Tall, Dark and Furry
©1991 Susan Noyes Anderson
What’s tall and dark and furry,
has big teeth, but still acts tame?
Our M – O – N – S – T – E – R …
(Sssh! He can’t stand that name.)
Welcome to the Children’s Poems section of my website. I hope these poems and verses for kids will instill a love for language, rhythm, and rhyme that encourages young people to think more deeply, imagine more fully, smile with new delight, or laugh right out loud. Children’s poems can also be pleasing to parents, educators, speakers, artists…anyone who is young at heart. May you have as much fun reading this poetry for kids as I did writing it!
FINDING THE POEM YOU WANT: As you scroll through this section, simply read each snippet sample (usually the first four lines) to get a feel for the poem. When you find something you like, click “CONTINUE READING” to view the entire poem.
(My work may be used free for non-commercial purposes only. Please request permission by email and include full copyright information, legibly printed, on every copy made. For internet use, a link back to the poem on this website is required.)
What’s tall and dark and furry,
has big teeth, but still acts tame?
Our M – O – N – S – T – E – R …
(Sssh! He can’t stand that name.)

Look at those bubbles in the sand.
Watch me scoop them up in my hand.
Oops––There’s something tickling me!
Hurray, it’s a sand crab, did you see?
The baby spits, and mother smiles.
If I spit, she gets mad.
She shakes her head when I burp but
when baby burps, she’s glad.
Each night my mother sings to me––
her favorite lullabies.
She rocks me gently back and forth
until I close my eyes.
Why does my mother have to say,
“Go clean your room?” It wrecks my day.
“Go clean your room!” she says to me.
“There’s clothes where carpet used to be,
and games and books on top of those,
and snacks starting to decompose!

A gaggle of giggling ghosts gathered gaily
to groan in the graveyard one night.
They glided so gracefully, Griggsby the groundskeeper
gasped at the glorious sight.
H aunted houses, eerie sounds
A ll the goblins gather round
L onely ghoulies stalk the night
L urking in the ghostly light
C
HH
RRR
IIIIIIIII
SSSSS
TTTTTTT
MMMMMM
AAAAAAAAA
SSSSSSSSSS
C H R I S T M A S
Cookies with red and green sprinkles on top
Holly and mistletoe, Mom kissing Pop
Ribbons to tie up each package with bows
Icicles, sleighbells, and Rudolph’s red nose