Poet #Malika Booker returns to Brudenell Primary School

 Richard Wilcocks writes:

Malika is now well-known at Brudenell, amongst the staff at least. Headteacher Jill Harland welcomed us both  as we checked in, joking that we were now entitled to wear school jumpers. Tom Nutman, the enthusiastic teacher of Year 5, had vivid memories of Malika's sessions last year, and had primed his class in advance. She won them over seconds after walking into the room, and proceeded to live up to all their expectations.

First session

Malika knows which of her poems work with ten-year-olds. As a year ago with a different class, she began by reading two of the poems in her extensive repertoire, one about being lost in a maze (she was once Poet in Residence at Hampton Court, which has a famous one) and a little boy who could navigate it better than adults like herself, and one about a cat that had to be dismissed from the household soon after she was born. She shared her early experiences of shopping with her mother, which she never liked. The class was extremely responsive to her questions. They knew all about shopping trolleys, and markets. Supermarkets anyway.

Reminders about the five senses followed, and the use of similes, all ground covered by Tom Nutman recently. Then she wrote a list of emotions on the whiteboard, as suggested by the children - anger, hate, sadness, jealousy, love, excitement and joy. Each class member had to choose one, think hard about it, write it down, and say what it was like to feel it. The outcomes were shared, and this preliminary work was scheduled for future elaboration.

Second session

A number of similes were read out. Malika moved on to the need to think visually.The children were asked to write poems from their own experiences. Several children were invited to stand up to read poems they had written in the preceding week, thanks to Tom Nutman's encouragement, based on similes. 'Project your voice!' she advised. 'Use your playground voice.' Then it was time to begin the poems which were to be performed to parents the following week. 'I always write out my list of ingredients before the creating. That's what I am doing at the moment for the poem  commissioned for the Verb programme on BBC 3. You can do the same thing. Writing poetry is like cooking.

'It could be either a praise poem about a person in your life who you love and admire, like your mother, or a poem about where you are from.' Stimulus poems were distributed - 'Praise Song for my Mother' by Grace Nichols, 'I'm From the Woods...' by Nick (surname unknown) and 'Where I am from' by Anonymous. 'Gather your ingredients and start writing,' Malika instructed. Tom Nutman said the class would work on the poems before the big rehearsal and the performance in a week's time. 

Final session. Performance.

The rehearsal in the hall was a time to overcome nerves and to be bold and brave, for most a first chance to be a lone performer in front of an adult audience. Advice was gentle but constant. 'Keep the paper at the right level, not too high and not too low', 'Imagine you're a tree. Plant your feet firmly to let your roots grow into the ground', 'Aim for the back wall'. An X was taped on the polished floor. Chairs were set out, gym mats piled up in a corner. The school's little video camera was set up on a tripod. After a break, the parents arrived to sit in the audience. 

One by one, the children stepped forward to read, and the level of self-confidence was remarkably high. Each reading was followed by loud clapping. Emotions expressed in the poems were genuine, and praise poems in particular were much appreciated by their subjects who were sitting listening. 

.Jill Harland was extremely complimentary to everybody afterwards: 'You were amazing! You've reflected on your life and noted what's important. You spoke so directly to your parents if they are in the hall. You should keep your poem for ever!'

'I have seen this performance every year since Malika first came (in 2016) and this year it is better than ever,' said Year 6 teacher Julie Rawlinson.

'I loved how they overcame their nerves. I'm really proud of them,' said classroom assistant Safiya.

'I loved it. I cried,' said a mother as she hugged her son.

Selected poems

My Praise Poem for Mum by Brett

You are my rock,

Shielding the gem in me.

 

You are my sword and shield,

Attack predators without a care and defend me with all your might

 

You are my heart in my body,

Beating, guiding me in life.

 

You are the beaming sunlight,

When I’m in the dark.

I can count on you

 

You always say be Kind, Caring and Supportive before school.

I remember

I am

I hope

 

I am From by Calice

I’m from the Rocky Road, where cars speed up and down.

I’m from the fish and chip shop aromas, catching me as I play.

I’m from Aldi, where my mum would browse for days, leaving me in everlasting boredom.

I’m from the “Are We There Yet,” at the start of car rides, that feel like they have been going for days

I’m from my mums warm kiss sending me into Sweet dreams.

I’m proud of where I am from. 

My Praise Poem by Juwairiyah

You are my moon, my star, brightening the night sky.

You are like my rose, blooming in my heart,

You always make a rainbow appear in my life.

You are my morning sunrise, revealing the shades of love.

Your rice and chicken takes me to another level.

You are the path to my heart, your love fills my life with laughter.

Your love tastes like sweet strawberries dipped in creamy melting chocolate.

You told me to explore the world, now here I am today.