Year 7 Poetry

This week year 7 has been exploring the work of Chilean poet-diplomat, politician winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature, Pablo Neruda. In class the students have been examining key works such as ‘If You Forget Me’, ‘Ode to Tomatoes’ and ‘Ode to My Socks’. 

We delved deeper into the conventions of his work and explored his ability to express deep passion through sensual language and find vibrant life and majesty in mundane everyday items like tomatoes.

Year 7 then took what they had learned and applied it to their own creative piece of poetry. Constructing a passionate ode to an everyday household object of their choosing. Below are some examples of their efforts.

Ode to a Whiteboard Marker 

A simple black pen,

What is so special?

Education, teaching, learning,

One single pen, has so much potential 

The inky blackness squeaks when applied to the board,

Some students are tired, their knowledge needs to be restored.

Why is learning so awfully boring?

We don’t want to learn so early in the morning.

Give it a chance, I promise you will like it,

Don’t worry about that assignment you have to submit,

Get out of your chair,

Walk to the front,

Open the pen,

And write what you want.

Sophie Murphy, Year 7 Student

ODE TO A HAIR TIE

Oh hair tie, 

How joyful you are

You alone are bizarre 

My hair will now be secure 

Usefulness you can assure

You’re elastic and stretchy

Never at all sketchy

Perfect for on-the-go hairstyles

Forever versatile 

Adaptable and colourful

Tying hair is now wonderful

Naydine Seow, Year 7 Student

ODE TO APPLES

You are constantly new, unlike anyone or anything.

You have always been on the verge of falling from paradise: full and lovely sunrise cheek!

The earth’s produce, such as bunchy grapes, muted mangos, skeletal plums, and sunken figs, is so odd in comparison to you.

You are the cheese of all the flowers, fragrant bread, and clean balm.

We all temporarily regress to the state of the baby when we bite into your round innocence because we still have some apple inside of us.

Marie Karkour, Year 7 Student

ODE TO A MANGO

Your juicy flesh 

So soft

And tender 

Your skin is like a treasure box 

Hiding the 

Juicy tender flesh that treasures look for 

Your flesh taste like 

Golden flakes 

Good enough to be in 

A treasure box 

Amelia Marteau, Year 7 Student