COMMUNITIES POEMS


If I Could Build a Town
Betsy Franco

If I could build a town, well then,
I know just what I'd make:
an ice cream store, a toy shop,
and a store with bread and cake.

I guess I'd make a park
and build a nifty fire station.
Say, would you like to help me?
It just takes imagination!

© Betsy Franco, reprinted by permission of the author who owns all rights


Homes
Betsy Franco

Home can be trailers,
homes can be boats,
Home is the place
where you hang your coat.

Homes are apartments
and mansions and tents.
Homes can be wooden
or stone or cement.

Homes can be large,
Homes can be tall,
Homes can be cozy and
friendly and small.

Wherever you live,
if it's old or it's new,
your home is your
"home sweet home" to you.

© Betsy Franco, reprinted by permission of the author who owns all rights



Going to the Mall
Betsy Franco

We start at the toy store
and walk down each aisle -
some stickers, some whistles,
a glass crocodile.

Then off the see jewelry
like black spider rings,
a watch, and a bracelet,
and sparkly things.

We look through the pet store
at turtles and mice,
The puppies and kittens
and hamsters feel nice.

We walk through the mall,
and there's so much to do.
Each time that we go there,
we see something new.

© Betsy Franco, reprinted by permission of the author who owns all rights



Main Street
Betsy Franco

The bookstore,
the sports store,
the grocery,

The post office,
bank, and the
library,

The firehouse,
the clinic,
the town police.

The pet store,
the shoe store,
the bakery.

I gave you
a tour all along
our main street.

Now don't you
agree that
our city is neat?

© Betsy Franco, reprinted by permission of the author who owns all rights



City Music
Tony Mitton

Snap your fingers.
Tap your feet.
Step out a rhythm
down the street.

Rap on the litter bin.
Stamp on the ground.
City music
is all around.

Beep says motor-car.
Ding says bike.
City music
is what we like.



Sharing the Road
Betsy Franco

From the window of our school bus,
we can see the busy road.
There's a dump truck and a tow truck
and a pickup with a load.

There's a fire truck! Police car!
Now I see the ice cream man!
There's a mail truck and a sports car
and a white delivery van.

There are cars and trucks and bicycles,
a giant city bus.
We can see them out the window
as they share the road with us.

© Betsy Franco, reprinted by permission of the author who owns all rights



Construction
Lilian Moore

The giant mouth
chews
rocks
spews them
and is back for
more.

The giant arm
swings up
with a girder
for
the fourteenth floor.

Down there,
a tiny man
is
telling them
where
to put a skyscraper.



A City Goes to Sleep
Betsy Franco

The moon watches over the city at night
The city goes out, light by light.
The buildings are quiet, not even a peep.
The city is slowly going to sleep.

Some animals sleep in the bushes and parks
while others are roaming around in the dark.
The bark of a dog, the toot from a car,
The clankety sound of the last streetcar.

The fire and police station buildings are lit
but most other workers have called it quits.
The sidewalk is empty, the moon is bright.
The city is falling asleep for the night.

© Betsy Franco, reprinted by permission of the author who owns all rights