Quicklinks:
Short S. | Poetry | Not News | Scripts | Comedy | Non-Fiction | SF | Crime | For Kids | Extended | Village
Great Writing - Home > For Kids > In a Tree in the North of Peru (the continuing story of the Woggaldy-Woo)
READING ROOM
Great Writing - Home
Read and review others' work
Articles on writing
Advice from the community
COMMUNITY
Talk to others in the forums
Events and Competitions
GW News
ABOUT GREAT WRITING
All About Us
Contact Us
WORK AWAITING REVIEW
GW IS...
Great Writing creative writing community is designed to prompt ideas and provide inspiration and motivation within aspiring and amateur authors. Whatever your topic; from love poetry to Doctor Who or Harry Potter fan fiction, Great Writing's online writing group is where you can make new friends and improve your creative writing.
WHO'S ONLINE
We have 1196 guests online and 3 members online
For Children
print friendly version     
In a Tree in the North of Peru (the continuing story of the Woggaldy-Woo)
By Josie
26 May 2008

This is a sequel to my poem "The Woggaldy-Woo", enlarging on his strange life for you.  It is just a flight of fancy poem for children, (and adults too) but I could see it (and hope it will happen) as a short animated film for children, to slot into their lesson. For the time being you can see the Woggaldy-Woo and hear me read about him here:  http://www.whiteheadm.co.uk/html/peru.html#northernperu 





               Sitting  high  in a tree in the North of Peru
               Sits a strange little man called the Woggaldy-Woo.  
                  He hides in the treetops and lives on the leaves  
                   And wears a red jacket with little blue sleeves. 

               His very best friend is the two toed sloth.
               There’s one little bed that’s shared by both.   
                  For while the Woggaldy Woo sleeps in the night   
                  The sloth sleeps in the day - so that is all right. 

               Both of these creatures wear long shaggy coats,
               But the Woggaldy-Woo wears a scarf round his throat.
                    Now his friend, Mr Sloth, with claws that are long, 
                    Loves to hear his friend as he sings his sad songs. 

            The Woggaldy Woo sings songs with the birds  -
            Such strange sounding songs without any words.  
               He plays with the monkeys and shares their fruit,  
               And he cuddles their babies, so furry and cute.

             I know you’d all love little Woggaldy-Woo –
            But it’s an awful long journey to go to Peru.    
                It’s better, I think, if he stays on this page,    
                Or someone might lock him away in a cage.  





Copyright 2008 

Reviews
Surpasses!
Written by Katanga (1182 comments posted) 26th May 2008
Ah, Josie! 
 
I honestly think that this surpasses your first one. 
 
It aches with quality, and the 'poetical conceit' in the final couplet is simply brilliant, in my humble opinion. 
 
Oh, those last two lines - Gosh! 
 
What more can I say? Well, a lot, but later! 
 
As ever, Cheers!  
 
A lot more people should see this! 
 
John X
All In Fun!
Written by beatricelouise (215 comments posted) 26th May 2008
Three cheers, Josie. 
 
I agree with John. The final lines are outstanding.  
 
The description brings out a character which you should have drawn by an artist. Then you could write a collection of poems on this strange little man.  
 
Love it! 
 
BL :grin

Written by Lizzy (790 comments posted) 27th May 2008
A very engaging creature Josie, enjoyed this. 
Lizzy

Written by Josie (2780 comments posted) 27th May 2008
Thank you everyone. I just turned my computer on and saw I had a review, came to this poem, when the doorbell went. My grandchildren came to see me. Jessica (almost 4 years) came in here: "What is on your computer Granny?" I said: "It's a poem about a Woggaldy-Woo." I said this without a smile, as a matter of fact answer. The next thing she burst into gales of laughter, resulting in choking and face going red, glasses of water etc etc. It was the word "Wogglady-Woo" that did it. I hadn't even read one word of this. But later I told her the story of the Woggaldy-Woo living in the trees etc, and have printed off a copy of each poem to put in her poetry book (which she is building) at home. This will be a firm favourite, although at the moment The Little Butterfly is number one.

Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3331 comments posted) 28th May 2008
A wonderful poem and you keep the story going with each verse, I especially loved that brilliant twist at the end which should make the children think about how fantasy is created on the page. Maybe making them realise they can create their own fantasy with words. What a way to end a poem. It'll really make them think 
cheers 
jane

Written by Josie (2780 comments posted) 28th May 2008
Thank you so much Jane. You've given me so much support over my time here and it is so much appreciated. I would say that you are quite right. Children have sometimes asked me questions about poems, thinking the characters are real, and I might tease them a little bit, but then have to say: "It is just make-believe." The children next door think that Old King Compost in my compost bin, secretly looks over the wall to see who's shouting, but then I laugh and say "Not really! It's only a story." ha ha.

Written by coosh (854 comments posted) 30th May 2008
Nice follow-up, Josie. Particularly the way you include odd details, but the overall picture is largely left to the imagination. In these PC days, where the "Three Little Pigs" gets thrown out for its offensiveness to Muslims, what's the response been to a character whose name begins with "w", "o" and "g"?

Written by Josie (2780 comments posted) 30th May 2008
I think we are going over the top on this one Coosh. ha ha. My little granddaughter told her granddad "You'll never guess what Granny's done!! She's written a poem about a Wobbaldy-Woo" and then she fell about laughing. So why not stick to her reaction? Much better. They've called the English funny names in other parts of the world. Does it bother us? Not likely!!! Thanks Coosh for your review. Much appreciated.

Written by coosh (854 comments posted) 30th May 2008
Yes, that was intended to be tongue-in-cheek... but I'm willing to bet there's someone out there who would mention it... and they'd probably be white, English and working in a council office. Your granddaughter is far more sensible.

Written by Josie (2780 comments posted) 30th May 2008
Yes, perhaps you are right, but isn't it pathetic? At least it isn't you or I that would do it. Anyway, it seems that you are enjoying the company of Woggaldy-Woo. Perhaps you should try writing for children too. It's such fun! I could distinctly see these two poems being put to animated film. That's what I would really like.

   Only registered users can rate and write comments.
   Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment 2.0!
Next item
This site is copyright 2005 - 2007 Great Writing. Work submitted by members remains the copyright of the respective authors.
See our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.