Serena’s poem is a nice example of a dramatic monologue. It was written after working with puppeteer Rachel Riggs, who got her class to make puppets from found objects around the school. Serena’s torch then spoke the lines that she had written for it as part of a shared performance.
What I like in this poem is its directness and honesty. Getting children to write in other voices can be a really useful way of allowing them to speak strong feelings but with the safety net of it being “someone else’s” words. Nevertheless, I think Frank’s desire to “want to shine”, to escape from his cupboard and to have batteries that work are feelings we can all identify with. I particularly like the double-edged last lines where he is “only happy whensomeone needs (his) help”, the last word hanging on its own, as if questioning its right to be there.
Anthony Wilson
FRANK TALKING
My name is Frank
the talking torch I
want to shine but I
need some help to do
it I won’t go on
because the
batteries have run
out I wish someone
would come and
change them because
I want to shine
again I spend most
of my life in the
cupboard it’s very
boring and I am
only happy when
someone needs my
help
Serena Roper
Serena Roper, aged 18, receives ‘Emergency Kit’ edited by Jo shapcott and Matthew Sweeney (Faber). Submitted by Varie Freyne of Bromley Hall Special School, London E14, who receives a set of Poetry Society posters with teacher’s notes. Please send students’ poems to ‘TES Young Poet, Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1 9XY. Anthony Wilson is Poetry Society poet-in-residence for primary education, and the author of ‘How Far From Here Is Home?’ (Stride) and co-author of ‘The Poetry Book for Primary Schools’ (Poetry Society)
