The Lord-Lieutenant’s Award for Young People A collection of poems commemorating the Centenary of the First World War The Lord-Lieutenant’s Award for Young People was established by Lady Gretton in 2006 to identify, celebrate and reward the very best young people in Leicester and Leicestershire. During the four years that the country is marking the centenary of WW1 the Lord-Lieutenant’s Award is featuring a special category dedicated to the centenary. The 2015 Award featured a poetry category. Young people were invited to submit their poems which captured…. the mood of the nation the horror of trench warfare the camaraderie of soldiers the sense of loss the impact on family and loved ones ….through the medium of poetry. This booklet brings together those entries as a tribute to the work of the young people who submitted their inspirational and moving poetry. No one now knows we gave our life for this country Our blood is the red flower underneath the prettiest tree Once I was part of a crowd; but for this country I fell proud My blood flows through the ground, the earth grows sad The red flower shines like a crown of honour That flower is my love for this land. My blood. Grief overwhelming those left behind like a flood Yesterday our country was crying for 'help' Today it stands tall. In 1914 we fought and thought of you In 2014 you are remembering us with no such fuss The sky is blue, the red flowers wait patiently for you We had to go to war, we had no choice Now please remember, raise up your voice My story finishes here, remember me… Forever near Rabia Akram and Wajiha Iqbal (aged 12) Moat Community College __________ Remembrance Think of those that died in the war, Reflect, respect and do not ignore, 16 million lives lost, In sun, rain, wind and frost, 100 years to remember. The poppies, they grew, Families left sad and blue, Husbands, brothers and sons, All left with their guns, 100 years to remember. Four years to fight, With courage and might, Now every November, We are silent together 100 years to remember. Sasha Law (aged 12) Leicester High School for Girls All is Gone We’ll walk for miles And break our backs, Tear apart Our feet for rest, Then fall beside Some poisoned water, War is hell, boys, War is hell. The cause is right, But we aren’t winning, Our leaders die Beside the lost, And my heart aches, My friends are falling, I think we’ve lost, boys, I think we’ve lost. Run back home, To find your homestead Blown apart By bombs we dropped, Scream out a prayer Above the skulls friend, There’s nothing left, boys, There’s nothing left. Pick up their bones now, And make a pile, There are no faces Just scraps of flesh, One wears a ring And it’s your mothers, It’s time we wept, boys, It’s time we wept. We’ve lost the war friends, We lost our family, The whole regime Goes marching on, But looking up I can’t forget them, All is gone, boys, All is gone. Pixie Hulme (aged 18) Longslade Community College __________ I'm broken, in more ways than Two pieces of a whole. I'm scared, in my head You're still here. I know, it's a dream But I can't seem to wake. If only things were different. I'm crying, though I can't feel Any tears on my face. I'm alone, without you Forever by my side. I know, I can't change History as it is. If only things were different. I'm silent, and sure Because I know now, That there are others like me. But if only things were different. I'm ok, as ok, as I can be. As long as I have you in my memory. I'm not broken, not scared, Not crying or alone. Not anymore. Things are different. Julie Xiao (aged 17) Loughborough High School Now That He Is Gone That fateful day when we received that little yellow square, That changed our lives forever, the old and new are beyond compare. Everything is different, now he has gone, I just can't picture it, how will I carry on? How long did he suffer? How did he die? These questions will haunt me as time goes by. Winning I see him lying in a pool of crimson blood, entry All alone in fields beyond fields and mud beyond mud. I feel a sense of loss, Amongst all sorts of terrible chaos. Could I have done something? Could I have helped more, In this devastating time of war? The only thing that helps me is knowing, That even though it is very hard going, It's not just us, others have lost too, Because our loved ones are fighting for me and for you. Holly Cheeseman (aged 13) Loughborough High School Fallen Angels By Saskia Rafal If I should die on this very day, Do not shed a tear, That is not what I want. Tell my mother I died fighting, As the hero she knew I was. I watched many of my men go, I know the effect it can have, We were all one big family, With our strong brotherly bond, Now we go as the family, we made in this war. Tell the nation not to mourn, We want them to celebrate, The victory we have made We may have all lost our lives But we did this all for them. Now it’s time for the lights to go out, And our hurting to stop, We will always have our scars, Both good and bad, But we know from these scars we always did our best. Now where our bodies once lay, A field of poppies take our place, You pin them on your shirt To always remember those Fallen Angels Saskia Rafal (aged 15) Stephenson Studio School _________ The ABC of War Armoured cars carry ammunition, along the front lines of the battle. Bunkers blitzed by burning bombs while battleships bombard the beaches. The cavalry charge through chilly countryside to crush the enemy on horseback. The planes dominate dogfights in the skies above while dodging and deceiving the enemy. Connor Gray (aged 17) Get Set project; helping local young people with additional needs (learning disabilities and mental health issues) to build new skills and confidence. Letters to home. You're all lined up, row by row, No matter were you friend or foe. I cried and waved, as ten by ten, The regiment began to march again. Each month we gathered the uncertain news That some had fallen and some were bruised. My greatest fear was that your name was one; One of the perished, one that was gone. Each day was ferocious, for you we were sure, But for us we didn't know if it was death at our door. 'Come home!' We would pray 'Come home my dear boy!' But this seemed to encourage, encourage to destroy. So now I must come to that one fatal end The news I'd been waiting for, the letters that you'd send. The pen was not from your hand, nor from your friends. Instead the font was bold, black and pretend. My boy I am sorry, your body was not found, Instead you are alone, lifeless on the ground. I'll see you in heaven and remember that smile. We'll be reunited as mother and child. Helen Grigalis (aged 17) Loughborough High School __________ Waiting for Battle Hell approaches. 59, 58, 57, I tremble, playing. 43, 42, 41… My bayonet locks on. 35, 34, 33, I pull back the bolt. 29, 28, 27… Death lurks, I can feel the approaching thunder. 23, 22, 21, I climb onto the ladder. 18, 18, 17… The sergeant removes his pistol. 13, 12, 11, The shells pound the field. 8, 7, 6… I straighten my helmet. 3, 2, 1! Go! The bullet hits me! Max Coleman (aged 14) Rawlins Academy We Will Remember Them The eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, We will remember them. Those whose stories were never told Those whose lives were carelessly sold. Runner -Up Loss after loss recurred Yet so many families never heard. The absence of a father, husband and son, The death of sixteen million will forever stun. With every bang and explosion The soldiers resolve faced erosion. Fears of going over the top As in increasing numbers, soldiers began to drop. Behind the frontline, life was not much better, Shell fragment, cries of pain, a dead mans unopened letter. The pungent smell of a rotting corpse Piled on others disfigured and warped. There were no cheers for those who reached home. From prewar a stark change in mood and tone. A soldier’s 1914 excitement replaced with chilling nightmares of horror Whilst families mourned their loved ones who gave their lives in honour. The eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, We will remember them. Dhianna Hindocha (aged 17) Skeffington Remember I stand looking around me Watching as soldiers drop like flies. If I go, I hope I will be remembered For giving my life to serving the king, Doing the country proud. Keep going, must keep going. 20 seconds more, another falls to the floor Goodbye sweet world And remember… Remember us. Ana Hills (aged 14) Rawlins Academy Whistle The calm before the storm, that's all this is, Quiet because soon the whistle will blow; When the whistle blows, we'll go over the top, Guns raised against the hated enemy.