POETRY ANTHOLOGY by Priya Velan

"“A YEAR FROM NOW YOU MAY WISH YOU HAD STARTED TODAY.” — KAREN LAMB

PRIYA VELAN PRESENTS

POETRY ANTHOLOGY SPRING 2022 YOUNG POET'S COLLECTION- 9-10YRS

‫ ٭‬Aarav Kaushik ‫ ٭‬Aditya Iyer ‫ ٭‬Aditi Raman ‫٭‬ ‫ ٭‬Alexander Apoolingum ‫ ٭‬Anahita Roy ‫ ٭‬Anoushka Arjun ‫٭‬ ‫ ٭‬Arya Maythil ‫ ٭‬Gus Pole * I T ‫ ٭‬Kaylum Shah ‫٭‬ ‫ ٭‬Mahi Gupte ‫ ٭‬Maryam Mafaz ‫٭‬ ‫ ٭‬Mytheli Pillai ‫ ٭‬Neev Modi ‫ ٭‬Ojas Mendse ‫٭‬ ‫ ٭‬Reeven Bhatia ‫ ٭‬Renesvi Ninan ‫ ٭‬Saaran Shah ‫٭‬ ‫ ٭‬Vivaan Gupta ‫ ٭‬Yaashi Patel ‫ ٭‬Yuvraj Shah ‫٭‬

QEHBS11+ ACADEMY

Priya Velan Presents

POETRY ANTHOLOGY

SPRING 2022 POETRY COLLECTION 9 - 10 YRS

To the precious wonders that sit dreaming in the window. To the passion that bursts with colour in your lungs. In my eyes, I see, all that you can be. And I truly believe you are the future’s key. To the hearts that beat for love of wandering. To the souls that revel in nature. In my mind, I know, that wherever you go, you will bless everyone you meet. Creative writing is happiness. Classics are pure, blissful joy. To analyse and understand poetry is empowering. Using tangled words to cross oceans and move mountains is the purest, brightest form of self-expression.

This compilation is dedicated to the bright pupils of PRIYA VELAN’S QEHBS11+, who took everything they were taught and applied it ten-fold.

I want to celebrate success in this moment. I wish to rejoice in talent, grit, hard work, patience, diligence, and gifting.

HOORAY! At every step of your way!

Table of Contents

Ancient Aspirations

Castle in the dark

The Earth

The Ghost

The Eerie Event

The Rainforest

The Supernatural sorcerer

The Solar Family

IT’s a Ghost

The Sunrise

Sorrowful storm

Phantom

The Sea Hag

The Night

The bones

Tree

Books

Storm

The Traveller

The Amazon Poem

Fireworks!

Flowers

Ghost

ANCIENT ASPIRATIONS AARAV KAUSHIK

he poor man scrambled upon the remote moor, Across all the craggy land he relentlessly tore; Looking for a home, abode or a cosy dwelling, Not making enough money from the vegetables he’s

selling.

A wealthy man gave him a scowling stare, Regarding him as a mere doctrinaire; The pitiful bloke somehow didn’t see, That how irking people could be.

At last he came across a cottage, So poor the only meal there was pottage; The ancient man thought it was right, As soon as soon as he gazed at such a wonderful sight.

The poor house had not a resident, So poor yet fit for a president; But when he realised someone resided there, He finally knew the definition of unfair.

CASTLE IN THE DARK ADITYA IYER

elplessly, I strolled down the snaking street,

For a shelter to evade the harsh howling winds. And taste the welcoming heat, And as the scorching sun goes down, I rest my weary lids.

The towering trees swayed up in the heavens As the vile vacuum grimaced up near the dim stars. Then I saw a magniﬁcent shelter, one owned by a Tsar Thank heavens!

‘Oh, ah’m not a Prince’ exclaimed I, But I couldn’t believe this opulence! ‘Oh goodbye’ I say to poverty in my seventh heaven! As I walked through the illuminated hall I heard a noise that made my skin crawl. ‘The castle is mine you must give up and not pursue’ Boomed a deep voice as a vampire ﬂew. The door was ﬂung ajar As a hooded, white, silhouette loomed into view. The mortal universe was parsecs afar, As cobwebs yanked my shoe… ©Copyrighted material, ©copyright belongs to Aditya Iyer, Contact:Aditya.Vish.Iyer@outlook.com.earth

THE EARTH ADITI RAMAN

he colourful world around us, Is what keeps us alive, We must treat it carefully, To help us succeed and thrive. From the clear, rippling rivers, To the sound of gushing waves, Water is needed every day, And is what everybody craves.

The beautiful autumn forest, Leaves crimson and emerald green, Dancing gracefully in the morning breeze,

Oh, so much to be seen! In the distance the majestic mountains, Capped with shimmering snow, Rising above the wispy clouds, Emitting a soft pearly glow, In the radiant, turquoise sky, Glides thousands of chirping chirping birds, Glittering like luminous gems, Making their sweet songs heard. The colourful world around us, Is what keeps us alive, We must treat it carefully, To help us succeed and thrive.

THE GHOST ALEXANDER APOOLINGUM

he ghost glided eerily towards the animated house. As he approached the lively home, an ominous breeze decided to arouse. Inside, a ﬁre crackled cheerfully. As the ghost approached the door hastily Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the room, As a blanket fell onto the house, the blanket made of gloom. After a fraught resident of the house swallowed up his fear, He bolted into the hallway to see it clear. However, the ghost was concealed near, And what haunting sounds did it make him hear. The house was pierced with a blood-curdling shriek, Proceeded with a sinister voice that thought it would be nice to speak. The man who was courageous enough to enter the hallway screamed As a vast statue seemed To have its limbs start to move, Just like a dancer’s arms, when they want their moves to improve.

One step at a time, the vibrant statue Got closer and made the man as scared as you would be if a lion was chasing you. Out of nowhere, the lights started to flicker, As the light switch was played with by the ghost who was older Than any of the frightened humans, Whose mouths were filled with the metallic taste of fear from the unearthly presence. But finally the ghost abandoned the house to terrorize another one, And the state of horror the unfortunate house was in, was gone.

THE EERIE EVENT With the Traveller (who is a Ghost)

ANAHITA ROY

century ago, as the Traveller approached

A solitary home in a glade, The leaden clouds cover the moon and a blackbird cawed The traveller rasped the door that had been recently made! “I beg you to let me in, “ said he in a ghostly way. The Listeners were paralysed with terror and afraid, A window opened and a gust of wind ﬂew in. Before they knew it, there was nobody to give them aid. “Tell them I came but you were too arrogant to answer. Tell them I kept my word,” the Traveller said. When helot , he dropped a strange familiar Item along with a deathbed.

THE RAINFOREST ANOUSHKA ARJUN

he birds are merrily chirping,

The towering trees are swaying, In the gentle breeze caressing, Their hair, which will nevermore be greying. The sun beams down, On the breathtaking forest ﬂoor, But a vibrant variety of plants, Only reside in the rainforest’s core. The monkeys swing languidly, From a broad branch, Suddenly clouds form and rain pours, Like a cascade, a torrent, an avalanche. This abundance of iridescent insects, And animals that bests Those of a park or forest, This diversity and beauty originates In the beating heart: the rainforest.

THE SUPERNATURAL SORCERER ARYA MAYTHIL Dedicated to my teachers, elders…and the sorcerers!

sneak into a small dome,

someone lives here, what an inexplicable home As I creep closer, I hear a loud sound, A tall woman in a pointy hat I see, I am found but who could she be? I look around,

I see potions bubbling like their power is doubling, This lady must be witch,

Yet her whole house smells like ﬁsh. She grabs me by my collar, And chains me up, Then she pours a strange liquid into a cup. She walks up to me with a grin on her face, “Oh why’’ I thought “am I in a witch’s base? She splashes the liquid on me, It is salty, like water from the sea. When her back is turned, I set myself free, Now to get past all this debris. I ﬁnally make my way out, Where is my house? My mum is going to shout!

THE SOLAR FAMILY GUS POLE

ere is the burning Sun

The main and only one It has a ﬁery temper so you better run If you are too slow you’ll be done! I am Mercury, tiny and small Though I am a bit bigger than a typical beach ball The heat of the sun has taken its toll There is no life to be found in me at all Next in line is Venus, The Bright My surface is so hot I reﬂect my own light You can look at me, gaze at my sight It’s Okay….I won’t bite Hello! I am Earth, gentle and calm

All living things grow in my palm I keep you away from the Sun’s harm And I make you feel as cool as a balm Further away is Mars, The Red Planet One shade lighter than a pomegranate I have a terrible climate Which can freeze the hardest of granite Here comes Jupiter, The Giant I’m the Solar System’s tyrant So shhhh….be silent Or else I’ll be violent Next is Saturn, the one with a ring So bow down and treat me like a king Around me I have delicate rim Come on! Stare at me! I bling! I am Uranus, second to last The winds here make a real blast So if you feel the wind coming your way….don’t be daft Run! Or you will be the past The last planet in the Solar System is Neptune, The Cold So don’t come here and don’t try to be bold

As the weather here is not controlled And by the time you reach me, you will be too old I’m Pluto, you might know me I’m just a ‘wannabe’ I used to be part of the Solar system, you see But didn’t have much to offer, not even a sea So to go back into the Solar System, here is the key I need to be WAY bigger….I guarantee These are the planets of the Solar System, old and new I hope this knowledge sticks inside you So bye bye for now…WAIT….I mean adieu.

IT’S A GHOST IT

it on the brick wall,

Smear your door with blood, Grab your skill and crossbones, And let go with a thud! You hear a little squeaking, Followed by some moans, You go inside the kitchen, And find a pile of stones. One of them levitates, Then drops onto the floor, Your time has come to go out, And fight in a war. It’s a ghost! It’s a ghost! You scream everywhere,

It’s a ghost! It’s a ghost! And jump up in the air.

Outside you run, But surely that not right Not leaving a note for some kind of sign, That shows you left in the night The scream of the ghost, deafens your ears No way to go out and defend, It get’s you, engulfs you, And you die, The end.

THE SUNRISE KAYLUM SHAH

lowly the beautiful sun rose into the sky

p went the sun beaming in the clouds

othing beats this spectacular moment

ays off sunlight shining through the clouds

t was mesmerising, this breath-taking view

uddenly its daylight, marking the start of my day

nding this enchanting, unforgettable moment.

SORROWFUL STORM MAHI GUPTE

s I sailed across the sorrowful sea

I wondered if I would ever ﬁnd glee. Lethal lightning crashes, The water suddenly thrashes, And I pondered why this sorrowful sea Had given this me deed. Splashes and bashes, And soon gashes, As the storm was forming, My tummy was churning, And soon my life ﬂashed before me. The rollercoaster whirled The mast had curled I had started to feel dizzy But the sea was too busy Oh when would the sorrowful storm free me. Excitement bubbled as we saw the dock, I looked happily at the clock, “Tie fer dinne wif me family” As walked down the street merrily.

PHANTOM MARYAM MAFAZ

here was a Phantom, who hated happiness. He entered earth with ghastliness.

He cracked his knuckle to rudely scare man. He laughed sweetly, but had not a fan. He ﬂew up and down, blocking peoples way. He bought some shoes, but bargained not to pay. He ﬂew back home, and sat on his chair. He walked around and climbed a stair.

THE SEA HAG MYTHELI SRI PILLAI

T’

was under the great, round moon, Like a pearl in its midnight oyster, Did the Sea Hag begin to sing, Did the Sea Hag begin to sing, A sorrowful elegant tune. “Beautiful is the sea, Still and silent is the sea, Azure and onyx is the sea, And that is all the sea will ever be, Oh, this forbidden, begotten sea”.

On and on she sang and sang, On and on she swam and swam, Till one day she encountered a boat, In which she encountered a lone ﬁsherman, Who in hearing her melody felt a sudden twang.

She secretly smiled inside, As she took another form, Of a sweet, dark maiden standing on his deck, Enchanting him carelessly, While he drifted closer bleary-eyed. Then she took him down, down, down, Towards the endless deep, Watching him drown happily, Before transforming back, As the man’s smile was now a frown. The Sea Hag took no pity, no waste on him, Then left him for the sharks to take, Her sharp teeth and long nails vanishing, She was already singing, “Oh yes, the sea is grim”.

THE NIGHT NEEV MODI

ne Creek on the door,

gives me a shiver, Oh, those ones, which can make you quiver,

On one starry night, the cricket creeks and heaven is down, but I’m, not asleep, because of my dreadful worries, The night is fall of people, awake, and asleep, but I am in the night, awake, awaiting for one of my greatest worries, to be seen,

The noise approached, It sounded like a dinner party, but one had left to fetch some prey, through the window, ghost lights approach,

The light was like the sun light approaching,

STOMP, STOP, STOMP, My greatest fear came this NIGHT.

THE BONES OJAS MENDSE

adio radius,

Ugly ulna, Humming humerus, Clever clavicle, Terrifying tibia, Fine ﬁbula, Scary scapula, Sneaky skull, Sleepy spine, Flying femur, Venomous vertebrae, Cocktail coccyx, Peeping pelvis, Pacifying patellar was a Phantom.

TREE OJAS MENDSE

mazingness radiating, the adolescent tree expectantly

looked up to the smiling sun, Feeling jocund, the tree hoped it was a delectable bun, Detecting a rustle and a tussle, he looked down at the miniature trees, His brethren, killed by humans, must be avenged. Remembering the sound of the cackling ﬁre mock him as he frantically tried to escape. Inhaling carbon dioxide and omitting diabolical oxygen, The disturbing crack of a fallen twig forced him to look down on a human, Seeing a superior, he hastily provided shade. A limb, pulled down, and a ﬁnger, pulled off, left me grievously injured. Morosely, he ponders upon memories while losing stature. Alas! He is now old.

BOOKS OJAS MENDSE

ooks open a portal

To a new world. It leads into world of immortals. Anything happens in a book. Your surroundings disappear, Anything can change in a look. You may be reading about Hooke. You may be thinking about a Kindle. You may be reading about Coooke. You may read a poem baby Brooke, And think how good it is. You may read a poem about a brook. And at the end you desire more. Your desire is insatiable,

For you think you are in need of this lore. Like any story, This will also end. But you will carry on As the story of your life.

STORM REEVAN BHATIA

s the amber ball of light slowly set down,

The white moon rose and ﬂaunted its night gown As the fatigued country all went to sleep, A deadly, ferocious storm came in for a peep As the wind was so strong, it created mayhem, It was so gusty it could lift millions of diadems Red alert issued, trees on the ﬂoor, Washing in and out was the cold, freezing shore It did worse to architectural structures than it did to us all, As the deadliest, most tragic storm made landfall The widest roof of O2 ripped apart, Poor little people, broken was their hearts As much as this calamitous weather did to all of us, It even shattered the glass of a blood -red bus

Waves roaring, Winds soaring

90mph gusts were still blowing, Freshwater, ﬂoods swishing and ﬂowing

People peering out of windows to see if their fence was all right,

After this tragedy everyone panicked in fright

Following this tragic day, folks had lost friends, In such melancholy condition people prayed, for amends

THE TRAVELLER RENESVI NINAN

he sun is ready to depart

And as night gets darker and deeper The stars begin to sparkle That's when the traveller started to startle Something catches his attention It's a reﬂection The traveller doesn't seem to notice But he just continues to focus in the distance As he feels the breeze He sees the trees and grass swaying He hears the mumbling The shutters opening and closing The traveller keeps strolling He feels something on his shoulder And suddenly he begins to get colder.

THE AMAZON POEM SAARAN SHAH

reatures darting here and there,

A roof of tangled vines above me, When they see me they stop and stare, They’re caring for their young tenderly.

Languidly, the cerulean river ﬂows, Not a care on earth. But really, who knows? What is it all worth?

The crumbly, rocky ﬂoor, Oh, Nothing more awful! It could make your feet sore, Oh, it is so woeful!

But against the emerald backdrop, With trees standing tall and proud. Surreal canopy atop, Magniﬁcent views endowed.

Oh! The serenity. The ‘lungs of the Earth’. Please stay with us for an eternity, You bring vibrance, cheer and mirth!

FIREWORKS! VIVAAN GUPTA

oaring, exploding these eye-catching sights.

Mounting the sky are these rainbow-tinged lights, Crash! They fly in different shapes and sorts too, By watching this view my enjoyment grew! Seeing such fireworks bewitched a crowd. More people watching than grass to be ploughed. Millions of children are roaring,” Hooray!” Fast like a click colours flash on night grey. Sensational scenes illuminate night. Leaving our troubles to start new year bright, Prancing people as euphoric as kings, Killing their time waiting for New Year’s ting! Now London Eye’s fireworks and rapture!

FLOWERS YAASHI PATEL

lowers have powers

That work for hours But only in showers Showers of rain Rain that’s plain Flowers have petals Petals stronger than metals Petals have colours Colours like red Which makes red ﬂowerbed Flowers have leaves Leaves are thieves They absorb water But only a quarter

GHOST YUVARAJ SHAH

ulp down the wine

You will be mine The ghost lurks in the mist Holding a mans wrist The blood drops on the floor Where the man stood near the door And suddenly combing my hair I saw a rake near the lake And a ghost baking a cake I started to shake.