I’ve seen some posts on facebook about the fact that cold weather in winter is no surprise, it happens every year. It reminded me to share a poem about it.
A Cold Spell
Take a misty morning
A foggy night
A snuffly nose
A snowball fight
An icy road
Warm woolly tights
Add chilblain pain
A wind that bites
Then summon sleet
Think thoughts of white
Now look outside
It’s winter. Right?
Image copyright Bernard Young Bernard Young is an experienced performance poet who is available for workshops in schools, particularly primary age. He is based in Manchester, but will travel further afield. Over the years he has also worked successfully in partnership with Road Safety officers, combining the road safety message with creative writing. For more information, see the Contact page.
All the fireworks popping in the sky where I live makes me think what a stimulating time to be creating poems. So I’ve written a new poem for children for bonfire night that doesn’t appear in any of my books (since I wrote it today).
Choosing Fireworks
I bet
you’d like
a Confetti Canon
and a Crackling Comet.
I’m sure
you’d go for
a Jumping Jack
and a Flying Saucer.
I guess
you could handle a Sparkler
and get a thrill
from a Roman Candle.
And you’d feel
fine watching a Catherine Wheel
go round and round and round
wouldn’t you?
But what you don’t want,
you really don’t want,
because it’s definitely no good,
is a…
Bringing a writer, poet, illustrator or storyteller into your school is a great way to inspire children and bring reading to life. The Book Trust, who organise Children’s Book Week, which is this week, have some tips on their website with simple steps for planning your event http://www.booktrust.org.uk/programmes/arranging-an-author-visit/
Children’s book week 7-11 October
But reading is for every day not just special weeks so the same principles apply for any time of year. Bringing in a guest writer/performer, who can give the kids and teachers a boost of energy and enthusiasm for reading and writing, is well worth the price.
Here’s the sort of day I have when I do a day workshop in a school. Before a workshop I usually perform some of my poems (some with guitar and participation) and then give writing ideas based on what they’ve heard me do. This can result in poems for the page and/or performance.
Some are very simple – I read one, for example, (When To Cut Your Hair) which uses each day of the week and show how that can be used for any subject. For example, using football:
When To Play Football
Play football on Monday Score a goal
Play football on Tuesday Fall down a hole
and so on.
Another I read (they join in with this) is Brilliant, which begins
Today Mum called me brilliant and that’s just how I feel
I’ll run a race I’m bound to win I’ll take up golf Get a hole in one
Because today Mum called me brilliant so that’s what I must be
I give ideas and examples of how they can use this structure, like this:
Today I’m feeling noisy So that’s what I will be
I’ll run up the stairs And stamp on the floor I’ll run back down And slam the door
Because today I’m feeling noisy So that’s what I will be
I use simple choruses and repetition during the performance and show how these can easily be incorporated in their own poems, if they want to write something that is for performance.
I do find, that having heard me, they pick up the ideas very quickly, and those who need less help can use my ideas if they want to, but also have the opportunity to go their own way. And there’s scope for writing funny and serious poems.
If there are any classes where the teacher would prefer to have a go at a class poem, we can do that too. I often use guitar on the class ones and we can usually come up with a finished poem in about 30 minutes.
Usually teachers jot down my examples based on 3 or 4 of my poems and then discuss them back in the classroom.
I hope the advice on the Book Trust website and the ideas I have given here will encourage some schools to book a writer. If you are interested in booking me, please do get in touch.
A big thank you to Northlands Primary School, Rugby for delaying World Book Day by 24 hours. Car trouble prevented me from getting there for the official event and, just like that, the school happily moved my visit to the following day.
As the photograph illustrates, on a snowy day the welcome couldn’t have been warmer.
I worked with all age groups and we had a brilliant get together before school ended to listen to new poems written and performed by the children. It was fantastic that we were joined by many parents for that.
Thanks again to the school for looking after me so well and producing some great poems.
It would seem from the write up here that the visit was a success.
“On Monday 25th February 2013 poet Bernard Young came into our school. Bernard Young is a poet who helps pupils learn about road safety in a fun and innovative way through the medium of poetry.
He began the day performing a selection of his own poems and talking to us about the different styles of poetry. For the rest of the day each class were working on class poems with help from Bernard Young, ready for a presentation in the hall at the end of the day where each class would present their poems to the rest of the school.
We also had a visit from the Area Road Safety Officer to give us a road safety talk, accompanied by the Junior Road Safety Officers.” Read more…
This February and March, I am happy to be visiting schools in North Yorkshire and Durham again with the Road Safety staff, getting the message across to young people through the medium of poetry.
Lady Lollipop
Lollipop Lady
Lady Lollipop
She’s got the power
To make the traffic stop
When she steps out
With her lollipop sign
The people on the pavement
Sure feel fine
They know they can go
They’ll be OK
‘Thank you very much’
Is what they all should say
To the lollipop lady
Lady Lollipop
She’s got the power
To make the traffic stop
She’s there for me
She’s there for you
Standing in the rain
Doing what she’s got to do
She makes it safe
For us to cross
Halts all the traffic
Shows who’s boss
It’s the lollipop lady
Lady Lollipop
She’s got the power
To make the traffic stop
She’s the lollipop lady
Lady Lollipop
And she’s got the power
She’s got the power
She’s got the power
To make the traffic…STOP!
From Wanted Alive by Bernard Young, Hands up Books 2004
Bernard Young Poet 