Once a little sugar ant made up his mind to roam-
To fare away, far away, far away from home.

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - sugar ant

He had eaten all his breakfast, and he had his ma’s consent
To see what he should chance to see and here’s the way he went

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - fruit breakfast

Up and down a fern frond, round and round a stone,
Down a gloomy gully where he loathed to be alone,

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - stone

Up a mighty mountain range, seven inches high,
Through the fearful forest grass that nearly hid the sky,

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - grass

Out along a bracken bridge, bending in the moss,
Till he reached a dreadful desert that was feet and feet across.

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - bracken

‘Twas a dry, deserted desert, and a trackless land to tread,
He wished that he was home again and tucked-up tight in bed.

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - bed

His little legs were wobbly, his strength was nearly spent,
And so he turned around again and here’s the way he went-

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - sad ant

Back away from desert lands feet and feet across,
Back along the bracken bridge bending in the moss,

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - bracken

Through the fearful forest grass shutting out the sky,
Up a mighty mountain range seven inches high,

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - grass

Down a gloomy gully, where he loathed to be alone,
Up and down a fern frond and round and round a stone.

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - stone

A dreary ant, a weary ant, resolved no more to roam,
He staggered up the garden path and popped back home.

Poems for Kids The Ant Explorer by CJ Dennis bedtime stories - back home

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE POEM ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Courage, Independent Thinking

1. Why do you think the little sugar ant found some of his adventures so scary?

2. What do you think would have happened if he had kept adventuring?

3. Was it good for him to return home if he was too scared to go on? Why or why not?

Poem for Kids written by CJ Dennis

Illustrations from Rawpixel and Pixabay, with thanks