No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.
No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.
Robert Frost
No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.
Robert Frost
"The confidence I needed to share my work with other writers first came from those lessons where Ms De Rosa worked her magic." Tristan Marshall
For most exams such as AQA, OCR and IGCSE, you will need to write creatively for one of the English Language papers. The day creative writing is not included in a child's education, is the day the world ends... Unfortunately, there is never enough time to focus on creative writing in most schools and I believe that using language to express your thoughts and feelings as well as your imagination is crucial to one's self-esteem and confidence. I am always amazed at the beautiful and intelligent descriptive writing that students produce. It is one of the most satisfying parts of my job. Students need to be clear on the difference between a narrative and descriptive response. You won't need to write an actual poem for the exam, however, it's important to encourage young people to write poetry (as well as prose) as a form of expression and to experiment with language. I have various techniques to encourage creativity and broaden vocabulary. The following poem, written by Sam Pittman at the age of 15 won first prize on National Poetry Day in his final year at school:
A Message in the Language of Flowers
Since we met four seasons ago Your affection seemed to come and go; It was fleeting; dandelion seeds on the breeze, Yet your sickly-sweet siren's song bent my will with ease. One month you sent immaculate daffodils as gifts, But the next, that now-withered bouquet formed a rift. Now that our love, too, did crumble and rot, Will you forget me, or forget-me-not? In Spring, our red roses came into bloom, Upon summer's arrival, oleanders started to loom. I found myself orange mocked in the fall; By winter your hydrangea heart was apparent to all. Now that everlasting year has come to an end, Will the wounds from your raking thorns begin to mend? I shall forever bear this geranium scar, deeply implanted, Though a bittersweet nightshade I have finally also planted. |
To A Child by Christopher Morley (1890 - 1957) is one of my favourite poems. It encapsulates the wonder, innocence and imagination that children have. Childhood is "the greatest poem" and that's why it is heartbreaking if children are not able to express that innate beauty with words if they have the chance.
To A Child The greatest poem ever known Is one all poets have outgrown: The poetry, innate, untold, Of being only four years old. Still young enough to be a part Of Nature's great impulsive heart, Born comrade of bird, beast, and tree And unselfconscious as the bee-- And yet with lovely reason skilled Each day new paradise to build; Elate explorer of each sense, Without dismay, without pretense! In your unstained transparent eyes There is no conscience, no surprise: Life's queer conundrums you accept, Your strange divinity still kept. Being, that now absorbs you, all Harmonious, unit, integral, Will shred into perplexing bits,-- Oh, contradictions of the wits! And Life, that sets all things in rhyme, may make you poet, too, in time-- But there were days, O tender elf, When you were Poetry itself! |