The English department at Oakham School has been celebrating National Poetry Day with great gusto! Inspired by this year’s theme of ‘vision’, our talented young writers produced thought-provoking poems portraying their own compelling visions of the future.
As part of an ongoing collaboration between the English department and the Smallbone Library, pupils embarked on a FOSIL inquiry, exploring poetry by William Blake, Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes and Stephen Spender before penning their own original works.
We are very proud of their literary endeavours and include some here for your enjoyment.
When there was no technology
When there was no technology
When we were in control
You wouldn’t meet online
You’d just go out for a stroll
When there was no technology
Life wasn’t at all bad
But then it was created
And people slowly became sad.
Now there is technology
We don’t go out for a walk
Now life has become more pointless
People barely even talk.
Now there is technology,
I suppose it can be good
But everything is done by computer
Much more than it should.
When there is more technology
We will not be in control
Everything will be online,
No more going out for a stroll
When there is more technology
Life will be very bad
Now it is created
Everyone is sad
Anon.
2040 Children
We know that we cannot undo the past,
But let us reassure you, our generation was the last.
We have learned from the horrors of social media and technology.
And this is why we have created a whole new philosophy.
We no longer wish for follow requests, DMs, notifications and likes
For that ping, buzz or ring in the dead of the night.
We want our children to play outside, enjoy it while they can.
Now we shall present our plan:
No child, toddler or baby should participate,
In social media of any kind, the law should state.
By Laura
A Lack of Leadership
The war rages on more fiercely than ever,
Bystanders watch with terror and despair,
What started out as a fresh endeavour,
Has plagued the human’s once fresh air.
‘How has it all come down to this?’
I heard an old man cry,
‘The lack of global leadership has caused the world to die.’
The blood’s been planted on our hands,
Our leaders fled once more.
They scavenged all the riches,
Leaving society poor.
Will we ever recover?
Not even God knows this.
It seems as if Satan has risen
And given us Death’s kiss.
By Henry
Present, Past
The future is not needed.
Trying to tell people what we will see,
Is as disappointing as the existence of a flea.
One can never know what is to come,
The shock of the truth as pounding as a drum.
The monsters who control us tell people their lies,
And the news and information
They plunge us into
We despise.
Manipulation and power overtakes the mind
The creative influencers are one of a kind.
The present is something we must embrace
The past is something we like to face.
The future is not needed.
War, hate, conflict and greed.
The future is just a concept we do not need.
By Howie
The Future
To the Fates, the future is a simple straight line.
As they weave the tapestry of the world with threads of possibility,
They know what is to happen, as well as each of them know their own name.
But to us, the future is a leaf on a river with endless paths to take.
A simple rock could change the course, sending it down another direction
The leaf could plunge down a waterfall into a calm peaceful lake,
Or it could slowly trickle into a raging river of hate and endless shame.
The leaf will forever travel, never ending in hell or heaven
The future will never be completely good or completely bad
There must always be a balance, in the similar way that
In some ways we are all different, and in others just the same.
By Lena
A Vision of the Future
Dark and dreary,
Their faces gaunt.
So eerie,
Their lives for naught.
Helpless travellers,
Hiding away.
The mighty heir
Dictating your say.
She watches your lips,
Your eyes; your stance.
The swaying of hips,
In a hypnotising dance.
Smiling faces.
Tomorrow and today.
She walks and paces.
And stops, to your dismay.
Heart-wrenching screams,
Begging for silence.
By all means
Submit to her influence.
She watches forever,
In the shadows.
Don’t ever say never,
That’s the lowest of lows.
She’s all around,
The sky, the trees,
Always bound
And always sees.
You worship her,
Beg forgiveness,
You fear her,
Nothing less.
Dishevelled hair,
That is not there
Smooth skin and yet so fair
All in heaven’s lair
Living deviously.
By Francesca
Earth is long burnt out and empty
The super-rich never dying
And nobody can remember
The lush green grass
The wildlife running free.
Knowledge is reduced to liquid
Injected in the youth in place of school
People with robotic minds
Doing present jobs and tasks
With no end.
People locked in never dying loops
The last trees are dying out
Robots like workers
The government silences those who shout.
By Freddie
Tomorrow
Forever building,
Forever making,
Forever burning.
Life created; life destroyed.
Where are we heading?
Into the uncertainty that the future may hold
Will we break through or will we be broken?
Will we bring war or will we bring peace?
The future may not be a mystery though
As we control how our lives go.
Technology is forever changing.
Soon maybe we will
Not just vote for some old men that
Are not worth voting for
Maybe
Just maybe
Life will change
Green energy
Powering life that is hopeful and
Free with technology suppressing
The consumerism that has
Inflated the economy
But without action we will be in
Darkness and sorrow and
Without innovation there will
Be no tomorrow.
By Eddie
Vision
Perfection: there is no such thing,
There never was, won’t ever be
Even though we always sing
Of perfect peace and harmony.
Reality: it’s the blunt truth,
Like it or hate it, either way,
Though you can change it
By what you do, by what you say.
Optimism: Idyllic hope,
On the darkness shining light.
Be optimistic and with hardship cope,
But fight to put the wrong to right.
Acceptance: do not rearrange
What you think seems badly kept.
Accept the things you cannot change
And change the things you can’t accept.
Happiness: it’s life’s purpose.
Be kind, be good to everyone.
Stand up for justice, sing in chorus.
That’s my final conclusion.
By Rosie
