Welcome

Hi, my name is Alys Jackson and I'm an author and poet

based in Adelaide, South Australia.

My work has been published in books, magazines,

anthologies and online.

Aussie Animals

My sister out from England
said, “Something’s just not right.
Now, all your Aussie creatures,
they either sting or bite.”

“Yes,” I said, “I have a book.
I’ll read it out to you –
for if you’re stung or bitten,
it will tell you what to do.”

“There’re;
centipedes and sharks and snakes,
spiders, ants, mosquitoes,
crocodiles and octopi,
jellyfish and dingoes,

scorpions, ticks and urchins,
wasp, electric ray!
Various fish, some sponges;
I could read this book all day!”

“Oh, and don’t forget the cone shell,
as on the beach you roam!”
I shouted to her shadow
as she caught the next plane home.

Aussie Animals poem by Alys JAckson

114 thoughts on “Aussie Animals”

  1. Dear Alys

    I liked how you made the poem really weird and how You managed to name most of the animals in Australia.

    Ranulaka

    • There are so many animals that bite and sting in Australia. That’s what made this poem so much fun to write. Although making it rhyme was sooooo hard. Alys

  2. this was a great poem about aussie animals alys!!!
    some animals that you mentioned i am afraid for like sharks and mosquitoes since mosquitoes suck other peoples blood out and the leave germs on ya.
    -Dinul

    • Hi Dinul. I’m so sorry this reply is late. I’m not surprised that you don’t like sharks or mosquitoes. Although seeing sharks in the wild is pretty amazing, as long as you keep your toes clear of the water! Mosquitoes are very annoying, however. Always!! 🦟🦟🦟🦟 Alys

    • Thanks for the comments, Timothy. I LOVE animals, too, although not the ones that bite…or sting…or sometimes eat people 😁😁 Alys

  4. Dear Alys,

    I enjoyed your poem because you successfully tried to rhyme any type of Australian animals you could think of. I really like how you made it humorous and the poem made me feel really energetic and excited.Thanks for sharing this Poem with us.

    From Alexis

    • Thank you, Alexis. You have made some really great comments and goodness me it was difficult to rhyme with some of the animal names!! I’m very pleased that you enjoyed the poem and thought it humorous. Alys

  5. When you think about it there is a lot of Aussie animals🦈🦍🦓🐪🐂🐑🦙🐄🐫🦍🐘🦒🦒🐎🐐🐓🕊🐇🦃🦌🐖🦘🦛🦏🐃🐏🐕🐕🦚🦝🐪🐫🦒🦘🐃🐏🐃🐃🦘🦒🐫🐫🐪🐪🦓🦍🦍🦛🦏🦏🐆🐆🐅🐊🦈🦈🐋🐋🐡🐠🐟🐬🐳🦀🦀🦞🦐🦑🦑🐙🐙🐢🐍🦎🦖🦕🦕🕷🕷🦟🦟🦗🕷🕸🦂🦂 that’s a lot! And the poem sounded really nice

    • Oh my goodness me, Yehanya! Where did you find so many wonderful animal emojis. They are all so lovely 🐍🐒🐘🐛🐞🐡🐤🐧🐫🐬🐨🐥🐢🐟🐜🐙🐔🐎🐌🐑🐗🐚🐝🐠🐣🐦🐩🐭🐮🐱🐴🐷🐺🐽🐻🐸🐵🐲🐯🐰🐳🐶🐹🐼 Alys. PS: I’m glad you liked the poem.

  6. Hi Alys
    I really liked this poem and that’s because I had a nice rhythm
    and it had so many rhymes. It also taught me new types of
    animals. I would give you 5 stars for writing a poem that rhymes
    and also writing a poem that teaches people more about
    animals in Australia.
    bye 🤗🤗

    • Thank you Tiaana! I love 5 stars 😁👍🙏🎉 It was soooo hard to rhyme some of the animals and I really wanted to include as many as possible. Luckily there are way more animals that do not bite or sting. Phew! Alys

  7. That was a really awesome poem Alys, you used rhyme really well and I learned a few more animals!

    • Hi Gina. That’s great! I’m really happy to know you learned some new animals and that you enjoyed the rhymes. It was fun trying to find rhymes in this poem – but really tricky!! 😊 Alys

  8. Hi Alys,
    I like this poem because it made me learn the names of a few more sea creatures and I enjoyed reading it.

  9. Hi Alys
    Nice poem!!! I liked it because it mentioned animals.I have read lot of books about animals. They are very interesting.

    • Thank you Thinara. I love animals, too. I studied Biology at university and learned some amazing things…and I’m still learning…Alys 🐎🐒🐙🐞🐛🐠

  10. Australia have a lot of dangerous animals, also a lot of cute ones, I would add to the poem, what you could do if you did get stung or biten. I wouldn’t change the ending.

    • Hi Xavier, and thank you for your comments. I agree that Australia has a lot of cute animals and amazingly interesting, unique ones, too. Good idea to add what to do if you’re stung or bitten. I’ll have to go and do some more research…Alys 🙂

  11. It is interesting to learn all the animals that could bite or sting. It made my feel Itchy like I’ve just been stung, I wouldn’t change anything. I wouldn’t change the ending.

    • Ha! I love that the poem made you feel itchy. When I first moved to Australia I was shocked at how many animals bite and sting. Not that I am afraid of them. I love all animals. I just thought it might be fun to try and write a silly poem about them. I’m so very glad you liked the ending. Alys 🙂

  12. HI Alys, Really liked this poem. I love fury and cute animals, one of my favourite animal is a kangaroo. I have fed it too many times. I got scared at first but after I did it it wasn’t scary at all. When i was a baby, I had a book touch and feel baby animals and there where kangaroos. I wish I could write great stories like you.

    • Thank you Japleen. I think I had a touch and feel baby animals book, too. And a scratch and sniff book – not animals! 🙂 Everyone can write, Japleen, it just takes practice. I started by joining a local group. It took a long time for me to feel confident enough to share my writing so go ahead and give it a go!! I’m sure you’ll be amazing. You wrote a wonderful acrostic poem! Alys

  13. This is another great poem you are very funny with your poems.
    It is so true Australia has everything that bites but we have some
    beautiful animals as well like the koala and platypus but ha ha they can be dangerous too!!!!
    I hope I can write poems like you when I get older

    • Hi Hollie, thank you for your comments and I’m sure you will be able to write poems in the future – it just takes patience and practice 🙂 Alys PS: Yes, we have loads of gorgeous animals, don’t we?

  14. I would like a book about animals too. I have touched koala and kangaroo they are not scary.

    • Yes, Sanuli. Koalas and kangaroos can be so beautiful to watch in the wild – and not at all scary. I’m sure there are loads of books about Australian animals, if you want to find out more. Maybe ask your local library 🙂 Alys

  16. There are also many nice creatures in Australia that I like to think of more than the other ones. However, I do believe that you will only truly identify the kind, compassionate creatures if you live in Australia. This is why she believes that many of the creatures in Australia bite and are dangerous.

    • Great thoughts Chomilka. Yes, I suppose we only notice the unusual, beautiful or terrifying when we go somewhere for the first time. In reality, Australia is filled with wonderful creatures and diverse habitats. When I was a child in Scotland I pictured Australia as a single huge desert…it was such a surprise when I came here to visit 🙂 Alys

  17. I liked all the animals and espicially because thay were all Australian and how you made it into a poem.

    • Thank you again Trinity. I have always loved Australian animals and thought it would be fun to try writing a poem which included all the dangerous ones. Alys 🙂

    • Hi Nuwin, I’m afraid Australia has a lot of animals that bite and sting. Mind you they have a lot of cuddly animals too. I do love koalas. Bye Alys

  19. this poem is delicious
    as are all ur poems..
    I have two cousins from england their names r Elliot and Oliver
    they have only been to Australia once
    that was last year
    I haven’t told them about koala or kangaroos but they would have already heard of those before they came
    I think ill tell them about the great white sharks later…
    Beth xox

    • Hi Beth, I love your comments! I think it’s a very good idea not to frighten your two cousins, however, sharks aren’t toooo bad – if you are sensible and don’t try to swim next to one. And I do think you’re right. Your cousins will definitely have heard of koalas and kangaroos… Alys 🙂

  20. i like dangerous Australian animals because they are very Interesting .I think this poem is beautiful

    • Yes, Yuneth I like all animals – even if they are dangerous. Thank you for your comments, and I’m so pleased to hear that you enjoyed my poem. Alys

  21. 23/01/2019
    Dear Alys,
    I really like this poem because you wrote all the Australian animals well, that’s what I think. You wrote centipedes and sharks and snakes, spiders, ants, mosquitoes, crocodiles and octopi, jellyfish and dingoes, scorpions, ticks and urchins, wasp, electric ray! Various fish and some sponges;. You really made the Australian animals rhyme (you did it very well). I like how she said “Oh, and don’t forget the cone shell, as on the beach you roam!”

    • Thank you Linuka – it is very difficult to find the correct rhymes for all those different animals. 🙂 Alys

  22. Hi Alys,
    I like this poem I would add the cassowary because they are so scary, or the magpie who likes to swoop and peck they are as scary as all heck
    from Cadence

    • Hi again Cadence. That’s a very good idea! Maybe I could do a separate poem about dangerous birds? 🙂

    • Actually Zaynab I don’t mind spiders although ants can be rather large and alarming here 🙂 Bye Alys

  24. I really liked the poem because it was about animals and I like poems that are about animals 😉

    • That’s good to know Margherita – I think everyone likes animals although not the same ones 🙂 Bye Alys

  25. the story was really good also I think I also have the book that the character has and also what was the characters name

    • Hmm, I’ve never really thought about the character’s name, however, since I say it’s my sister I suppose her name will have to be Debbie 🙂

  26. Hi Alys
    I really love this poem because the sister comes from England and arrives in Australia and gets annoyed with the animals and leaves.
    I wonder if the sister was friends with the Queen?

    Regards Yenuli

    • Hi Yenuli, I can definitely tell you that my sister is not friends with the Queen 🙂 And she isn’t afraid of Australian animals – not really! Bye Alys

  27. Hi
    I enjoyed this poem which reminded the names of Aussi Animals. Even in my mother country, Sri Lanka there are dangerous snakes, crocodiles, spiders and wild elephants.

    Bye

    • Wild elephants!? That must be amazing to see, Dinidu! I’m glad to hear that you liked the poem – it was great fun to write. Bye Alys 🙂

  28. Hi Alys,
    It’s a really interesting poem. I found this poem really funny at the end, when the sister was tired of all the stinging and bitting Australian creatures. So she went back to England.
    When I go to Sri Lanka I loved to watch all the amazing animals, but I mostly enjoy watching and patting, and feeding the elephants.
    I would change instead of sister going back to England, she stayed and enjoyed her stay in Australia. May be sister can make a visit to Sri Lanka.
    Hi Alys, can you please make a beautiful poem about Sri Lanka (Don’t forget to include elephants)

    • Thank you Tirath! I’m glad that you found the poem interesting. I think it’s amazing that you get to go to Sri Lanka and spend time with elephants…And yes, I can definitely try to write a poem about Sri Lanka. Challenge accepted!! It may take me a while though…I’ll have to do a lot of thinking first 🙂 Bye Alys

  29. Thank you Alys that was an amazing poem and you inspired to do my own poems like this one. So thank you again it was a lovely poem and the animals in Australia are really cool. Bye, Tom.

  30. I highly enjoyed this poem and I believe that if you don’t hurt an animal they won’t hurt you. Although, I have never actually witnessed any of the dangerous animals in Australia before and I don’t think I want to.

    • Hi Chomilka, I’m so glad you enjoyed this poem and you are right, of course. Animals rarely hurt people if you behave sensibly. That means no screaming or jumping up and down hysterically if you ever spot a snake 🙂 Not that I think you would anyway. Bye Alys

  31. I am Dinethri Wickrama – 8 years old. I love it beacuse its talk about Animals. I love all animals in this world. I feel that are not harmful if we dont hurt them. That is why Australia has so much animals which named as dangerous. I think this poem should change as your sister changed her mind and learn about those harmful animals which she will realise that they are innocent as far as we dont hurt them.

    • Hi Dinethri, thank you for your comments. You make a very important point. All animals are important and we need to respect them and treat them with care and kindness. I don’t think my sister is really afraid of Australian animals. But it makes for a fun poem 🙂 Bye Alys

  32. I enjoyed this poem and it made me think about how everyone talks about Australia having amazing deadly animals but I haven’t seen many of the dangerous animals in person that could potentially kill you.

    • Hi Thenumi. I think you are right. We hardly ever see dangerous animals and even if we do they rarely hurt anyone – as long as you leave them alone 🙂 Bye Alys

  33. Wow ….how amazing is it ? I love animals . I visited Bangkok zoo and Sri Lankan wild animals ….Totally different than here .thk u

    • Thank you for your comments Methuli! I’d love to visit Sri Lanka one day. I think the birds and animals would be so amazing. Bye Alys

    • Isn’t it though Natalee?! I really love living in Australia and Australian animals are so very beautiful. Bye Alys

    • Yes, Hannah I agree – Australian animals are so different from anywhere else on Earth!! Bye Alys 🙂

    • Thank you Jason, I’m happy that you enjoyed the poem and agree that Australia is a wonderful place to live. 🙂 Bye, Alys

  37. It made me happy when I read this poem, i liked that you added only the animals that are dangerous.
    I think you could have added some more animals, and for a different ending of with someone getting bites or stung.🐍

    • Hi Sia, I’m so glad my poem made you happy. Dangerous animals are fun to write about and I agree that I could have added more! Maybe I can write another poem about someone getting stung? 🙂 Bye, Alys. PS: I love your snake emoji.

  38. in the last school holidays we went to Corny Point and we saw heaps of DOLPHINS!!!

    My older sister and my dad they got really close to them.

    • Hi Emma, that must have been an incredible experience. I think you and your sister are VERY lucky 🙂 Bye Alys

  39. Hi i think that was a great poem i liked how you named all the animals that sting or bite . Great poem
    Camila Paez

    • Hi again Camila, I did try to list as many as I could, but I did forget a couple. Can you think of any others? Bye Alys

    • Hi Emma, thank you for reading Aussie Animals. Yes, I have lived in many countries overseas. My favourites were Japan, India and Peru. Peru had lots of wonderful animals just like Australia! 🙂 Bye Alys

  41. once we on our 2 week holiday in the Simpson Desert & i got sick:( we saw a dingoes sitting in the middle of the road. We also stayed at this place and i was covered in mosquitoe bites.

    • Hi again Emma. I’m sorry you got sick on your holiday but how amazing to see dingoes sitting in the road. Don’t you hate those mosquitoes!!! Bye Alys

        • Hi again Flynn, Ok I have added another poem for you to read – if you have time. It is called No More Maths! 🙂 I will try to upload some more soon. Bye Alys

  43. Its true that lots of animals bite or sting but normally they are harmless (if you leave them alone)
    It was a great poem thanks (: (: (: (: (: (: (:

    • Hi Flynn. A very sensible and observant comment. I completely agree. If you leave animals alone they will very rarely hurt you – and usually only if they feel threatened in some way. Thank goodness :). PS: I’m glad you liked the poem. Bye Alys

  44. There are so many things in Australia that do sting or bite…. but what about our other beautiful animals like a cute and cuddly koala, or a quite wombat, there’s even our bouncy kangaroo! We also have the lovely Cockatoo and the strong Wedge Tailed eagle. Just some I’m sure would make you sister fall in love with this beautiful country of ours.

    • Hi Ella, you are so right about our Australian animals – there are some beautiful, cute ones as well as the ones that bite. When my sister visited us last year we showed her lots of them, including koalas, kangaroos and the lovely cockatoo. 🙂 Bye Alys

  47. it was interesting to hear about all those cool animals and on my opinion the ending is the funniest part for some odd reason.keep the good work up!!!!!!!

    PS Aussie animals could also be the title of book SHE reads to her

    • Hi Lali, thank you for your great comments and I will try my best to keep writing 🙂 Bye, Alys. PS I like the book idea, too.

  48. This poem was good. It mentioned the bitey, stingy animals that some people are scared of when they come to Australia. But they don’t have to be scared of all of them.

    • Hi Jack, I completely agree that people don’t have to be afraid. Aussie animals are so very beautiful. Except for mosquitoes, maybe? Bye Alys

  49. This was a great poem because talks about how Australia has so much wildlife that some people would be scared of. When I lived on Fraser Island the backpackers from England even screamed out in the middle of the night if they saw one little spider! From Tulara

    • Hi again Tulara. Your comments made me laugh. I don’t think my sister would scream if she saw a spider, but I know some people who do 🙂 Bye Alys

    • Hi Abbey, another great comment 🙂 A very silly poem, indeed. I wrote it for my sister when she visited me on holiday. Bye Alys

  51. hi Alys ,
    I have a book like this and I also have cousins in England this reminds me of a lot of things.

    • Hi again Maddison, I also have cousins in England although they have never been to Australia. I’m also very interested to know that you have a book like the poem. Thank you Alys

  52. Hello Alys,
    I liked your poem on ausie animals it was fun to read. When my auntie came over here from London she came here and stayed in an apartment with my pop. My auntie has a daughter named Eva. I enjoyed reading this!

    Thankyou!
    Ella 🙂

    • Hi Ella, thank you for your lovely comments. I wonder if your auntie liked our Aussie animals? 🙂 Bye Alys

  53. Hi my names Leah and im 9yrs old. I liked how your poem rhymes and was fun to read. If i could change the ending i would have liked if your sister had changed her mind and now likes our Australian animals.
    Thank you
    Leah 🙂

    • Hi Leah. Thank you for your comments. Next time my sister visits me in Australia (she lives in Scotland) I will show her your comment and let’s see if she changes her mind :). Bye, Alys

    • Hi Mia. Thank you for your lovely comments. I’m pleased that you enjoyed the poem. I like animals too, although my sister really did complain when she visited me in Australia (she lives in Scotland). She thinks all Australian animals are very dangerous 🙂 That’s not true, is it? thank you Alys

  55. Hi i’m Jack (10yrs) and I think the poem was trying to tell us that Australian animals can seem dangerous to other people that don’t live in Australia. I really enjoyed it because all the words rhymed and it was catchy.

  56. My son Anthony (7yrs) said “I like silly poems too” and he added “she didn’t say sand flies”!
    Fun poem to read.

    • Thank you Anthony. I’m so glad you like silly poems and what a very great point you make. I might have to write a poem especially about those sand flies 🙂

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