poetry and visual arts project 2021: an anthology

Poetry and Visual Arts Project 2021: An Anthology

A collection of poems and artwork exploring the themes

of ‘Lost Things’, ‘Growing Up’ and ‘Change’

POETRY AND VISUAL ARTS PROJECT 2021: AN ANTHOLOGY

This collection of poetry and visual artwork was created by students from Staffordshire University’s PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) partner schools. After the success of last year’s Poetry Project we have made this into an annual project, inviting the PGCE Art and Design Trainees to join those from the English PGCE in its development. Students from years 7-13 were invited to write a poem or create a piece of visual art based on one of three themes: Change, Lost Things, Growing Up. Everyone’s contribution was welcome, with all work submitted included in the anthology here. Poems and artwork are also presented in the raw format in which they were sent; there has been no editing. Each section of the anthology begins with a ‘Star’ piece of work, which was shortlisted by PGCE trainees from the 2020-2021 cohort, with the overall Star Poem being chosen by our Staffordshire Poet Laureate, Mel Wardle-Woodend and the Star Artwork chosen by local artist, Kate Windsor. The aim of the project was to give students the opportunity to be creative and have a voice or an outlet in these unprecedented times. Submissions were not assessed and there were no mark schemes; we wanted students to enjoy being creative and use it as an opportunity to voice their opinions, vent their emotions, have a little fun and challenge themselves to do something they’ve never done before. Sadly, we don’t often get the chance to offer this kind of creative opportunity in secondary classrooms. Finally, thank you to our colleagues in the PGCE department at Staffordshire University who have been supportive of this project from the beginning. Thank you also to the 2020-2021 PGCE trainees, for creating the student workbook and doing the impossible job of shortlisting Star Poems and Artwork. Special thanks go to Lucy Broderick, Andrew Kelly and Sarah Offland for presenting at our online CPD session for secondary colleagues. Thank you to the teachers in local schools who have encouraged their students to take part and thanks also to Mel Wardle Woodend and Kate Windsor for their support and being the overall judges of the Star Poems and Artwork. The most important thanks, however, go to the students who participated and created some amazing, thought-provoking and emotional poems and artwork, leaving a legacy and reminder for future generations. Rebecca Sherratt Katie Leonard PGCE English Course Leader PGCE Art and Design Course Leader Project Organiser Project Organiser

July 2021

Poetry and Visual Arts Project 2021: An Anthology


‘I am always impressed when I read a poem because it means that someone has taken the time and effort to write and craft a message, or to communicate their thoughts and feelings, or simply tried to engage and entertain the reader.

For me, it does not matter what the theme or the content of the poem is. The act of writing – of setting time aside to think and to transfer those thoughts out onto the page is the important part, and I think there is something incredibly special about writing down our words – our thoughts and ideas – to share with others.’

Mel Wardle WoodendStaffordshire Poet Laureate 2019 – 2022

Creativity is such a wonderful and integral part of all of us and it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of this project and to see your thoughts and process on paper. To be human is to create and not only is it essential to critical thinking and problem-solving it is also utterly brilliant for the soul. These wonderful artworks have allowed us to resonate and identify with your thoughts and at other times given a whole new perspective on the world as we know it. Creativity brings us together |in so many ways and the best bit is – there are endless possibilities!

So thank you again. Keep creating. Keep being fantastic.

Kate Windsor

A few words from our Judges

Poetry

Change



I thought the repeated structure of ‘Just a….’ and a different verb to signify the change in the first line of each new stanza, the

repetition of the second line ‘A change in the weather’ and the repeated concept of ‘Praying for…’ with a different aspect in the third

line of each stanza worked well to frame the poem. The repetition of ‘Lost…’ on the fourth line of each stanza introduces a different

aspect to each and I think the simple structure of this poem works well in the way it is written in quatrains – with a couplet at the end

that I feel adds a visual element to signify the concept of change.

EF

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9

A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER

Just a drop in the ocean

A change in the weather

Praying for rain

Lost in the desert

Just a splash in the sun


Praying for shade

Lost in the summer

Just a ripple in the waters


Praying for warmth

Lost in November

Just a turn in the tides


Praying for a miracle

Lost ...

A change in the weather ...

Lost, in the change of the weather

POETRY: CHANGE


POETRY: CHANGE

MK

CO-OP ACADEMY

YEAR 9

THE BLACK BOX

Changes something all mankind fears chnages something that could be different

Changes changes is what all mankind fears

Why is it that I as a person has to deal with changes with noone to talk to noone to be there for me no one to rely on except for myself

That is why

Changes something all mankind fears changes something that could be different


The fear that u feel is indescribable it is as if a simple black box which you are put and are forced to discover your own path out

Noone absolutley no one can help

The simple black box is the mindset that I have for changes

The black box is a gruesome monster which tears people apart

It tells you so many things it is simply a trap which is continuous

This never ending path which goes on and on but never stops it might slow down but never stops

I have seen changes completely break my life apart, changes are the reason why the black box is terrifying

Mankind tells you that they are here to help but that is a lie

One of the biggest lies that u can be told

You can only ever rely on yourself because it is not possible for mankind to stop changes

Life goes on and on but within this life changes will always be chasing us nothing is ever the same even the slightest change is still a change

Changes something all mankind fears changes something that could be different


I am the black box

I am most defintely my own trap


POETRY: CHANGE

FRSJ

ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC ACADEMY

YEAR

MASKING DARKNESS

Look at me, Stare through my eyes,

What do you see beyond the Lies,

That my future plans to tell, to keep you out of

My deep well.

Through day you see a smile,

Hear my laughs for quite a while.

But if you slept with one eye open

You would see a nightmare wild.

Masking darkness is an art,

It needs skill and talent too.

When truth threats, Masking

Darkness is your friend and you

Let it take over you.

So next new friend you meet,

Be aware of what they hold,

For who Knows what they hide

Under their mask that could unfold.

MASKING DARKNESS is about the two-faced and what hides under what you see. People aren’t always what they show you, they can switch in one blink of an eye.


GG

BLYTHE BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

YEAR 7

POETRY: CHANGE

Caterpillars turn into butterflies

Handling change is hard

Although this is hard to take in

Now it is time to change and grow up

Growing is a big thing in life

Even now you can change

First you are a kid

Then you discover the change

That happened to you.

An old silent day

Some things change and rain comes in

Then silent again

ML


YEAR 7

AP


YEAR 7

Childhood changes at your age

Happiness doesn’t change

As people are growing.

Now it is time to change

Growing up is hard for people,

Everything can change.


CH


YEAR 7

POETRY: CHANGE

Childhood changes

Hard times come and go

Although this is not always true

Never give up

Guilt never changes anything

Everything can change

LP


YEAR 8

Change is always there

You cannot escape from it

Just you face the facts


POETRY: CHANGE

KAF

BLYTHE BRIDGE SIXTH FORM

YEAR 12

UNWEEDED GARDEN

Sat alone lying flat on a slab of sculptured stone against my back, I admire the unweeded garden, a small forest at which surrounds me.The grass being illuminated like glow sticks at a child’s birthday party.The Buttercups being lit to a banana colour, the light catching it like a piece of foil. You like butter! Children pulling at the stems chasing their next victim. You don’t like butter. Rays lightly caressing my cheek like a mother soothing her new-born baby.The light so carefully touching the earth to breathe life into it.Daises short but congregated, always at the point of extinction in the school fields. Always favoured the magenta tinted ones. Soft warm breeze carrying Dandelions as they danced. If you were still enough you could see mov-ing fuzz, so joyful and delicate.Life finds a way. Or so they say.

Colours of plants as varied as an artist’s palette and just as beautiful as their piece of work. Inhab-itants wearing matching colours, which lives double lives as their selves and when they come in to contact with the colonisers they dress in camouflage.

We think nature as our boarders, but what do they think of us? The oldest as wisest plants in all the garden are the trees which are shielded by bark. They provide a habit for little songbirds which proudly sing their national anthems. Similarly, to how plants react they grow and stretch to reach the heavens, to be close to the life beyond. Spending their life try-ing to reach that goal. Their desperation and their whole life dedicated to reproducing and explor-ing the unknown. Almost like humans.

The deep desire of the unknown and never satisfised with what’s in front of our eyes. Granted, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I believe people are too blind by the modern falseness.Spend their life working rather than just enjoying living. Not that we have much of that anyway. This flesh too unsustainable for our curious minds, our generations to have the baton of societal control, a guide of a rigid structure of how to live our lives. Those who chose to deify are greatly punished, like the sea and tides that change it seems we as a human race are evolved enough to have a grasp of the concept now.

Nevertheless, ‘tis an unweeded garden’.


POETRY: CHANGE

PC

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9

LIFE ISN’T SOME DAY DREAM

The world is consistently changing and growing–along with the people.

Youth seemed so bright, like explosions of colour every where. We were bids, light and free ... only ... we were babies, having time for int.......

By the time we’re teens, we’ve lost our open minds; forced into the system. The only escape we have is desolation. The bright dimmed, your free becomes skimmed and your wings are clipped.

Adult life feels clinical, forced into a box compelled to labour.

We seemed to have lost our wings. Life isn’t as it seems, surely we should realise ... we’re not in some day dream.

CHANGE

Today the weather was dull,I sat in my home bored.

I was as lonely as a captive bear,I didn’t want to do anything.

The next day the weather was both, hot and cold.

I felt like a piece of bread, a loaf.Sat still everyday like I’m getting told.

The day after it was a warm day,I went outside for the 1st time,

I decided to lay and re-read this rhyme.

I finally finished reading.It was slowly turning to night.

I had this strange feeling.This night wasn’t right.

KG

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: CHANGE

PC

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9

RC

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: CHANGE

JW

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: CHANGE

RB

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: CHANGE

CW

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: CHANGE

GW

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: CHANGE

LT

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7

PEOPLE CHANGE!!

Change is different,Change is hard,When you change, your different,Sometimes your music taste changes,Sometimes your personality changes,It doesn’t actually change you though,Change is good, but not all the time,People change for love,People change for people,People change in general,But that’s what people are doing wrong!You shouldn’t change for anyone... or anything!

DB

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: CHANGE

VP

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: CHANGE

CF

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: CHANGE

JG

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: CHANGE

ID

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: CHANGE

MH

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9

THE RETURN

She was happy,Always smiling and laughing,Always with friends, being herslf.Then she came back,looking lost and she changed,no longer with that happy smile,no happy laugh.She looks so tired, under eye bags,looking fragile and alone.

CHANGE IS HARD

at the age of 5 she wanted to be a vetat the age of 7 she wanted to be a dancerat the age of 9 she wanted to have good gradesat the age of 11 she wanted to imrpess her parentsat the age of 13 she wanted to be happyat the age of 15 she wanted to be loved

IB

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: CHANGE

SL

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


CP

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7

POETRY: CHANGE

Poetry

Growing Up



POETRY: GROWING UP

KAF


YEAR 12

This poem is full of beautiful imagery such as ‘slender arm well flourished in sage gems…’ as well as other features of poetry such as alliteration – ‘this lonely child still loved…’. The repetition; ‘I saw children playing in the graveyard…’ on the first line of the first three stanzas draws the reader’s attention so the final line ‘I saw an adult…’ which subverts and destabilises the reader’s expectations. I thought this poem was well constructed and the final short stanza provided an insightful conclusion to the poem; ‘I saw an adult playing with their children in the graveyard. For which it’s the youth inside us which keeps us alive and still allows us to not get trapped in the overwhelming issues of society.’

Mel Wardle Woodend

GRAVEYARD

This poem is full I saw children playing in the graveyard. The willow bowed its head and slender arm well flourished in sage gems hung from it. The sunlight shy breaking through the fortified net of leaves, like a late-night summer emitting rays illuminating the windowsill and the window lit up to reveal a slight aqua tint.

I saw children playing in the graveyard. The grass overgrown, in which inhabitants like some like creatures of all size and colour. Cascading wind gave a light warm breath of air, laced in smiles and a sense of peace. A sense of feeling free in a bound world. I saw children playing in the graveyard. Their bright young faces emitting the joy of the world on their shoulders, like atlas and the heavens. Laughing of all kinds and ranges echoing as the children were counting. Hide and seek. I found you! The young girl seemed to not be a young girl anyone instead a run-down mother, clothes in tatters, cursing of the world in such vigour and self-assurance. I saw a child playing in the graveyard. One heap of curiosity and flesh was left. They began to read the names of the graves. All of which was their friends. No salt ridden tears fell from their delicate face, but they did only smile and sighed I found you. This lonely child still loved the world as much as they did when their friends were there.

I saw an adult playing with their children in the graveyard. For which it’s the youth inside us which keeps us alive and still allows us to not get trapped in the overwhelming issues of society.


POETRY: GROWING UP

MB


YEAR 7

GROWING UP

Up up upI’m growingI’m growingHigher and higherI can reach

Up in the skyOww that hurtThat was painfulI hate being a girl

Harder and harderMy life getsFull of tears and blondBrunettes

Prouder and prouderGetting louder and louder

Growing up is hard in many waysRemember, then forget some daysOh, what we like does changeWhat does remain?Is anything going to stay?No time.Get up and say something. We don’t want to change. Up you get, don’t give up yetPuberty means growing up is okay.

BC


YEAR 7


POETRY: GROWING UP

CH


YEAR 7

Grow up queenRide up to grow upOwn your placeWork out your problemsIt’s not that hard.Now is your chanceGrow upUr better than you thinkPractice and don’t fail

I hate growing upTo live to people’s standardsJust let me be me.

It’s hard to admit you’re growing up.Where life is care free.And your parents pay your fee.Your more independent and shed a tearWhen you look at your pendentSo many memories untold.When you look back they seem like gold.Always growing like a tree, but you’ll never know what it’s like to be me.

LP


YEAR 8

OW

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


PB

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 8

POETRY: GROWING UP


PH

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9

POETRY: GROWING UP

LA

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: GROWING UP

SCHOOL – A WEIRD PLACE

School is a weird placeIt’s suppose to be peaceso why is it chaosSuppose to learnbut things always take a turn

Stressful lessonsStressful homeworkStress is like DunkirkStress on social mediayou can’t escape stress

Chatting with your friendseverythings goodtill you take down your hoodyou realise the world is fantasticuntil you meet the canteen foodwhen they serve meat

JH

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9

LM

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: GROWING UP

DB

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 8


POETRY: GROWING UP

GROWING

Reach for the limitsOnly have one chanceWork hardIndividual qualitiesNever give upGaining different skills every day

Unexpected adventures along the wayPlan for the future

Because that is growing up!

Growing older had me excitedReally looked forward for the future aheadOnly thing about growingWas not fitting in and hiding from the world insteadI felt like I was too fat and uglyNo one would like me if I look like thisGrowing older really had me throwing a fit.

Until I realised people come in different shapes and sizesPeople really do like me for looking like this.

AW

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 8

OP

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 8


POETRY: GROWING UP

SF

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 8


POETRY: GROWING UP

ER

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: GROWING UP

EJ

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: GROWING UP

AP

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7

AH-G

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: GROWING UP

IA

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: GROWING UP

DL

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9

AM

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: GROWING UP

SM

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: GROWING UPPOETRY: GROWING UP

AW

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9



MHA

ST MARGARET WARD CATHOLIC ACADEMY

YEAR 12



KH

CO-OP ACADEMY

YEAR 10

Poetry

Lost Things



POETRY: LOST THINGS

JW

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9

I particularly liked the questioning techniques used in the poem to prompt the reader to think. I also thought the interpretation that sometimes it is necessary to ‘lose’ friendships or relationships that are unhealthy for us is a mature and insightful observation particularly shown through the final two lines ‘To gain some confidence, and grow some wings / Sometimes, lost things don’t have to be found’.

Mel Wardle Woodend

LOST THINGS

Where do all the lost things go?Do they disappear in the winter, or hide in the snow?A family emblem, a visible thingWhere do you find it when it goes missing?Has it just gone, or will it be found?As much as a hundred, or little as a poundIs it important, does it really matter?

Are you able to get it backA memory, family or friend from the pastSometimes you do have to lose thingsTo gain some confidence and grow some wingsSometimes, lost things don’t have to be found.


POETRY: LOST THINGS

CB


YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

LOST THINGS

Lose memoryLost track of time inside mindFeelings are gone now.

BC


YEAR 7

Lost and found in timeNever tried to lose againLost and found again.

CH


YEAR 7

Climate change is sadLosing everything we haveWithout knowing how.

LB


YEAR 8

I lost it againIt’s always going missingI’ll find it again.

LB


YEAR 8


POETRY: LOST THINGS

Losing a loved one can be upsettingOur worlds needs saving.Save yourself from the virusTo stay insideTo keep distanceHome is where we’re safeInside is safeNever invite people inGo and put a mask on, to keep Safe

ZM


YEAR 8

Losing things is bad“Oh no I’ve lost my watch!”Saving up my moneyThat’s in my wallet,Telling the shopkeeper to get me anotherHurrying to the isleIn a rushNearly thereGreat I made it.Suddenly they’ve all gone.

LS


YEAR 8


POETRY: LOST THINGS

I walked past the grave again today, This time I stopped to look at what it did say It was James, yes James from years away. Can you imagine my dismay? The life he had was now so far away. I remember seeing him in class, The day he went and dropped the glass. You remember? He was such an ass Yet, I find thoughts coming en masse? Did the glass ever hit the ground, Or is it still there, falling, waiting to finally impact? Do you remember the day he got smacked? That day, he swore it would be fact He’d struggle to think of anything he lacked. Yet now he’s gone. Did he ever win at life? Did he get that done? Did he ever get to fire his dream tommy-gun Or try to get that movie he liked redone? He swore that his funeral would be fun, Walking from his grave was no laugh. If you don’t give life a hit, One day someone else will do your bit. When we were younger, we had all of these goals, Now we seem as meek as foals. James had his life go so quick His barely made a crick. Don’t waste yours.

JB


YEAR 12


POETRY: LOST THINGS

JH

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR


POETRY: LOST THINGS

JG

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: LOST THINGS

PC

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: LOST THINGS

AP

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: LOST THINGS

KC

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: LOST THINGS

MT-B

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


POETRY: LOST THINGS

LOSS

When rivers burn and the sky falls,we can last another night.But when we realise we have no-one to call,we may never see the light.

CL

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9

TA

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

LM

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

MR

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

AG

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

BJ

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

FS

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

HH

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

R-MM

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7

SS

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

I-MF

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 7


POETRY: LOST THINGS

BD

ORMISTON HORIZON

YEAR 9


Visual Arts

Change



VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

MT


YEAR 10

I have based my art piece on a butterfly emerging from their cocoon to only realise they aren’t the Caterpillar they once were. My art work is based on the artist Peony Yip.


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

CM


YEAR 10


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

EL

CO_OP ACADEMY

YEAR 7

Students drew flowers and buds to show the changes in flowers as they grow.

MK

CO_OP ACADEMY

YEAR 7


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

FW

ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

YEAR 8

DS


YEAR 9


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

FRSJ

ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC ACADEMY

YEAR


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

H-ML


YEAR 8

MM


YEAR 8


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

MO


YEAR 8

KD


YEAR 8


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

KP


YEAR 8


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

ZD


YEAR 8

RJ


YEAR 8


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

SE


YEAR 8


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

MJ


YEAR 8

LC


YEAR 8


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

LH


YEAR 9

LH


YEAR 9


VISUAL ARTS: CHANGE

MB


YEAR 9


Visual Arts

Growing Up



VISUAL ARTS: GROWING UP

AH


YEAR 8


RP


YEAR 8

LS


YEAR 8



EE


YEAR 8



AF


YEAR 8

JD


YEAR 8




BL


YEAR 8


AD


YEAR 8


HA


YEAR 8



JJ


YEAR 8



DA


YEAR 8



KA


YEAR 8


KB


YEAR 8




EC


YEAR 8


Visual Arts

Lost Things



VISUAL ARTS: LOST THINGS

RA


YEAR 8


JG


YEAR 8


IW


YEAR

TITLE: MYSTERIOUS LOFT


ID


YEAR 8




SD


YEAR 8

BS


YEAR 8


BLB


YEAR 8


IP


YEAR 8



EO


YEAR 8

OS-H


YEAR 8



PD


YEAR 8



CV


YEAR 8



HB


YEAR 8


Staffordshire UniversityCollege RoadStoke-on-TrentST4 2DE

[email protected]

Staffordshire University’s School of Education Poetry and Visual Arts Project 2021, created in

conjunction with students from local Secondary Schools and supported by Stoke CEP.

poetry and visual arts project 2021: an anthology

Documents