This is my small contribution to the Halloween festival, in the form of a poem taken from a poetry book called The Story Witch and Other Rhymes that my sister gave to our daughter a few years ago. I like all of the poems in the collection as they are funny, imaginative and not at all tedious to read aloud over… and… over… and… over again. This one is short enough to reproduce in its entirety.
Witches and Wizards
A Seething Cauldron
Witches and Wizards are born not made.
Their parents are witches and wizards too.
A different blood runs through their veins
And they will go to the greatest pains
To emphasize this point to you:
Witches and wizards are born not made!
So look very hard for your family tree -
You may find it somewhere on your shelf,
And examine it very carefully.
You may be a wizard or witch yourself.
The Story Witch and Other Rhymes written by Eileen Cross and illustrated by Helen Ricketts (2005). Printed by Anthony Phillips & Davis Print & Design.
Eileen Cross, a literacy volunteer was inspired to write this collection by the children at Quinton Church Primary School in Birmingham. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the first edition were donated to Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust. I’m not sure if it is still available to buy new but I did notice that a second-hand copy was advertised recently via Amazon.
Where do you fit in?
Happy Halloween folks! And don’t forget to check your family tree for pointy-hat wearing ancestors…