out to play
Ball
You use me, abuse me
Kick me around the playground
Between the ankles of enemies
Just so you can score a goal
And be the hero of playtime
But you never thank me
Or hold me above your head and say
I couldn’t have done it
Without you
And as the bell rings
You toe-poke one last bruise
Into my deflating skin
I watch you and those other brats
Stream and scream into school
Singing “We Won!”
At last, I’m left in peace
Chilling out on the concrete
Kissed by the wind
Still
Dreading lunchtime
Granddad And Albert
This morning, we went to see Granddad
He hugged me at the door
And sang out Gloria!
I just smiled
He’s called me Mum’s name before
Mum kissed Granddad on the cheek
He sighed and raised his eyebrows
Who are you?
“It’s me Dad, your Glo”
Oh, he said,
Me and Mum walked into the kitchen
And started unpacking the shopping bags
The next thing we know
We feel a draft
Rush down the hall …
Granddad’s on the front path
Door wide open
In his wellies
As we appear
Granddad says
I’m going to Albert’s
To ask if he’s coming out to play
Mum ran back into the house
To get the keys
Granddad took my hand
Led me down the street
And knocked on Number 33
A woman holding her son’s hand
Opened the door
Can Albert come out to play today?
I’ve told you before George,
Albert doesn’t live here anymore.
Of course he does,
You’re holding his hand.
Mum runs up behind us
Sorry Julie, she pants
So can he?
Granddad huffed
Mum linked his elbow
Come on Dad, let’s get you home.
But just as we got to the gate
I want to play out with George!
The boy announced
The lady shrugged at Mum and smiled
Mum chuckled and nodded
So, all five of us strolled to the park
Granddad held Arlo’s hand
And led us straight to the stream
Him and Arlo
Spent the rest of the morning
Plunging their cupped hands
Into the cascade
Catching minnows
And memories
Beneath the bridge
A to Z of Treasured Words
I have this chest up in my head
Filled with treasured words
That sometimes I take out to play:
Ample, Ace, Absurd
Beejesus, Bonkers, Baffled, Boing
Chortle, Crackpot, Chunk
Debouch, Effuse, Festoon, Gob, Hag
Ickle, Jinx, Kerplunk
Laconic, Mither, Nincompoop
Oodles, Pungent, Quacks
Rambunctious, Snug, Twerp, Udder, Vim
Wondermonger, Sax
Yahooligan and Zaniac
Words from A to Z
That tantalise my strong, tongue’s tip
Just by being said
Miss Educate
We’ve had so many teachers
Not one, have I admired
I need an education
But they keep getting fired
“Let’s start with Bathematics!”
The first recruit announced
“This afternoon is Thinglish.”
So sacked, was Miss Pronounce
The next taught us times tables
“Yes, one times one is eight.
Three squared of course is thirteen!”
So long, Miss Calculate
The next, she lost her glasses
We sighed, “They’re on your face.”
She yelled, “Don’t be so stupid!”
So bon voyage, Miss Place
So then arrived my favourite
Who from the front, head-shaved
Stuck out her tongue and bum-burped
I’ll miss old Miss Behave
Miss Trust she called us liars
Miss Hear, she swore we swore
Miss Read, Miss Take, Miss Spelling
Should be the final straw
But I’m not giving up yet
It never is too late
Tomorrow may be better
With young Miss Educate
Imagination Not Included
My favourite toy above all else:
A roaring, racing car
That has a secret button in
And when I press it hard
Transforms into a rocket ship
And shoots me to the stars
And if its rocket boosters fail
It morphs into a plane
With supersonic silver wings
That slices clouds of rain
Then cruises back to Planet Earth
Becomes a bullet train
That sometimes loses all control
And crashes in the Nile
But luckily becomes a boat
That sails for miles and miles
Where safe, I stick my tongue right out
At snapping crocodiles
My favourite toy above all else:
Its marvel never stops
From small to big to extra-large
It’s often free in shops
Imagination not included
Just a cardboard box
Inside Out
Playground (Break)
I kick a ball
I run about
I laugh and scream
I sing and shout
I do not own
A single doubt
The playground lets
My inside out
Lessons (Morning)
I kick a chair
I play the clown
I sharpen pencils
Round and round
I always lose my
Playground crown
The classroom lets
My inside down
Playground (Lunch)
I kick a ball
I run about
I laugh and scream
I sing and shout
I do not own
A single doubt
The playground lets
My inside out
History Lesson in 2093
The year is 2093
Today I learned in History
How different school life used to be
ArtiiN streamed me videos
Old ones, new ones, juxtaposed
It then assigned my latest task
Then and Now: Compare, Contrast
Who needs to know about the past?
But ArtiiN showed me more and more
Photographs from times before
I learned that schools were buildings then
You’d learn to write with things called ‘pens’
You’d even make these things called ‘friends’
And also, several times a day
You’d be set free to go and play
And then you’d do the weirdest things
Like hug, hold hands, high five and sing
Like slide down slides and swing on swings
Like skip with ropes or kick a ball
Like climb and skip, like spin and fall
But this one fact you won’t believe
That teachers then were human beings
Entrusted once, with overseeing
The progress of the world’s young minds:
To learn, to love, to dream, be kind
Inside me, primal feelings churned
For human touch and smiles, I yearned
Then Artiin asked, What did you learn?
I told him, Nothing, with a sigh
Then did this thing they once called ‘cry’
Stirring Custard With Your Toes (An Action Poem)
Oh No! Oh No!
The chef is grumpy
Her custard’s thick
And very lumpy
Oh No! Oh No!
She’s lost her spoon
It’s time for lunch
It’s nearly noon
Stand Up! Stand Up!
Let’s stir those lumps
Let whisk away
Those custard bumps
Let’s stir the custard
With our toes
Round and round
The custard goes
Let’s stir the custard
With our chins
Round and round
The custard spins
Let’s stir the custard
With our lips
Round and round
The custard whips
Let’s stir the custard
With our nose
Round and round
The custard goes
Hooray! Hooray!
The lumps are gone
And stirring it
Was so much fun
The custard’s smooth
The custard’s yummy
It’s time to pour it
In our tummy
Let’s lick the bowl
With one big slurp
And when it’s gone
Do one big burp!
In Training
Today at school in Nursery
We all played Possibility
In training for the Far Away
By being who we are today
A doctor, witch, a ballerina
A shop assistant, classroom cleaner
A mum, a dad, a cat or dog
A crazy crab, a leaping frog
A firefighter, Cinderella
A burger flipper, seashell-seller
A painter, counter, barber, host
A diplomat, a zombie, ghost
A wolf, a troll, a beanstalk climber
A singer, soldier, writer, rhymer
A smiler, thinker, gambler, sage
In training for a future age
The Prop Box
Ahmed chose a golden crown
Tom chose fairy wings
Betty chose a microphone
Sandy chose a sling
Ahmed, Betty, Sandy, Tom
Then went off to play
Sandy said, I broke my arm
Tom said, That’s okay
I’ll sprinkle magic fairy dust
To make you super strong
Betty said, I’ll help you too
I’ll sing your favourite song
Then Ahmed put his golden crown
On best friend, Sandy’s head
You’re a mighty king now!
Thank you, Sandy said
Mark Bird
Playground Pandemonium (A Sonnet)
We run outside, three hundred kids and me
Our primal screams for fifteen minutes soar
We chase the playground’s silence into trees
And fill our little concrete world with roars
Within a second Tyler’s lost his tooth
Savannah’s scraped the skin from both her knees
Humberto’s hurled a hula hoop at Ruth
Rebecca’s rolled her bogies up like peas
The twins have tied Miss Taylor to the slide
From high up in her office Miss Durand
A clutch of custard creams right by her side
Surveys the scene, a latte in her hand
She smiles and then she shuts the louvre blinds
And on her velvet red chaise-longue, reclines
Call Of Duty: Playtime
With just three marching minutes ‘til playtime begins
My heart’s racing, I’m pacing, my head’s in a spin
Then I hear their feet trooping, I peek through the door
Where battalions of navy-grey armies stride forth
Then my ally Miss Gadfly bursts in… Mr King!!!
I can’t do it! she’s wailing, her arm in a sling
A big bruise on her cheek and a purply black eye
Look what happened last week and today I might die!
It’s your duty Miss Gadfly: The Head, She Needs YOU
For your bruises are medals of honour and truth
And your sling is a status (I know that it’s sore)
Though our battles are lost, we may still win the war
In our helmets of wool and our green, windproof smocks
We advance to the playground, for our weekly ops
Then the bell raids the air with its deafening shrill
And the army of kids, all fall out, without drill
So if I take the MUGA, you cover the rest
I saluted Miss Gadfly and said Do your best
But the moment she turned, I shouted Watch Out!
As a misfired football torpedoed her snout
And then heat-seeking missiles of snot-sweaty palms
All at once seize my hands with their germs fully-armed
Then I witness Miss Gadfly deserting her hopes
As a draught of Year 1s with their wet skipping ropes
Have surrounded, and bound both her arms to the fence
So I puff out my chest and go on the offence
But a muster of tale-tellers swoop from behind
And report with great fervour that Kai’s been unkind
And had called their friend Grace Mrs Satellite Face
But then Ahmed bombards me, defending Kai’s case
Mr King they are lying, they started it first
They said Kai’s new chihuahua was stinky and cursed
In the distance, I see a wild silhouette shape
It’s Miss Gadfly, she’s screaming, she’s made her escape
But she’s suddenly ambushed by Gautier Jones
Who’s been scratched on his thumb and insists he sees bone
But the siren rings out and it’s peacetime once more
And triumphant platoons all retreat through the door
As Miss Gadfly she picks herself up from the floor
And she sobs Mr King, I can’t do this no more
So I’m going to go AWOL before I go barmy
For a much safer life, I am joining the army
A Cross Stick Poem
A lovely little twig is what I used to be!
Could and should have been a branch!!!
Regrettably though
On one blooming day in March
Silly singing starlings
Swayed and weighed on me
Sat and snapped me from my tree
Thrusting my dreams, buds and all
Into an earthly-bound, free-falling plunge
Cross, I cursed the kinking worms
Kindly welcoming me to their ground of gunge
Please just leave me alone, I barked
Only then to be seized between his jaws:
Earl, a four-legged fur ball
Macerating my life to sodden splinters
If you enjoy or use any of my National Poetry Day Play Poems in class, I would love you to share some of the outcomes.
Have a great National Poetry Day 2025!
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