Young Poet

18th September 1998, 1:00am

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Young Poet

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/young-poet-44
What’s really attractive about this poem is its individual energy. It’s based on a Miroslav Holub poem and isn’t dwarfed by it, because Luke has made the idea his own. I’m left with a personal account of someone obsessed by cricket, uneasy about homework. I like the subtlety of the rabbit, too. And the bike. The “spelling mistake” is interesting, with a whole line to itself.

The poem could maybe do with another draft, to ease the formality left over from the translation. For instance, “There’s a monster that can’t be found” seems more in keeping with Luke’s own voice. I’m not keen on poems that justify to the centre - which is a pattern given by the word-processor rather than by hearing where the line breaks should be. And is “sparkling” the right word? But even so, it’s an outstanding poem.

ann sansom

A Boy’s Head

In it there is a cricket match and a project for bringing a rabbit to life.

And there is a bike, that shall not be beaten.

And there is a sparkling new cricket ball a sparkling new stump a sparkling new cricket bat.

There is a monster that cannot be found.

There is everlasting homework.

There is a spelling mistake.

I believe that only what cannot be put together is a head.

luke o’hanlon

Luke O’Hanlon, aged 11, receives ‘The Poetry Book’, edited by Fiona Waters (Orion). Submitted by Mr D C Price of The Latymer Preparatory School, west London, who receives a set of Poetry Society posters with teacher’s notes. Please send poems to ‘The TES’, Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1 9XY. Ann Sansom is writing tutor at Doncaster Women’s Centre and is a part-time lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University. Her collections include ‘Romance’ (Bloodaxe)

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