Competition Entry

Winner

Remembering Emily Dickinson – Poet and Recluse
(1830 -1886)

This is my impression of Emily Dickinson
“who never wrote to me”-

Have you seen the real Emily Dickinson-
Have you seen beyond the mask?
The poet,
not the gardener,
The sad and tortured soul
who lived with little joys,
and many sorrows.

Seeing death,
being judged,
all took a toll on her.
She turned into a recluse-
Hiding out in her room,
staying there,
living there,
writing there.
But why?

Maybe her memories kept her locked away.
Hidden in her own world, away
from reality.
From behind closed doors, emerged a great writer.
One great masterpiece but now,
we can only remember.

Can you remember, just like me,
Some of your childhood memories?
I can remember when I was one
I learned to walk without the help of Mum.

I can remember when I was two
My first day at my new play school.

I can remember when I was three
I said goodbye to my favourite dodies!

I can remember when I was four
How I loved to chase my sister across the floor!

I can remember when I was five
Upon a horse I learned to ride

I can remember when I was 6
How I achieved level 3 in mathematics!

All these memories I share with you,
I hope you can look back and remember
before you were seven and a half too!

Runner up! Lovely poem, Katie. Well done.

Remember, the spiders, lurking under your bed,
Remember, the snakes, slithering in the forests,
Remember, the tigers and lions, pouncing on innocent creatures,
Remember, the bears, crunching with their deadly teeth
Remember, all of those dangerous things…
REMEMBER
DON’T TOUCH THEM!

Runner up! Excellent poem, Muhsanah. Soooo close.

I remember, I remember
When I was born and I looked up at mummy and said,
“Nem, nem!”
I remember, I remember
Gulliver’s World with a flood!
I remember, I remember
Being four and visiting mummy when she had my baby brother, Francis.
I remember, I remember when mummy had baby Lucas too!
I remember, I remember when I was a toddler
and Grandma and Grandad looked after me.
I remember, I remember…

I lie on the ground, a knife in my chest
I loved my life, it was the best
An ugly face comes to meet mine
He pulls out the knife, and cuts down in a line
The blade strikes my shoulder, I cry out in pain
My blood starts to flow as it starts to rain
My life starts to drain, I see a light
All around me I hear the sounds of the fight
A figure approaches, a gun in his hand
As he limps towards me, he issues a command
“Somebody get a medic! This man needs help”
As a bullet hits him, he gives a yelp
As my vision starts to blur, my legs turn to lead
Finally my heart has stopped and I am …….

I remember, I remember when I went on holiday and we had such a lovely time!
I remember, I remember when I was 5 years old,
I went to the hospital to see my little new-born sister.
I remember, I remember when I first went to school,
I felt happy and shy to see all those new faces around me.
I remember, I remember meeting my best friends, Maureen and Katie, for the first time!

Childhood memories, Oh childhood memories
The first day I learnt to crawl
I was told I really did bawl!
Childhood memories, Oh childhood memories
When I had my poopy nappies
Mum and dad were certainly not happy
Childhood memories, Oh childhood memories
The things we must remember

I sat on my high chair,
The smell of a meaty substance,
The spoon came nearer and nearer,
All of a sudden, an awkward sensation
Sprung up in my mouth like a firework.
I learnt later it was spaghetti bolognese.

As smooth as can be
As beautiful as can be
As sweet as roses could ever be
I feel like nothing can be
Without you.

Off By Heart Winner

Cat and Rat went out one day
A-travelling through the wood-o,
Cat and Rat went far away
Out from their neighborhood-o.

With me right-da-do five
Da-diddl-i-lee
Me right-da-diddle-li die do

Cat, he was a bit worried…
To roam so far from home-o…
Rat he scoffed, as he scurried,
“You’re such a silly gnome-o!”

“Oh come along,” cried ol’ Rat,
A-quirking with his finger,
“Call it an adventure, Cat!
There’s no need for to linger.”

Cat, he was more worried still…
He thought they shouldn’t go-o
Rat replied, his voice quite shrill,
“Come on, Cat – don’t be slow-o!”

Cat and Rat were lost in play
As they went through the trees-o.
Cat forgot to watch the way
As Rat did poke and tease-o…

“Rat,” said Cat, “it’s getting cold.”
His voice had lost all cheer-o…
“Let me ask a question bold…
Where do we go from here-o?”

“Look,” said Rat, “you see that glow?
A-shining bright and warm-o?
I bet that’s the way to go
It sure won’t do no harm-o.”

Cat, he thought Rat might be wrong,
but he was easy-going,
Wouldn’t do to stand there long
It had begun a-snowing!

Rat, he marched up to the door
and rapped upon it smartly.
Knocked until his paw was sore
and then it opened…partly.

Cat and Rat they saw a nose
and two eyes brightly glowing.
Rat, he rocked back on his toes
with all his teeth a-showing.

“Can we sleep here for the night?”
Asked Rat at his most char-ming.
The door opened wide and bright,
Which should have been alarming.

Once the door was closed and barred,
they noticed their mis-take-o
Bear it was a-standing there!
And they began to shake-o…

Bear, he put them in a cage
their protests sharp and shrill-o.
Bear, he laughed to hear them rage…
They may be in there still-o!

Listen to my warning, lads
and all you lasses too-o
Wand’ring too far from your dads,
Might be the end of you-o!