CONJUGAL

Sometimes

in the deepdarkest

of night

your flesh slips

from mine

and I’m alone

in the universe

drifting

when light

taps the curtain

and I find you again

your hair

across your face

and I reach for you

and catch you

and hold you

tight

GIFTED?

I’m good with puzzles

but I can’t decipher the

rules of the playground

I’m good with numbers

but I just can’t count the times

I’ve sat by myself

I can spell long words

but the faces that stare back

are books I can’t read

They call me ‘gifted’

but I can’t untie the bow

that keeps me wrapped tight.

LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

I’m hiding in the cupboard

I tremble and I cower

A maelstrom surrounds me

I’ve been here for an hour

I hear shouts and curses

The fear builds within me 

I’m sure that if I show my face

The savages will skin me

They clamour and they jostle

Their eyes are filled with evil

It’s gruesome and it’s frightful

It’s totally primeval

I guess I must acknowledge

That this is just a feature

Of what I have to tolerate

As a supply teacher

MY GRANDMA'S FIRST POEM

 Today I ran a rare workshop for adults. My grandma was one of the workshop participants, and I'm pleased to say she produced the first poem that she remembers writing. This was also on the day she got her Covid vaccination, so a good day all round. Here is my grandma's poem; I think it is very moving.

Yellow

Yellow is the colour

of sunshine and hope.

It reminds me of my Welsh origins

and St David’s Day celebrations.

It is the colour of children playing,

of happiness.

It reminds me of my favourite dress

and the occasions I wore it.

Yellow is how

I would like people to feel

when they think of me.

Yellow is joy.

by Miranda Kitchener

'WHO ARE WE?' - SPECIAL POEM FOR CHAUCER JUNIOR SCHOOL, ILKESTON

For me, one of the unanticipated benefits of lockdown is that I have been able to interact lots on social media with teachers, schools and, dare I say it, fans. I recently ran a competition on Twitter, in which I promised to write a special, bespoke poem for the winner. I was delighted when Chaucer Junior School in Ilkeston came out of the hat, and I am really excited to be able to share with you the poem that I have written. The request was to write a poem about books and reading, to be displayed in their library for when schools go back. Furthermore, I was also asked to incorporate the 'core values' of the school, namely: Respect, Tolerance, Cooperation, Aspiration, Kindness and Appreciation. Here, then, is the poem written especially for Chaucer Junior School!

WHO ARE WE? A poem for Chaucer Junior School

We are respect

Like the shiny cover of a new book

Standing proudly on the shelf

We are tolerance

Like letters sitting side by side

Making meaning with their union

We are cooperation

Like books banding together

To build a bank of wisdom

We are aspiration

Like sentences strung sublimely

As they stretch towards the sun

We are kindness

Like a solid spine gently holding

Many different pages

We are appreciation

Like a wide-eyed reader

As they gaze upon a galaxy

We hold the world

Between our covers

We are Chaucer Juniors.

In my bounteous munifence, I also recorded the following video of myself reading the poem. Hopefully it will cause everyone at Chaucer Juniors to spontaneously combust with excitement!

LOBSTER

My dad had never

tasted lobster.

He’s sitting in the restaurant

with my mum

on their third date

and he excitedly 

orders the bisque.

Little does he know

at this point

that said dish

is merely soup.

I’m told he cried

when I was born.

BRILLIANT POEMS FROM FLEETVILLE INFANTS

 I have been paying regular visits to Fleetville Infant School since 2014, when I became their Patron of Reading. I wasn't able to visit this term, so we agreed that I would help judge a poetry competition. The task was for the children to write a poem based on my piece Play Time, which you can read on my website here. I am really happy to be able to share some of their fantastic poems. The ultimate winner was a group effort, produced by Bluebell Class (Reception). I was especially delighted to read this poem, as Bluebell is also the name of my cat! Here, then, are the poems. Enjoy!

Twin Time

by Joel and Luke 

We both have brown eyes

We both love learning history

We’ve both lost our first tooth

Can you tell us apart?

It’s a mystery!

We’re both a little bit cheeky

We like to jump and spin

Life is so fun

When you’re a twin

twin

twin!

FUN POEM

by Eloise 

I like to play with Christopher

We could play all day long

And when we are together we have

fun

fun

fun!

We like to play in the garden

And we like to play in the sun

And when we are together we have

fun

fun

fun!

We like to play in the park

With our Daddy called Mark the Shark in the sun

so let’s all have

fun

fun

fun!

The Things I Love by Florian 

I’ve got a Captain Underpants book

And fast racing cars too

I’ve got fierce dino pyjamas

And I love them because they’re blue!

I’ve got a lot of lego

And a friendly toy giraffe

I’ve got strong action men

And I love playing with them in the bath!

JUMP TIME by Sienna 

I'VE GOT A LITTLE DOGGY AND A PAIR OF SHINY BOOTS I’VE GOT A FOGGY WINDOW AND A RED AND YELLOW SUIT.

I’VE GOT A BRAND NEW BICYCLE AND MY BROTHERS OLD PUMP

SO EVERYBODY JOIN ME LETS HOP SKIP AND JUMP

I’VE GOT A CLIMBING FRAME AND A PAIR OF LEOPARD GLOVES

I’VE GOT A FANCY OUTFIT THAT I WEAR TO RESTAURANTS

I’VE GOT A PAIR ICE SKATES AND NOW I CAN STUMP

SO EVERYBODY JOIN ME LETS HOP SKIP AND JUMP!

‘Rhyming Fun’ with love from the Bluebells (Reception Class)

In reception we like to rhyme, it’s been a fun way to pass the time.

Here’s what we came up with, we hope that you like it.

Mr Josh, we hope it’s a hit

hit

hit.

I asked my class what rhymes do you know

and can you write them down so to Mr Seigal I can show.

The dog got stuck in the bog.

That same dog then saw a frog.

On his way along the road he saw a toad.

And a pig in a wig.

And a goat in a cosy coat.

You’d never believe what he then saw, are you ready for me to tell you more?

He had fun in the sun this wondering dog.

And was happy that there wasn’t any fog.

So he could see;

A goat that could float on a boat around the moat.

He saw it it’s true, crazy things these animals do.

A spoon jumped over the moon and on its way saw a birthday balloon.

A cat in a hat was laying on a mat and there was a school in a pool!

Over all he had the best day and he said during his play

“I have fun, fun, fun with my Mum, Mum, Mum.”

He then hopped until he flopped, what a silly billy.

So that is our poem from the Bluebells to you.

Thank you for making our learning so fun to do.

Love from,

The Bluebells