Professional Poetry Workshop for Years 7 and 8
We have been fortunate that the local poet, Clive Asher, has worked with our senior pupils to inspire and encourage them to write their own poetry. The pupils were inspired by his reasons for writing, they were treated to a reading of several poems, before taking up a pen themselves. Clive is passionate about the power of words, the impact of deeply felt emotions that take shape through poetry and the effect of well-chosen words to paint a picture.
Clive Asher has a story to tell about writing poetry. Until three years ago he had never written a poem. Then the first lockdown struck. A follower on Facebook contacted Clive as his wife was seriously ill. He asked Clive if he could write something for his wife. Clive sent the man a few, carefully written words, formed into a poem. The woman loved the poem so much, she kept it by her bed. Sadly, she died. Clive was told that the card went into the hands of his dead wife, in the coffin and was cremated with her. It had meant so much to her. From that moment Clive started to write and put a few poems out on Facebook. Within a year Clive was not only posting on Facebook but many other platforms, at their request. These include:
Poet’s Corner, New Milton Rumour Control, American Veterans, Dunedin News, Barton-on-Sea Community Group and Lymington Rumour Control.
Clive has been invited by Radio Solent five times to read his poetry. His work has been published in Choice magazine and others. He regularly has commissions to write for funerals and in response to photography.
Clive has published a book, ‘This is Me’.
He says, in the blurb, that …this is a book to Inspire, to reflect, to remember and to motivate. This is first in a series of books of poetry and Pictures about life, Love and everything in between. I started writing poems during the first lockdown in the UK. I have now written over 400 poems and accounts of my life. I have had my poems played on my local BBC radio station and have had 8 poems published I different magazines and journals. I certainly didn't achieve good grades in English but it just shows what can be possible.
Clive’s guidance to the pupils was to think about something that really mattered to them and write about that. The quality of the poetry that emerged during the workshop was stunning. Enjoy the extracts below.
Jane Asplin-Locke, Head of English
The Forgotten Men by Callum
In the fields where blood was spent
Young men lie there, as others grieve their deaths.
As the white headstones turn to grey
Their bodies return to the lush green, to remain.
By their families they are held dear
But to their towns their names are lost
By people who don’t understand, or care
For those young men lying there.
Rest in Peace by Isla
What a life you had.
But your time has come.
In the morning I see a reflection of your spirit glow.
I think about you over and over
And over.
I may cry or I may not.
The journey on the way home, after the news
Was a heart breaking life moment.
Life is short and you don’t know when it is going to end.
You will never be forgotten.
I think about you over and over
And over.
I may cry or I may not
Lives Lost for Us by Arthur
Putting forth your life to save more
Saving the lives of others who are not yet born.
The unknown answer what is to come
A massive tolerance test.
The ones who gave their last breath
The ones who live will never forget.
