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Ian Brownlie

@ianbrownlie.bsky.social

Time to get back on #track with @thetoypress.bsky.social's #WordOfTheWeek. Or is it?

#WritingCommunity #WritingForChildren #PoetryCommunity #PoetryForKids #KidLit #WordPrompt

Do You Really Want to Get Back on Track?

Like a train tied to stations,
in the same old locations,
always on fixed durations,
with no chance of vacation.
Is there not some temptation
to resist this stagnation?

Perhaps instead take advantage
of coming off the rails.
Glide over the countryside,
towards a port.
Chug up to a ferry, and take a trip overseas.
Join a traffic jam and blare your superior train horn,
then break free and pick up speed.
Do the locomotive
in a town you don't know the name of.
Head deep underground.
Take flight, if you can,
or simply jump up and feel the air step aside as you rise.

And then, one day, return to your rails.
Or don't.

November 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 2 likes

1 2

The Toy Press 🍩🦜🍑🌻🪐🛼

@thetoypress.bsky.social

Thank you for all your supportive comments on our post yesterday.

Here is your #wordoftheweek!

#writingcommunity #writingforchildren #writingprompt #poetryforkids #poetryforchildren #poetrycommunity

November 10, 2025 at 8:39 AM Everybody can reply

2 reposts 2 quotes 5 likes

2 5

Ian Brownlie

@ianbrownlie.bsky.social

Thanks to @thetoypress.bsky.social for their #WordOfTheWeek #Spark. Here's where my brain went this week:

#WritingCommunity #WritingForChildren #PoetryCommunity #PoetryForKids #KidLit #WordPrompt

Super-disappointing

Lightning Lady and Water Man went out on their first date.
She bolted there quite early, but he flowed in rather late.
He dampened down her glow talking of his best friend the shark.
“This isn’t working out,” she said. “I just don’t feel a spark.”

November 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 7 likes

1 7

Shaun Jex

@shaunjexauthor.bsky.social

I tried to conjure up a fairy tale in response to the #wordoftheweek from @thetoypress.bsky.social . I hope you all enjoy it.

#poetry #poetrycommunity #kidlit #poetryforkids #writingforchildren

A Winter’s Tale

Once, on a cold winter evening
After darkness blanketed the sky
An old woman recited the words
Of a fairy tale she’d heard as a child

Each word of the story was a spark
A glimmer that floated about the room
“I’ll catch them in a jar,” she said
And they will light my house until spring!”

But light is meant for sharing
So she told one tale, and then another
Crafting lanterns with her words
Before scattering them through the woods

Once, on a cold winter evening
After darkness blanketed the sky
A child found lights amidst the snow
Illuminating the winding path back home

© Shaun Jex

November 3, 2025 at 7:44 PM Everybody can reply

3 reposts 4 likes

3 4

The Toy Press 🍩🦜🍑🌻🪐🛼

@thetoypress.bsky.social

Here is your #wordoftheweek!

#writingcommunity #writingforchildren #writingprompt #poetryforkids #poetryforchildren #poetrycommunity

November 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM Everybody can reply

2 reposts 4 quotes 10 likes 1 saves

2 10

Rachel Burrows

@rburrows.bsky.social

Dear #PoemsAbout #PromptCombo and poetry friends - you normally see my adult poetry on Bluesky. If you would like to find out more about my children’s stuff, please check this out! 😊 #kidlituk #kidlit #writingforchildren Thanks @littlethoughtspress.com #interview

Rachel Burrows @rburrows.bsky.social · 11d

Thank you so much @littlethoughtspress.com for my interview! I have loved being part of the LTP experience! #poetry #poetryforkids #poetryforchildren www.littlethoughtspress.com/post/intervi...

Interview: Rachel Burrows

Rachel Burrows and her stories grew up in Wales though she now lives near Stonehenge with her family and dog, Fennel. Her children’s poems can be found in The Dirigible Balloon, Tyger Tyger, The Toy, ...

www.littlethoughtspress.com

November 1, 2025 at 11:32 AM Everybody can reply

14 reposts 2 quotes 32 likes

4 14 32

Ian Brownlie

@ianbrownlie.bsky.social

My final ticket to scaryness.com on the Poetry Express. The spookiest of all #poetry forms: the villanelle! Mine is called, errr, Villainelle.

scaryness.com/cobweb-vines...

#WritingCommunity #WritingForChildren #PoetryCommunity #PoetryForKids #KidLit #Halloween #ChildrensPoetry #HappyHalloween

Villainelle
(a villanelle)

I put a spell on her and him –
And you? Yes, you’re enchanted too.
Your chances of escape are slim.

The future now is looking grim.
Your friends they didn’t have a clue
I put a spell on her and him.

The magic fills you to the brim –
There’s really nothing you can do,
Your chances of escape are slim.

The panic through your mind will swim.
You’re frozen to the spot, it’s true,
I put a spell on her and him.

You’ll tear my enemies limb from limb,
Now I control this trusty crew.
Your chances of escape are slim.

Three minions bending to my whim
Will now my villainous bidding do.
I put a spell on her and him,
Your chances of escape are slim.

October 31, 2025 at 2:07 PM Everybody can reply

2 likes

2

Ian Brownlie

@ianbrownlie.bsky.social

Here's the second of three #poems I have on the spooky #ChildrensPoetry website scaryness.com. #HappyHalloween!

scaryness.com/cobweb-vines...

#WritingCommunity #WritingForChildren #PoetryCommunity #PoetryForKids #KidLit #Halloween

A Devilish Limerick

There was a young demon from Hades
Who did nothing but drive his Mercedes
The Devil said, “Son,
I hate spoiling your fun,
But at least could you eat a few babies?”

October 30, 2025 at 10:10 AM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 1 likes

1 1 1

Ian Brownlie

@ianbrownlie.bsky.social

One of three #poems I have on this scary(ish) #ChildrensPoetry website. #HappyHalloween!

scaryness.com/cobweb-vines...

#WritingCommunity #WritingForChildren #PoetryCommunity #PoetryForKids #KidLit #Halloween

The Lionsies and the Tigerlings

The Lionsies and the Tigerlings
had just the cutest names.
The Lionsies and the Tigerlings
had quite the softest manes.
The Lionsies and the Tigerlings
are such a playful bunch.
The Lionsies and the Tigerlings
would still eat your arm for lunch.

October 29, 2025 at 10:37 AM Everybody can reply

3 likes

3

Ian Brownlie

@ianbrownlie.bsky.social

It's nearly #Halloween so perhaps not surprising that
@thetoypress.bsky.social's #WordOfTheWeek #Back took me in a slightly spooky direction!

#WritingCommunity #WritingForChildren #PoetryCommunity #PoetryForKids #KidLit #WordPrompt

The Egg

Here at the end
of the room
in the gloom
as I bend
by my leg
is an egg.
Nobody knows
why it's there
they don't care
why it glows
and how come
there's a hum.
This eerie sound
like a spell
from the shell
floats around
everywhere
in the air.
I hear a tap.
What is hiding
inside?
Rap-rap-rap
and again
and again!
Then the shell splits
and I jump
my heart thumps.
And my wits!
Things go black.
IT IS BACK.

October 28, 2025 at 10:22 AM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 5 likes

1 1 5

The Toy Press 🍩🦜🍑🌻🪐🛼

@thetoypress.bsky.social

Hello, here is your #wordoftheweek!

Apologies for the brief pause in words of the week - our designer (aka husband) is juggling a full-time job and a university course at the moment so his time is very limited!

#writingcommunity #writingforchildren #poetrycommunity #poetryforchildren #kidlit