Tyger Tyger Issue 1 – Beginnings, January 2022

Start small, if you begin at all. Blue whales begin as blueberries. The redwood trees that grow so tall start small. If you begin at all, remember that – before they squall – the snowy blizzards start as flurries. So, start small when you begin it all. Blue whales...

We have an Assembly about new beginnings. I put my hand up and ask if it’s possible to have old beginnings. Miss Carson says she’s beginning to tire of my questions. Later I do my very special out-of-tune singing. Miss Carson says she can’t begin to imagine what I...

it was just a little fib but it GREW. Nobody checked the facts, nobody knew. I don’t like telling lies but what could I do? All my friends believed me, even you, even mum and dad, my teacher, the cheetah in the zoo, the lollipop lady who helped me across and asked me...

runner, runner      ready, set, go! baker, baker      ready, set, dough! farmer, farmer      ready, set, hoe! pitcher, pitcher      ready, set, throw! bedbug, bedbug      ready, set, bite! firefly, firefly      ready, set, light! Tyger Tyger,      burning bright,...

The morning is quiet. There’s nothing I hear. I think there’s a riot of hush in my ear, a growl that is purring, a sleep without snoring, a monster not stirring, a lion not roaring, a shaking that’s steady, a wave that’s not breaking. I’m rested and ready. It’s time...

The water begins in the river The river begins in the mountains The mountains begin in an earthquake The earthquake begins in a tremor The tremor begins in the earth’s crust The earth’s crust begins in the ocean The ocean begins in the moon-tides The moon-tides begin...

Catching a Yawn At first you don’t notice it.Because a yawn starts tiny,Tweaking in the top of your belly.Then your ribs begin to tickleAnd to rise and roll Over your chest, drawing your breath Until now you notice;There’s a ball in your chest spinning, ping pong...

Nine months of waiting – best part of a year. Mum’s belly a beachball; mine swelling with fear. What if they love me less than before?      When our three becomes a four. Our house filling up with mysterious things: monitors, bottles, baby slings. Nappies. A...

Tick … tock … tick … tock … Can you hear the platform clock? Crowds are queuing in the station, Dreaming of their destination. Bags and trunks and packs and cases, Bound for umpteen different places! Up the line the track is singing; Silver rails are faintly ringing....

Well, here is a puzzle I can’t seem to fix. Am I in year seven? Or still a year six? Primary’s over – it’s finished, all done. There’s no doubt about it; the summer’s begun. I’ve taken my books home, I’ve emptied my tray. No need to rehearse for the end-of-school...

The old year is leaving through the window. The new year waits outside the door. I make myself tea in the kitchen Leaving a window open. The year is flying out But I am not ready to open the door. Not yet. All quiet now. Some make a clean break from the past. Some...

Stretching shadows, sinking Sun. Dark at last, the night’s begun. Time for Moon to rule the sky as stars keep sentry from up high. Stillness settles, soft and deep. Quiet lulls and leads to sleep. Gates to dreamland open wide. Welcome, dreamers. Come inside.  ...