Over Sir John’s Hill... ... was Sir John’s House

A response to the life and work of Dylan Thomas.

by pupils of Dylan Thomas Community School

Autumn 2014

Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea

The poems © the respective poetsSelection, editing & layout: Emily HinshelwoodPhotographs: Lee Aspland, Nicola Kelly & Emily Hinshelwood

‘You have honey and senna. Mix them together, dip your pen into them and write.’

Dylan Thomas in a letter to Trevor Hughes. 1933

Nicola DaviesThe Move 8

Billy RichardsBroken Elbow 9

Chloe DaviesGrand Canyon 10

Chloe ReynoldsHalloween (extract) 12

Ashleigh OwenThe Night before Christmas 14

Billy Richards Prepare for the Power. 14

Chloe HowellThe Christmas Rush 15

Billy Richards, Alisha Williams, Libby TwomeyShopping 16

Nicola Davies and Chloe ReynoldsBiker Town 17

Charmaine LewisOnly when the Future is Bright 17

Billy RichardsOn my Way Home from School 18

Libby TwomeyOn the Roof 19

Libby TwomeyBroken Teeth 19

Alisha WilliamsIn the Car 20

Alisha WilliamsLoneliness 21

Group poemThis morning, I saw... 22

CONTENTS

Alisha WilliamsHappy Families 23

Billy RichardsStuck in the Washing Machine 23

Nicola DaviesMeeting Danny Dyer 24

Chloe ReynoldsCookies 24

Ashleigh OwenThe Bike 25

Chloe HowellCockle City 26

Chloe HowellThe Crayon 26

Chloe DaviesLive life like a Leopard 27

Libby TwomeyNobody told him 27

Charmaine LewisMy Mum is Naughty in Class 28

7

Introduction

Mr Rob Phillips, Head Teacher, Dylan Thomas Community SchoolAt Dylan Thomas Community School, we are delighted to have formed an exciting partnership with the Dylan Thomas Centre to provide additional opportunities for our students to develop their creative writing skills. It is important that we remember and celebrate the talents of Swansea’s best known poet, and our namesake, and this project has certainly achieved that.

The work the students have achieved is of an exceptionally high standard demonstrating their skills and dedication to the task. It is my hope that this experience will inspire them to continue writing and, who knows, perhaps they will achieve success as poets, playwrights or authors themselves.

Lee Aspland, Dylan Thomas Centre.This particular project is linked to the exhibition of Dylan Thomas’ Notebooks which have been on display at the Dylan Thomas Centre this year. The project has been funded by a grant from the Clore Duffield Foundation with the aim of inspiring young people to create their own poetry and short stories. Two groups have participated: a year 10 group of most able and talented (MAT) pupils and a group from Townhill Youth Service, who also attend Dylan Thomas Community School. The pupils have worked with writer Emily Hinshelwood, over three months, visiting the National library, viewing the Notebooks and reading Dylan’s work.

Emily Hinshelwood, WriterIt’s been an engaging experience working with pupils from the Dylan Thomas Community School on this project. Using Dylan Thomas as a starting point, the pupils worked at a fast-pace to produce ideas, concepts and to come up with their own take on subjects, like childhood, that Dylan himself was concerned with. The pieces in this collection were all written during the sessions, often with a minimal time limit, and to strict rules. The results you read here are testament to the pupils’ ability to think creatively, and with original voices.

8

Nicola DaviesThe Move

About to move in my new home,Because my other one was too small,Carrying all the boxes, down the stairs,Everyone’s hands full,Going to the van, carrying heavy things, In my house there are loads,Just too much to move,Knowing I could drop them,Least of all I have my mother’s ornaments,Near the edge of the box,Pressure on me,Quickly getting it to the van,Running as fast as I can,Skidding to a stop,Tripping over my own two feet,Under the van I fly,Very worried what my mother will do,X-ray on my arm,Yelling in pain,Zig-zag stitches up my arm.

9

Billy RichardsBroken Elbow

My little street, so quiet and petiteuntil the kids come out.

We all run around, the dares go out.That dreaded cartwheel, that leap of faith.

I felt no pain.It broke,

It snapped, It cracked.

My elbow? My arm?What happened to me?

Numb.The hospital not quite so fun.

But the laughs will go on and the games I’ll always win…

Even in a sling!

In 1

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10

Chloe DaviesGrand Canyon

In my backpackmy camera, climbing stuffmy chicken sandwichesmy phone and a first aid kit. Water, some rope and my hope.

A bus full of bonjours, holás and hellostwo little kidsplaying a clapping game.Jess and I travel from the city to thehot rocks.

We get off the busat the end of the road.We leave civilization behind.We walk. The rocks are as tallat the Grape and Olive in Swansea;the colour of clay.

A lizard with yellow spotsrushes into a hole.His spots change to blue.I pull out my phoneI shine it down the hole.Only darkness.

I remember putting a sea snail on my auntie’s pillow when I was on holiday.Chloe Reynolds.

11

We start climbinghammering the pegs into the rockattaching the rope along the way.Jess slips,pulls on my harness.Time stops.

We reach the top.Look down -people as small as antsridged edges.We are on top of the world.I’ve made it!

Som

etim

es it

took

him

wee

ks to

writ

e on

e se

nten

ce.

12

Chloe ReynoldsHalloween (extract)

I’ve started putting the spooky decorations up as it is the night before Halloween and because I’m 16 years old. I’ve just left high school and it is my first Halloween party. I’m really nervous. ‘Jenna, you got to come see this, it’s really bad’. This is why I’m nervous. Everything seems to go wrong.‘What, Tam? What’s gone wrong now?’ I says.‘The zombie’s broken, and the bats aren’t floating like they did earlier.’‘ O my seriously! It would be the zombie. The only one that I really like’.‘It’s okay, we got the warranty on it, we’ll just take it to the shop, get it fixed and then we fetch it back, put it out the front, and bob’s your uncle. We done it!’Whenever I panic, my best friend Tamara always seem to calm me down. ‘Right, good idea’.‘I know, let’s put the rest up then’.

We finished putting the decorations up and the morning of Halloween is a Friday. Unfortunately, I have to go to the shop where I bought the broken down zombie statue from as I still got warrenty on it. As we get to the shop, is a sign on the door saying it’s shut till 2pm. ‘OMG, it’s only 11am now and we got to go to the fancy dress shop.‘Wait! There’s the owner, Mr Fred! Mr Fred! Mr. Fred, wait there.‘Hello Jenna, Tamara what can I do for you?’‘Well, the zombie I bought off you a year ago has broke’.‘Ow yeah, I remember, do you have the warrenty?’‘Yeah, right here’.‘Good, I’ll take a look at it now. You’ll have to come back at 3pm because I’m going somewhere right now as you can see’.‘Okay, Sir, thank you,’ I reply.

13

It’s now 3.30pm and we’ve been to the fancy dress shop, got our outfits and given Mr Fred an extra 30 minutes. It’s probably done by now - hopefully anyway. It’s now 4.30pm and Mr Fred’s nowhere to be seen and I’m starting to get nervous yet again. I was just about to give up and Mr Fred walked around the corner of his shop.‘I’m so sorry, Jenna, but I was running a bit late’.I say quietly to myself a bit late is an understatement but I go with the politer version.‘It’s okay, Mr Fred, no problem at all’.‘Well the good thing is…’‘You fixed it?’‘No I’m afraid that’s the bad news, I’m afraid it’s broken completely. So sorry Jenna it’s nothing I can do’.‘Are you joking?’….

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skip

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14

Ashleigh OwenThe Night before Christmas

As I walked into a shop I saw it was full of parents trying to get presents for their children. There was a loud bang. People were rushing. A huge Christmas tree had fallen to the ground and it seemed to have hit a water fountain over. The water was twirling around. I enjoyed seeing all the people panicking. It was the Christmas holidays and people were singing Silent Night. Then they went home and it was quiet all of a sudden.

Billy Richards Prepare for the Power.

Who turned out the lights?It gives the kids such a fright.They turned off and back onbut where did it all come from?

The Western Power Distributionblame Swansea west grid station.Has it finished yet?or is it that the weather is too wet?

15

Chloe HowellThe Christmas Rush

Full as always at this time of year.People can’t stop and relax.Loud children playing - excited, parents rushing around.Christmas is coming!The Holiday is here!Water freezes as cold nights arrivetwirling skaters as they dance on ice.People enjoyinglaughing dancingSome are stressedbut happy tooas the holiday is days awaycold nights next to the burning fire.Sleeping quietly waiting for early Christmas morning.

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I remember singing in the Christmas play and falling off stage.Ashleigh Owen.

16

Billy Richards, Alisha Williams, Libby TwomeyShopping

Peter’s peas and puff pastry pies,perfectly prepared.Merry Berry’s creamy cakes,brownies and fruit bread.Saw my friend with his mates,stealing all the smiles.Teething chewers, toffee, towels,on an individual aisle.Queuing at the checkout,been here for a while.

I remember seeing a man smoking a cigar and asking ‘why is he smoking a stick?’ Nicola Davies.

17

Nicola Davies and Chloe ReynoldsBiker Town

Charmaine LewisOnly when the Future is Bright

Deep down in the bikers’ townplenty of things to see.Smell the freshly baked pastry piesizzling next to me.Sniff that stunning smell of fudge brownies.Children having funwith their iced buns.Riding their mountain bikes,BMX with stabilizers, tricycles too.

Watch out for that little girlsitting on the bench waiting for her friendsagain – she’s having a little break.Because they are always late.

Light arrivestransparently.

A rough draft of real artistry.

Life at full volume.Darkness tested.

A furious time.

New

s rep

ortin

g op

ened

his

eyes

to so

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ineq

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18

Billy RichardsOn my Way Home from School

After school when I was young, I wouldBeat my brother home. We wouldChase each other all the wayDown the hill.Each day, IFell into the same hole in theGround.He must have pushed meInto it.Jordan was his name. I swear he was trying toKill me. But we stillLike each other.Mum used to shout at him and say‘No!’ when he pushed meOver. But lots of People laughed when I shouted‘Queen Elizabeth the 21st! That Really hurt!’SoTo get revenge, I wouldUse my Violin to hit him and he Would say ‘Ow! I need anX-rayYou just broke myZebra’s leg with your violin!’

19

Libby TwomeyOn the Roof

Libby TwomeyBroken Teeth

Standing on top of my mum’s shopwatching the birds and clouds rush by -eleven years old, not a care in the world.Hear a frantic scream down below.

Walk in to see my mother ready for a row.A tall, dark, unfamiliar mantells me not to stand on roofs again.

An unknown stranger feared for my lifeCalled the police, thinking it was right.

My neighbour comes out of his house.‘What the hell happened?’Blood dripping down my shirtThe bike wheels stopping.

A loud crack.Gravel.A girl screaming.Cracked like broken glass.

Dyl

an d

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ossw

ords

with

his

dad.

20

Alisha WilliamsIn the Car

Driving homeacross the Tawe Bridgearound the age of seven.

I pulled a parking ticketoff the window of the carand rolled it into a tube.

I slowly wedged itup my nose.Until it couldn’t go up

any more.

I remember leaving my sister in the charity ShopBilly Richards.

21

Alisha WilliamsLoneliness

All the time I was aloneBecause I don’t get on with people.Chloe is my only friend. IDon’t know what to do anymore.Everyone is out partying.Forever stuck in my house.Good life I have!Ha ha!I’m onlyJoking.Kerry is my mum.Larry is my dad.My parents are my true friendsNever letting me down.Oh wait therePeter, my brotherQuiet and innocent, I Really don’t like himSometimes we argue.Too bad I guess.Understandably that’s what brothers and sisters do.Very silly if you ask me.Wait there! The favourite thing is myX-box.‘You’re very unsociable,’ my mum tells me. AndZombies are very scary on the X-box.

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22

Group poemThis morning, I saw...

I saw rain appear on my pageI saw leaves driving a craneI saw a bird drinking coffeeI saw a car flying over SwanseaI saw a boy falling from the skyI saw a tree riding a bikeI saw my bed dripping on the windscreenI saw my phone drinking a cup of tea.

I saw children being cleaned in my mouth.

I saw cheerios going to schoolI saw my uniform floating in the bowlI saw my dog picking her noseI saw teachers messing around in the corridorI saw trees popping out of the toasterI saw the teachers blowing in the windI saw my toothbrush waiting for her friend.

I saw a seagull drop her books on the pavement.

I remember falling down the stairs because I had my mother’s heels on.Chloe Howell.

23

Alisha WilliamsHappy Families

Billy RichardsStuck in the Washing Machine

Nobody told him that he was adopted. They just played along.Happy Families.

LaughingStruggling to get outCrammed in like a suitcaseSqueezing my legs through the door!Washing powder‘Get in’Pushing the door to ram me inScreaming.

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wou

ld si

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in a

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.

24

Nicola DaviesMeeting Danny Dyer

Chloe ReynoldsCookies

People are still on the pitch‘OMG I met Danny Dyer’MusicMy family in the backgroundPeople screaming Smell of fresh grass.Climbing over the chairs to get to the front.

One boiling afternoon, I adventured into the kitchen.The delicious mouth-watering stomach-rumbling smellof freshly baked, chocolate-chip goowey cookiesdrifted up my nostril.I felt the roaring heat of the ovengushing upon my cheekthe scorching heat was warm.Very cosy on the cold winter night.

25

Ashleigh OwenThe Bike

A crack. Me screaming.Panicked mother.A brick from the wall had disappeared.“Are you okay?What did you do?”My ankle swollen.The smell of mud.

Und

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ilk W

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had

14 st

andi

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I remember getting my head stuck between the bannisters.Alisha Williams.

26

Chloe HowellCockle City

Chloe HowellThe Crayon

On a cold Christmas, in Cockle City,Chloe collected cockles for the kidsto create King Clive’s crown. King Clive was coronated at the carnival.The city was calm until Chloe’scunning, clever quest continued.

I force a crayon in my ear.I cry because it goes too far.My sister is picking up the toys‘Mam, Chloe stuck a crayon down her ear!’My room is messy with toys and dolls everywhereSophie is being loud.I’m screaming like a babyand I smell Febreze.

I remember a girl biting a chunk of skin out of my armLibby Twomey

27

Chloe DaviesLive life like a Leopard

Libby TwomeyNobody told him

Nobody told him where to goNobody told him who to meetNobody told him what to wearNobody told him who to beNobody told him.

Liz lives life like a leopard.She laughs lots loudlyand lurks by lakes.

His

fune

ral w

as re

cord

ed a

nd a

cas

t mad

e of

his

head

.

28

Charmaine LewisMy Mum is Naughty in Class

My mum is naughty in class.She chucks extra white chewing gum at Mrs Wallis.It gets stuck in her hair.She will need to cut it out.

My mum climbs on the table.She walks barefoot across my English work:500 words about Aberfan.Muddy foot prints.

She throws an apple at her friend Rachel. It hits her in the eyeand Rachel cries.Rachel goes to the nurse.

My mum gets detentionand tells the teacher to f*** off.

My dad is good in lessons.He sits down and does his workabout the Stuarts.