Doris Corti included this poem in this month’s ‘Writing Magazine’ as an example of rhythm and comic control. Wow!
I wrote it for one of my grandchildren, Joshua, when he was attending Tatsfield Primary School in Kent and included a few poems for children in my ‘Don’t Throw Away the Daisies’ poetry book a few years later! I showed Carol Ann Duffy this poem on an Arvon course and said children will love it and they do!
I Wish
My dad works in the circus
And when we go to school
He shows me lots of circus tricks, 
He likes to play the fool.
Miss Chivers showed him round one day,
He cartwheeled in the gym
And swung on ropes above our heads
So we all laughed at him. 
Mr Potts was cleaning windows
When dad was going round,
He put a bucket on his head
Two metres from the ground.
He juggled in the classroom 
With books and balls and rings
And balanced boxes on his nose
And other clever things.
Mrs Pie was in the kitchen
Dad loves to help with flour.
He made some lovely custard pies.
Which passed a pleasant hour.
Miss Chivers said “It’s time to go”
But dad was having fun
So he strung us up a tightrope,
We practised one by one.
But now we have to do our work
So dad will have to go,
Will he listen? Not my dad,
He’s swinging to and fro.
Ann Perrin 