As we get used to a new way of living, working and studying from home, this could also be a great time to reflect on or revisit books and poems we once read or had read to us as children.
On 5 March it was World Poetry Day and we have asked colleagues to tell us their favourite childhood poem. Poetry is powerful. A poem can express a multitude of emotions, memories and evoke vivid imagery using creative language and narrative styles. We hope you enjoy reading afresh or revisiting these and other poems.
Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zr93bdm
James Barron, Outreach Co-ordinator: “We had a teacher who used to really bring it to life with her voice…and I associated with it on another level when I started teaching!”
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A Smuggler’s Song by Rudyard Kipling
Source: https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/a-smugglers-song/
Yaa Asare, Lecturer in Sociology: “We performed it at school, aged about 8 and some of us had to learn a verse and perform it. Mine started: ‘If you do as you’ve been told, likely there’s a chance …’ I still remember it. Our teacher explained the poem to us and I just loved the secrecy of not letting on to anyone about the smugglers and the way they were called ‘gentlemen’ even though they were doing something that was illegal but everyone profited from their daring. The whole sound of the poem, and the rhythm like ponies trotting just captured my child’s imagination.”
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Cat! by Eleanor Farjeon
Source :https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cat-44/
Marina Trowell, Outreach Co-ordinator: “When I was in what was probably equivalent to Year 5, we were asked to get into small groups to perform a poem. Our group were given this poem and we decided to each say alternate lines and we did it very expressively! To this day I still remember some of the lines. The sensory nature of the words along with the performance really sticks in my memory.”
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A Baby Sardine by Spike Milligan
Source: http://www.rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/funny-poems-for-kids/a-baby-sardine-by-spike-milligan
Jennie Cole, Careers Leader, Hailsham Community College: “This is one of my favourites as I was given a Spike Milligan poetry book by my grandad. This is one of the first I learnt…I remember reciting it to family members and ‘showing off’ at Primary school in circle time!”
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‘Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have this wish I wish tonight.’
Stephanie Newton, Learning Hub/Work Experience & Post 16 Coordinator, Causeway School:
“The author is anonymous, but always stuck in my mind as a little girl, as being magical, as the sky at night when full of stars always seem to inspire hope of dreams coming true… Plus, my Dad worked away at sea, in the merchant navy, as Navigation Officer, so the stars have always been important to me”.
We finish with a poem about reading and taking your time to savour the moment.
From Brown Girl Dreaming — Poetry As Memoir by Jacqueline Woodson https://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/books-ive-written/poetry: