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O T D S W O Anthology A selection of poems from pupils at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Workington The Project
We were delighted to receive funding from the John S. Cohen Foundation to work on a contemporary poetry project with two Cumbrian schools. Following conversations with Cumbria Advisor, Rachel Laverack, we approached St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary, School, Workington and their feeder school St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School. The aim of the project was to develop the literacy skills of 60 pupils over an eighteen-month period through engaging them in a range of poetry and creative writing activities led by poets and supported by their teachers.
The fundamental relationship was to be between the lead teachers and the poets. The schools selected which poets they wished to work with following information on recommended candidates from the Wordsworth Trust Education Team. St Joseph’s selected to work with poet Clare Shaw and St Patrick’s to work with Katie Hale.
Planning, and the first teacher Continuing Professional Development session, commenced in the summer term of 2016 with the first workshops taking place during the autumn term of 2016. Over the five terms of the project the pupils visited Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum twice and took part in between 12 and 16 workshops each with their designated poet.
This Anthology brings together a collection of the work that the children have produced over that time and celebrates their creativity and progress.
Zoe McLain, The Wordsworth Trust, Education Development Manager March 2018
2 3 Poet Katie Hale and St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School
Katie Hale was born in Cumbria. Her pamphlet, Breaking the Surface, was published by Flipped Eye in 2017. Her work has been published in various journals and magazines, and she has won numerous poetry competitions. Katie also writes fiction and lyrics for musical theatre. She is currently working on a novel called My Name is Monster with Penguin Random House.
Over the past year and a half, Katie has worked with the children from St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School. Together, they have looked at different types of poetry, from sonnets and haiku, to confessional poetry and narrative nonsense poems. They have also learned about different poets, historical and contemporary, and used these poets’ work to inspire their own poems. For this anthology, each pupil has selected and edited their favourite poem from the project.
4 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 5 Friendship Draw My Life
Friendship is the world to me, I am as lazy as a paper maker. Friendship is a never-ending roller-coaster, I am crazy as a pet. Friendship is a heart, I am as pretty as a rose. Friendship is a piece of cake, I am as noisy as an elephant. Friendship is a miracle, I am as dreamy as a long weekend. Friendship is a packet of crisps, I am as freaky as a ghost. Friendship is a disco ball and a dancer, I am as clever as a calculator. Friendship is a solid particle, I am as talented as Britain’s Got Talent. Friendship is pancakes and sugar, My hair is as ginger as a ginger bread man. Friendship is cookies and cream, This is who I am. Friendship is an infinity sign, Friendship is the sun and moon, Friendship is a honeycomb, Sorayah Friendship is a rainbow, Friendship is strong, Friendship is snow, ice and rain, Friendship is sprinkles and cake. Friendship is awesome. Friendship is fun. A Football
The football started to roll away. Laura It was black and white, with spots of red. People kept kicking the ball and it staggered with pain, so it went adventuring and revolving everywhere. But the only bad thing is that the soccer ball tries to stay away from people because 90% of the time it gets kicked about or gets dribbled around. Happiness After a few weeks it started to form legs, it went back to the football pitch and it started happiness is an ever-lasting roller coaster to kick the players. happiness is a peaceful spa Also the ball starts to play football, the other way happiness is balloons floating all around. around the world The football briskly started to kick their legs one by one. happiness is entertainment playing games happiness is joyful playing in But Messi (he is as strong as a rhino) the swimming pool ran over to the ball, happiness is never parted friendship and booted it to space. And that is how it died. happiness is uncomfortable like a bed of straw happiness is an affectionate friend Jenson
Scarlett
6 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 7 Writing My Life Football
I am as crazy as a reptile. The jet-black and snow-white football was on the football pitch. I am as cool as a sports car. The ball felt as soft as a cushion. I am as tall as a giant. When it got kicked, I am as bouncy as a basketball. the kick hurt. I am as weird as a puffer fish. A cap had got thrown on the pitch, I am as scary as a zombie. then the ball said, I am as fast as Usain Bolt. ‘What can I do when I’m blue?’ ‘I can sing man’s not hot!’ he said, as loud as a mouse. Carter While on the other hand, a guy threw KFC on the pitch, but the tomato was orange as an orange! The ball acted like a rock for FK Rad and a pansy Halloween for FK Partizan. The legs of FK Partizan I like to trick or treat on Halloween. were weak and lazy. In the afternoon when it’s dark and cold, Then out of nowhere, the candy gang hunt for the most luxurious candy Alexis Sánchez came wearing Gucci that has ever been seen on Halloween. and kicked Bob in the air. When he landed on Mars, I steal all the candy from yesterday for breakfast. he shouted, ‘Do the Floss then Dab!’ Bob went past all the continents I eat the candy the way a greedy pig eats his swill. two times then landed in America, in Nigahiga’s house The cute, fat pink piggy looks like a pink puffer fish. and he led Nigahiga to Logan Paul’s house, When it grows up I will cherish it, or and that’s how they have the most I’ll just make it into bacon for breakfast. subscribers in YouTube history. Nigahiga and Logan have now flown away with YouTube like a bird, Jessica a miniscule bird.
John
68 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 97 My Dog Fate Poem My Poem about Me
My dog flew over my I am as fast as a cheetah head. It was mischievous because dogs can’t fly right I am as skilful as a ninja and then she was wearing JP Meche and her puppies were wearing I am as strong as Mew Adidas Rambo. Now that was incredible. I am as small as a sapling My dog has super powers, and then she I am as kind as my sister was on two legs playing my piano and singing. I am as cute as a kitten But I sounded like a chipmunk a bit, I am as honest as my mam and I was an otter and as furry as a yeti. I am as talented as a footballer I am as tanned as a brick I am as friendly as a puppy Brandon I am as epic as John Cena That’s all about me!
Kale
Beating Up My Brother
I beat up my brother and then felt bad. My brother is as reckless as a rhino. I beat him up like John Cera. Ali-A Ps4 Controller I jumped on him like I was golden eagle catching a giant spider. The blue controller hid behind the TV We fight in my massive living room. in the evening It has two comfy sofas and a TV. on its own. It was going to bed while its owner We were fighting and we saw a mug on TV. was going to bed. We got confused. Why would a mug be on TV? Why are you using me all the time? Then we noticed something. It was not empty. Ooh what’s this, an XBox One X controller, It was filled with odd looking water. let’s make friends. It looked as mouldy as a 1000-year-old bark Suddenly PS4 was on the floor. that has been burnt in a fire that was caused by Oh no! a firework that was set off by a rich man setting Xbox looks down in dismay the fuse with a lighter. and jumps down to help. ‘I am sor…’ began the Xbox. PS4 quickly interrupts, ‘Oh no you’re not,’ Johnny and so began a long night of arguing. In the morning the Xbox has had enough. And that is how they became enemies.
Elijah
108 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 119 The Dragon
The dragon couldn’t wait to leave the page. and he said yes. We had the best He waited impatiently for of times. We went the man to finish swimming. We went on holidays and all sorts and then he hopped out of the page of things. and he said So then we had dance battles. I am free and he He did the Floss was full of happiness. and I did the What happened next? Dab! Then he saw the wonderful rose gold That is the dragon story. KFC. He was screaming I have found food! and then he went in. William He scared people in KFC and then he saw chicken burgers and he went crunch! And a man lost a shoe. The people almost wet their pants and the shoe was gleaming red. He was so happy he scared the people away so he shot fireworks out of his bottom. They were like a volcano blowing up and deadly missiles. The buildings fell down in three seconds. The firework’s sounds were like the sound of people cheering because reds have scored. And the fireworks were multi-coloured like Sonneti t-shirts and there was a mega mega firework. One of the fireworks was as green as a tree. The dragon found a dead body from the mega mega firework and a leg and then he met me, William, who was as dark as a fish. He thought I was a monster! I was like, what did you call me I am a monster. I said do you want to be my pet
1012 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 1311 I Love Gymnastics Hope
I love to dance at dazzling, delightful dance competitions. Hope is the night sky When I walk through the doors Hope is a bunny hopping around I begin to feel my head going extremely wild. Hope is doughnuts I feel all my excitement building up Hope is a rainbow like a roller coaster going up a hill. Hope is Katie’s enchanting smile When I see my dance friends Hope is friendship it is like a cascade of colours Hope is ice cream with sprinkles exploding everywhere Hope is Christmas the way fireworks cascade into sparks in the sky. Hope is heaven Fizz! The fireworks are like a disappearing rainbow Hope is a puppy in disguise and then ash tumbles from the sky. Hope is kittens When it bursts I want to jump for joy. Hope is fireworks When it stops I begin to feel sorrowful Hope is love like the rain when it falls from the sky. Hope is a unicorn Hope is Netflix Hope is chocolate melting in my heart like a cute puppy Katelyn
Terry-Dee
Rugby Ball
The azure blue rugby ball My Cousin is a high flyer like a man who deploys gravity. As the players put it on the kicking tee Every week I come down the concrete street to meet my cousin. like a squirrel gathering nuts I come to eat my favourite treat and sit at my Grandma’s table. it grew arms and legs My heart will start to beat like when a baseball player beats a ball across and it ran through the dugout and stole a colossal ground and gets a home run with thousands of people a Leeds Rhinos strip and shoes. watching him. Then I will get to see my cute kitten of a cousin. It looked outside and saw a Lamborghini
so it ran towards the car but Aaron it was picked up by a rugby player and it was brought to where it started.
Trent
1412 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 1315 My Heart Leaps Up Peg
Now I am playing for a football team. This roaring splinter-giver will come bashing past you with a fierce I play for Salterbeck FC. ROAR! It will bite your finger off in 0.001 seconds! Not just fingers are We are in the first league. his appetite. He would eat a zoo crocodile family, he is also as choppy In the past I was extremely excited when I got chosen for the team. as them! In the future I want to play for a Premier League team, like Liverpool. We are third in the Premier League. What a machine. He will eat his body weight. He is a pharaoh’s fake The Premier League is as hard as drinking a water bottle in one second, beard clinging on as hard as he can and the pharaoh is crying in pain the water bottle was clear, but he doesn’t know where the pain is. He sounds like a howling dog even though it was only drunk a smear. in the night. A good-looking beard for a disgraceful looking face.
Miller Jake
Friendship Playing Miners Whites
Friendship is the world I love to play Miners Whites on the weekend with white footballs, Friendship is like two peas in a pod when we play like they’re wraiths, Friendship is the infinity sign we score left, right and centre, Friendship is strawberries and chocolate our wingers, midfielders and strikers all played a role, Friendship is night and day we were as dominant as Real Madrid vs Carlisle, Friendship is ice cream and sprinkles we didn’t have to track back much like defenders, Friendship is as amazing as fireworks shooting into the sky we were all goal machines to help us win the game, Friendship is cookies and cream that just came out of the freezer we’ll keep on battling till we’re the best, the way a Spartan defeats a lion as vivacious as a police dog, with all his strength and power, Rihanna performing in front of a sell-out crowd, when he dies the crowd boo, but if he kills the lion the crowd cheer, the crowd applaud him as loud as an elephant stepping on metal.
Tyler
1614 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 1715 My First Cruise A Monkey
I hear the waves crashing against the ship The monkey went to the juice bar. rocking and rolling ‘I want one of those please.’ It was a yellow like a tornado mango smoothie. juicy chicken and pizza The bar tender served it in a soggy thin straws for shoe and a sticky smelly sock. milkshakes He drank it as fast as a cheetah running strawberry, chocolate and through the desert, vanilla. and it started to mess with his mind. I He walked like he was drunk and almost ran as fast fell out of the tree. as And that was how he had a mango smoothie. a cheetah to the ice cream Alex stand, from the horn. Black soot shoots out of it as thick as fog. I stood on a flower I suddenly heard and I felt bad. ding dong It was a big beautiful bundle of joy. this is your captain speaking It had big red petals and golden yellow pollen. we have officially I’m sure 100 bees had landed to get a sip of the sweet run out sweet pollen. of ice cream Why did I ‘intentionally!’ stamp on the flower? in a deep voice, The sight was as horrific as my monstrous face. and this is the I could have stood on that leaf over there. end of the cruise. A crowd of flowers tremble and bawl at the sight of my monstrous face. They probably thought I was a malicious mongoose. Billy Some of them rage, their faces hotter than a stove, faces redder than a poppy’s petals bleeding with sadness.
Oliver
1618 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 1719 I love to play golf To Dave Cryer
I love to play golf in the summer. This is the poet called Dave Me and my dad have the most amazing time you should always obtain ideas from. Hitting golf balls like Tiger Woods, He comes and provides humorous ideas to put in Strolling up to the ball like a cat like pom pom. With black fur and green eyes. The golf ball hurtling down the fairway. People call him Dave Cryer the 3rd. Me beaming that I hit a good shot. You might find he’s as chatty as a bird in the rain forest. As the sun glares through the windows, The rain has now started to get a fat lip. Dave Cryer walks around the classroom But then suddenly starts to smile inspecting like a police man. And it starts…. I don’t know what he has in his CHUCKING IT DOWN! sandwich, probably jam.
I will never forget Dave Cryer, Sophie the poem that made my poetry life better.
Thomas
I love to play tennis
I love to play tennis in summer, when the sun is glistening, towering fences surround us, the turf flies everywhere, the ball flies like the wind, spinning around the pitch, the birds squawking ferociously, the loud lorries hurtle past the way race cars spin round the track, you can hardly see them, they go so fast, the crowd jump up and down like a herd of elephants, sweat dripping from the driver’s face, their families getting emotional like a koala hugging a palm tree the tyre marks look like squid ink that has been spilt.
Grace
2018 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 1921 I Smashed the Pumpkin I smashed a bowl
I felt bad so I went yam marra. and then I felt guilty. The pumpkin was a big fat juicy orange It was a glossy white bowl as white as ivory. shiny thing with a face. It was also my brother’s. It’s an everlasting face always The bowl was slightly bigger than my brothers. watching you! It’s tasty. Well at least to me I know I’m a super smasher, (I almost made pumpkin pie). It wasn’t my marra’s but I really didn’t mean to shatter it. pumpkin, it was the school’s pumpkin or the It was as big as a Queen’s bowl, teacher’s. Now they’re going to put me in I really didn’t like my boring brother’s bowl, detention (I hate detention). But it as round as a football. was Halloween, I was tricking people. The bowl squeaked as it slipped through my hands. I could have been more alert or I could have gotten help. I shouldn’t have smashed school’s pumpkin. I’m so clumsy I can’t help it. They carve it It suddenly just dropped, it slipped through my butter fingers. every single year It felt like an ice cube just slipping right through my hand. but I’m not sure about 1900-1999. It dropped right to the marble floor. It shattered into tiny pieces. I was running across the squishy thing, Now I’m shivering with nerves. I realised I could smash it. It made a massive SMASH! So I did. My mam has arrived yam now, It burst into pieces like a volcano erupting. OH NO! I was like a bull raging at the red cape. I stare at the shattered bowl trying to hold back my tears. My mam looked mad. When my mam is mad she looks as scary as a lion in the dark forest. Brandon I said it was an accident. My mam said it is ok but she is mad because this is my 10th time smashing a bowl.
Annie
2022 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 2321 The Strawberry Dolphin Poem
The strawberry was feeling sad Once upon a time… so he jumped out of the fruit bowl and there is a whale called Ella. She is like decided to take a stroll along the busy road. He thought ‘I need a holiday’ so he went CRAZY across the road to a luxury ice cream place. This is her life as a whale, He ordered an ice cream sundae she is crazy splashing – with caramel sauce and bathed on top of it squawking and cut light blue, looking at the crystal, clear blue sky. everyone thinks she is famous, He felt really happy so he did a cartwheel but I can’t get her to go on a as big as a doughnut. diet – I am trying to get her on He was tired so he went out of the shop, one, no chance, she hates me, he was ready to go back to the fruit bowl she is so sick in the head, until he found a man (one minute later) she has disappeared, with no top half, just legs and shiny shoes. I checked my CCTV, she has gone to He looked like a penguin. The shoe trampled on the poor strawberry DENMARK. and mushed it cautiously to the ground WHAT COME BACK! like when you squish a pen in your molars ELLA, at the back of your mouth. And that was how the strawberry died. I felt like a tiger going down the stairs, stop stop! (one hour later) I can’t find her, I am Daisy going to check the CCTV again, (2 minutes later) she has gone to Asda!
WHAT
She is as big as the shop, how is she going to fit in the shop?
She probably went for food AGAIN! I don’t have a clue why she went there! My voice has gone because I have been shouting.
Meikah
2422 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 2325 The Cricket Ball D for Diamond
The cricket ball went away by The diamond is sparkly like the glamourous sun shining on itself one day all around town. the golden sandy beach and the diamond is as clear as the He tossed and he turned, because he felt joyful bright window. and triumphant. He dreamed of being used for the Ashes, he dreamed of being bowled by Then a happy slug came over and said, ‘Everybody dance Ben Stokes and hit by James Anderson. now!’ (That was embarrassing.) The slug dropped the Instead of being used for Under 11s games, diamond and everybody went ‘huuuh’ and walked home being chucked on the wall. because of the happy slug. They are not even playing proper cricket. Maniacs. He would prefer to be used by professionals The diamond was now smashed, because the slug dropped properly. He wants to swim but when he goes in the the diamond, so that’s the end of this story. I went home water he feels like a kilogram weight. Then Korka sobbing because I loved my precious diamond so much it suddenly notices that he is starting to grow has broken my pearl heart. I am going to cry so much that I arms and legs. He didn’t roll anymore. He walked. am going to flood the house with tears. He walked on, then he saw a big black thing with a hole in it. Korka put one foot in one The sea was softy drifting away to another golden sandy and it felt nice. Then he put his foot in another beach where all of the people had walked away from the one. It felt good. happy slug. He walked for several minutes and he noticed that his legs were shrinking then his arms were. He went back to a plain old cricket ball. Alyssa He rolled and rolled until he met a football called Lucas. They rolled on together until a boy went up and kicked Lucas. The balls collided. Lucas burst and Korka smashed.
That was how Korka spent his day. Worst day ever.
Luke
2624 St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Year 5 2527 Poet Clare Shaw and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School
Clare lives in West Yorkshire with her daughter and two pet rats; she is a keen rock climber and outdoor swimmer. Described by the Arvon Foundation as ‘one of the country’s most dynamic young poets’, she has two previous collections from Bloodaxe: Straight Ahead (2006), which attracted a Forward Prize Highly Commended for Best Single Poem; and Head On (2012), which according to the Times Literary Supplement is: ‘fierce, memorable and visceral’. Clare is a Royal Literary Fellow, and a regular tutor for the Writing Project, the Poetry School, the Wordsworth Trust and the Arvon Foundation. She also works as a mental health trainer, and has published widely in the field, including Otis Doesn’t Scratch (PCCS 2015), a storybook resource for children who live with self-injury.
28 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 29 The journey to the desert I come from
I am on the path. It is muddy. I come from a smackhead town The stones hurt. where teens think that they can do whatever they want. I am passing the dark forest, I come from a class house the loud sound of the stream. in the middle of big houses. I come from a bed. I come from a place where It is hot and stuffy. people get stabbed and murdered. All I can hear is owls. I come from a cold, wet place where all Drake’s songs are playing The smell of trees and sweat – imagine and tunes are banging. having to leave your home I come from a room full of trophies and consoles. I come from a school to a desert with no food where teachers give detention nothing to drink. like there’s no tomorrow. I come from a place where This journey taught me shepherd’s pie gets eaten that the world is a big place. where policemen risk their life for you like PC Parker. I don’t know who it is or what it is or I come from a park. where I am going. I come from mud. I come from a place called home.
Ellie Dalton When we write it all goes silent. Kelvin O Leary I have learned that I can do it if I push myself.
30 31 28 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 29 Isle of Wight I come from Workington
We are in the car now I come from a town but we didn’t start here. that is busy on Fridays and Saturdays. We started from my small house I come from a brown windowed house. in boring old Workington. I come from a warm and friendly neighbourhood. I come from a fabric sofa I can see sheep running I come from my mam’s chicken dinner in front of X Factor. through muddy fields I come from the Sound of Music in my mind. and the sun blazing down on the car. I come from my bed. I come from TV. I come from my Iphone 7-plus Hearing snoring and CFM I come from the River Derwent as we circle I especially belong to my family. another roundabout.
As we get to the port, Abigail Hughes laughing at people parking and rushing I have written a lot of things until my hands ached. I have in case they miss their ferry. now learned more about William Wordsworth and what I can do with my writing skills. Everything’s quiet now, relaxing, as we get to our caravan. Now it’s time to enjoy.
Caitlan Magean I have learnt that I can do anything I put my mind to and I have learnt that anyone can write poetry.
3032 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 3331 I was My first holiday
I was quiet but others We have just boarded this plane were loud. I was and I’m ecstatic. writing but others were talking. I hear the thrusters warming up My hand was up but others were down. like locking a beast in a cage, I volunteer but others decline. the pilot giving safety instructions, I heard voices, they ignoring the crackle in my ears. never hear me. I can see others and they Two hours later, can see me. What am I doing, we have landed. what is this called? I feel like a roast potato.
Seeing the pool, I lit up. Sam McNicholas The blue, sparkling, diamond-like water sending a glisten to my eye.
Learning to swim – I practically grew up there.
I come from Ben Beaty Doing this poetry, we are all friends and we enjoy it. I come from the top of the world. I live at the end of it. I can see everything, I can hear everything. I come from a small building. I come from a statue of an honourable war. I come from the tune of the electronic newspaper. I come from a box with a hand right above me, it stabs me. I come from a bright city protecting me when I sleep.
Sam McNicholas
3234 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 3335 I come from I set sail
I come from a street of seagulls squealing The crying, the dark blue sea. at 5 o’clock in the morning. The salt of the waves. I come from smells, lots of them. I can taste the sadness of ocean I come from food that tickles my throat. I come from rain, day in, day out. and the food I will eat, eventually. I come from the sound of the drier tumbling I feel cold. and the birds singing and the wind howling. I feel lost. I come from bags rattling and doors slamming. I come from the smell of Steak Bakes burning. I feel there will be farms, friends, food I come from people shouting and people singing. in this new country. I come from the smell of the sea on the mountain. I’m afraid.
What if there is no home, Callum Petrie no horses, no nothing? I have learnt that I like poetry. I want to turn back.
Danielle Murray I learnt I could write a poem, I learnt you could write about anything. I come from
I come from a place of magic, full of fear and fright. I come from a red glossy box which stops me from en- tering the real world. I come from a black dark room keeping me inside. I come from my mind, a place full of sadness, Refugees disease which will one day swallow me whole. I come from a lonely place, I see people with pale faces. an abandoned place where my deepest fears are kept. I hear babies crying and dogs barking. I come from a place where nothing exists, I smell fish and the sea where I feel like I belong. and the old man who smells of sweat. I come from the edge I taste the salt water I stand gripping the ground holding myself back. splashing into my mouth. I come from something I will regret. I feel scared that the boat is going to sink. I come from a real life nightmare. I hope that all the people make it there alive. I’m afraid of the dark blue waves.
Chloe Reynolds I remember everyone being creative and making positive Emily Helliwell comments about each other’s work.
3634 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 3735 I woke up Untitled
and the first colour I saw was white - I am Megan, white roof white cloth daughter of Bernadette, dweller of a small town so white and Martin, fixer of machines. I thought I was done for. I hale from the land of kangaroos and the land of the leprechaun. I could hear a beeping sound I wish to achieve intelligence the same beat as my heart and kindness.
I could see the rosy blood dripping down my cold face Megan Lavery
I felt the warmth of my mum’s hands my mum’s tears dripping
I took a deep breath and the doors opened. I come from I come from smackheads down the back alley, old people sat on the steps watching the world go by. Ethan Rickerby Childhood memories fill the house: I learnt to put my painful stories into poems . the little pig that has been there for fifteen years watching us grow up and grow old. I come from hockey trophies on the shelf. I come from spag bol forever being cooked in the pan. Untitled Megan Lavery Up in space, seeing Workington Creativity flows: it doesn’t matter how you interpret it. as a small mouse. When I zoom in, I see a swimming pool splashing like a silly salmon, a scuba diver looking at creatures in the misty sea.
As I jump in, I drown. I’m a cat, trying to get out of the water. The water is blurry as a blind man, stinging like pepper in my eye.
Daniel Johnston I learnt poetry can be anything.
3638 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 3739 Untitled Sheep
I was told I had freedom. A mountain top of frost Freedom to write what I wanted. to the warm ground of Egypt. No ticking boxes. A journey of miles. No boring old exams. I could imagine and dream. I am put through ‘this’ – this I do not want to do. Loving houses, nurturing families This I call slavery. best friends close friends back street busy street To put me through this journey is too much. it’s dark Leaving my warm and homely mud behind cold christmas with its sweet scent that only I like. got detail cars screaming and my garden grass kids crying worried people with the same taste every day. blood suffocating I’m To go to new sands choking red lights for a king of sorts. hurried fight I’ve learned pain filling the car that leaving your home is hard. speeding the emergency room smell of diseases and death Dylan Turner no more blood Warm and welcome in the poetry group – whispers and stitches closing the wound chats with friends. closing the pain at the start all red no sight in the emergency room no pain only joy my joy
Jude Nicholson
40 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 41 Rocky The Bad News
I was approaching a small building. My mam and dad called me, told me It was bumpy and had a red roof. to come downstairs. I walked down I came up to the door and opened it slowly, (I knew what was going to happen) walked into the living room. my legs shaking. The lower I got, A black puppy ran in greeting me. the darker it became. He smelt bad but had healthy fur. I was on the last step. His breath was rotten cheese, his legs were bruised. If I kept going But his eyes were black pearls where light reflected I would fall into a big black hole. blinding everyone around. There were voices in my head telling me It’s okay, go. I could taste sick in the back of my throat. Cameron Gair I went down the last step. I walked down the hall, my legs getting weaker by the second. I kept walking, I sat on the sofa I come from in the darkest place in my house, in the living room. They told me. I come from a cold town. I couldn’t stop crying. I come from a very polluted town. I sat and stared at the telly I come from a town where not everyone gets along. thinking about what was going to happen. I come from a street where most parents are useless. The telly screen was black, dark. I come from a warm house with a great welcome Death. where I spend most of my time. I come from a hospital. I come from silence, the only music I listen to. Ellie Benson I come from the taste of Pepsi. I come from the trees. The people I became friends with are amazing people I come from the road to the sea. who should be proud of themselves.
Cameron Gair I’ve learnt that Anglo Saxons liked writing with a “writing sword”.
42 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 43 Untitled The Journey from Home to School
The street dimly lit Look for the light – no, by cracked lights. there’s none. The trees blocked the moonlight. Just darkness.
The sound of the machines from the factories, It’s a dread, a pain. the leaves crackling. Time passes The cold air brushing past my face. and the bell draws closer.
The temptation to run The place loved as the footsteps came closer. by few My heart racing. and hated by many.
The emotions – hate, anger and pain. The car draws you nearer, The feeling of impact. like something from a nightmare. The words don’t fall One that never stops.
over and over again. Walking away into to the darkness Caitlin Parker with a sense of defeat. I’ve learnt how to write in depth using my senses, how to look at the outside with a different perspective. The disappointment as I tell my dad.
Nathaniel Riach The knowledge of how to create things on the spot, that there are two sides of you.
44 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 45 Untitled Untitled
Silence, silence is all that can be heard. If we are found, anything All I can see is the tops of the bars could happen – but one things for certain, things will never be the and the rugby behind the swings and the climbing frame, same again. the obstacle course as the sun glistens on the silver slide There’s a woman in front of me holding her child’s hand as tightly as this winter’s morning. she can. The child’s face that is supposed to be filled with happiness and joy has been replaced with dread and fear. The red gate and fence, the bright yellow monkey bars Everyone has the same expression: men, women and children. The old remind me of my childhood. and the young. Cold lifeless faces unsure of what will happen. I hear the birds chirping, cars zooming, footsteps. Everyone here has a story, some more violent and gruesome than others. Some which would chill you to the bone. My eye catches the sun as it shines on the metal bars of the swing. My children are dead, my life is missing and my home is destroyed. I The gate squeaks as it swings open. just wish this had never happened. I want to go home. My hands touch the cold climbing frame. The bridge is thin and wobbly. I remember running to my children. I held them both tightly as the The smell of the fresh morning dew sparkle died out in their eyes, as they slowly faded away. reminds me
A tear rolls down my eye. I want to go home, I want to go home. of the crisp winter’s morning, when I stepped on the grass and it crunched. There was a statue with bricks that had markings Daniel Cunningham and the water on top We have learnt a lot and experienced so much with different poets had ripples that no-one could see. like Wordsworth, and techniques to make our work stronger This was my childhood. These were my memories.
Ellie English The people are friendly and kind. Some are quiet, some loud, but that’s who we are. I’ve learnt to just let go.
46 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 47 I come from Syria
I come from a street where one side is smackheads, I can see people panicking I come from a mixture of darkness and light. as we cross the sea. I come from a place of old people and cups of hot chocolate. The wind is blowing I come from a pebble dashed house and three gardens. the strong smell of salt in my face. I come from the Symphony of Destruction. I can hear people crying and screaming. I come from Yorkshire puddings, chips and gravy. I am terrified of dying. I come from a bedroom with grey walls and red sheets. I can taste salt on my lips I come from the sea and the mountains. and the air on the back of my throat. It’s not much but it’s where I come from. I am leaving behind my home which has probably been destroyed by now. I hope I will never experience this again. Matthew Forsyth I’m afraid it will happen again. Old friends and new friends in this group
Matthew Graham I can remember the first time I wrote in this fresh book.
I come from
I come from a street with multicoloured houses. I come from uneven ground and chipped paint. I come from a blazing fire and a lazy dog. I come from a bedroom with everything pink and pretty. I come from the smell of chlorine, heaps of broken goggles and ripped swimming caps. I come from round by the co-op. I come from shepherd’s pie and peas for tea. I come from opposite the nameless hill. I come from home.
Scarlett Benson Pen on the paper, writing whatever, I’ve never been happier
48 St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Year 8 49 With Thanks
The Wordsworth Trust would like to thank everyone involved in making this project happen. We would like to give particular thanks to the lead teachers from St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Zoe Whitehead and Jake Heron; and from St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, Gemma Jones and Laura Whelan. Their support for the project and their partnership with poets Katie Hale and Clare Shaw has been fundamental. Katie and Clare have devised and delivered a huge range of fantastic workshops over five terms, exposing the pupils to a real range of contemporary and historical poetry. The children have responded by creating some really lovely work of their own, a selection of which we have been delighted to collect into this anthology.
Thanks also to Cumbria Advisor Rachel Laverack for making the first approach to these schools; and for the design of this book by Jeanette Edgar.
Finally, without funding from the John S. Cohen Foundation this project would never have taken place and we are hugely grateful to them for this financial support.
The copyright remains with the writers and photographers.
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