Cleaning the Kitchen

While you’re out I clean the kitchen.

I put away the saucepans, wash the spoons, 

and wipe the surfaces over and over.

I want the room clean for when you get home. 

As I scrub the counter I picture the inside

of my own mind, wishing I could clean it up – 

each swish of the cloth a cleansing

of my own thoughts, my own failings.

When you get home I want it all to be OK.

I want us to be OK. I want our life to be clean.

And so I take the cloth and I wipe the surface. 

It’s my way of trying to say I love you.

Joshua Seigal

Poems from Year 3, Kenilworth Primary School

I was delighted last year when Ms. Alam, the RE Lead at Kenilworth Primary School, got in touch to share some poems with me on the theme of 'being a good neighbour'. This year's Year 3 cohort have been hard at work, and I am pleased to be able to share another batch of fabulous poems. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Poems from Year 5, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Primary School

I recently had the pleasure of running a workshop with Year 5, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven School in Wandsworth. What a lovely class! The task I set them was to describe a special person (or pet!), using metaphors. Here is a small selection of the work they produced. You'll notice that Samuel took the idea in completely his own direction, which was a nice surprise and which I try never to dicourage. Enjoy! 

You by Emiliano 

You are my sun, 

Bright and beautiful 

You are my space station, 

Open minded and free

You are a pillow,

Soft and cuddly 

You are my T-shirt

Who follows me and is attached to me 

You are my bag,

You always have my back 

You are my water, 

Crystal and special 

You are my laptop,

Entertaining and bright

You by Marco 

You are my computer, 

Entertaining my every day 

You are my plushie, 

I cuddle you all the time 

You are my console, 

I always look forward to my time with you 

You are my chocolate cake

Keeping me happy and joyful 

You are my bed, 

Always keeping me warm 

You are a superhero ,

You brighten up my day

You are my dog,

My dog!

That One Guy by Samuel 

That one guy in class

Always naughty

Always making a fuss

Always making fun of teacher in class

That one guy

At break is really weird

Always does the opposite

Of what you say 

That one guy

At worship 

He says roses are red

Violets are blue 

I don’t like you 

He chooses to be proud of himself and cool 

That one guy

At the end of the day 

Is always in trouble 

Monday to Friday

Seriously, he grumbles 

That one guy

That one guy is me. 

Featured Author in Pen & Inc Magazine

I was delighted to be featured in Pen & Inc, the magazine of CILIP - the library and information association. Check it out

a poem for Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

The theme this year is 'movement'. So I wrote this. 

Walking 

Go for a walk, they say.

Keep moving. Keep active. 

The problem is

my mind is always moving;

my brain is always active. 

I’m always walking inside my own head. 

Step after step after step.

See,

maybe I need to slow down. 

Maybe we need to stop walking.

Joshua Seigal

All You Can Eat

I gobbled a pizza

and beans from a tin.

I slurped a rice pudding

and relished the skin. 

I snaffled a sausage

with bacon and eggs.

I wolfed down a schnitzel

and ten chicken legs.

The size of the portions

adorning my plate

might cause you to wonder

if things will abate.

I feasted on pasta,

potatoes and peas. 

I chomped on chorizo

and churros and cheese.

I then had some biscuits

and tea from a cup,

but I think it’s enough now – 

I’m feeling fed up.

Joshua Seigal

Pretzel

Sometimes I sit

and I think that my mind

is a bit like a pretzel –

positive thoughts twisting

and turning to become negative

ones; each thought doubting

itself and all the others;

no ending or resolution, just round

and round in doughy loops...

At times like these,

the best thing to do?

Why not have a biscuit instead.

Joshua Seigal

Prisms

It takes a prism to see

that what you think of as white 

is in fact a litany

of many different colours. 

Things aren’t as they seem. 

Of that we can be sure. 

And so it is with people – 

we can measure them, group them, 

rank, sort and categorise them; 

it takes a prism to see

the many colours shining

in each human heart.

Joshua Seigal

Poems from Yr 5, South Hill Primary, Herts

I recently had the pleasure of visiting South Hill Primary School in Hemel Hempstead. Working last thing on a Friday afternoon, I asked Year 5 to have a think of a place that is special to them. After taking some notes, I gave everyone a short amount of time to write the first draft of a poem. I gave them the option os including a chorus. Here is a selection of work produced the the wonderful Year 5s!

Anfield

Where the atmosphere gets more red and red

The best players are under the spotlight

That’s Anfield 

The Everton haters chant and sing YNWA 

They will put in their heart and soul in every way

That’s Anfield 

As everyone is shocked and surprised

The crowd suddenly begins to rise

That’s my home

Tenerife

The sun shines in my glistening blue eyes

I walk down the street seeing people in sunglasses

In Tenerife 

I lick my vanilla ice cream

So slowly and oh so delightfully

In Tenerife

We pick a restaurant and have a delicious meal 

I slurp my spaghetti noisily

In Tenerife

After we have eaten

We walk down the side of the beach 

My flipflops clicking and clacking

In Tenerife 

Turkey

Where the ice cream ripples down my hand 

That’s Turkey

I dip my toes in the sand

That’s Turkey

There are lots of dogs that follow me

That’s Turkey 

But here comes a bumble bee!

That’s Turkey 

We watch a sunset before disco night

That’s Turkey

Nothing here could give me a fright

That’s Turkey 

My Safe Place

The bed is soft like a cat’s fur 

The books imagine they might fly

That’s my safe place 

It’s relaxing when my brother isn’t there

It feel like there’s real-life toys

That’s my safe place 

The night light is so colourful 

The lego is so playful 

That’s my safe place

Trampoline Park

Where the excitement appears

You are here!

The laughter and joy

You are here!

Jumping from a height that might be a fright

You are here!

Slurping a slushie red and blue

You are here!

Safety guards watching you 

You are here!

Sweating now and then

You are here

At the Trampoline park!

Disneyland Paris 

Where you ride on the rollercoasters

And stare at the Eiffel Tower

Where you lick a lolly

While riding on the merry-go-round

Where your mum never wants to go 

On the rides with you

But you force her anyway

Now that’s my idea of fun

Where your parents say yes to everything

Where you can do whatever

Where you can eat Mickey Mouse pizza

Now that’s my idea of fun 

Where there’s candyfloss galore 

Where you can be as loud as you want 

Where you meet your favourite characters

Now that’s Disneyland Paris!

Sick

The boiler’s broken down again

You’ve had a parking fine

The kids are playing up at school

You’ve spilt a glass of wine 

You’ve had a scam on Instagram

Your neighbour is a prick

You’ve missed your latest deadline…

and the cat has just been sick.

The rent is going up again

The car insurance too

You've snagged your brand new jacket

And you think you have the flu 

The boiler man has not shown up

(He said that he’d be quick)

You’ve tripped and hurt your ankle…

and the cat has just been sick. 

You’re chasing up a payment

That’s gone missing in the post

The milk has just turned sour

And you’ve gone and burnt the toast 

You’ve prayed to God to help you out

It hasn’t done the trick

You’re drowning in disorder…

and the cat has just been sick. 

Joshua Seigal