COV IS E D W H 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.