Pupils-turned-poets at the House of Lords

If you've ever wondered what the poem of a voice or the countryside might sound like, then the pupils from the Federation of Kingswood & Elm Wood Primary Schools might just be able to help.

As part of our 2009 Human Rights Awards, 25 pupils took part in
a poetry workshop at the House of Lords with the renowned
poet Rommi Smith.

Rommi was the first-ever parliamentary writer in residence, and she worked with the pupils for half a day - getting them thinking, discussing and writing poems about rights and freedoms.

Words and ideas were flying around the room in no time.

Pupils had to bring to the workshop something they thought represented the idea of freedom. The first task of the day was to write 'The Poem of...' their chosen object.

Here is a selection of their poems:

The poem of a voice

I possess it, you possess it.
I think, it answers.
It never hears, but it knows.
You are all I’ve ever had.
I belong to you.

The poem of the photo of my mum

I look at this photo, I see myself.
I look around I see different people.
I look again I see everyone looks alike.
I think in my head we are one and we are… Free

© Andy Aitchison

The poem of the countryside

The wind blows the trees and
I hear them talking to me.
I hear the long grass squeaking as they sway.
And I hear the flowers laughing while they wait to be picked.
This is what I feel the countryside’s language is.

The poem of a sunset beach

The sloshing sea, the falling sun, one man alone.
Bright stars of mystery, planets to explore.
Treading a path to follow, treading a path to Rome.
An empty scene frozen in time, free to glimmer, free to shine.

The poem of the notepad and pen

Two objects that join together,
To make one
And bring deep emption,
To the reader, the receiver

The poem of the Amber Spyglass

Free to believe
In another world
Shows how much
Freedom is worth


© Andy Aitchison

And, as the pupils themselves testify, there was no room for dullness at Rommi's workshop!

“I feel ecstatic because I love writing”   
“Inspirational, fun, cool, interesting”
“Terrific!”   
“Opens up your mind”