Last week I included a quote from one of my favourite contemporary poets, Mary Oliver. She likened the reading of a good poem to ‘stepping into a rowboat with a stranger at the oars.’ After inviting parents, teachers and students to use Grace Roodenrys’ poem on climate grief and hope to compose a new text, I was thrilled to see that our principal, Mr Lo Cascio, along with parents, teachers and students, did just that. A number of students also provided feedback on the experience. I have included a selection of poems and comments below. Now, step into that rowboat…

Text 1
Flowers Bloom,
This miracle itself,
Garden wide, kind, shimmering
Freedom, life, language
               pointed to beauty
Magnolias glisten

Love, a name for hope
              Trusting, tender, promised.

                     Stephen Lo Cascio

Text 2
I watched the flowers bloom,
on my magnolia tree.
How many left?
Beating wings, wide,
promised freedom,
            promised life

Pointed to beauty.
It’s difficult,
in a world that winces at itself.
Beauty that has its eyes shut,
                       In the magnolias,
                       Something I love …

I was promised so much more than this.

Kynan Summers (Year 10)

Text 3
Memories…fragments of my childhood
return to me one gush of wind at a time
just as the leaves of the tree drifted towards me,
spontaneously floating among the distant air, yet drawn to me in a profound way,
each painting a clearer picture of the past.

I remember it distinctly
my Father’s magnolia tree,
a large mass, sprouting upwards from the fertile soil below,
a mesmerising spectacle,
a natural phenomenon,
reaching out its welcoming arms
For me to touch, for me to hold.

Magnolia flowers, the nurturing hands of nature,
hold within them the milk of human kindness,
the undying love and compassion
for which my Father not only had for this tree,
But for me.

                                 Mrs Tania Kane (parent)

Text 4
Flowers bloom,
weathered.
How many might be left?

The world, the future
an endless garden,
babbling, shimmering.

Still, nothing.

It’s difficult, now
mute.

Eyes sealed shut.

I think,
I hope,
I promise.

Ms Monique Young (English teacher)

Student feedback

‘I found the writing activity engaging and fun. It felt like the main obstacle when writing, which is finding good words, was eliminated and that made the experience extremely enjoyable.’ Emma Searle (Year 10)

‘In recent lessons, our class has been introduced to a new style of creative writing: using pre-existing poems to create our own. I would like to say how pleased I am with it. At first, I was wary. However, after creating two poems I have noticed that the process is far easier than I expected, and I seem to be creating poems at a faster pace each time. With the words I am unfamiliar with, I have been able to expand my vocabulary and integrate the language into a work of my own. The task itself is enjoyable and allows me to express my ideas with the words at my fingertips. As someone who struggles to put thoughts into cohesive sentences, I found this task to be beneficial.’   Maricel Fennessey (Year 10)

‘We recently completed a creative writing activity in class. It involved taking a pre-existing poem and using its words to create our own piece. This activity encouraged us to manipulate structure, punctuation and tone. After our recent creative writing assessment task, this was a less stressful activity that maintained a certain degree of creative thinking. It was quite enjoyable and I look forward to doing similar activities in the future!’   

Jasmyne Douangdara (Year 10)

‘The activity was useful as it made me more attentive to the words on the page.’

Weesayo Fajardo (Year 12)

‘The borrowing of words was helpful and challenging. It helped me generate ideas and manipulate language. It encouraged me to think and to grapple with concepts and consider how they specifically related to me.’ Maria Louise Baccay (Year 12)

‘I thought this activity was useful as it allowed me to play with words and to see the many messages or emotions I could incorporate into my own creation. I noticed that even a single word could completely alter the mood or core of the poem and that was interesting to see.’

Sonali Singh (Year 12)

‘I found this activity useful as it got me to think creatively and reconstruct words into my own personal piece. It was also helpful in providing ideas and fresh insights which can further evoke creativity in other areas of my work.’ Alexis Tyrrell (Year 12)

Keep reading and keep writing!

Mrs Clare Murphy
English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach