By Various Young Poets
One of the places we visited at Ferrymead Heritage Park was the old school. The stories we heard and the artefacts we saw inspired these wonderful poems. You can probably guess which artefact had the greatest impact!
1860s Child
Gaze upon the rustic woodwork
Smell the crackling fire
devouring clumpy coal
But fast!
Equip the quill
The teacher patrols
in the dim light of the lanterns,
belt in hand
Squiggle rapidly
as not to anger
the one in power.
George Grundy, Year 8, Russley School
How to not make it to school on time in the 1900s
Clip clop
Stop with a jolt
and jump to my feet with a thud
Tie him to the hitching post
and run so fast you forget ...
“Hey, little Missy, give your horsey something to drink!”
You race back
now you’re late
The bell is ringing
You give him water
then break into a run
As your horse neighs
you say goodbye
Your feet crunch against the stones
Magpies chatter
You hear, “God save our gracious Queen”
Your feet thud against the stone steps
of the schoolhouse
One foot at a time,
you make your way up
Tears form in your eyes
and stain your cheeks,
“God save our Queen,”
the final line has been sung
You know you are about
to be hit by the cane
“God save me!”
Caitlin Sim, Year 8, Marshland School
A 1950s Lesson
start by singing
God Save the Queen
click click
abacus
feel the smooth wooden chairs
against your back
the bunch of holes and dents
on the desk
slap!
of the teacher’s ruler
hands ache
the scrap of chalk across
the black board
make squiggly words
with ink stained fingers
Mekhi Tauakume, Year 8, Russley School
School Back Then
Trudge
in the classroom
Stare
at the dead blackboard
She gives you a
death glare
You shudder
“You girl, tell me what is 2/7 of ten?”
“Um 3, um 2, um 1.”
“No you idiot.”
She picks up the strap.
“Stand up. Bend over.”
Smack, smack, smack.
“Ow.” Mutter under your breath.
Smack, smack, smack.
Bite your tongue.
Be brave.
Smack, smack, smack.
Straighten pens
Clean up ink
Quick, quick, quick
She’s coming around
Pick up your pen
Dip it
in ink
Neat, neat, neat
She’s coming towards you