Bernard Young is an experienced professional poet and performer who leads writing workshops for children and adults. Bernard’s poems have been broadcast on local and national radio and feature in numerous anthologies of poetry for young readers. His speciality is primary school age. Here is a link to his new book, What are you Like? And here is a link to his website.
Here he is with his poem ‘Absent’ in a field somewhere deep in Somerset.
Jackie Hosking’s favourite thing to do is write in rhyme and meter. Her second most favourite thing to do is walk amongst the Australian Bush. Her third most favourite thing to do is to combine the two. She also likes to copy other poets as she’s done in her picture book, The Croc and the Platypus, illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. (Only available in Australia or New Zealand, I’m afraid!) If you read it very carefully you’ll likely hear echoes of Edward Lear’s The Owl and the Pussycat. Jackie’s website is here.
The polar caps are melting and the plastic‘s run amok
Our oceans all are drowning in a sea of human muck
There’s just no use denying that our planet’s slowing dying
And we need to change before we’re out of luck.
© Jackie Hosking
Thank you Jackie for this great poem all the way from the other side of the world!
Happy National Poetry Day Week from me! If you don’t know who I am, I’m a children’s poet, I own Lola the poet assistance dog, I quite enjoy performing but prefer organising poetry events, I write this blog, and my own, and I have five published books, the latest of which is Be the Change, Poems to Help you Save the World, from which the following poem comes. It is not too late to change the world. The truth is we just need to love one another, help one another and cooperate with one another.
Swirling slowly
in lilting flight,
as cold as stars,
in soundless white,
their drifting feathers
spread their wings,
and sing the songs
that snowflakes sing,
of how small gifts
of peace and light
can change the world
in just one night.
© Liz Brownlee
Tuesday’s poem for National Poetry week is from Joshua Seigal. Joshua is a London-based poet, a performer and educator. He has three published books and has performed all over the world. He has held residencies at numerous schools, and is an official National Poetry Day Ambassador. His website is here and his book, I don’t Like Poetry, illustrated by Chris Piascik, here.
Whenever I start crying
I say that I feel sick,
and no one knows I’m lying –
It always does the trick.
It’s what I tell my teachers,
my friends, my mum and dad –
I tell them that I feel sick
when really I feel sad.
© Joshua Seigal (from I Don’t Like Poetry, Bloomsbury 2016)
Thank you for this lovely poem, Joshua Seigal!
Poetry Roundabout 