ANCIENT EGYPT - POEM FOR ST LUKE'S PRIMARY, ISLINGTON

On my website there is a little-known clause which states that, if I am booked by a school to run a workshop on a specific theme, I will write a poem, on that theme, especially for them. Tomorrow I am visiting St Luke's Primary, in Islington. With Year 3 we are going to write poems on the theme of Ancient Egypt. With that in mind, I have written the following little poem.

What the Sphinx Thinks

The body of a lion

The head of a man

He sits and he watches

Over his land

Never a murmur

A twitch or a wink –

Who knows

What the Sphinx thinks?

Carved by chisel

Hewn from rock

It harbours a riddle

You cannot unlock

Never a shudder

A breath or a blink –

Who knows

What the Sphinx thinks?

A creature cut

From the hardest granite

Has it come from

Another planet

With secrets written

In ancient ink?

Do you know

What the Sphinx thinks?

Would your school like a BESPOKE POEM? Best get in touch to book a visit: joshuaseigal1986@hotmail.co.uk 

LOTS

There’s lots of stuff

I cannot do,

like name all the animals

in the zoo,

or dive to the depths

of the deepest sea,

but I’m happy being me.

There’s lots of stuff

I’ll never know,

like why a stone

will never grow,

or why you can’t

eat traffic jam,

but I’m happy as I am.

There’s lots of stuff

I haven’t got:

a lion’s strength,

a horse’s trot,

an owl’s flight,

a cheetah’s stealth,

but I’m happy being myself.

THE COFFEE MONSTER

Marjorie is a mild-mannered woman.

She teaches at the local school.

Always smiling, always diligent,

she patiently helps the children

with their sums and spelling.

But, believe it or not,

Marjorie has a secret.

For every morning,

When the alarm clock beeps at the stroke of 6am,

Marjorie emerges from her cozy den

and becomes…

...THE COFFEE MONSTER!

Watch the hideous beast bare her fangs

as she prowls ito the kitchen!

Gaze in wonder at her fearsome claws

as she rifles through the cupboards!

Marvel at her bleary eyes as she heaps majestic spoonfuls

into her ‘World’s Best Teacher’ mug,

Gasp as she gulps down gallons

of her steamy potion.

Be amazed as she exhales deeply

and, just like that,

becomes Marjorie again -

a mild-mannered woman

who teaches at the local school.

'HOW TO READ A BOOK' - POEM COMMISSIONED FOR WORLD POETRY DAY 2019

I was delighted to be commissioned to write a poem to celebrate World Poetry Day 2019. Every Child Our Future is a fantastic organisation with whom I have worked in Jersey, and I was delighted to write for them the following poem, entitled 'How to Read a Book'

(note, pupils can have fun writing their own versions of this poem, using their own selection of 'fronted adverbials')

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!

Whenever something frightens me,

whenever I feel blue,

there’s something very simple

that I’d really love to do;

the kind of superpower

that would deal with my fears -

I’d simply point my finger and then

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!

it disappears.

I’d zap away the bullies

and I’d zap away the ghouls,

and when the weekend’s over

I would zap away my school.

I’d zap away my braces

and the pimple on my nose.

I’d simply click my finger and then

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!

away it goes.

I’d zap away the angry words

between my mum and dad.

I’d zap away the arguments

that make me feel sad.

And sometimes, after having had

a truly dismal day,

I almost wish that I could even

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!

myself away.

I’d zap away the demons

that reside within my head.

I’d close my eyes and hold my breath

and then I’d zap them dead.

I’d zap away the worries

that go on and on and on.

I’d take a gulp then give a wink and then I’d

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!

them gone.

Whenever something comes along

and brings up all my rage,

and makes me feel like a tiger

trapped inside a cage,

I’d really love to zap it.

That’s what I would like to do.

So do not make angry or I might even

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!

you.

FANTASTIC MONSTER POEMS FROM YEAR 3, CYPRESS PRIMARY SCHOOL