Today I want to celebrate the poetry of Hilaire Belloc, another poet I recall from my school days. Our teachers often read his poems to us to remind us to behave ourselves otherwise horrid things might befall us. Apart from intriguing poems, with such a distinctive name, Hilaire Belloc was hard to forget. Born near Paris, France, on July 27, 1870, Hilaire Belloc was raised in England, but remained a French citizen until 1902.  He is best known for his poetry anthology,  ‘Cautionary Tales for Children (1907)  It was a collection of satirical tales of caution based on the popular tales of the 19th century. Belloc wrote his cautionary poems in rhyming couplets. They were gruesome and funny at the very same time. Many of the children appeared to have a strong wicked streak about them.  Belloc is also known for his illustrated 1896 children’s book, ‘The Bad Child's Book of Beasts.’  It was a collection of poems that gave humourous advice to child...

A Cautionary Tale-Desmond Dove's Demise I have always enjoyed the cautionary tales made famous by writers such as Hilaire Belloc and Ogden Nash. Cautionary tales were designed for the admonition of children and were quite popular more than a hundred years ago. Belloc's  Matilda  (who told lies and got burned) and Nash's  Isabella  (who didn't care) have always resonated for me. It was the writing of these authors that spurred me to write some cautionary tales of my own. The poem I'm sharing today is about a boy called Desmond. DESMOND DOVE'S DEMISE   A child that only a mother could love Was an apt description for Desmond Dove  With a rough tough head and hair so wooly -Desmond was a fearsome bully Every day around the school Desmond’s reign was oh so cruel In line, Des knocked heads together And then announced – Boy, aren’t I clever! He stole food from little kids Then bopped them with their lunchbox lids He ...