Welcome to the Maamulaha poetry course.
You’ll study a poem a week for four weeks and you can use this blog to respond sharing your thoughts, feelings, writing and creative responses.
Later in the course you’ll have an opportunity to pen your own poem and one of you will become Maamulaha poet laureate.
Enjoy.
my name is Izu and this is my poem My city
my city’s called London
there’s an abundance of violence
people doing weird things on the train
but i never see them doing it in the rain
we like to go to the shop
also everybody hops around
everyday it rains
many say God’s name in vain
Gang members swear
tracksuits and trainers they wear
London can be very dark
you can even hear the dogs bark
there is always lots of thunder
trees here are large
when there’s not enough space many barge
train buzzers ring
the jazz begins
I hope you know what i’m talking about
My city’s called London
Hi Izuchukwu, Thank you for sharing your poem. I like the ending with the noise of the city and the contrast of the train buzzers and jazz.
is your name Mr Walsh because you’ve taught me
Yes but I don’t think I’m the same Mr Walsh you’re remembering.
nice poem great
not bad Izu 🙂
well done
GOOD JOB!!!!
Good 🙂 Izu
Nice Izu great poem, sure reminds me of London
nice poem
I like your use of powerful language like the word abundance.
I love how you related this poem to the original poem- Skye
I like how you spoke openly and truthfully about how London really is- Aiden
My City:
My city has a lot of faces Black, White and mixed.
They can be found in different places posh and poor.
Don’t matter we are all equal.
Working together as a team.
To make London a better place.
Some people “loss their faith”.
But all I have to say is try.
London hasn’t got the best of foods.
People eat their unkempt, greasy food.
My mum has the best food.
From chicken to fish.
I’m from Jamaica, India and I just found out that I’m quater Pakistan.
Where are you from?
There are many languages (300 to be exact)
From wealthy to unwealthy.
Kids getting bullied that can’t be right…
They can’t help they have nothing to do in their life.
Thanks for listening to my poem.
Thank you for sharing your poem Mya. I like the way you address the reader and involve us with a question.
WHO ARE YOU MR WALSH 2.0
Amazing Job !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I Loved it
I like how you made references to the different nationalities in London. We know there are 23 different nationalities in our class!
Wow. How lovely to have so many different nationalities in your class.
my city’s called London
angry faces and sad faces
lurking in the vases
there’s lots of graffiti
and people getting greedy
making people angry like really
you can’t do that
it’s like scratching a cat
Lovely expression Izu “sad faces/lurking in vases” I like the way you spread the phrase over 2 lines without punctuation. This is called enjambment.
London at night by victory
The blinding streetlights
Beaming in your eyes
This is London city it is no surprise
Most of us are in bed
Yes most that’s what I said
Last night noise is what I heard
Most think its an elephant herd
Pollution fills the air
But a lot of people don’t care
Busses speed past
Dangerously fast
Water splashes in your face
But still the bus is going an incredible pace
This is london at night
Faces of London by Alfie A and Theo
There are lots of places in London
Barnet ,Islington ,Edgware Some are mad
Some are glad
Some are sad
Some of these faces can be found anywhere
But some are found in forgotten places
And they don’t know how to tie there shoe laces
Barnet can be happy
But it can also be Nappy
And central London is angry
Not like Barnet which is happy
And Islington can be happy
But sometimes it like Barnet can get Nappy
My city
My city has a lot of faces
Four of them belong to Big Ben
Some look happy
Some look sad
Some are forgotten
Some are remembered
Some are different
Some are pretty
But they are all equal
Don’t judge anyone
My city has a lot of faces.
My City
My city has alot of faces
people from different races
6 in the morning the rain is pouring
Going to work on a train
Were full of Block beef,gang Violence
Music riots riots they never get tired
Got a frozen meal from the shop
cause its cheaper
its hard for others dont know how to live
they on the street seeing fog being homeless all there life
Politicians and negotiations lets face it
Television reporters finding mysterious that cannot be solved
This is London
Super poem ka’nyah. Like George the Poet you capture images of London that resonate like the “frozen meal from the shop”. I like the “street seeing fog”.
Bus journey
Closed space
Small bus standing up
Tired legs
Upset faces
Black and white
Pain emotionally
Everyone has different faces
Because they’re from different places
We all have different faces
So don’t be racist
Life is though in different places
So don’t be mad or sad
So don’t be mad
Is the poem completely done or did u run out of time
My city has a lot of faces
Faces can be happy or sad
Faces can be good or bad
Faces can be of different races
Faces can be full to the top with beautiful graces
I like the way it ryhmes
Thank you from
Shylah
My city has a lot of faces
Different shapes, different sizes, different races
Some lost, some found and some in different places
Then again, we live in the same city
Some people just don’t understand, it’s a pity
Some are happy, some are sad, some are joyful some are mad
But this is London as you can see
We will all be happy, hopefully
My city has a lot of faces
My city has a lot of faces
some can tell us on the
brick of history
some can tell
us to stop but we will
not let us down you
might of heard the crime
of rhyme some can be happy some
can be sad i grew up in a crime
Hi Devran and Yusuf, I like the expression the “brick of history”. What do you mean by that?
Its not finished yet but here It goes:
My city has a lot of faces,poverty and many races.potential greatness is shown in all these faces It has racists in many different places walking down the road gunshots heard on the daily basis.My street is bonfire night through the day and through the night gunshots heard left to right
Everyday on the news , hearing children get killed going into the blue.Interviews with youths no younger than you saying they need knives when they roll in a crew
Great start Jason. I look forward to reading the final version.
Thx
That’s a really nice poem
Btw thats it in writing form not in poem form
Michael are you a poet?
No I just lead the poetry cause and chose the poems you study.
Cool
Is it interesting
THIS is a continuation of my 2nd poem ,
its like scratching a cat like why would u do that
must be because your’e trying to hit a bat
anyway crews going wild like they’re boss man
wait until u get a ban
from a lady with a cooking pan
just don’t complain because she’s doing the right thing
could be because of my friend ling ling
sorry ling ling ,did it for the rhyme
My City
My city has a lot of faces,
Office blocks working, working, working, working ’til you drop,
My city has a lot of races,
Churches praying, praying, praying praying,
Hoping for hope,
My city has a lot of paces,
Running tracks training, training, training, training,
Training until the fastest,
My city has a lot of places,
Some nice, some not nice,
You may think this isn’t the perfect place,
But it’s my city,
And I’m proud.
Hi Phoebe. I like the way you’ve used repetition to structure your poem. It works well.
This is my poem:
My city has a lot of faces
A lot can be found in deserted places
Happily sound with all their graces
The sun could be down in his restless town but in London he found him a shot at greatness
My city has a lot of faces
My city has a lot of faces
some can be found in surprising places
thunderous sounds from a lot of places the parliament shouting in a
This is another poem that I wrote:
Mysterious eyes,
Watching the animals swinging around,
Ready to play with the animals.
Curling finger,
Lying down like a miniature monkey,
Waiting for it’s prey.
Huge mouth,
Crying for food,
Needs help, dying of hunger.
Closed hand,
Waiting for someone special ,
To make someone excited.
I hope you enjoyed my poem.
Thank you for sharing Anisah. I like the way each stanza provides a different image.
My city has a lot of faces
Some can be found in surprising places
Comfortably sound with a lot of stressed faces
The sun could be down in his sad town
but in school they would coax them to the playground
My city has a lot of faces.
My city has a lot of faces
some can be found in surprising places
thunderous sounds heard from a lot of places
the parliament shouting in a lot of spaces
the school is eating with loud voices
they all have a lot of greatness
My city has a lot of faces.
My city has a lot of faces,
Some can be found in unexpected places,
Stressed sounds with a lot of graces,
The horizon could be down on his tired city in London,
He found him a shot of greatness,
My city has a lot of faces.
Squeezed
Squashed and packed in the train at 8
Horrendous smells of different ways
Some good some bad some you will hate
Recognize maybe some, but don’t hesitate.
The population will surprise you in all different ways
Different colour skin, kids doing all
Kinds of sins, people being angry
Because of all kinds of things.
Train
In rush hour trains are packed
With different skin colours like white and black
This place is very squished with people going to work
They have different smells some stink some don’t.
don’t judge them some do some wont.
Children stuck down at the bottom
With no room to fear
Because there is to much people so near
Children can barely breathe
And even children can smell like cheese
Subway rush
unatrual smells
stincky smells
terrible smells
there might be diffrent smells
black and white smells
no pain of fear
might there be a chance of tear
you could be in a scene of horor
Packed city
Lost of people live in my city
I live in a crowded city
My city is ever day crowded
Different sizce different races
In my city there are lost of packed trans
A crowded rush hour
Tangled
Tight and squished
So close
Everywhere is closure
Tangled
Never so mighty
Black and white
So near
No space for tears and fears
Everything is so brief
When they get off I have a breath of relief
Everyone’s smell is not so tasty
Because they are too hasty
And too nasty
Hi KJ and Daniel. Thank you for sharing your poem. Tangled is a powerful word that works well to describe the movement of people.
Tube rush hour
Mingled
There is no room to fear when people are near
Different colours all around
some are ashamed some are proud
Some get along in crowded places some don’t
Because of their faces.
rush hours
Its busy in the mornings and noon
when there going work and school
Rush hours
It’s busy in the morning and noon
When they are going to work
And school
The babies are crying
While the adults are talking
Hours are passing
minutes are going
While the children are playing
The adults are working
Our city is full of people
Crowded City
I live in a crowded city
Lots of people, tiny spaces
Different sizes, different races
Some come from other places
Some people think they’re higher than others
But we’re all just the same
Many have annoying sisters or brothers
In my city there are a lot of packed trains
Sometimes you can only breathe when people leave
And that’s only at night
Where there are lots of dangerous people
Just remember we’re all equal
I live in a crowded city
Rush hour by Kyron and Bidey Races
I live in a packed place there is different people every where places like a tube has people with different faces and different races I can smell people’s breathe. And bio mingled together to near for fear black and white. All places can be packed when parents are coming back from work there can be traffic.
hi it Is Daniel like the pome
###Subway crush………..
Subway has a lot of crush
here you go everwhere
Subway has lot of people
Some people are tall
Theme park
I’m cramped
Hard breathing
Laughter and screams
Begging and yelling
Squashed and moving
No place to sit
Food and fear
Far into my soul.
My city has a lot of faces.
Some can be found in furtive places.
Others are busy carrying giant suitcases.
Some are struggling to tie their own shoe laces.
The moon yawned over this busy town.
My city has a lot of faces.
London
There is a country in Europe
With a capital city you can see from Primrose Hill
Come with me, let’s take a walk
You admire its’ beauty and I will talk
Down the mall there is a palace
Buckingham it is called
With the Queen and her crown
and beautiful red road.
Let’s take a ride on the River Thames
It’s a long one, with no end
Big Ben will tell the time
No it’s not a man
its’ a tower
Robost and fine
IT’s big famou bell
will give us a ring
Every half an hour
You’ll hear a ding!
Under the bridge we go
With a tower on each side
It’s breathtaking beauty
simply can not hide
LEt’s jump in a taxi
icon of the city
or take a tour on a double decker bus
it’s very pretty
Take a walk through Hyde Park
or inside the Tower
Where all the precious jewels are hidden
and all it’s secret power
Our tour is now finished
but only for today
we’re going to enjoy a famous ballet
there my friend
you saw a bit of this magnificent city
and it’s fame
it’s power, it’s magic
and London is it’s name
Here is a place in Europe
Where the people around are from lovely places
The most popular faces
are the ones that make you happy with their graces
Do you want to see the building called Big Ben?
The building with the biggest clock you will hear it go click clock
Watch the sun rise with it’s lovely colours
while waking up for school
Let’s get ready for a trip to London Eye
a queen
nice comment
Mingled
Dark and light
Cramped in all so tight
Babies crying through the night
Mingled
Mingled
Dark and light
Cramped in all so tight
Babies crying through the night
Mingled
Budging there and here
there’s too many things that you can hear
It doesn’t feel all that clear
Lovely poem Skye. I like your use of opposites in the opening lines.
When i first saw a photo of piccadilly circus i went crazy because i thought it would a ginormous center/mall that was packed with people and traffic that was everywhere even the concrete and i wouldn’t have ever came out of the circus but when i first stepped in i was in a complete different world, all the fast food restaurants,restaurants,people and the stores surrounding me , lets not forget about the traffic it was so much i couldn’t get through.
The veiw was like i was in my dream city except there was some not good things i did not like the pollution it was so polluted i was breathing in pollution not in nice fresh air , when i was veiwing the buildings/landmarks i was not impressed by how people weren’t appreciated of what they have in there city.
me to
When I first went to London I was amazed
the gorgeous city and all the incredible buildings
I was also confused by all the poor people out side
and the rest having fun in the bars. I was disgusted
when I heard of Piccadilly Circus I thought it would be a great massive store
I could see all the restaurants surrounding me
and all the magnificent stores around the place
I was impressed of how much people and traffic there was.
i love it
Finchley at 11pm
11pm
Late at night. One hour before midnight
In zone 4 of the underground
Leaving Woodside park station
The lights on to guide people out
But when we walked down the alleyway
It was all dark and I couldn’t see
I was very nearer our house
But still no lights to guide us
We did eventually get home at 11 20 PM
And I jumped into bed
And I fell asleep at 11 25 PM
By 11 30 Pm I was fast asleep
And I said to myself in my sleep
Mainly at around 11 40 Pm or 11 45 pm I said to myself
Im not going to a Friday night Fulham game again against Wigan Athletic
I dreamed about the match at 1Am
And admitted at 7AM I enjoyed it
London at night is very bright
And sometimes it can cause a fright.
I see homeless people sleeping
and rich people peeping.
I can hear the people partying loudly
and the people laughing proudly.
I can see people who are poor
and people who have more.
This is London
London at night by victory
The blinding streetlights
Beaming in your eyes
This is London city it is no surprise
Most of us are in bed
Yes most that’s what I said
Last night noise is what I heard
Most think its an elephant herd
Pollution fills the air
But a lot of people don’t care
Buses speed past
Dangerously fast
Water splashes in your face
But still the bus is going an incredible pace
This is London at night
Central London is like a star constellation.central london has a lot of light London has street lights and lights on there building’s especially the London eye and it’s too bright.London’s building’s are tall and wide and we can see through them because of the glass windows.Central London has glass apartments and you can see people walking over the bridges.
The night is the dark as
nightmare its like there
More windows then stars
The moon is in charge of darkness
Shadows are afraid of light
Bright like the sun
Beaming at you in the distance
Loud cars bursting with pollution
Can’t get a light from the moon
It’s sleeping in the sky
Minding it’s business
Sometimes peaceful, sometimes loud
Some are sleeping, some are partying out
Buses are as loud as elephants
Stomping angrily around the city
Cars are passing, splashing dirty water in your face
Leaving you dripping with water in the middle of nowhere
You might not care, this may give you a fright
Well this is London at night.
#ARCHWAY AT NIGHT!
By Kyron and Abbie
Achway at night is as dark as night can be
But when rember to be awhere because you never no who is there
And what might happen to you is a surprise
Don’t comite crime it will surve you jail time
This allian city is a center of confusion
London view.
London view has a lot of lights and is very bright.
Lots of buildings that shine bright in the dark.
When look at the view you will see a million colour lights.
As you look at the view it blinds your life.
The lights are like a million diamonds shinning in your eyes.
The view is beautiful and extraordinary.
When you look out of the window you will be amazed.
It is night time but it doesn’t look dark.
When its dark it shine brighter than ever and you never wont to leave.
You walk outside and hear people enjoying their self some people drunk but it doesn’t matter.
When you go outside you cant help but look at the lights so you don’t turn back but then you have the
Best time of your life.
From summer and melisa thankyou for reading.
They have cleared the street,
it shines in the glare of lamps,
and honest people
like a steady moving river,
barred with silver and black.
cabs go up it,
One,
and then more.
between them I hear shuffling of feet.
people doze on their beds,
night walkers pass along the side walks.
The city is quiet and cooperative,
with the silver railing in the light,
steadily moving,
a river leading somewhere.
Opposite my window,
the moon shines,
clear and round,
through the plum coloured night.
She lights the city;
its glistening.
It has wight lamps,
and glitters brightly.
I stand in the balcony and watch the moon.
She is full of lustre,
and I love her.
I know the moon,
and this is an amazing city.
Another fantastic poem. Lowell’s poem on London in the dark seems to have really inspired you all. What a wonderful final stanza. Congratulations.