Night
Far away the hills
the ice-cold moon and stars
here, Chloe and me
By Philippa Jemmett, aged 9 Geese
Above the clouds
birds like arrows
necks reaching for the sun
By Samantha Powell, aged 9
Winter
Each tiny snowflake
landing on the earth’s white sheet
joining its family
By Yuki Akazawa, aged 9
The poets receive The Orchard Book of Funny Poems, compiled by Wendy Cope.Submitted by Len Mullan of the Old Hall School, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire who receives the Poetry Society’s teachers’ newsletter. For Poetry Society events ring 0171 240 4810.
These children have evidently read some haiku and developed a feeling for the form. Does a haiku in English necessarily have to have exactly 17 syllables? I think not, but some poets disagree. Calling them “Snapshot Verses” is a neat way of side-stepping the argument, and of reminding children that the point is to capture a moment.