Looking at my poems ...

Looking at my poems is a good idea. Mainly because it means I can find out other people's reactions but also because I think that sharing a rhyme, sonnet, poem or ballad can make people think about certain things more and also (hopefully) give people a better taste for poetry. I really enjoy poetry and this is one of the reasons why I also enjoy writing it. I also like to try and show people a bit more of who I am through it, but this is something I do often find hard. Not that I find writing poetry easy, sometimes they do suddenly form in my head and certain rhymes and patterns are fairly easy to create. But sometimes odd little lines and words don't quite fit or sound right. Also I find it quite difficult to sit and write if I'm asked to, unless I'm feeling "in the mood".

My first poem I have included here is "Imagine…". This is in sonnet form, similar to the rhyme scheme Shakespeare used and this is because it was set as a homework task after a session in an English lesson studying some of his poetry. This poem is basically about everyone. Everyone has a certain quality in them somewhere that enables them to create their own poetry or story or tale or other piece of creative writing. But it also suggests that these stories and poems can take on another form. They can be so powerful they can unleash strong feelings and emotions from inside the reader, or listener, that they may not be able to control. Whatever consequence may occur from the effect of piece could easily be blamed on the creator, whether it is good or bad.

The second poem, "Crimson Tears", came to me after listening to a song on the radio. I think it began with the same words, but I haven't heard it since. Also, earlier in the day I had been watching a programme on television about a girl being sexually abused and I thought that a similar story could be the reason why a girl would cry silently. The crimson aspect can either imply that the tears she's crying are actually of blood or just be reflecting the colour from the rear lights of the car. I didn't feel that this particular subject would suit a rhythm, so I simply allowed it to form as blank verse, although it does have a slight structure. I am not always to keen to write poetry in blank form, as I prefer my poems to be more joyful. But this is definitely a serious subject and although I am not a victim of sexual abuse in any form, I have seen quite a lot on television, and not all fictional. This poem allows people to think about those people who are out there, who have suffered. The general reaction I get from readers is shock and horror but also sorrow and sympathy for the victim in my poem.

I see "Flicky-fly" as rather childish of my personality, but I do like the reaction I get from it. People I know are fairly used to my more immature side of my character but if it makes them smile and laugh it really doesn't bother me at all, no matter what the serious members of the population seem to think. Most people posses a childish characteristic about them and this helps them to enjoy life more and I get on well with people who have a great sense of humour. This poem actually relates to a fly visiting me. I was in my garden in autumn, trying to create some poetry when a fly landed on my blank page. It was only a small fly so I was able to write this poem around it and it happily stayed there until I'd nearly finished it (which wasn't that long!). But even though it was only small, I know that every creature has a purpose in life and makes a big impact on all other forms of life and this appealed to me enough to give it it's own poem. It does have a rhyme scheme to it, and this is fairly similar to a nursery rhyme-style, although doesn't quite contain all the qualities of one.

My last poem I have included is called "Friends". I created this poem for another homework task on poetry but this time it was to go in a compilation of poems from the people in my English class. I was having quite a lot of trouble thinking of a subject and I decided to write about friends and their role in life when I thought about my relationship with people at school, outside of school and on the internet. I know that my true friends are there for me whenever I need them, as I am there for them and I thought about all the times they helped me cope with difficulties and troubles that no-one else could help with and how they helped me through them. I'm always there for people that need me too, and always happy to help, however much trouble they are in. Some people are lucky to have 2 or 3 true friends and I know that I am extremely lucky to have so many surround me almost wherever I go. All of them are important to me and that is why I wrote this particular poem, so that any of my friends that read it know that they are really special people. Also, to remind everyone that reads my poem to keep their true friends close by, never upset them and if possible to never loose touch. You can't get through life without them, or you'll at least find it a very difficult, long, and bumpy journey.

by Claire Farrance (age16)