By Various Young Poets
One of the places we visited at Ferrymead Heritage Park was the old school. The stories we heard and the artefacts we saw inspired these wonderful poems. You can probably guess which artefact had the greatest impact!
1860s Child
Gaze upon the rustic woodwork
Smell the crackling fire
devouring clumpy coal
But fast!
Equip the quill
The teacher patrols
in the dim light of the lanterns,
belt in hand
Squiggle rapidly
as not to anger
the one in power.
George Grundy, Year 8, Russley School
How to not make it to school on time in the 1900s
Clip clop
Stop with a jolt
and jump to my feet with a thud
Tie him to the hitching post
and run so fast you forget ...
“Hey, little Missy, give your horsey something to drink!”
You race back
now you’re late
The bell is ringing
You give him water
then break into a run
As your horse neighs
you say goodbye
Your feet crunch against the stones
Magpies chatter
You hear, “God save our gracious Queen”
Your feet thud against the stone steps
of the schoolhouse
One foot at a time,
you make your way up
Tears form in your eyes
and stain your cheeks,
“God save our Queen,”
the final line has been sung
You know you are about
to be hit by the cane
“God save me!”
Caitlin Sim, Year 8, Marshland School
A 1950s Lesson
start by singing
God Save the Queen
click click
abacus
feel the smooth wooden chairs
against your back
the bunch of holes and dents
on the desk
slap!
of the teacher’s ruler
hands ache
the scrap of chalk across
the black board
make squiggly words
with ink stained fingers
Mekhi Tauakume, Year 8, Russley School
School Back Then
Trudge
in the classroom
Stare
at the dead blackboard
She gives you a
death glare
You shudder
“You girl, tell me what is 2/7 of ten?”
“Um 3, um 2, um 1.”
“No you idiot.”
She picks up the strap.
“Stand up. Bend over.”
Smack, smack, smack.
“Ow.” Mutter under your breath.
Smack, smack, smack.
Bite your tongue.
Be brave.
Smack, smack, smack.
Straighten pens
Clean up ink
Quick, quick, quick
She’s coming around
Pick up your pen
Dip it
in ink
Neat, neat, neat
She’s coming towards you
Run, run, run
Out of the classroom
Pick up your skirt
Wedge your foot in the tree
Climb, climb, climb.
Ella Haywood, Year 5, Methven Primary School
Old School
Sit up straight
Answer any geometry questions that are
thrown at you
Look the teacher straight in his eyes
Smell the fire, choking
It’s your everyday fragrance
You hear the bell
Your boredom dramatically dips
Pick up your leather bag
Walk out the door
Feel the dirt beneath your feet
after you eat your apple
drink your warm milk
Take one more glimpse of the playground
zoom to class
NO MUDDY SHOES!
Three beltings slap across your palm
Take your seat, wood will fill your sight
Ride your horse home.
Ezra Seumanutafa , St James School
School For A Day
Tick, tock, tick, tock
Screech
I try not to moan while I sit at my desk
Be cautious
Do right-hand links
Screech
You hear it again
But can’t hold it in
Aggh!
Smack!
My hand stings
I can’t help but scream
I’m in detention. It feels so bad
Why did I choose to take a chance?
So, always remember
Write with your right
Don’t talk
Shush, she’s watching you
With the ruler in her right hand.
Jordan Oates, Year 5 , Methven School
School Day 1950s
The class is half asleep, sitting
all in line on separate desks
ready to start Writing.
The inkwell full to the brim,
quills ready,
teacher barges in, and the class shudders.
Say one word and the cane is out.
It’s so cold, the fire’s started,
smoke fills lungs and causes coughs.
Silence!
All except one.
Teacher grabs him by the shirt,
the cane strikes his bare fingers.
A sharp scream pierces
the ears.
Ouch!
Olivia Cooper, Year 8, Marshland School
Some things to notice about the poems:
In many of these poems the young poets imagined sensory details- the sounds, smells, textures as well as the actions. By placing themselves in the scene they were able to also evoke emotion without having to spell it out. Look for examples of how they achieved this through choices of images, words and layout. When they had completed their first drafts the young poets then spent time making choices about cutting unnecessary words and finding where line breaks gave their work rhythm or suspense.
These poems were written during a Poets Make History Day- sponsored by The Canterbury Literacy Association.
© The School for Young Writers and the poets. 2018.