Janie writes poetry for young people. Two of her poems, The Garden Snail and Nightlife, were purchased by Highlights Hello magazine.
The Garden Snail
The small brown snail,
no bigger than a marble,
slithers across the cool, wet soil,
searching for a flower.
Gliding slowly up a stem,
gripping a big, green leaf,
it tears and swallows,
using all its teeth.
But when a mouse appears,
it’s time to hide AND quick!
Curling inside its strong shell,
the garden snail is safe.
NightLife
“Whip-poor-will,” the small bird chants,
from dusk until dawn.
“Who-oo-oo,” the grey owl cries,
high up in a tree.
Hiding in the grass,
brown crickets chirp “clickety-clack.”
Dancing in the air,
fireflies flash pinpricks of light.
But watch out for the black skunk,
when it lifts its long tail,
because “Whoooosh!” this bad smell,
always spoils the night.