There is a land called Bowkabay
Beyond the moon far, far away
And in this strange and wondrous land
Lies a crystal sea with golden sand
The Raspa trees grow tall and green
Like nothing you have ever seen
Flamento flowers bloom at night
To catch the dew and clear moonlight
Beside the cliffs of Meltramoor
Across a valley corridor,
Within a cave upon a bluff,
Lives a dragon they call Pupplesnuff
A gentle creature kind and fair
With wings to fly upon the air
His silv’ry scales are smooth and bright
They glisten in the morning light
When the day turns into night
Pupplesnuff will then take flight
He soars upon the moonlight beams
To visit children in their dreams
And when they’ve closed their sleepy eyes
He’ll take them riding through the skies
Upon the winds they’ll sail away
To frolic ‘til the break of day
Past the stars that shine so bright
Off they’ll go in mystic flight
The children from both far and near
Love the gentle dragon dear
But when the morning starts to dawn
Ole Pupplesnuff gives out a yawn
Through dreamland he has quickly sped
To take the children back to bed
But he will wake at end of day
Ready again to romp and play
With all his little sleeping friends
From bedtime ‘til the evening ends
So close your eyes and drift away
To the far off land of Bowkabay
And dear one if you’re good enough
You’ll get to ride on Pupplesnuff
Author notes
You are welcome to put my piece in your daughter's scrapbook
Stephen E. Washam
Edmond, Oklahoma
Written July 8th, 2006
In a list
A contest entry
- Poetry for Children - CONTEST by Harlequin Bunny.
575 points, ended June 25, 21 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 68 of 68
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great write
I really loved this poem, well writen. Keep up your writing, your good. -
Upon re-reading this, a couple of questions arose ..
Firstly, in line 9 .. Meltramoor, I was taught that "moor" was pronounced "moo-rh", but in order to be an exact rhyme with "corridor", it would have to be pronounced "mohr" .. maybe my pronunciation is just wrong, though ...
In line 16, you say that his scales glisten in morning light, but in line 29-32 you say that at the first hint that morning is coming, he goes to bed .. so how does anyone know how morning light looks on his scales?
Also, you have a profusion of "ight" words .. and you re-use them ALL ..
7 & 17 both end in "night"
8 & 16 both end in "light"
15 & 25 both end in "bright"
18 & 26 both end in "flight"
... I know it probably seems like I'm nit-picking, and I don't mean it to seem that way .. I just thought I'd give a more detailed examination.
Thanks again for your entry! -
Also, a quick question .. is the photo unique to the story, or did you find it online? It's beautiful, and very appropriate!
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This is absolutely gorgeous! It made me think of "Puff the Magic Dragon", without being a shameless ripoff, and is unique despite the similarities. This is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to get with this contest .. beauty, wonder, and creativity. Thank you so much for the entry!
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First of all i would like to thank you for entering my contest. Just by doing so you are giving hope to everyone that this has affected. I loved this poem, along with the image and background combination! The images i am left with are absolutely fascinating! Great write!Thanks again for your entry and good luck in the contest!
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Hi Steve
Beautiful story for bedtime or not. I hope that more than us at AP get to see this.
Good luck in the contest.
John
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Well I had no idea there was this magical land out there, how do me and the kids get there, they want to go now!!
What an awesome and talented imagination you have, this is great stuff, thankyou so much for the entry and best of luck in this contest,
-Brenden -
wonderful book
for children. Ever thought of it?
Smile,
Judy
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A poem that comes with milk and cookies and the softest comforter and a beloved teddy bear and a kiss on the cheek from your favorite person to tuck you into bed! I loved reading this poem, dear Stephen, and thank you for sharing your magnificent talent with us this day.
. Rewarded 6
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great poem. you bring me back to my childhood days. I just want to curl up and go to sleep and ride on the back of pupplesnuff. great write i'm sure children will love it.
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Brilliant
Ha it was such a fun poem to read i literally couldnt help but smile whilst reading it i loved it i wanna read it over and over..
. Rewarded 4
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Loved It!
Oh! I shall close my sleepy eyes and dream of mystical, moonbeam flights!
What a delightful, dreamy story you have wove. I truly enjoyed my flight into Bowkabay and look forward to visiting again soon!
Thank you so much for the wonderful journey.
Fun, fun, fun!
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Fabulous!
Oh yes, mucho bravo!
clapping This is a fabulous and colorful land of dreams you have described, it's a delight for all ages, great stuff! I love it! 
Please keep writing and always go back to it, you'll just get better and better! Good luck in the contest! 
USpace
Edited on Nov 05, 3:30 p.m. because 'spelling & grammar'. -
Perfect!!
This is perfect in all sense of the word, well done. Brovo! Thank you for entering this piece in to my contest. Best of luck to you,
Rev. Alimae -
excellent
This is delightful. Send Pupplesnuff to me in my dreams! -
I am sure little Jacky Paper would have loved this rascal too
Your verses flow as effortlessly and as joyfully as the Seeker's Puff the Magic Dragon..
Well done.
Edited on Jul 22, 2:44 p.m. because ''. -
Excellent, original and beautiful all rapt in
A wonderful highly imaginative and vivid icture story that keeps one engrossed until the end, to find a big smile of pleasure still lingering . I loved thi and grinned from ear to ear . Great work for I have just posted (yesterday) another poem about children in war and it has kept me upsetbut this has brought me back to reality enough to realise that some kids get it good too, with loving parents and to want for nothing and fullu protected. It helps balance the scales against the unfortunate. A wonderful loving poem this written especially for a western world for none of the remainder would understand what it is about, more's the pity. -
Oh my, that was so fun!
I love the drawing, and the gentle rhyming of the poem.
It's so cute, and so well written.
Very beautifully captured! -
delectably fun
that was fun to read and I really like the drawing a lot -
Excellent!
I love this poem.. it takes me to dream land again as i did when i was a child, and like the other person who left a comment said u do almost see the clouds and hear the wings flapping, its a wonderful poem! Great job! this is something i would read to my child before he/she went to sleep at night. Wonderfully Written!
~*Forsaken LoVe*~ -
Wonderful and adorable write! I read this to my son and he really enjoyed it. He tends to dream about dragons a lot lol! Bravo to you on this one!!!!!!!!!!!
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loved it
very great poem for children i have one for you to read i will get on line soon -
This poem is so sweet, and this land you describe sounds so calm and peaceful, a place I would love to visit. You use good description words, and nice imagery also. Nice work!
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A delightful slice on nonsense poetry. I just finished a degree in English Lit and one of my tutors told me a story where a guy wrote an exam answer on nonsense poetry and made the last paragraph of his answer total nonsense. That took balls, she awarded him a first. I assume you're well versed in the Lewis?
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I thought this was great, I love the wide use of vocabulary and the technique of rhyme. I thought it was really well done.
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very beauitfull childrens tail would make an awsome storybook taie,you ought to think about that so mcuh praise and apllause to i would make it a child stroybook honest i would ,would be best seller, awsome imagery and words spun with magic and imagination excellent job godluck in conest
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this flowed beautifully and is quite suitable for a childrens book
the rythm and ryme were very well done...wish i had little ones to read this too...peace and harmony...shzoosy -
I can see why people love this.....I too....love the delightful childlike rendition to fairy tales.......wonderfully done with a delightful read and songful flow.....love the imaginations loom to the page.......put a smile to my face.....even though.....im not crazy about dragons....lol.......fantastic job Sewasham......I love this........makes me wanna be a kid again.......now sing it to me....
clappie guy for you
Malabu -
ahhhhhhh....nicely written...great to see there are still some who can write for the wee folk among us...the rhyme scheme and flow were quite excellent...the imagery superb...the made up names quite unique....hmmmmm i think even the great doctor would be impressed with this
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Lovely & sweet
Sweet, very sweet and delightful. Wel flowing, easy to follow and read poem. With bright colorful imagery. Enough given to the children and yet leaving enough for their own imagination to make these words their own.
Lovely.
love,
Clautje -
"The Raspa trees grow tall and green
Like nothing you have ever seen"
i really like that part a lot, kinda ironic since we HAVEN'T ever seen any of this...
i also like the rythm to it, each line was stressed in the middle, and it almost sounded like flapping wings when i read it...
but even if i'm just imagining all of this it's a very nice poem -
Yummy!
absolutely astounding.. love the imagery and it was very well written.. -
I think of showing the picture of this poem to my little daughter (1 and half years) and wish to know her comments with surprised eyes when told about the puflesnuf, thank you for this fantasy poem
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Kool
Hey! this is just beautiful with a lot of feelings hidden inside...
was this a picture contest?
I guess it would have taken you a lot of hard work to post that poem or rather create it!
I wish you best of luck for all your poems
Have a great day!!! -
lovely write mt children would love.a very clever write indeed
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hahaha cute!! this kind of silly stuff makes me love being a kid. <3
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That was extremely enjoyable to read.. makes me want to drift off to Bowkabay... Great job!
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great write
Aww, what a sweet and wonderful children's poem
Beautiful work
It flows gently and keeps the reader interested all the way
I love the picture you have as well
Keep up the great work
Good Luck in the contest
Stay safe -
that's what dreams are made of! it's got a great rhythm and makes everyone feel good inside! v. cute!
~ -
24KT
Sweet bedtime story for a little one. Simply adorable I like the madeup names and the solid rhyme scheme. This would look great published. Best wishes in the comp!
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this is so very wonderful,
this is so cute and so sweet
all the children are going to love this,
i sure did
i really enjoyed reading this
it was a fun read.
you have done such a wonderful job,
thanks for sharing this with us all.
you truly are amazing -
Simply Brilliant!
I am a big fan of dragons and childrens nursery rhymes. I especially adored this piece for its bright imagination and child like appeal although, I feel that adults will fall inlove with ole Pupplesnuff too. All in all, it's clever and magical. I can picture colorful images to go along with this write. Thank you, I really enjoyed reading this brilliant piece. Like you need any luck but, best wishes any how. Avril
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Aww this is so cute and wonderful! The flow is flawless, and the rhyming isn't forced. I'm not much for children's stories/poems, but I truly enjoyed this. It's different, and I liked picturing that little magical world. It truly takes an imagination to come up with something like this. Pen on, you have a marvelous gift.
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I want a ride on Pupplesnuff! Can I have one to, please??????? This is great. Reminds of puff the magic dragon, my all time favorite childrens story. Would you mind if i make a copy to put in my grandsons scrapbook? Grandma would love to share this with him. If i had any applause left i would leave you with one for this wonderful write!
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cuute
oh my god, its so cute!!! i love the name especially, reminds me of puff the magic dragon. very charming. -
You have such a gift. You bring out the imaginations of others. I could see the whole thing and I just wanted to go to sleep and wait for Pupplesnuff to come and get me so I could have an adventure. I swear. You are amazing.
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I enjoyed this one, and I think that it is very cute. Pupplesnuff sounds just awesome!
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Very well written. Reminded me of childhood, and you sound a bit like Dr. Seuss. The only thing I could find wrong, as much of a pet peave little thing as it is, is in the part
"When the day turns into night
Pupplesnuff will then take flight"
I think that "into" interupts your flow a tiny bit. Perhaps changing it to simple "When day turns to night" or "When the day turns to night" would make the flow flawless. Very well written though.
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thats a really cute childrens poem. well written
Hollow X -
I LOVED this poem!! it was soo cute and fun to read fun and light. I'm glad I read this poem.
it flowed very well. This poem is creative and unique.
Thanks loads for sharing it.
I'll be back to read more of your writting!!
jessica -
This is wonderfully written and your background is just so perfect and sweet. A beautiful poem for children and all us grown-up children who still like to read children's literature. I'm 65 and still love Dr. Seuss books and I just love what you have done with Pupplesnuff. Keep writing and keep sharing. childlike faith
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A beautiful story dear friend. I'm sure the children will love it for it has a lovely dragon in it.
Wish you luck in the contest.
Shahrzad
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I think this poem would be great as a children's book with beautiful, fantastic pictures and each stanza on a page or sharing a two page spread. It is very professional sounding - none of the lines strain to rhyme. Well done.
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WOW
O WOW!! This is wonderful! I love how it all rymes and ends by saying something to the audience!! As if you were actually speaking to the person!! this is first rate!!
~ducky~ -
Not going to lie, the name Bowkabay made me laugh alot. This was so light hearted and fun to read, thanks for sharing.
-Jake -
If Dr. Suess had written the lyrics to "One Tin Soldier," this would have been the product- minus the melancholy feeling, of course. Nice write, always pleasant to read something that falls outside the typical "love don't love me" stuff.
-Ed. -
this was an awesome peice. Thanks for sharing it was a hilarious piece. A dragon hm. great imagery and the rhythmn and flow was great. Thanks so much for sharing and best of luck to you.
Vsutton -
brilliant
So sweet it was totally devine, you have done the children of the world a most wonderful favor composing the lovely rhyme. You could easily turn this into a childrens story book, and it would sell. My grands read this one and tried to draw the picture, please take my advice, publish this masterpiece....write ON!...ennovy
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love the immagary...
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This is brilliant! I love fantasy, and even more the sweetness of a child's dreams. Woo Hoo! The title begged me to come in for a bit of comedy and I found a sweet little lullabye instead. Fantastic. Keep up the great work!
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Good! I like the rhyme amd rhythm. It kind of reminds me of Puff the magic dragon.
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TRULY BEAUTIFUL
Such a sweet poem/story, and as one reads they are taken away to that wonderful land
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Excellent
Gatlianne sent me to read this and I have to agree - another classic. Great job, Steve. I think I'll print this out also - for my grandkids. I'm sure they'll love it.
Paul -
Bowkabay sounds wonderful!! You have a wonderful imagination and this poem would make a lovely childrens picture book!!!!!
Everything was so well described throughout and created wonderful imagery!! Great (and consistent) rhymes throughout created and effortless flow!! Nice job and good luck in the contest!! Sarah Louise Hudson
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This is absolutely one of your best! I applaud vehemently! This is such a wonderful children's poem and would make a grand book. I for one will keep this one in mind when I have children ... If I have to come here and print it out...I will. Perhaps this is another of yours that I will beg a signed copy of...for I absolutely adore it!
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Beautiful
I do like this. it started off well with such a pretty colourful picture.
Pupplesnuff sounds like the kind of friend we should all have, and they should have train rides to Bowkabay!
Your words flowed well, and gave great imagery.
Thank you so much for this entry into my contest. best of luck
Edited on Jul 09, 8:22 because '.'. -
this would be a wonderful bedtime story me thinks you've a way with rhyme, which just blows me away
the only time i can rhyme well (and i must be in the right mood) is when writing rap freestyle. i could never do something like this but that's okay because someone like you can
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Clap!! Clap!! I loved this pice. What fun to ride on a dragon. I want Pupplesnuff to visit me in my dreams. LOL. Wonderful poem. great flow and rythm. RobinRae.
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