English
Poet Laureates
Poet Laureates
Here are some wonderful poems from Lois, our KS3 poet laureate, and Kyle, our KS4 poet Laureate.
Here are some wonderful poems from Lois, our KS3 poet laureate, and Kyle, our KS4 poet Laureate.
Poems to commemorate the renaming of the Towers Too building to the Turing building
Poems to commemorate the renaming of the Towers Too building to the Turing building
"Turing"
"Turing"
Lois Knight (KS3 Poet Laureate)
Lois Knight (KS3 Poet Laureate)
'It is the people no one can imagine anything of
'It is the people no one can imagine anything of
who do the things no one can imagine.'
who do the things no one can imagine.'
Turing was a genius and Turing was a hero
Turing was a genius and Turing was a hero
But if I'm neither one, it does not make me zero
But if I'm neither one, it does not make me zero
Alan Turing's pardon comes 60 years too late
Alan Turing's pardon comes 60 years too late
Our country showed him no love then, just hate
Our country showed him no love then, just hate
By branding him a criminal, they sealed his fate
By branding him a criminal, they sealed his fate
So excuse me if I choose not to celebrate
So excuse me if I choose not to celebrate
No mercy for a World War Two peacekeeper
No mercy for a World War Two peacekeeper
Computer pioneer and top-secret code breaker
Computer pioneer and top-secret code breaker
All this overshadowed by his sexuality
All this overshadowed by his sexuality
In 1952 he was convicted for homosexuality
In 1952 he was convicted for homosexuality
"To fit the Times"
"To fit the Times"
by Kyle (KS4 Poet Laureate)
by Kyle (KS4 Poet Laureate)
To fit the times we roll the dice,
To fit the times we roll the dice,
We cuff our sleeves, folded collars on shirts
We cuff our sleeves, folded collars on shirts
Entering the gates through the cleanest dirts
Entering the gates through the cleanest dirts
Of a saturated education yet we scatter like mice.
Of a saturated education yet we scatter like mice.
To fit the times, there is a change,
To fit the times, there is a change,
Not the cuffs on our sleeves, not the ivory
Not the cuffs on our sleeves, not the ivory
Collars on our shirts. We have no added glory,
Collars on our shirts. We have no added glory,
No added shame, just the change of a name
No added shame, just the change of a name
Not the bricks or building, the titled frame.
Not the bricks or building, the titled frame.
To fit the times, we welcome Turing,
To fit the times, we welcome Turing,
No change to the cuffs on our sleeves or
No change to the cuffs on our sleeves or
The collars on our shirts, the ties on our necks or the lessons we bore.
The collars on our shirts, the ties on our necks or the lessons we bore.
The change of a name, no support in
The change of a name, no support in
Our future aspirations, just tilted italics in lavish appreciation.
Our future aspirations, just tilted italics in lavish appreciation.
To fit the times, we still roll the dice,
To fit the times, we still roll the dice,
We still cuff our sleeves, we still collar our shirts.
We still cuff our sleeves, we still collar our shirts.
We still enter the gates with swarming swirling serpents in the dirt.
We still enter the gates with swarming swirling serpents in the dirt.
Snipping and snapping our ankles, and still we run like mice.
Snipping and snapping our ankles, and still we run like mice.
Christmas
Christmas
"Let Christmas"
"Let Christmas"
by Lois Knight (KS3 Poet Laureate)
by Lois Knight (KS3 Poet Laureate)
Coming up to Christmas time
Coming up to Christmas time
Buying for the family is a hard time
Buying for the family is a hard time
Coronavirus has slowed us down
Coronavirus has slowed us down
And our spirits buried in the ground
And our spirits buried in the ground
This time of year things should be resurrected
This time of year things should be resurrected
For Jesus Christ was born
For Jesus Christ was born
Don't let Christmas be a time to be stressed
Don't let Christmas be a time to be stressed
Don't let Christmas be a time to overspend
Don't let Christmas be a time to overspend
Don't let Christmas be a time of no rest
Don't let Christmas be a time of no rest
Don't let Christmas be a time to ignore good friends
Don't let Christmas be a time to ignore good friends
Let Christmas be a joyous time
Let Christmas be a joyous time
Let Christmas be a relaxing and happy holiday
Let Christmas be a relaxing and happy holiday
Let Christmas be sharing in these times
Let Christmas be sharing in these times
Let Christmas be an amazing day
Let Christmas be an amazing day
“I hope you still know that I love you"
“I hope you still know that I love you"
by Kyle (KS4 Poet Laureate)
by Kyle (KS4 Poet Laureate)
Another year has passed, another year without you.
Another year has passed, another year without you.
I continue to bribe my soul to go back for a final goodbye,
I continue to bribe my soul to go back for a final goodbye,
A final hug by the homely fireplace, a final smile from your aging lips.
A final hug by the homely fireplace, a final smile from your aging lips.
A final dose of your wisdom, a final donation of your finest knowledge.
A final dose of your wisdom, a final donation of your finest knowledge.
I don’t want immoderate plasters, i don’t want silver chains, I don’t want lies
I don’t want immoderate plasters, i don’t want silver chains, I don’t want lies
Or childish make believe.
Or childish make believe.
I don’t want materialistic tricks under that phony shrub. There’s a single
I don’t want materialistic tricks under that phony shrub. There’s a single
Scribble on my list. The list I left by the dusty fireplace.
Scribble on my list. The list I left by the dusty fireplace.
Winter pounces on my cheeks as i drag my feet through fresh fallen flakes,
Winter pounces on my cheeks as i drag my feet through fresh fallen flakes,
The coat you gave me still hanging at me shins,
The coat you gave me still hanging at me shins,
I smell the sweet perfume of burning fruit cakes
I smell the sweet perfume of burning fruit cakes
From the neighbours you never liked, and think of all the fun we’d have,
From the neighbours you never liked, and think of all the fun we’d have,
The purest grins.
The purest grins.
Each once lumbered branch now heavy in gentle
Each once lumbered branch now heavy in gentle
Woven silk, swept through copious servings of frost-bitten betrayals.
Woven silk, swept through copious servings of frost-bitten betrayals.
No life. No wonder. Yet to the corner of my eye I see a little
No life. No wonder. Yet to the corner of my eye I see a little
Feathered fool shivering at the edge of his branch with a pouted
Feathered fool shivering at the edge of his branch with a pouted
Red breast and black beady eyes fixated on the fool in the long coat.
Red breast and black beady eyes fixated on the fool in the long coat.
Your voice crosses my mind, your eyes in his.
Your voice crosses my mind, your eyes in his.
I feel your hand touch my shoulder, it was like you were still here.
I feel your hand touch my shoulder, it was like you were still here.
It was like you hadn’t been stolen. It was like you still had life.
It was like you hadn’t been stolen. It was like you still had life.
He stares at me, I know you’re there. I know you’re here.
He stares at me, I know you’re there. I know you’re here.
I know you’re gone, But love can never die.
I know you’re gone, But love can never die.
The breeze seems to snatch my breath and my lips tremble with ache,
The breeze seems to snatch my breath and my lips tremble with ache,
I called out for you, and the robin flourished in the boutique.
I called out for you, and the robin flourished in the boutique.
I can't help but smile at tribute. I know you’re far from the snow fall.
I can't help but smile at tribute. I know you’re far from the snow fall.
But your love will never leave.
But your love will never leave.
I stare to the sky and I scream at the tips of my lungs, why were you stolen? Why weren’t you here?
I stare to the sky and I scream at the tips of my lungs, why were you stolen? Why weren’t you here?
Another year has passed. Another year without you. Another year
Another year has passed. Another year without you. Another year
That I hope you still know that I love you.
That I hope you still know that I love you.
Another year where I watch your wings shiver through the window and
Another year where I watch your wings shiver through the window and
Hold the purest grin. I know you’re there. And this Christmas,
Hold the purest grin. I know you’re there. And this Christmas,
I left my list by the homely fireplace, in smudged ink spoke:
I left my list by the homely fireplace, in smudged ink spoke:
I hope you still know that I love you.
I hope you still know that I love you.