Richard Wilcocks writes:
The Year 5 class at Brudenell Primary School was full of questions soon after we arrived towards the end of a Maths session led by class teacher Tom Nutman. It any of the children thought poet Malika Booker might be merely a welcome novelty, they were soon to be proved wrong when she revealed a plan for intense creative activity which would finish with a poetry performance for their parents. First, she read her poem about a cat which had to go when she was born. Then -
Q. When did you start writing poetry?
A. In my teenage years, but I read a lot of it from the age of four.
Q. Is your poetry all true or made up?
A. I think maybe there’s a little bit of a lie, with the use of exaggeration. It’s true to life though, and there’s a lot of imagination involved.
Q. Which poets do you like?
A. I like William Blake, and I’m inspired by Caribbean poets.
Q. Did you do poetry at school?
A. Yes. I was inspired by some teachers, especially one particular English and Drama teacher.
Q. Did you ever get bored of poetry?
A. No. I loved performing poems at school.
Q. Have you always been working as a poet?
A. I’ve spent twenty-five years with professional poetry. I once had it in mind to be a teacher or a singer. I can’t sing though. If I could sing I wouldn’t have been a poet.
Q. What starts you writing a poem?
A. I read other people’s poems to inspire me before I write.
Soon the class was responding to her questions with its existing knowledge of similes, metaphors and the five senses. Malika asked for striking examples (of similes in particular), to go with a wide range of emotions. Working in pairs and small groups, and following her advice that clichés must be avoided, the children came up with plenty of imaginative comparisons:
Jealousy is like cockroaches crawling on your back.
Anger sounds like a cat hissing.
Anger looks like broken crockery.
Love is like tasting smooth chocolate on a sunny day.
Soon, the pupils’ whiteboards were full of ideas and the fort lesson with Malika came to an end. The work continued with Tom Nutman until her return the following week. In the second lesson, she used one of her favourite teaching aids – the poem ‘My Father’s Hands’ by poet Lisa Mahair Majaj (Palestinian – American poet who was brought up in Jordan) – which was followed by an instruction for every child to draw an outline around one hand. “Make it big,” said Malika. “Don’t just use your hand as a stencil”.
“Now choose someone you love. It could be a family member like your mother or father or a grandparent. Yes, brothers and sisters are fine.” This was followed by discussion on the typical actions of the chosen loved one (mostly mothers, a few grandads) and similes which might be useful. Emotions were so important – how they were connected to body language, or rather hand language. Some of the children’s ideas were really memorable:
She puts her hands together and looks like an Olympic swimmer diving in.
Her hands are like window wipers on her eyes.
Her fingers tap like on a little drum.
“And what if you never saw that loved one ever again?”
It would be like entering a dark tunnel.
The third lesson a few days later consisted of the performance by every single child in the main hall, to which parents had been invited. After preliminary work on projecting the voice from Malika and Tom, and a noisy warm-up using a tongue-twister led by Malika, the show commenced. Hearts and souls went into it.
Some reactions:
Having members of our community come in and share their passion for literature is always a welcome addition to our curriculum. Some of these chlldren have come to this country with no English. This is such a great achievement, and the poems are absolutely beautiful. (Headteacher Jill Harland)
I couldn't be more proud. (Tom Nutman)
I am nearly ten and I felt really confident when I was sat down but then I didn’t expect so many people but it was all right when I did my poem. (Ayra)
It wasn’t that scary. (Rayan)
I enjoyed speaking out loud. (Ali)
It was done really well so I enjoyed it. So much confidence! (Rhada Bhakar, parent)
It was so good for building confidence. Thank you in the LitFest very much. I am starting a debating club for primary school children in the community. I now think poetry could help. (Sinab, parent)
Performing in front of people is so good for their confidence. (Julius, parent)
I cried a little at the words. (Anon. parent)
Some of the lines broke my heart ( Cllr.Tim Goodall)
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