Waiting in the Playground for the Bell to Ring

It began to snow during the morning at Clare Community Primary School and it proved a big distraction and attracted a small crowd at the window during one particular flurry. 'Put the snow in your poems!' I suggested, then insisted. And what should have been a guided exercise about their lives and homes and began with a question about 'On my way to school', kept going and twisting and turning until it was all only about their journey to school. We then created another group poem (picking each student's best line and adding it to the board, re-ordering the lines etc) and it captures that childhood winter journey, the apprehension and sometimes plain despondency with a smile or two as well (you have got to love those ducks!). It certainly rang a bell with me...

WAITING IN THE PLAYGROUND FOR THE BELL TO RING

I step outside and it looks like I am a dragon blowing smoke

I want to run back inside to the warm, hot Aga.

In the car with an annoying brother

My Mum shouts about other drivers

I hear the radio but I block my ears.

On the way I think of snow, I think about Xbox.

I think about the spellings I have to learn

the boring lessons and having lasagne for tea.

I forgot the newspapers for art. I remember

when we forgot to cross at the crossing point.

As I walk through the park the ducks are having a dance off on the ice.

When I get to school I realise my massive mistake

The children screaming and stamping their feet on the icy floor

My face burns as I enter the same old school every single day

I sit down and think why I am here?

Year 6, Clare Community Primary

#WaitinginthePlaygroundfortheBelltoRing #ClareCommunityPrimary