Monthly Archives: November 2019

Prompt #29 “Hope” in response to fires in Australia

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We have all seen on the news the devastating fires in Australia in the last week. Can you write a poem that has a message of hope for the children who have lost homes and property? Think of all the different people involved especially the fire fighters as well as those organising food and shelter for the victims. It is during these times that we see a wonderful community spirit come through and people reach out to each other.

Please send in poems this week to

poemoftheday.jaxton@gmail.com

Thankyou

Jeanie

And todays quote

“Remembrance Day” by Louise McCarthy

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Remembrance Day

 

Reminiscing – but disregarding the horror of World War One,

Three cobbers sat, their time of life – the setting of the sun.

They spoke about the good old days – they joked about the war,

Entitled too – for they were there, though they said not what they saw.

 

In silence they reflected for a minute maybe longer…

 

Then one friend with a solemn stare said “If I had my time once more –

You Know I think I’d go again; I’d go again to war…”

And they laughed for if it was true – hindsight’s twenty-twenty.

And in the distance a bugle sounded – and the three friends sipped their tea.

 

Lest We Forget.

“Wheels Song” by Katherine Gallagher with Teacher Notes

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I don’t know why I’ve got feet

when I could have had wheels,

for wheels go so much faster.

 

Imagine me flying down our street

not in my trainers or boots

but on wheels, with my ghetto-blaster.

 

Imagine people turning to stare

and all telling me to slow down

before I caused a disaster.

 

Imagine me gliding off into space

with a quick little nod to the Moon,

then simply going straight past her. . .

 

©Katherine Gallagher

 

Published in Through a Window, Longman, 1995)

Teacher Notes

Students might like to write a poem about something that belongs to them (for example, a bicycle,  an old car,  a scooter, a broom)  which suddenly takes off into space.  Describe the journey. Did they have any accidents? What did they see? smell? touch? hear? taste?

List everything that happened, using rhyme or free verse. Make it surprising and exciting.

 

 

“Remembrance Day” by Toni Newell

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Remembrance Day,

Ever in our hearts,

Minute of silence observed,

Every year at the eleventh hour, day and month,

Marking respect and gratitude,

Being reverent to those

Returned soldiers,

And those who lost their lives.

Never forgetting their sacrifice,

Commemorating their achievements,

Embracing a universal loss.

 

Defending home and country,

And human rights and more,

Yet always striving for peace, not war.

“REMEMBRANCE DAY” by James Aitchison

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On the eleventh hour

Of the eleventh day

Of the eleventh month, 

1918, the guns fell silent.

 

World War One, 

The war to end all wars,

Was over.

 

Lest we forget, in Flanders fields,

The poppies grew blood red,

When Aussie boys, far from their homes,

Were number’d ’mongst the dead.

 

They came from farms where red gums grew,

From ’neath the Southern Cross;

No friendly sun, no magpie’s cry,

Would ever mark their loss.

 

In ev’ry town, in ev’ry park,

Their solemn statues stand.

Lest we forget those brave young men

Whose honour shaped our land.