One exemplary submission to this term’s TES Young Poet was a rigorous selection of 150 or so poems made by Advisory Teacher Annie Wright from more than 2,000 written by students in schools in North Yorkshire. Helen Rodney’s poem is one in a section inspired by paintings.
I like the idea of paintings being used for stimulus, as they encourage writers to trust in the visual image, and leave it at that. Here, we get a clear picture of a stormy day at the seaside, with that striking and evocative final image, and in the middle of it, the wonderfully incongruous sunbathers. The whole piece is so concisely done, and has the oddness and metaphoric suggestion of Spencer’s paintings.
Southwold by Stanley Spencer.
The waves toss the pebbles.
Into the shore.
The wet towels flap.
In the wind.
The seaweed tangles round.
the children’s feet.
The sunbathers relax in the dazzling light.
Empty deckchairs.
Rise in the wind.
By Helen Rodney, 11, of Kell Bank CE School, Masham, North Yorkshire, who receives Chasing the Sun: a journey around the world in verse donated by Simon and Schuster. Submitted by Sheila Wilkins who, with Annie Wright, receives the Poetry Society teachers’ newsletter, a quarterly bulletin of ideas and issues about poetry teaching. For poetry Society events ring 071 240 4810.
