15 Children’s Poems About The Beach

For kids who have a deep love for the ocean, short and sweet ocean poems about life for kids are the perfect resource to ignite their imaginations. This thoughtfully curated collection includes beautiful odes to majestic lighthouses, powerful and calming oceans, mysterious ship remnants, and captivating stories about the diverse animals that inhabit the sea. Each poem brings to life the magic and wonders of the ocean, offering children an engaging way to learn about its beauty, its creatures, and its mysteries. Through these fun, educational, and imaginative children’s beach poems, kids can embark on a journey of discovery, exploring the fascinating world beneath the waves and fostering a lifelong appreciation for the ocean.

Best Ocean Poems for Children

The best winter ocean poems for kids can pique the attention of any youngster who has an interest in aquatic life. For instance, there are three species of nudibranch in the ocean, each of which has a mouth the size of a planet. With the help of these simple ocean poems, your youngster will develop an awareness of the ocean’s wonders and inhabitants.

Here are 15 well-known deep short ocean poems that will transport your kid to the depths of the sea.

1. Amos Russel Wells’ – The Stars Above the Sea

Far, far away one mystery greets
Another vast and high,
The infinite of waters meets
The infinite of sky.

The stars are singing hymns of calm
Above the sea’s unrest;
Can ever that majestic psalm
Dwell in the ocean’s breast?

What far horizon dim and low
The sweet solution finds,
Where earth’s tumultuous yearnings know
The peace of heavenly minds?

And still the sky’s imperial grace
The tossing ocean mars;
We cannot see the meeting place,
But we can see the stars.

2. Lisa A. Syroka’s – The Ocean

Blue and turquoise,
Complexion of beauty,
Waves that move so soft and smooth,
In a gust of wind,
Picks you up in inspiration,
Of whom you are as a person.
Deep and mellow is the ocean,
To everything below sea level,
Thoughts of interest,
May provoke this feeling of greatness,
Don’t be afraid,
Of what the ocean may offer.
Hold yourself in the movements of the feeling,
Of how good the touches of the waves feel on your body.
Only imagine what would happen,
If the ocean would take you,
And then only think of what a new and exciting adventure,
You may behold on a journey through an ocean.

3. Kristie Raburn’s – In The Sea

If I’d been born a whale
No happier could I be
Swimming, splashing, spy hopping
Roaming the open sea

If I’d been born a lobster
No happier could I be
Crawling along the ocean floor
Living in the sea

If I’d been born a seahorse
No happier could I be
Swimming among the rocks and plants
At the bottom of the sea

But I was born a human and
No happier could I be
Because I can swim in the ocean
And see what’s in the sea

4. Kristin Martin’s – Walk by the Sea

I went for a walk
alone by the sea
but the water kept me company.

I whispered to it
as I walked on its sand
and told it of all the things I planned.

It whispered to me
as I walked on its shore
and told me secrets from long before.

I went for a walk
with my friend the sea
and we kept each other company.

5. Emily Dickinson’s By The Sea

I started early, took my dog,
And visited the sea;
The mermaids in the basement
Came out to look at me.

And frigates in the upper floor
Extended hempen hands,
Presuming me to be a mouse
Aground, upon the sands.

But no man moved me till the tide
Went past my simple shoe,
And past my apron and my belt,
And past my bodice too,

And made as he would eat me up
As wholly as a dew
Upon a dandelion’s sleeve —
And then I started too.

And he — he followed close behind;
I felt his silver heel
Upon my ankle, — then my shoes
Would overflow with pearl.

Until we met the solid town,
No man he seemed to know;
And bowing with a mighty look
At me, the sea withdrew.

6. Thomas Bailey Aldrich’s – The Voice of the Sea

In the hush of the autumn night
I hear the voice of the sea,
In the hush of the autumn night
It seems to say to me—
Mine are the winds above,
Mine are the caves below,
Mine are the dead of yesterday
And the dead of long ago!
And I think of the fleet that sailed
From the lovely Gloucester shore,
I think of the fleet that sailed
And came back nevermore!
My eyes are filled with tears,
And my heart is numb with woe
It seems as if ‘t were yesterday,
And it all was long ago!

7. Robert Louis Stevenson’s – At The Seaside

When I was down beside the sea
A wooden spade they gave to me
To dig the sandy shore.
My holes were empty like a cup.
In every hole the sea came up
Till it could come no more.

8. Sir Charles George Douglas Roberts’- Grey Rocks, And Greyer Sea

Grey rocks, and greyer sea,
And surf along the shore —
And in my heart a name
My lips shall speak no more.
The high and lonely hills
Endure the darkening year —
And in my heart endure
A memory and a tear.
Across the tide a sail
That tosses, and is gone —
And in my heart the kiss
That longing dreams upon.
Grey rocks, and greyer sea,
And surf along the shore —
And in my heart the face
That I shall see no more.

9. William Shakespeare’s – Full Fathom Five Thy Father Lies

Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell:
Ding-dong.
Hark! now I hear them,—ding-dong, bell.

10. Pablo Neruda’s – Leaning Into the Afternoons

Leaning into the afternoons,
I cast my sad nets towards your oceanic eyes.
There, in the highest blaze my solitude lengthens and flames;
Its arms turning like a drowning man’s.
I send out red signals across your absent eyes
That wave like the sea, or the beach by a lighthouse.
You keep only darkness my distant female;
From your regard sometimes, the coast of dread emerges.

Leaning into the afternoons,
I fling my sad nets to that sea that is thrashed
By your oceanic eyes.
The birds of night peck at the first stars
That flash like my soul when I love you.
The night, gallops on its shadowy mare
Shedding blue tassels over the land.

11. Katherine Mansfield’s –  A Little Boy’s Dream

To and fro, to and fro
In my little boat I go
Sailing far across the sea
All alone, just little me.
And the sea is big and strong
And the journey very long.
To and fro, to and fro
In my little boat I go.

Sea and sky, sea and sky,
Quietly on the deck I lie,
Having just a little rest.
I have really done my best
In an awful pirate fight,
But we captured them all right.
Sea and sky, sea and sky,
Quietly on the deck I lie–

Far away, far away
From my home and from my play,
On a journey without end
Only with the sea for friend
And the fishes in the sea.
But they swim away from me
Far away, far away
From my home and from my play.

Then he cried “O Mother dear.”
And he woke and sat upright,
They were in the rocking chair,
Mother’s arms around him–tight.

12. Carl Sandburg’s – All Day Long

All day long in fog and wind,
The waves have flung their beating crests
Against the palisades of adamant.
My boy, he went to sea, long and long ago,
Curls of brown were slipping underneath his cap,
He looked at me from blue and steely eyes;
Natty, straight and true, he stepped away,
My boy, he went to sea.
All day long in fog and wind,
The waves have flung their beating crests
Against the palisades of adamant.

13. Sarojini Naidu’s – The Coromandel Fishers 

Rise, brothers, rise; the wakening skies pray to the morning light,
The wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn like a child that has cried all night.
Come, let us gather our nets from the shore and set our catamarans free,
To capture the leaping wealth of the tide, for we are the kings of the sea!

No longer delay, let us hasten away in the track of the sea gull’s call,
The sea is our mother, the cloud is our brother, the waves are our comrades all.
What though we toss at the fall of the sun where the hand of the sea-god drives?
He who holds the storm by the hair, will hide in his breast our lives.

Sweet is the shade of the cocoanut glade, and the scent of the mango grove,
And sweet are the sands at the full o’ the moon with the sound of the voices we love;
But sweeter, O brothers, the kiss of the spray and the dance of the wild foam’s glee;
Row, brothers, row to the edge of the verge, where the low sky mates with the sea.

14. Walt Whitman’s – After The Sea-Ship

After the Sea-Ship—after the whistling winds;
After the white-gray sails, taut to their spars and ropes,
Below, a myriad, myriad waves, hastening, lifting up their necks,
Tending in ceaseless flow toward the track of the ship:
Waves of the ocean, bubbling and gurgling, blithely prying,
Waves, undulating waves—liquid, uneven, emulous waves,
Toward that whirling current, laughing and buoyant, with curves,
Where the great Vessel, sailing and tacking, displaced the surface;
Larger and smaller waves, in the spread of the ocean, yearnfully flowing;
The wake of the Sea-Ship, after she passes—flashing and frolicsome, under the sun,
A motley procession, with many a fleck of foam, and many fragments,
Following the stately and rapid Ship—in the wake following.

15. Thomas Love Peacock’s – Beyond the Sea 

Beyond the sea, beyond the sea,
My heart is gone, far, far from me;
And ever on its track will flee
My thoughts, my dreams, beyond the sea.

Beyond the sea, beyond the sea,
The swallow wanders fast and free:
Oh, happy bird! were I like thee,
I, too, would fly beyond the sea.

Beyond the sea, beyond the sea,
Are kindly hearts and social glee:
But here for me they may not be;
My heart is gone beyond the sea.

How to Teach Ocean Poems to Your Child

Teaching ocean poems to your child can be a fun and enriching experience. By incorporating these interactive and engaging methods, you can spark their curiosity and deepen their understanding of the ocean.

1. Start with Simple Poems

Begin with short, easy-to-understand ocean poems. These will help your child become familiar with the rhythm and language of poetry without feeling overwhelmed.

2. Use Visual Aids

Show your child pictures or videos of the ocean, lighthouses, and sea creatures to make the poems come alive. This will help them visualize the words and understand the imagery.

3. Read Aloud Together

Read the ocean poems aloud with your child, emphasizing different tones and rhythms. This will make the poems more engaging and help your child develop an ear for poetic language.

4. Connect with Nature

If possible, take your child to the beach or a nearby aquarium. Experiencing the ocean in person can enhance their connection to the poems and bring the words to life.

5. Encourage Creative Expression

Invite your child to draw or paint scenes from the poems. Creative activities can help them better understand the poems’ themes and express their interpretations.

6. Write Your Own Ocean Poems

Once your child is comfortable reading ocean poems, encourage them to try writing their own. This can be a wonderful way for them to personalize their learning and develop their creativity.

FAQs

1. What are the benefits of introducing ocean poems to children?

Introducing ocean poems to children can help them develop language skills, creativity, and an understanding of nature. It can also enhance their knowledge of marine life, promote environmental awareness, and nurture a love for poetry and the ocean.

2. How can ocean poems help children develop emotional intelligence?

Ocean poems often explore themes of nature’s beauty, mystery, and tranquillity, which can help children connect with their emotions. Through these poems, children can learn to express feelings of wonder, awe, and curiosity, which fosters emotional growth.

3. Can ocean poems be used as a tool for teaching conservation?

Yes, ocean poems can serve as a gentle introduction to environmental education. They can raise awareness about ocean conservation, the importance of protecting marine ecosystems, and humans’ role in preserving the planet.

4. How can ocean poems encourage imaginative play?

Ocean poems often depict vivid, imaginative scenes of the sea, which can inspire children to engage in creative play. Children may pretend to be explorers, sailors, or marine animals, allowing them to use their imagination while reinforcing what they’ve learned from the poems.

These poems take many forms and can be used to soothe kids before bed. Some are simple and contemplative about the sea, while others are about the many things that can happen underwater. You can read along these to your kid to help them fall asleep. These will calm your little one and help you get a good night’s sleep.

Also Read:

Holiday Poems for Children
Sweet Weather Poems for Kids
Nature Poems for Children
Poems about Animals for Children

Our Editorial Policy

Parenting is a huge responsibility, for you as a caregiver, but also for us as a parenting content platform. We understand that and take our responsibility of creating credible content seriously. FirstCry Parenting articles are written and published only after extensive research using factually sound references to deliver quality content that is accurate, validated by experts, and completely reliable. To understand how we go about creating content that is credible, read our editorial policy here.