FIRST FORM POETRY ANTHOLOGY 2020
R E I G AT E G R A M M A R S C H O O L
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F I R S T F O R M P O E TRY A NTH O LOGY 2020
FIRST FORM POETRY ANTHOLOGY 2020 Reading is such a powerful way to expand our horizons, challenge our imagination and help us to become expert wordsmiths. Reading poetry is all of this plus the beauty of unpicking some wellcrafted imagery! We are so impressed with the original pieces written by the First Form in this anthology and I hope that you enjoy reading them too. Robert Shaughnessy, Head of English.
It has been a pleasure to see what our fantastic first form students have been able to produce, inspired by our DEAR anthology. They’ve creat-ed some exceptional poems ranging from everyday events to the celebration of Christmas. I am immensely proud of each and every one of the year group and all they have already accomplished in their time at RGS. Claire Cline, Head of First Form.
First form have risen to the challenges presented in these surreal times: forming their creative response to the stimulus poems and crafting some impressive original work. I have been lucky enough to collate these original poems and am astounded by their creativity and imagination. I hope that you enjoy reading them as much as we have. Donna Carpenter, Teacher of English.
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1AMV GET OFF OUR LAND! Goodbye Winter, off to sleep you go Hello Spring, how gently you arrive Light wind and rain softly kissing the soil It’s time for our flowers to rise from the ground and grow In a flash of a light the Beast is launched An Evil, the naked eye could not see A deadly pestilence in the air we breath An invisible Assassin about to unleash Using our air to travel Loving the thrill to kill You shook our world Causing Fear, Panic and the sheer terror you were about to unravel Taking centre stage Immediate and future plans were cancelled We felt scared, lost and alone Almost trapped in a dark and lonely cage Welcome Summer, Mother Nature’s kindness steps near Radiant sun wrapping her long warm rays all around us The sweet aroma of our blooms grow and stand tall Sky blazing blue with the birds operatically singing rings in our ears Time for you to leave You lull us into a false sense of security... Lingering Festering away like a septic wound Bad news we were about to receive
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Summer stops dancing and takes a rest Greeting Autumn, orange and yellow colours await Shedding of the petals and early night fall You jump out of the wings, a second huge test Savage and spiteful you return once again More pain and destruction awaits ahead Iron hearted, blood thirsty and ready to reign Attacking from all angles, causing more pain Shutting down our communities, causing darkness and anxious dread Gnawing away at our souls like a rodent seeing red But stop and listen carefully, we will escape this darkness and enter the light We will adapt, get stronger, survive and we will fight Together we stand Together we will destroy you No more causing pain, Now get off our land! Aniqa
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LITTLE ELF IN THE RED Sneaking round the corner peeking through the window the little figure in red riding on his sledge. Juggling lots of presents bringing them to our door our little elf comes and goes as it gently snows. Amelie
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JEWELS, CRYSTALS AND GEMS Jewels of all shapes and sizes, Can sometimes make pleasant surprises. Jewels of all colours shining bright, Gleam so well in the light. Jewels, Crystals and Gems are so smooth and beautiful, Glamourous, attractive, gorgeous, and colourful. Jewels, Crystals and Gems are shiny and great, They are always in the best state. Crystals in caves and Crystals on land, They can even be found buried in the sand. Coloured Crystals and Geodes in stones, Dazzling and elegant can be put on thrones. Jewels, Crystals and Gems are smooth and beautiful, Glamourous, attractive, gorgeous, and colourful. Jewels, Crystals and Gems are shiny and great, They are always in the best state. Gems are fancy and great to admire, Charming, glorious and they sparkle like fire. They are so perfect and always clear, Straight, curved and can make a lovely souvenir. Jewels, Crystals and Gems are smooth and beautiful, Glamourous, attractive, gorgeous, and colourful. Jewels, Crystals and Gems are shiny and great, They are always in the best state. Rosanna
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ON THE TRACK Skid around the corner, Zigzag between the cars, Swerve into the pit-stop, With wheels as red as Mars. Flash onto drive again, With my lucky lead, Speed right ‘round the track, And lap them at light-speed. Only twenty laps to go, Fifteen, ten, five! The joy of this I feel, The feeling is alive! The chequered flag, It all draws near, I see the crowd, Through my head-gear. This is my life, It’s what fuels me, Racing ‘round the track, ‘Cause on the track, I feel free! Luke
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A LONELY AUTUMN DAY Fog covers the sky, The autumn wind whirls by, The trees stand bare, Seeing wildlife is rare The beach is abandoned, The atmosphere saddened, Jackets are being worn, Flip-flops are gone Darkness takes over the afternoon, Revealing the beautiful moon, People huddle together, Hoping the cold won’t last forever The world is grey and tragical, But that what makes this autumn day so magical. Lexi
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CHRISTMAS IS COMING As we welcome the month December, Since last year we all remember, A very special time of year, Christmas is coming, it’s almost here! Sleigh-bells jingle in the snow, But even all the children know, It isn’t anybody weird, It’s someone with a great white beard. A jolly mood, a big round belly, And when he laughs it shakes like jelly, He crosses the world, lightning-quick, And he goes by the name of good ‘Saint Nick’. So, Christmas is coming, it’s nearly here, Everyone’s favourite time of year, Snowflakes twirling from the sky, A time to laugh, not to cry. Cover the world in a blanket of white, Soon there’ll be a special night, Give presents to those who have less, Everyone behaves their best. When Christmas comes, we all rejoice! Inside there lives a little voice, It tells us ‘always be kind’, And lots of love is what you’ll find... Seth
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1EEP CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR Christmas this year - well what can I say? I think things will be done a different way. The Christmas feast will be cooked by Dad The chicken will burn - the sprouts will go bad Yet people will still laugh & cheer As Dad takes a sip of his 3rd beer! You’ll see the relatives over zoom Too bad that they can’t be in the same room The family will smile-and maybe for a while You’ll think “this is my new Christmas style” The presents will still sit under the tree Don’t peek though you don’t know what you may see Outside the window, it might start to snow And the road will glisten with an icy glow. Carol singers will sing from their hearts Whilst thoughtfully standing 2 metres apart! And in the distance - here comes Santa’s sleigh And you may even say, “I like Christmas this way” Layla
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AUTUMN Mist dances around a sorrowful sky Tranquility dawns on a sleeping world Serene and still Touches of cold Crisp and sharp Trees as tall as giants Watch down astutely with an ancient eye Crunchy leaves drift off to sleep Floating like parachutes in a woebegone air Badgers and foxes rush around the forest floor Rummaging through mounds of leaves Like desperate scavengers Hunting hastily for fresh-fallen food Hedgehogs scurry under duvets of golden leaves Preparing for a bitter winter Squirrels scamper to gather nuts Hurrying around like late Christmas shoppers Joe
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THE MEANING OF LIFE Everyone has a meaning of life, All different and unique. Some are making a lot of money, that’s usually the lonely life. Some are having a lot of fun with friends, that’s usually the lovely life. Some still think it’s 42, that’s usually the TV life. My meaning of life is none of the above, I still have not yet found love. I am waiting for it to get me, today or tomorrow like a beat without a melody. Will it be a short, quick heart attack, fall on the floor out black. Will it be a knife or a shot from a gun, that some idiot shot for fun. Will it be an illness never seen before, the doctors cannot do any more. I am waiting for it to get me, do I run or let it be. That is my meaning of life. That was a very short life. Ben
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SURVIVING Tick tock tick tock What was that noise? The sharp air bites at my face. I retreat back to my safe place. A few moments before the feeling of empty darkness lays its weighted blanket over me. The start of another day Tick tock tick tock How hard is it now to simply get out of bed? My body aches, my fingers gnarled, How did it come to this; where did the time go? Tick tock tick tock The icy water hits my face, it feels like a thousand tiny pin pricks As I lift my head, who is this old lady staring back at me in the mirror? Tick tock tick tock The table, too large to be set for one I can hear the excited chattering of family meals gone by The food, dull and bland now, serves one purpose: to extinguish the gnawing in my stomach
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Tick tock tick tock Looking for clues as to what day of the week it is The clattering, crashing, screeching outside, dustmen, it must be Tuesday All around me memories swallow me up Photos bring to life happy times, laughter, love, togetherness The painting of my beloved Westie, eyes shining like pools of water Tick tock tick tock My coat, hat and scarf hang alone on the stand I hear a voice: I will always hear his voice in this hallway The banging of the front door, like the closing of an era Tick tock tick tock Every step takes an age, people rushing by places to go, people to see My world in slow motion Will I see anyone today, will anyone notice me? Time never passing, but people do With the front door closing, the deafening noise of the silence returns Tick tock tick tock Hannah
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COVID 19 Zooming friendships Family’s behind protection Lonely, sorrow, tears Is this our worst fear? Masks steaming up glasses Eyes blinded Hand sanitizer running off the shelves Toilet paper fighting to be bought Hoarded food stashed in safes Washing hands more important than lives Toilet paper locked away Masks stolen then sold Homes stuck to the ground Lockdown on the beach With a second sunny wave TV over rated and over heated Cruisers stuck at sea 2020 NO MORE FOR ME!! Sofia
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DREAMS When the sky darkens into inky black plates, Your thoughts and memories lie await. When your eyes are shut all weary and tired, Your thoughts will transform to what they desired. It might be alarming, filled with fear, Or it could be something which you hold dear. It might be jolly, and filled with surprises, Or loaded with tension that goes high and rises. The dreams in your head swirl all around, While you are in your bed all safe and sound, The fireplace crackles and the birds sing outside, While you are in your dreams, deep inside. The sun melts over, the darkness hides, But you know later on, your dreams come in like tides. Tom
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CHRISTMAS Christmas at last, it’s finally here, The people are jolly with festive cheer. The townsfolk are merry, With unlimited sherry. Frost is glistening under foot, As Santa descends, covered in soot. The fire is flaming, a golden red, Time for the children to go to bed. The roast dinner is eaten, And Christmas is beaten. The gifts are unwrapped, And the sherry gets capped. Christmas at last, it’s finally gone. But no one can wait until the next one… Rowen
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THE CHRISTMAS STAR Jewels nor diamonds can shine as bright, as the Christmas star on a starry night. It shines in all its wisdom and can be seen from near or far. A symbol of the baby Jesus as he lay upon the hay Here to tell the waiting world that a new king was born that day. Dear Christmas star keep shining. Provide us with hope and love. Give us strength, hope and loyalty to do our best everyday. I wonder what your future holds. Keep shining bright. Keep shining bold. As we can never get bored watching the Christmas star on a starry night Riya
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WINTER Delicate snowflakes dance elegantly in the wind, the smell of warm food creeps through the house, animals settle into hibernation, the hedgehog, the bat, the mouse, the bare skeletons of trees, stand huddled beside a frozen lake, snowy footprints left behind on tracks the animals make, breathe in, breathe out warm breath turns to steam, it feels so unnatural, it feels like a dream, Christmas lights fill the streets, Creating a homely glow, The land becomes a magical place, And I do not want it to go, As the sun begins to set, A mellow fire fills the room with light, Saying goodbye to the winter day, And hello to the winter night Victor
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1JLB 2020 Winter, breeze blowing through the flaming forests, Insets, only the calm before the storm, Pandemic, panic raging all around the globe, Crisis, whole countries’ borders shutting down. Emotions, spreading around us, Conspiracies, claiming wild accusations, Rebellion, sparks as racism peaks, Silence, wishing all the fallen well. Clapping, applauding our saviours, Nightingale, the protectors of us all, Joy, spreading as good news is spread, 2020, in December, nearly at it’s end. Daniel
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THE BARN OWL A blood curdling shriek Woke me from my sleep. Out of the window the silvery moon Lit up the inky night. The phantom glided low Across the meadow. Passing through the air With the silence of falling snow. The pale, heart shaped face Stopped to listen and hovered Diving to claim his prize. Then the ghost flew back to The cloak of the trees. I stumbled back to bed and another shriek erupted from the dark. I smiled knowing what it was It was a barn owl out on his night time patrol. Harriet
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A CHRISTMAS HOPE Christmas, a time for festive cheer, but all has been different this year. All locked up with nowhere to go, oh what I’d do to see some snow. Putting up the Christmas tree, only seeing a max of three. Families across the globe, hoping, waiting for this virus to go. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, dripping down a funnel. Desperate for some Christmas fun, hoping we can see someone. Keeping older relatives safe, make some distance, just in case. Christmas songs are all around, bringing joy with all their sound. We’ve all missed out in 2020, New Year’s resolutions, they’ll be plenty. Let’s not let this set us back, humanity must stay on track. Monty
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1RJF THY NAME IS EARTH Who is the mortal knocking at the door? Thy name is Earth, its body sore, It speaks of life and death of all things, To the plants it grows, and tranquility it brings, It continues to suffer, Its demise is bland, For coral bleaching, is its mainland, Its remnants we continue to reap, Yet, for its natural preservation, we seek. Thy name is Earth, It beckons and pleads, That we don’t kill its crops and its trees. My name is humanity, devoid of soul, So on our own peril, we’ll continue to roll, Over your crops and shroud your breath, Until my friend is brought upon you thy name is death. Who’s that knocking at the door? It is no one, No one anymore. Theodore
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TAKING OUT THE RUBBISH Twas a dreary Sunday, When mother turned to me, Said: “It’s almost Monday,” “And this rubbish is up to my knee!” “Will you help me, Lola dear?” With malice that spurred such great fear, Cautiously I accepted the task“Come on love, is it so much to ask?” She cackled, an ungodly sound, With force and volume of a hound, At the sight of the rubbish, my stomach reeledSomehow, I knew my fate had been sealed. There was... Gone off cheddar, oh so smelly Sandwich- peanut butter, jelly Stripey bacon, mouldy ham, Last last Sunday’s roasted lambMashed potatoes, sloppy, thick, Almost ran when I saw them, quickBut she was watching from the door, A gruesome smile upon her maw. Must keep going, despite the smell! Time passed slowly, I couldn’t tell Where I began and the rubbish end, Just about drove me round the bend!
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Melted lollies, sickly sweet, A load of dodgy looking meat, Milk, thickened into cheese, All this work did make me wheeze. It’s too late now, I’m in too deepMy watery eyes begin to weep, Last week’s takeaway, what a dish, Now reduced to rotting fish. I’m almost there, I see a light! Wait, that’s the sun- blinding bright, At last, I’ve reached the final stage, Spices- ginger, thyme, and sage, Broken eggshells, dusty flour Apple juice that had long passed sour At the very bottom, a fearful sight, Made me freeze in my own fright A brownish sludge had gathered thereAll I could do was stand and stare, I pinched my nose and closed my eyes, Then, suddenly, to my surpriseI once again saw Waitrose plastic! A feeling nothing but fantastic! Alas, alack, I’m done, I’m free! No longer is she watching meAnd after all that, I have no doubt Never again will I take the rubbish out. Lola
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THE SHADOW He stalks the day through meadows of green, And disappears at night, He can swim the deepest ocean, And soar the air in flight. He is the largest thing on earth, But can be smallest at will, He hunts for creatures great and small, Though he can not kill. When sunset comes, he’s silent, His body grows long and thin, He shrinks away to the distance, And darkness comes from within. Nicholas
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THE ELEMENTS I love the growl of thunder against my windowpane, The irregular flash of lightning that illuminates the rain, I love being wrapped in the deluging elements, My hair is so delighted that it swooshes in amazement, I love feeling so powerless and so very helpless, As I witness Mother Nature’s ungentle caresses, Across the world where tornadoes twirl, And cyclones whirl and hurricanes birl, I love staring up in wonder, At the torrential rain, lightning and thunder. Robyn
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WHAT REMINDS YOU OF WINTER? In my mind, Winter is a time for crunching on icy paths; For skiing on soft-settling snow or trudging wearily through The rain and mud. Wellington boots squelch; Hail hurtles onto hard ground and cold window panes Whilst our warm breath swirls in the cold air. Winter sounds sparkly, splodgy and silent. Few birds sing but in the morning car windscreens Are scraped like filing nails. Dull, dreary days expose the drains; Water weaves along the roads splashing. But sunsets can be spectacular; Streaky skies of red and yellow paint With a brilliant red globe. Piles of neglected leaves provide shelter But smell damp and musty. Wet clothes are Like woolly sheep; they dry out slowly. Muddy football boots go mouldy in our lockers. The warm aromas from cooking dinner Spread inside, and out through an open window. The scent of the hot shower gel lingers in the bathroom But outside there is just wet tasteless vegetation. Frozen fingers hamper holding hockey sticks. The touch of the wet netball reminds me of slime. The key is difficult to get in the lock and I can’t remove My wellies. Winter means wearing warm clothes: Fur-lined boots; bobble-hats and scarves which Snake around my neck. I get cold on precarious pitches. Snow, ice, rain, endless rain. But, do we have proper winters? Rithika
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6:45AM My alarm said six-thirty I knew that something was wrong. I listened to the silence, in a place I didn’t belong. My eyes caught sight of trees, at least that was something I knew. No people, no nothing, the silence immense, To my surroundings, I hadn’t a clue. My watch showed six-forty. I had to get out of this place. But then, almost out of nowhere, a brilliant light flared up in my face. My alarm showed six forty-five, I thought it was starting again. But I heard a noise from downstairs and fell asleep till half past ten. Oliver
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