National Poetry Day

25 August was National Poetry Day. Four Russley Writers were selected to represent Russley School at the School for Young Writers Open Mic Event.

Kara, George, Mirette and Marly shared their brilliant poems with an appreciative audience, impressing the School for Young Writers' director, Heather McQuillan. Congratulations to these talented emerging poets.

George

Do Journeys Ever Really End?
by George Grundy                                  

The cold glass stings my cheek

making sure I don't sleep.

The bus seat slowly regains its subtle warmth

my mind races in confusion.

The engine wails and Lucas complains grumpily.

But finally the door pings open

the freshness bites like a snake.

My mind relaxes

I step out into the cold,

with a vague sense of freedom

a lone boat rocks,

and the ocean sparkles and ripples

waiting to devour.

Tick on my Bucket List

by Kara Visser

Golden Eiffel Tower attracting

Kara

bright lights shining

Fireworks pounding against the faded out sky

photos snapping

Soft, crunchy croissants crumbling

small sugar cubes slowly dissolving

in my English breakfast tea

Faint wafts of sunblock

crinkly shopping bags

from the early morning market

Soft euros tempting

in my pocket

Michael bounces in his pram

as he waits for his ice cream

In my hand

a miniature  Eiffel Tower sits

in a snow globe

- as I twist and turn it

little sparkles fall

There’s a tick on my bucket list

that says I’ve been to Paris.

Denim Hope by Marly Shenouda               

Marly

I am an indigo bunting, my

feathers ruffling in the wind

I am the hope diamond

unearthed in India

I taste like juicy berries that

pop in your mouth

I sound like crashing waves

of the Pacific Ocean

I am gloomy street lights flickering

in the depth of the night

I smell like Chatham Island forget-me-nots

thriving on a rocky cliff

I am cold, cutting at your nostril hairs

as you breathe in the icy air

I am

the colour Blue

Thorns Defeated by Mirette Ghobrial

At first it was unnoticed

Hiding in the midst of what seemed to be normal

At first it was like a little piece of string

Weak and tiny

But I didn’t realise

That I had been feeding it

I didn’t comprehend that it was growing

Growing like a fire

I chose to ignore it

I chose never to explore it

It began to sprout

It began to swell

Mirette

It’s thorns thickened  

It had become a monster  

Constricting with vicious teeth

And when finally I noticed

It was beyond late

I had to get rid of it

So, I tried to find its roots

To tear the worry out

But instead I found

A little bud of hope   

Pushing through the rough earth

Shaded by the thorny plant

Little did I know that it was treasure

With rain of encouragement and time

the little bud became a stem

The stem became a strong tree

Stretching far and high

it conquered the thorn bush

I began reaching

for the new tree’s high branches

Its uneven surface scratched my weak skin

When I was high up in it

Joy filled my heart

The tree was called hope

It conquered

My worries

 

Here is a poem we wrote during the break between the junior and senior events. It has been featured on the School for Young Writers' website, and the National Poetry Day site. Famous!

Six poets gathered
at XCHC Cafe
where they collected thoughts
on bruschetta stained napkins
devouring, they listened
while licking their fingers
to the sound of coffee beans 
grinding like gravel
and people ordering
karma cola, nachos 
and free verse poetry

24/8/17 Poets 6
for National Poetry Day