1 The Key to Unlock Us
The Sixth Anthology by Students of The Complete Works
Edited by Christian Foley
2 © 2020 The Complete Works All Rights Reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright owners.
A catalogue record for this book is available for the British Library
ISBN
Edited by Christian Foley Designed and typeset by Christian Foley Cover image by Rabia Anisha
3 “Key is the key word to help unlock our inner selves” –
Seteeva Rodriguez
4 Christian Foley, Poet in Residence Introduction from the Editor
Books have the power to change the world. Our school has published five previously. The five introductions to those books, though different, have in some way, emphasised that key point. Books have power the change the world.
Yet, this year is different. We have to ask, when the world changes all by itself, as it has in 2020, what is the role of the book? How do we reflect our new and transformed realities? The future has never been a place of certainty, yet now, the future appears to be behind a locked door; the view of it more obscure than ever.
In the year of lockdown, it is easy to feel remote. Despite our dependence on wifi, it is easy to feel disconnected. More than ever, it became imperative to find a way to alleviate our isolation. Despite our physical and (social) distancing, as a school, how could we still find a sense of togetherness, even when alone?
The answer to the question, as it often does, came from a student. Writing is the key to unlock us. Not just writing, but all self-expression. It is creativity that provides escapism, when we cannot escape; it is creativity that gives us freedom, when the house becomes, as one student put it: personal prison. Creativity was the key to open that door. It is this belief that forms the ethos of our school.
5 This belief was also the key to unlocking this book. It made me realise what the particular purpose of this work was. This year, it was the chance for our students to each tell their individual story, yet to feel part of something larger.
The pandemic partially permeates this work, it is sometimes in the foreground, and addressed directly, as it is in Alfie Kirkham’s Covid piece. It is sometimes in the background, the indirect tormentor and inflictor of boredom, as it is in Anthony Sulal’s Insanity. In other cases, it is not mentioned at all. Our students have tackled the topics that are important to them, and these topics are wide-ranging.
The keys in this book, open doors into different places. There are discussions of family life, advice on the dangers of the road and descriptions of what it’s like to be young person in 2020, London. But it’s not all rooted in the real world. There are ice cream raps, there are journeys to distant galaxies, there are short stories of future worlds, and vignettes of subtle memories.
We all have different selves, that when unlocked by different keys, show different forms of expression. It is this difference, that our school, and this book celebrates. Even though this book was composed remotely, when the words are gathered together, they exist as one. Welcome to The Key to Unlock Us.
6 Phil Richards, Founder of The Complete Works Foreword
Projects such as this one, give me faith in humanity! In the midst of all this locking away and social distancing we have still found creative ways to come together. We may not have had the freedom from the confines of our homes, but we still have our freedom of expression. This anthology, like many others before it, demonstrates the depth of intelligent enquiry and creative imagination which characterises students at The Complete Works. It is a testimony to their ability to achieve at the highest level.
In the words of Nelson Mandela "Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do."
I hope you enjoy this collection of artistic endeavours as much as I have done and that it will inspire, motivate and entertain you during these challenging times.
7
Figure 1 Artwork by Art Fitzgerald McShane
8 The Key to Unlock Us Seteeva Rodriguez
The key to unlock us the way out key is the key word to help unlock our inner selves unlock us from our personal prison us we, you - can help others release their inner selves.
The key to unlock us.
9 Dear Reader Aidan O’ Connor
The story of me. The first page was back in the day when I was born, 2001 in Homerton. But my story doesn’t technically begin there… I am the child of my mum. She is a miracle, in a long line of miracles. A strong woman, from a strong line of women.
Homerton, is a place full of stories. And I don’t just mean the tower blocks, walk on its greyness and you see so much on these streets, some good, some bad. There are school kids with rucksacks, and drug addicts with crack pipes. There are police in vans, there are young boys on BMX’s pedalling towards trouble. There are breakfast cafes and council houses, the type of houses that are falling down. On some buildings, the architecture is state of the art, on some it as an estate with no art. Look at these Cul-De-Sacs. They are literally dead ends. The ends of the dead. There are boys with blades, there are football pitches with no grass, they call them cages. A cage is sort of designed to contain. Writing is the key to unlocking us.
This a country, where they place the poor in poor places. Refugees who, if they are not turned away, come off boats, to live cargo-like in shipping freight housing. The people in power are corrupted by the power they hold. It is like wearing a glove, one that you cannot take off, that begins to direct the actions of the hand it encloses. Aidan
10 11 I am Thought Lily Woodlock Kachere
Deep down in my stomach rumbles fear. Emotion-spreader. I am the invisible. The dark-farmer. Bubble-blower. I am the red in your eyes. The blue in your dreams. Black-deep. Your yellow-clean. Scratching my throat is excitement. I am the gravity, the up-lifter. Watchful-eye. Peace-bringer. I’m thick and thin; your younger, your older. I run through your brains. I run through your veins. Blood-saver. Line-blurrer. I am your guardian and your demons A dark-saviour. A light-breaker. Truth and wisdom Knowledge-holding, I ground you. Ballooning - I feel you. Colour and imaginations. Power sits deep in my fingers. I am the different; the connection. I am thought.
12 Ocean Alfie Kirkham
Thinking about my life, How am I supposed to make it right? I don’t know if the damage can be repaired Reminiscing why are we alive? Dreaming about things that aren’t actually real Love is a drug but even with trust I don’t get enough
Used to have knives being thrown in my back Call me target practice, man its very scary Life when you know you’re not living right Demons in my mind Forcing me into painting pictures of dark nights not a Better life I can’t shake that feeling Yeah, I mean lifting, Drifting hieroglyphs on written walls Pause, so distraught Feel like I have been pulled apart How am I even going to start to explain How this became so tough, how we all have enough Of this ignorance is bliss but not for me Can you see that I’m a clone? Bury my head under the sun waiting for it To burn the clouds away to take its turn like Russian roulette I push away regret Except it’s a single player game
13 Waiting impatient trying to control and console my brain
The trauma that you see in my eyes World steady filled with lies But like a Lion I have pride, All a man can do is try.
Switching topics, I’ve got the courage I’ve got this I carry on, I keep going I never felt like this long ago Before I was a shy person, Now I’m standing at my show Letting you know, the potion of my mixed emotions.
Keys lead us to freedom And birds are born with wings for a reason, That reason is motion I keep it moving, like the waves upon the ocean.
14 Poem for Father’s Day and World Conflicts Owen Darlow
My love for you is bigger than the Milky-way (our Galaxy) we love you millions I love saying, ‘‘Mucho Gusto’ ‘Muy Bueno’ Father's day is great. No matter what happens, we love each other billions Every day you say take your tablets and I always do it so late.
Leverage. ‘Leeway’ We’d go bowling and knock down more than one skittle. Or we’d go on an aeroplane and travel to Ireland. Vouch for each other always no matter how brittle or little Every place is good no matter in dirt with roses or beaches with sand.
Eminem. Stormzy. All rich and famous. All stars.. All of us are unique, all equal. Your key power is your dedication Cool concepts. Cause and effect. Positivity gives positive outcomes and no scars. Hate creates hate. Snowball effect. We are all equal and should be united. Our generation.
15 Paradox Owen Darlow
Love in war also hate. ‘I must be cruel to be kind’. ‘All animals are equal, but some more equal than others’ us the human race. No end without a beginning. America is never at peace. War is all you find. We are all lied to. Everyday. ‘No sacrifice too great’ Never a good time or place. ‘I shut my eyes so that I can see’ that space I want. In war ‘silence is deafening’ Rich vs Poor. Day vs Night. Good vs Evil. Can’t exist without each other. ‘Masters can’t be masters without slaves’ War is our beckoning. War creates and destroys. ‘It is the fuel of change’ but leaves a son-less mother. Brave Men are men who charge into battle Without being told No fear, no hesitation, no regard for the enemy. No master but yet get sold, Refusal is treachery. Love in war also hate. ‘I must be cruel to be kind’. War…is all you find.
16 An Honest Man Comes From His Heart Zahir Yaseen Rahman
Call me a failure but I’m not something to objectify These words are a representation Not something to define me by Call me big because we stepped in this, blessed These words move in silence like the words on a test I’m a man with the gloves Ringside I use it to get my rest I’m a guest to the ring Crime removed my stress Call me a hypocrite, I invest into love Boxing random people seemed kinda rough But an honest man comes from his heart not his fists Because he can open up and I’ll try to assist In a world where your Idol lies Can’t always trust the guys that you idolise
17
Insanity Anthony Sulal
I woke up this morning with scratch on my head Who would scratch me at days dawning? Casper the ghost above my bed I'm losing my grip on reality Oh Damn G! So I have to focus on my education Trapped in Jumanji Got to think of a plan B Then try to do plan c I’m losing my grip on reality Locked down in Insanity
18
Covid-19 Alfie Kirkham
COVID messed up lives, Till the point where some do die, Family members yeah they cry We can’t even socialise
Food is scarce and people fight, Virus yeah it’s on the rise, We could have prevented it but never tried, Government feeds us so much lies
Planes are locked off and none of them are in the sky None one can escape and fly Can’t even leave this world without saying bye
And that’s what I’m fearing If we don’t act fast this ailment Will never ever be clearing These massive warnings from other countries Never got one hearing
It spreads so quickly like a bullet when it be piercing It’s all flesh that’s tearing this world needs more then repairing that is what WHO is declaring NHS trying to keep it all together even with all this bearing
I know it sounds daring
19 But what are we supposed to do When this disease is on the move Step into someone else’s shoes How are we supposed prove That humans can get through this
When souls is all that we lose Earth webbed off like a recluse
Cause I’m hiding While this is sickness is multiplying Businesses shut down and they are reclining Just like everyone else Promises of Testing kits will be out soon So get out your cocoon
Now me and the Devil dance Also at a glance These leaders have their nations in a trance And there is my stance
Hancock claims we have enough ventilators I don’t want to be a hater But it’s this is getting really frustrating Doctors and nurses patiently waiting
Especially when it comes to PPE Putting in their lives online can’t you see These workers are key Get them tested before you get round to me
This virus was never going to vanish in May
20 Tell the public the truth and stop selling lies from today I don’t want to see nobody in dismay When we get that second wave Cause it was expected The vulnerable are being rejected, Neglected, Affected to point where they are being infected, How much pain has been directed
Gov do really get the message Cause it’s depressing
And you know what’s messed up Lungs collapse, and your blood all clot up Like your chest been all knocked up then it shuts down
Cause it’s had enough It sounds so tough this is the reality we face 4 months down the line
Now everything is going back normal, Boris ensures it’s fine, The virus deaths on a steady decline, But what doesn’t add up How the lack of equipment from Turkey was justified Or how this tracing app doesn’t even work right Testing kits giving of false readings What’s even the meaning
21 All these excess deaths should have Whitty held for treason Let’s get straight to facts, Brazil is on the collapse Trump still out here talking smack in their habitat Talk of mutation of influenza And trust me nobody wants any of that
This isn’t under control Borders open, having the virus unfold Scared so much, don’t know what the future holds…
22 Little Old Me Harry McGrath
Its H from SE16 I’m on the mic but I’m just 15 Millwall that’s my team They play at The Den yeah that's my dream
Where live that's a nightmare There's so many gangs so I walk round scared When u walk round here u have to see clear So you have to use your eyes and ears Kids carry blades just to be feared Mums at the graves crying their tears
There’s protests on these streets This is all because of the Police They killed an innocent man, they killed him Racism, all because the colour of his skin
I feel ashamed that somebody could do that These people need to listen to some 2pac No matter about the colour of your skin We both bleed blood that is red within
U have to keep your head up don't give in Whatever life throws at you know you’re the king All these young kids having babies too young but please remember what is done is done
23 Don't get dragged into the streets This world just needs some peace These kids are already in too deep They are drowning in the depths These kids are causing their parents debt If these kids carry on they are going to end up dead
Drugs some people think they are good But when they end up in the hood Young boys and girls start selling them But the sad thing is they will start taking them
I get it's hard for people If their parents are drug addicts Broken homes looking for a fix Young kids feel like they need to rob because they never had money growing up If you feel like you’re struggling look up to God And if it helps put down the pot
Despite all the problems you may face And the gang members who were blind Learned how to find grace And most of these boys need to know When enough is enough They honestly need to find some love
That’s something my dad told me
That's something the world taught me There’s some advice from little old me.
24 A Cool Song Romario Morgan-Shaw
My name is Romario On the track like Mario So sweet like Haribo Green light, I am on the go
My favourite food is apple pie Cheerios at breakfast time Oranges at break time Fruit salad in summertime Ice cream flavour bubble-gum
One scoop or a double one? Plain and lemon, you’re a fool That’s what I tell my teacher at school
Eating ice cream all day long That’s why this is a cool song!
25 Soul Song Jack Craig
I was feeling kind of something That I could never work out And I saw you next to Morning Lane And it gave my heart a workout
Like oh my god this is the one oh my god this is the one Now I just do what I want Now I just do what I want
I was feeling kind of nothing Until I met you and I turned round You came along and changed the game And it gave my heart a workout
Like oh my god this is the one oh my god this is the one Now I just do what I want Now I just do what I want
I was feeling kind of shady Cos I really thought my chance was slim You only get one shot like crazy And I’m gonna take mine and win
Like oh my god this is the one oh my god this is the one Now I just do what I want Now I just do what I want
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Figure 2 Moments in Time by Dominic Simpson
27 Jason’s Rap Jason Pereira
My name’s Jason, they call me Plozzy That’s my gamer tag, if you wonder where was he? I was playing Fortnite, all night For a fortnight, life is alright
Tracksuit all Nike, my man united They’re doing alright, but not exciting I’m on the ball like Paul Pogba, in front of goal man I’m a soldier
Man, I’m a soldier
My name’s Jason, surname Pereira I’m on the ball like Herrera Sometimes I’m a warrior, other times a carer Sometimes a keeper, sometimes a sharer
My shoes are Puma, I copped me some new ones Looking all my fresh listen with my new song This is my new one Hip hop classical, you can get a move on
Ny names Jason, I’m a producer I make beats on the computer I’ve made music in the past, This is my present
I am the future.
28 Sunshine Syed Miah
School is good I feel good when I am at home My home is where is my family live What I love about my family is
My mum cooks me big curries My dad works for me, gets me free food from PFC In Bromley by Bow I’m just here to let you know
My favourite colour is silver My favourite car is a lambo My favourite animal is a cat My favourite singer is Justin Bieber My favourite TV show is Adam He’s a YouTuber
I like the sunshine Sunshine makes me feel thumbs up
Which means good.
29 The disappearing Fish & Chips Shelleylou Morgan
It was 7 am when my alarm clock sounded that sharp pitch which would deafen anyone who didn’t know how to switch it off immediately. I was super excited for the day ahead; we were going on an adventure. Our destination was Atlantic Bay, a large beach just an hour’s drive away from our crumbly, cosy and sea battered cottage on the Fowey estuary. After a hearty breakfast of toasted waffles with Nutella and bananas and a glass of apple juice to wash it down, we packed our beached bags and were out of the door by 9:15 am. Up we climbed to the village car park, which is situated at the top of the biggest, tallest, most dangerous hill there was on this side of the estuary. It took us as little kids of just 8 and 9 an eternity to climb this hill when in reality it took 10 mins. At last we had reached our car, a small family Mini Cooper Clubman in sparkling purple. We dumped our bag in the boot and got into our allocated seats. It was 9:25 am and we were finally off on our adventure. The car was beginning to get hot. The black interior of the sun was attracting all the sun like, this made the seats on which our bottoms were situated nice and toasty.
After what seemed like a whole day to us excited kids in the back, we arrived at our destination, The amazing Atlantic Bay. Atlantic Bay was the biggest beach on this side of the Cornish coast, with its soft sand and big waves it's the perfect beach to get away for the day. We got out of the car with great anticipation. Flying to the
30 boot as our little legs would carry to collect our bags. As soon as we got our bags from the boot of the car, we dashed towards the path that led us towards the crisp turquoise blue sea and the soft, warm sand. Down the steep, zig-zag of a path we went down like we have done many times before, till we reached the entrance of the beach. It was here that we had to wait for the old crouchies to catch up with us. 5 minutes later we were all regrouped and ready to get our beach on. We took our shoes off and stepped onto the warm, squishy sand. After walking for a little while we found a small cave which would offer us shelter from the sun, so we set up our little camp for the day around this cave.
After camp had been set up, we decided to go in the sea and play, so we got our swimsuits on and ran towards the sea, leaving our mum listening to her podcast in the shade of the cave. After several games of shark, a game in which one person has to catch everyone, who wasn’t the shark and eat them alive just like a shark would, we retired to base camp. While my mum and dad had a rest in the sun, me and Billie went exploring. Up the rocks we clambered to the small rock pools at the top to see what we could find. In the first rock pool we found nothing, but the second one was full of little shrimps, sea barnacles and a crab that we called Snapper. We put some water in a bucket and placed Mr Snapper inside, with a treasure in our hands we made our way back down the rocks. When we were close to the bottom, I heard a yelp, then a scream. I looked down and to my horror, there was Billie curled up in a little ball at the bottom of the rocks, blood
31 spurting like a fountain out of her knee. I rushed down with Mr Snapper still in the bucket to help her. I saw a small gash just under her once delicate knee cap. Together with Billie still crying from the pain we got her back to base camp from a wild expedition. The look on my sister's face said it all to my parents, they rushed her onto the towel, to clean the wound up.
Billie was in pain but that didn’t stop her from having a good time. To cheer her up, me and my dad went up the hill to the local fish and chips shop, where we bought 4 portions of fish and chips and 4 fizzy drinks. We ran back down the hill to base camp, with the fish and chips, me trying to spill any because they smelled and looked so delicious. We made it back without being attacked by the flock of hungry, headstrong and huge seagulls. We sat down on the picnic rug and unwrapped our delicious, fish and chips. I was just about to take my first bite when my mum told me to put some sunscreen on. So, I went to find the sun cream and slapped it all over my body. Once I had done that I was ready to eat my fish and chips. I was so looking forward to eating them, in fact I was so looking forward to eating them that I thought I heard them whispering Shelley “come over here, come and eat us Shelley”. I went to finally eat them. I sat down and took a huge sniff of the salt and vinegar soaked chips. Mmmmhmmmm. As I was about to take my first bite, something swept down from behind me and wacked me in the back of my head with a wet flipper. I couldn't believe my eyes. The biggest seagull I had ever seen was taking off with my fish. I stood up and threw my
32 shoe at the seagull, but it missed. I was heartbroken, as I looked round at the others happily eating their fish and chips and noticed that they were laughing at me.
I didn’t want to be here anymore. I wanted to go home. My sister could see how devastated I was and gave me half of her fish to make up for my loss. I ate it with caution in the shelter of the cave. After the tragic accident, I still can't forget to this day. We decided it was enough and we should go home, so with some relief we packed our bags up and headed towards the car. As soon as we got to the car we dumped our sandy possessions in the boot and sat once again in our allocated seats. As we drove round the corner I remember thinking that I will never return and eat fish and chips on that beach. What's more I have kept my word and I have never eaten fish and chips on Atlantic Bay since that day. I have also developed a fear of seagulls and therefore carry seagull spray whenever I go to the coast.
33 King Freestyle Bobby Blomfield
Tell you about my life - you would be surprised I spy so much with my little eyes
Read my files, you know me more than I do But one day I’ll be looking over the city with a high view I ain’t talking sky news, no YouTube but I’m the guy you subscribe to
Big fan of KO, knockout flow so you get KO’d Flip that around is that okay? Catch me slipping nah, that’s no way
I’m not Usain, you would never see me run It’s BB calling shots like a BB gun
Storm on the block its loud like thunder I get calls from the unknown numbers But I just let that ring It’s V1 on the block but you can call me King.
34 Bars Lily Woodlock-Kachere
I'm still your bounty I guess I'm still your prize princess? You gonna hunt me for some money And still be depressed? You gonna gas yourself? Green and black yourself? Claim black and blue but all I see is pleading for help The truth hard to digest. Take some anti-BS Wash it down with cocoa milk and get tucked in bed.
35 Forever Seteeva Rodriguez
Rapunzel’s hair is long Long, is the length of forever Forever is a mighty long time Time is infinite Infinite is interesting Interesting ideas lead to incredible actions Actions speak louder than words and whispers Whispers are the voices we hear at night Night is the starry backdrop for dreams Dreams are shapeless clouds Clouds are forever in the sky.
36 This Gets Real Ashley Wilson Palmer & Adam Chiadmi
Concrete Jungle, Puma Trackie Hackney, where youth get smoked like Bacchy Mandem roll up, hop out the four Why these have streets have so much war? life not a game no PS4 Death not a joke, what’s a punchline for eye for an eye, say of all the guys now all of the guys lie blind in a morgue or laid back in a Homerton ward Or in a cell where the feds lock doors Or a pen where the bars are real Not rap bars them bars are steel London riots bring your shields There’s beef like summerhouse and fields Still touch my fam and this gets real
Concrete Jungle, Nike Trackie I’m from the B, in the hood they get slappy Yeah, in the trap, in the T, they get trappy But that don’t make any man happy Mandem roll up hop out the four Looking for beef, and they start up wars They say little man come get yours Fiends like Sterling, trying to score Little man didn’t learn nothing I taught They brought him in, and he made some more Seen pellets fly they don’t hit the floor I don’t really want it don’t come get yours
37 You ain’t ever gonna see nothing I saw Seen my guys drop, they ain’t here no more For my fam I’ll make these bills London life and this gets real.
38
39 Heartbreaker Paris Allen
Playboy heartbreaker I got the force no light sabre In the ends trying to make a saver Tell the opp boys see you later
Where the blacked out cars on the pavement Hustlers never make statements That’s the code of the neighbours That’s the coldest behaviour
I’m coming like minus behaviour My misbehaviour Ain’t go behaviour
I do this ish for the paper Mumzy in church and she praying for the saviour
Praying for a saviour
Playboy heartbreaker Big time money maker Big time honey taker Tell an app boy run like Jamaicans I keep it hot like equator I treat the world like a waiter No tips, no cap, I’m greatest Just trying to do it get faded
Get faded.
40 Lee Green Ends Charlie Spouse
It’s CH from SE12 I’ve been writing bars since I was aged 12
Lee Green yeah that’s where I’m at If you don’t know you can get google maps
Green Block, that’s the block where I chill find me with my guy that’s A1 still
On the block, where the drugs might kill Lee Green yeah life gets real
Lee Green yeah life gets real So… you gotta stay sharp like you’re made of steel
It’s CH from your block still Getting ducked down by all the old bill Neighbourhood watch from the windowsill They’re just old, nah they’re not old bill
41 I Come From Derin Bakare
I come from Nigeria, where I eat suya I come from the fashion; I choose my colour design and pattern I come from going to go smiggl, which makes me giggle I come from different hair styles, box braids, single plaits and smiles
42 Thank You Brother Justin Abraham Paul
Here we go
I’m just a little homie from the 5th E5 that’s the home that’s a snake pitch I’m trying to make it out the ends Get paper, Get a Benz
I’m tryna make family proud I know you’re sitting on the cloud RIP Grandad I know you’re looking down
I got this naked drink in my hand No Hennessey or lean Pure energy I’m clean My flows don’t bang But I’m gonna still rap, spit them facts Till I’m getting me a queen Yeah that’s the dream 2 kids one car whipping And the grass is green I ain’t talking weed
Next up Business Top Boy bare no witness Wanna make 10Mills by next Christmas In my own lane no drifting Got the gear shifting onto the next thing
43 Real Estate Owner I got goals no Barcelona Here we go now Flow now, zone out You know now I’m never gonna slow down
Trying to buy a yard for my marge With the car for my bro With the bars and the flow I’m a star on the low 2 sisters, one house for one Another for the other Make them say thank you brother
Thank you brother
44 Kickout Andrew Keeshan
It’s Young Temz from Wood Green Endz Got a couple ops and I got couple friends Got dreams of driving a Benz Always on the block posting with my friends
It’s Young Temz from the High Road still Wanna get money, wanna make my mill my Air Forces they got creased Cos I kick out, that’s life on the streets
45 Regrets Abed
It’s AJ, E1 that’s my ends That’s where I’m born and bred Gotta a lot to live in life Still can’t forget my bros
Still need to visit their grave That’s memory of their days
Walking the path and knowing the path There’s a difference
I felt peak when you died.
Lives. Started in the streets Ended in the streets.
Can’t sleep knowing my bros Aren’t in the world no more
What you do, can happen to you in a minute In a different scenario The things you do, you wish you didn’t.
46 Tornado Max Biddulph
So… I looked out my window and I saw a black tornado destroying all of the buildings outside. I slapped my face to check if it was real and I didn’t wake up.
This was real. The tornado was awfully dark red and was starting to turn into a rose colour. As you expect, I was still very surprised to see this big tornado outside my window.
Another reason I was surprised is because we don’t usually get tornados where I live. All we get is rain, rain, rain and even more rain. Then after, I went back to my phone to try to get TikTok famous, I mean there’s no way I was gonna get a job.
Anyway, there was a yellow light in the tornado, and it was getting closer. Then it smashed into my window. I was obviously scared. But more angry. It was my window and its cold.
It was a dude with spikey yellow hair and green eyes. He looked like he was gonna die. So, I chucked him outta my window and told him he will have to pay for that. Then all of a sudden another man with yellow hair came down, but he was much shorter and grumpy. I laughed and called him a short grumpy man. Then he killed my dog. But then he flew up to the tornado and stated fighting again.
47 Dreaming Raphael Campbell
You will never catch me sleeping I’m joking I’m always dreaming Snapchat message beeping I ain’t got time to read them
Mandem out there beefing I’m just inside sleeping Mandem out there teething I’m just inside sleeping
I knew man from before the badness Used to be neeky, now he’s on madness Blue Hills that’s my ends I’m bored of this you attack, I defend
Save the drills for the football training Bored of the violence,
Bored of the sirens Bored of the silence
Bored of the danger that comes with surviving.
48 Unbeatable Omarion Palmer Smikle
It’s J7 from E9 I’m the man Check the brand, that’s supply and demand My team is the best team in the land get put right back by Trent Arnold Alexand Get left back like Robbo oh damn
In the middle of the ends, yeah that’s Gomes Gotta stay so fresh yeah that’s the process
Gotta girl but her name ain’t Alison She’s a keeper, got no acceleration Being world champion that’s a celebration
He’s centre half, he’s number 4 We watch him defend, we watch him score He will pass the ball as calm as you like He’s Virgil van Dijk, he’s Virgil van Dijk
I’m like Henderson, yeah I’m a leader Check the stats like we’re all playing FIFA Getting galdem, left, right and centre like Wijnaldum They talk too much but I ‘low dem
49 Mo Salah running down the wing He’s like a Pharaoh, Egyptian King
Don’t forget Mane, the black Suarez Skilful on the ball like Messi meets Mahrez
Then it’s Firmino, we call him Bobby But it’s not AFTV with Robby When I’m on the beat, know the beat gets bodied I’m in charge like Klopp, dem man just copy
You cannot touch us We are the best team in the world No one can deny that we are the best Invincible is all our hope 30 years of hurt is gone Unstoppable unbreakable unbeatable kings of Europe
50 Stream of Conscience Zahir Yaseen Rahman
It sat in the room blissfully stroking its tail across a matte black wall, the fresh paint stained the surfaces of the room and a long cross chequered curtain blissfully swung in grace to the patterns of wind.
The thunder of parents arguing quaked every room, Nathan lost himself in the flurry of stress, imminently walking across the room frantically. “3..2..1 breathe Nathan” he told himself reassuringly, to him... well every single word he could hear hit him like a projectile, losing himself in the insanity of 4x4 walls that collided against his train of thoughts, a room in which he used to study the formula of quantum physics, and at his age...denied the freedom to leave his house without immersing himself in a classic textbook.
He was smart, very smart. And at his young age quite imaginative too. His brain time depended on stroking the blissful hairs of a cat and utilizing the texture of its spine to help him concentrate while his parents wage war like animals. You could say his room was a trench, in which he hid in, shedding his thoughts on the paper which slept on a sleek white desk. That paper was gravity, a pulling force that objectified his thoughts into little packages and so on that exact day, a manic outburst of screams deriving from the senseless arguments of two completely insane Neanderthals would allow him to enter a very dark world.
51 A world which wasn't conditional, it grew dark but would maintain a balance of what was just about right for his senses.
The world knew Nathan, the world understood him. But it was cruel, and Nathan left to enter this world involuntarily, his cat watches peacefully licking its tail as Nathan grew into the abyss of thought.
The sound halted, the surrounding became silent in form, and in itself a chamber but a very big one, it was made in the depths of Nathan's brain, and he didn't deny himself the fact that he left for good, thus he was the opposite of confused.
Years of training to finally exit the external world and it was planned out to perfection, get his parents to argue, initiate a stress response, leave. He manipulated his own neurology to configure reality, and reality was now alone with him in a chamber separate from the physicalities of Earth.
He became divine, the holder of power. And to him this dystopian world was a utopia in his head, distant from earth. My name is Demetri, and I'm the man who killed Nathan, and for his own good. I worked for him, his utopia was corrupt, decrypted by a group of villagers who outsmarted him when he didn't see the slightest coming, to him I was a mere slave.
But I watched it all unravel, the raw rebellion of villagers was contrary to their code, of which they
52 were programmed to follow the hierarchy created by Nathan, It's only now we have realised we are not code; we are conscience. Nathan's conscience.
Figure 3 Geometric by TJ Maddix
53 Dazed Zahir Yaseen Rahman
Dazed. Woke Up dazed, my legs tangled like rope, A package of stardust and a plastic container full of god knows...spanners, metal rods and screws.
My neck rotates, cracking at the mere instance of rotation, I dragged my legs to the grittiness of a carpet stained with dirt, it aged faster than the iron on a bike metres away from the entrance of a rusted door. The building was no building, depleted off every facility it became the vehicle of my necessity. Locked in a room, the passage of my freedom lay in the square of empty space, active gateways burdened by the anguish emitted by protestants burning with anger. Anger which became pure but burnt like the fires of businesses which cried in desperation for justice.
And so, the protestants were not to blame, for only some utilized such grievous matter on wrong hands for the opportunity built from greed, while some said, “spread love not hate”.
It was pure and strong and held a brief clarity which iced the purest heart and that is which was black was called evil and white was supreme.
Police were not police, but serpents slithering around with poison deadly to the black eye, and a penalty for the darkest pigmentation, they were criminals.
54 Jack’s Birthday Adam Dinham
Jack is a boy who lives on Well Street, with his parents, Barbara and John. John is tall like a giraffe, but Barbara is small and buzzy like a bee. Jack has thick black hair, large brown eyes, and is an only child. Jack really likes blue things. He likes the sky, the sea, those carrier bags from the corner shop and his team’s football kit. All the walls in Jack’s bedroom are blue. Jack also likes green things - plants and bushes, leaves on trees and the grass in the back garden. His slippers and the tablecloth in the kitchen are green, and Jack really likes them too.
Jack doesn’t hate anything, but he isn’t keen on peas (even though they’re green), clocks (because they go tick-tock), and sharks (as they eat humans!) Today, Jack’s wearing blue jeans, his best green shirt, odd socks, and his slippers. Today, it’s Christmas Day.
Today, it’s also Jack’s birthday. He’s just turned 9. Jack stands in the hall, at the bottom of the stairs. The door to the kitchen is closed, and when that door is closed Jack’s mum, Barbara, shouldn’t be disturbed. ‘Little Drummer Boy’ floats out from her radio as she clatters around in the kitchen.
Jack’s dad is sitting in the lounge, watching the end of a cartoon on the TV. Jack’s had a sinking feeling deep in his brain, since he woke-up, at 7 am because neither of his parents has taken any notice of him or even
55 wished him happy birthday. Dad’s mobile rings, he picks it up and mumbles for several moments, umm- ing, mmhm-ing, and aha-ing. ‘Who was that?’ asks Jack curiously as Dad hangs up. ‘No one’ Dad responds. Then nothing. Just complete silence, as he turns the TV off and prepares for a doze on the couch.
Jack sadly makes his way upstairs, counting the triangles on the carpet as he goes. He lays down on his bed and closes his eyes and imagines eating a large slice of chocolate birthday cake as he drifts back to sleep. A knock on the door wakes him up as his mum asks ‘Jack, are you OK?. What are you doing? Come downstairs, please and be a helping hand. Your dad is fixing something.’
Jack swings his legs heavily off the bed and slowly walks back downstairs as his nose recognises jacket potatoes and roast chicken in the air. The living room door is shut and no one’s to be seen. This is odd Jack thinks as he quickly opens the door. The curtains are closed, and the room is pitch black. Jack flicks on the light switch....‘SURPRISE!!’ - ‘Happy Birthday!’ Jack’s mouth opens as wide as a wall. The room is decorated with a zillion balloons and full of his friends and family. There’s a pile of presents in the middle of the room and the table is packed with all of Jack’s favourite foods. Jack smiles, thinking ...THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!
56 I Come From Adam Dinham
I come from being a prize winning author
I come from Hackney I come from family I come from Minecraft You can build or destroy You can work together or against In that way, you could say Minecraft is a little bit like real life
I come from Fortnite An island of fighting There’s solo’s, duos, squads Everyone just trying to survive In that way, you could say Fortnite is a little bit like real life
I come from Roblox There are worlds within worlds Different modes Some games you build boats Some games you rob banks You can choose what you want to do In that way you could say Roblox is a little bit like real life
I come from YouTube I am a YouTuber I’m nearly 14
57 With 511 subscribers I upload to the computer Through a fast wi-fi router I play games and live real life I come from my past I come from the future
58 I Don’t Like Poetry Adam Dinham
I don’t like similes When I try them My head feels like a washing machine My heart feels like tomato ketchup My mind feels like a moving clock
I don’t like metaphors When I try them Elephants start falling out of the sky Tiny Giraffes start chewing clothes Giant robots start eating red trees
I don’t like alliteration When I try it, I feel Completely crazy like a curious cat Madly marvellous like a Mean Meerkat Actually, awful like an Awstralian awtumn
I don’t like writing weird things When I try it Zebras start fighting with breadsticks And yelling out “YOU STOLE MY HAIR!!”
59 The Stay on Lutoi Art Fitzgerald McShane
Chapter 1 – The Journey to Lutoi
“EVERYONE GET TO THE ESCAPE PODS!,” the Commander shouted loudly. We, that is me and six other people, all rushed to the escape pods. An asteroid had hit us, and we were going down fast, and it was getting harder and harder to breathe.
“But Commander, what about you?!” I said, fearful for the commander’s life. He was a tall, short-haired man with a short stubbly moustache.
“JUST GO! I’LL BE OKAY!” and then he pushed me and two other people into an escape pod. I didn’t know much about the people in the spaceship, but I did know a bit about them. The one on my right was a little boy called Rar, who I think was praying, and then on my left there was a tall woman named Toni and she was the one who actually started the escape pod, and so, we went.
Earlier on, it had been so silent that we could actually hear the escape pod’s motor humming. We were going very slowly until a piece of the asteroid broke off and hit us and sent us hurtling towards a planet which I couldn't make out. I think the same thing happened to the others as well, because I also saw their escape pods spinning down too, and then we crashed, but just
60 before we did, I looked back at the space-ship, and I thought I saw something in the darkness.
Chapter Two ‘The Foreign Planet’
I very soon woke up, as if from a deep sleep, and saw two faces staring down at me. What happened? Oh, that's right, I remember now, we had just crashed on to Lutoi, I must have hit my head in the crash. The two faces staring down at me must be Rar and Toni. Toni started to speak,
“You’ve been out for about three da-”
“Yeah yeah I know, so where are we?”
Rar spoke now, “Lutoi.”
“Really?” I said shocked, “I thought that Lutoi was completely eradicated!”
“Apparently not,” said Rar, “we’re actually in a hut that we built out of things that we found on the planet’s surface.”
Looking up I could actually see that the roof and the walls were both built out of weird purple sticks. Looking out of the door, I could see that the ‘tree’, that they had got the purple sticks from, was very sparkly,
61 and seemed to be pulsing with some kind of weird energy.
“Guys can we go outside please I'm getting kind of claustrophobic?” I said.
They nodded and we went outside, and it was the most beautiful place that I had ever seen. We went over to a little natural garden to the left of us, sat down and looked at the other escape pods crashing down in the sunset.
“Guys? Welcome to Lutoi.”
62 Zoom Poem Seteeva Rodriguez
Seteeva: swimming is
Christian: swimming is the opposite of drowning
Seteeva: drowning is not fun
Christian: fun is like a distant memory
Seteeva: a distant memory is eating ice-cream
Christian: where?
Seteeva: in my house, on my couch, watching a Disney movie
Christian: it was the movie where…?
Seteeva: a girl has to dress like a man to save her father from joining the military
Christian: ah Mulan! Girls are soldiers when...
Seteeva: fighting to prove that girls are just as strong as boys are
Christian: for me strength is the power to...
Seteeva: show my enemies that I can beat them Christian: In the future I will be...
63
Seteeva: an artist or an animator
Christian: If I could bring one thing to life it would be...
Seteeva: happiness and freedom
Christian: freedom means
Seteeva: everyone can be themselves and not have to put on a mask for others
Christian: behind the mask I am…
Seteeva: an interesting person who doesn't need others to talk for me.
64 Lockdown Owen Darlow
Constant Connections Unsafe to go shopping now Zero Connections
65 Is there a Finish Line? Owen Darlow
Dad always said, “Don’t run before you walk!” It starts at one. That is where life began. At two. Everyone now begins to talk. At three. Almost ten-meters I now ran. At five. The wheels became set in motion. At eight. Football. Legacies are like art. Art is like Time. Always there. A notion. At thirteen, life truly began to start. Like a runner, they reach the finish line. Their race will be over. Life is a race. A race between life and death. It’s a sign that death always wins. Life is a big chase. Twenty-one a man but not long to go Life after death? I think we’ll never know.
66 Speak Your Truth Adam Dinham
Seriously, I always tell the truth Perhaps that’s not always good Even telling lies is sometimes needed Always telling lies is NOT recommended Knowing when to use the truth is great You should learn it too Otherwise, things might end badly for you Unless that’s how you want it to be Risking your reputation could be horrible Telling the truth leads to kindness Risking lies leads to no trust Unless that’s how you want it to end The truth sometimes hurts However, life is full of pain
67 Goodbye TCW Alfie Kirkham
Never in my life Have I thought of saying bye Even when I’ve cried I don’t know if I might Even when I fall Even when I walk I can’t even talk
Lost for words On a downwards verge How will I emerge Only I will know first Hoping these demons, they disperse
Been stuck inside a cage Filled with so much rage As I turn my page See where it takes Damn it’s been a ride Been on a race Look at my face Can’t you see This isn’t me I want to be free Don’t want to leave Cause others they just grieve Cut myself too deep Till my heart is on my sleeve
68 It’s been smeared Never thought, the next 3 years, I would be here Now I wipe away my tears And I cheer All my fears they disappear Then they come right back Man, I hate it damn All my fam that have been with me for years Supporting me when I’m here Hoping they can hear
The Complete Works Time Carries Words in The Crazy World, taught me The Complete Worth
Shout to Flo Shout to Jo Shout to Nadege Shout out to Ed Can’t forget Luke I still remember Tom all my tutors He was my first one
Life is like a bomb Dropped out of a plane Skydiving in the rain TCW was just like a parachute that came Slow my fall and keep me sane
69
Since I was 18 Made that tune in my living room It’s Alfie from SE16 How many sixteens Have I rapped since seventeen 20/20 vision see what’s ahead of me
Rear mirror is my school When time accelerates on the mind what does it do? Every lesson, every speech I’m a good swimmer But life is getting deep Mountain climber See my life is getting peak But my teachers are a harness And a helping hand to reach I am not alone, I will never be alone Long as breath is in my lungs Or there’s emails on my phone A school is not a place It’s a feeling you embrace
Christian helped me write Till the point when I can fight Look into light Darkness be out of sight The feeling deep inside as I wrap this up and say bye David helped me too Talking problems through The pain runs deep but he helped on my feet
70 Someone who’s a G Taught me who to be
Never will I forget and hope you never forget me Never will I forget and hope you never forget me Never will I forget and hope you never forget me
A light forever is eternal Knowing I really know how ambitions made
Since I learned to spell my name
Thanks for looking out for me
71 Different is Okay Katie Sansom
Autism
When I met you, I felt scared I thought you were a stranger When I met you, I felt unprepared I thought that I was in danger
I started to get to know you day by day So, I faced challenges that were in the way Everything was hard, everything was busy Meeting new people made me feel dizzy
I say what I think, sometimes it comes out wrong My brain is an active volcano My thoughts are lava flowing strong They make the rock and soil for flowers to grow
Now my brain is a rose But I still know there are thorns Difference is a key To unlock the way, we’re born
72 To Unlock Us Zahir Yaseen Rahman
Walk with your heart Make every step bold, make it start The Pulse is not just blood It's a rhythm and that’s art
Nights squander your potential Days ponder existential No ink pond credential Make the moment count, it's not an imprint Make it worthwhile and make it helpful
Put the phone down, listen to the words that I say I promise you you’re worth it Don't let the media drive you insane Living in the eyes of the idols, that's astray Insane how we separate the rich from the deranged
Fly like a sparrow, I ain’t talking bout the pirate Money talks fake, tell the rich to keep it quiet But you’re waving to the rich and they’re making us all riot Don't worry man you steer this life The truth is you’re the pilot
Like the motorway you got to overtake them Don't take things for granted You got memories to be making There's a light in you, and opportunities need taking
73 Index of Contributors
Abed 46 Abraham Paul, Justin 43 Allen, Paris 40 Bakare, Derin 42 Biddulph, Max 47 Blomfield, Bobby 34 Campbell, Raphael 48 Chiadmi, Adam 37 Craig, Jack 26 Darlow, Owen 16, 65, 66 Dinham, Adam 55, 57, 59, 67 Fitzgerald McShane, Art 60 Woodlock-Kachere, Lily 35 Keeshan, Andrew 45 Kirkham, Alfie 14, 19, 68 McGrath, Harry 23 Miah, Syed 29 Morgan-Shaw, Romario 25 Morgan, Shelleylou 30 Palmer-Smikle, Omarion 49 Pereira, Jason 28 Rodriguez, Seteeva 36, 63 Sansom, Katie 72 Simpson, Dominic 27 Spouse, Charlie 41 Storm, Aidan 10 Sulal, Anthony 18 Wilson Palmer, Ashley 37 Yaseen Rahman, Zahir 51, 54, 73
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