Chew Valley School

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Chew Valley High School slideshow

Writers' Workshop Showcase

 

 

Life of a Security Camera

by Louise Harrison 10H (June 2009)

 

This alleyway is all I see

Through days of sun and rain

I guard the lonely alleyway

Until it’s night again

 

My wizened eyes see everything

The hungry, lost and cold

And through these eyes I’ve plenty seen

And yet I am not old

 

I’ve seen my share of dreadful things

Like people come to grieve

A blade brought down on guiltless man

And people who deceive

 

Drunken people, balance impaired

A danger to their friends

Seen causing fights to harm and hurt

And never to amend

 

I’ve seen Police and Firemen too

They hurry to save lives

And all the while I sit and watch

And watch the world deprive

 

I thought the world an awful place

So evil, all the day

I loathed the world beyond belief

So what else can I say?

 

But then a laugh breaks through the ice

A missing child is found

His mothers face illuminates

That happy, cheerful sound

 

And then come lovers, hand in hand

She holds a rose so red

A dove is circling high above

As friends skip on ahead

 

And all this time I watch, so blind

No feelings for the earth

As bad and evil’s all I see

With passion, lust and mirth

 

For seven years I’ve sat and watched

The world turn round and round

I’ve captured every little thing

Without a single sound

 

 

 

Elise Davies in year 10 has won first prize in the Bath Literature Festival Young Writers' Competition. Elise's poem was inspired by the idea of 'Wild Places', the theme of this year's festival.  The poem was praised by the judges for its powerful simplicity and the way the character seemed to grow emotionally, as well as physically,  as the poem developed. As part of her prize, Elise has also won a writing workshop for the school.
Well done, Elise!  Here is the winning poem.
 

First Prize, Poetry 15 - 18 years

 

I Wish I Were Big

by Elise Davies 10C

 

I wish I were big,

Have long legs to keep up with the older children,

I could lead the games at school,

Look down on the little ones,

I could rule the school.

I wish I were big,

No more forests of legs as I walk down the street,

Strange men stepping on my feet,

Huge faces smiling down at me,

No more hiding behind mummy,

I could be brave.

I wish I were big,

I could stay up late at night,

wouldn't it be great,

I would make the monster in cupboard disappear,

Just like Mummy does,

Have no fear of darkness,

I could be brave.

I wish I were big,

I could tie up shoelaces like Daddy does,

Drive the car to work,

No more playing with imaginary friends,

I could have a real adventure,

If only I were big,

One day I will be big,

Enter the grownups’ world,

Leave the wild place of a small child's mind,

I will walk and talk like they do,

My games will become real,

Will be more than imagination,

I will be like that one day,

I will be big.

 

By Elise Davies

Chew Valley School