When I checked the clock at school, it was 11.41.
Nearly time to leave, but I did not tell everyone.
At the theatre I had a long time to wait.
Then 1.30 came and we were asked to sit down,
Front row between Jessamy and Alistair, silent, not a sound.

Then the lights went down and Gaby came on stage,
There was chaos inside me because I was so scared.
I was about to find out if I had won
After 6 weeks of hopeful waiting since the email had come.

Gaby made the announcement,
I needed the name to be mine.
But there was a…..RUNNER UP,
Which I thought must mean ‘winner’.
I wasn’t listening properly
I just heard another person’s name – Rosa.

I was annoyed and shocked – I had not won.
Why was Mama clapping everyone?
A minute later, Gaby said “And now the winner is…”
I was now completely confused, but I heard MY NAME.

Quickly relieved, excitement exploded
And I plummeted down into a volcano of fear
Because I had to stand on the stage
In front of the thousands of people who could see me so clear.
One of my favourite authors, Cressida, told me to come.
She gave me a certificate and said “Well done”.

On the way to the BBC, my nose bled,
“Lucky it’s the radio”, Tatty said.
Eddie was humorous and said I am the Man.
I played with the mike, swung round on my chair
Being as funny as I can.

I was scared not many people would understand me
And I was not convinced about reading just a part.
Would they understand the story
Without hearing the poem from the start?

I was sad that it was the end of the day
Being with Cressida had been a huge celebration.
It was definitely worth feeling so scared
To talk about my poem across the nation.

Everyone should write stories, poems or a play
So we can all listen to what people have to say.