Highly commended in The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2022!
I’m very excited to be able to say that my poem ‘Rumours’ was highly commended by Naomi Shihab Nye, Young People’s Poet Laureate and this year’s judge of The Caterpillar Poetry Prize.
The prize is awarded every year to a poet who writes the best poem for children aged between 7 and 11, and this year was won by Carole Bromley, for her wonderful poem ‘Pry’vit’, about a moment of connection between a British child and a new pupil who is a refugee from the war in Ukraine, which you can read here.
My poem is more about when communication goes wrong - and the misunderstandings and tall tales that can result!
Rumours
They’re crossing our class
from the front to the back ––
I heard it from Amit
He heard it from Jack.
He heard it from Martha
who then told Shanice,
who told it to Patience
(best friends with Patrice).
Patrice then told Hannah
who said to Adele:
‘The stork’s paid a visit to Mrs Patel!’
I wondered to Eddie:
A stork has been seen?
Is that like a heron?
But what does it mean?’
Eddie just shrugged
and whispered to Jake,
who then told the lunch queue:
‘It’s not a mistake!
You can ask ANYONE,
that’s what I heard ––
Poor Mrs P was attacked by a bird!’
What bird? An eagle?
Could it be her pet?
I heard a crocodile!
I saw the vet!
She fought off a tiger!
I heard she BOUGHT three!
I know the story ––
No, listen to ME!
Everyone shouting
a hullabaloo ––
‘Mrs Patel left to open a zoo!’
A laugh from our teacher
(Her name is Miss Trent ––
and she came to teach us
when Mrs P went)
Good heavens children —
what IS it you’ve heard?
Fighting with tigers?
Attacked by a bird?!
There’s no need for worry
No cause for alarm
Her BABY arrived —
She’s come to no harm!
A lovely sweet baby,
no claws and no beak ––
delivered quite safely
the end of last week.
Let’s clear up these rumours
and make lovely cards,
to send our good wishes
and fondest regards.
‘Delivered!’ mused Martha,
‘And here in no time?
The baby was ordered from Amazon Prime!’
Her name is Alexa!
My aunt saw the van!
Well, MY uncle knows the delivery man...
My entries from 2020 and 2021 were highly commended by Roger McGough and Michael Morpurgo respectively - you can read my 2020 entry on the Twitter link below, if you fancy.