Margaret Mahy

Room 3 are reading lots of Margaret Mahy stories as part of our Margaret Mahy author study.

You will find one of her famous poems below to enjoy with your families at home.

Also, check out the cool websites about Margaret Mahy down the right hand side of the blog.

"Down the back of the chair"

Our car is slow to start and go. We can't afford a new one.

Now if you please, Dad's lost the keys. We're facing rack and ruin.

No car, no work! No work no pay!We're getting poorer day by day.

No wonder Dad is turning grey.

The morning is a blue one.
Nothing but dockets in his pockets.
Raging with despair
Dad acts appalled! Though nearly bald
He tries to tear his hair.But Mary who is barely two

Said ‘Dad should do what I would do

I lose a lot, but I find a few

Down the back of the chair.'
He's patted himself, and searched the shelf. He's hunted here and there,
So now he'll kneel and try to feel right down the back of the chair.
Oh it seemed to grin as his hand went in.

He felt a tingling in his skin.

What will a troubled father win
From down the back of the chair?
Some hairy string and a diamond ring
Were down the back of the chair,

Pineapple peel and a conger eel

Were down the back of the chair
A sip, a sup, a sop, a song. A spider seven inches long,

No wonder that it smells so strong

Down the back of the chair.

A packet of pins and one of the twins
Down the back of the chair.
A pan, a fan that belonged to Gran

Down the back of the chair . . .

A crumb, a comb, a clown, a cap
A pirate with a treasure map,
A dragon trying to take a nap
Down the back of the chair.
A cake, a drake, a smiling snake,
Down the back of the chair
A string of pearls, a lion with curls
Down the back of the chair
A skink, a skunk, a skate, a ski,
A couple of elephants drinking tea

The bandersnatch and the bumblebee

Down the back of the chair.
But what is this? Oh bliss! Oh bliss!
(Down the back of the chair).
The long lost will of Uncle Bill
(Down the back of the chair).

His money box all crammed with cash

Tangled up in a scarlet sash

There's pleasure, treasure, toys and trash

Down the back of the chair.

‘I've found my dreams,' our father beams.

(Down the back of the chair).

‘At last I see how life can be.

(Down the back of the chair).

Forget the keys! We're poor no more

Just call a taxi to the door.'

A taxi shot out with a roar

From down the back of the chair.

The chair, the chair, the challenging chair,

The champion chair, the cheerful chair,

The charming chair, the children's chair,

The chopped and chipped but chosen chair

To think our fortune waited there

Down the back of the chair.