The top of a tack, the lid off a tin,
A garden path, a lop-sided grin,
A banana wrapped in a silver skin,
How many moons there are!
The sail of a boat afloat on the dark,
The tailfin of a great white shark,
A funny punctuation mark,
How many moons there are!
An elephant's trunk, a pelican's bill,
A slithery snake, a feathery quill,
A frozen lake, a fish's gill,
How many moons there are!
A spiral staircase climbing the sky,
A needle threading through Heaven's eye,
An old grey sock hung out to dry,
How many moons there are!
A butcher's knife, a jungle vine,
A baker's hat, a crooked spine,
A blade of grass, a railway line,
How many moons there are!
A furrowed brow, a stringless kite,
A harvest mouse, a swan in flight,
A farmer ploughing through the night,
How many moons there are!
A boomerang, a trouser zip,
A pocket watch, a rocket ship,
An ancient coin, an apple pip,
How many moons there are!
An ice cream scoop, a pudding spoon,
A bowl of soup, a wrinkled prune,
A ballet shoe, a silk cocoon,
How many moons there are!
A bridal gown, a wedding veil,
An icicle, a rusty nail,
A tidal wave, a squirrel's tail,
How many moons there are!
An oyster's pearl, a caveman's tool,
A skipping rope, a swimming pool,
A wriggling worm, a spinning spool,
How many moons there are!
A scythe, a sickle, a stick of chalk,
A trickle of rain, a flower stalk,
A flicker of flame, a floating cork,
How many moons there are!
A postage stamp, a bony knee,
A shepherd's crook, a cup of tea,
Just take a look and you will see
How very, very, very, very many moons there are!
(Graham Denton - poem)
(author of picture unknown)
