CCM Student Creativity and Writing eBook 2021/22

CCM Creative Writing eBook 2022

Paper texture

In Sophie Kennedy's dramatic story a short trip to Dubai provides plenty of unexpected twists and surprises!

I couldn’t believe it I made it! Dubai!! I’ve dreamt about visiting here all my life, but I never could afford it. Little did I know entering a competition to win a holiday to Dubai, that I would win. After working a bank robbery case for weeks and not finding an answer I needed this break. The air is warm, the buildings sky high, a land of opportunity. I arrived at the hotel and was blown away. I knew it was five star but five star must mean something different in Dubai. I was immediately greeted by a man who introduced himself as my butler Jon. A butler!! Behind him I noticed a tall, handsome man lurking behind, he stepped forward and I realized it was the famous Antonio Russo. “Welcome to the Palzrusso.” “Thank you madam.” “Jon will escort you to your room and any request he will be by your side.” Antonio left, he must be a busy man. I was distracted by the hotel itself, its own shopping center, waterfalls, endless restaurants. I would never need to leave. Jon led me to my suite, an underwater suite!! The place was great, but something felt weird, it was like my detective mind kicking in. I thought I should ignore it. It must be nothing. Later that night, after a three-course dinner, I stayed in the lobby and had some drinks. Watching the crowds of people slowly disappear as the night got later I began to

She was just about to go outside and look for him when the door opened, letting in the shrill wind. Neptune stood there rigid, Lilith had never seen him look so terrible. His blonde hair was soaked and matted by the rain and his pale skin was splattered in mud as if he had rolled around on the ground. But what actually scared Lilith was his eyes. They looked dead and emotionless like he was blind to everything he loved – even Lilith. They were puffy and bloodshot. Lilith could see the wet tracks tears had left on his cheeks. He was a young man, probably only in his thirties but his face looked as old as a dying man's. His eyes that once smiled even when his mouth was not, were cold and lifeless. Who would do this to my Neptune? Lilith thought. “Neptune? What happened? Can I have a hug?” Lilith pleaded. Neptune slowly trudged through the cottage leaving the door ajar and sank down on his bed. He probably didn't hear me. Lilith closed the door and jumped onto the bed beside him. She wrapped her arms and legs around him like a koala. Whenever she did this, he used to pick her up and swing her in his arms, but he didn't even blink. His arms lay stiff at his sides, his eyes still emotionless. Like he wasn't even aware Lilith was here. “Neptune, what is it? Did you catch a cold?” Lilith kept on asking him many questions but he made no response. It was like his soul had left him... "Please?” Lilith's tiny voice begged. He made no reaction to that either. Lilith began to cry and she tugged on his hand. “Neptune! Please I'm tired and hungry. Can you please

make me something to eat? I can't do it myself, I need a hug!” she whined. He didn't even flinch. Her little body was shaking violently along with her cries, so many tears that her head began to hurt. Lilith decided to let him get a good night's sleep, maybe he'll be better in the morning. She tried to make herself some toast but she burned her hand, Neptune did not react to her pain. He always made a fuss over the smallest splinter, but not this time. Lilith knew there was something very wrong. The next day he had looked just as terrible as he did when he first walked in after chasing Eloise. Lilith cleaned the house and made meals as best as she could but she couldn't get it done well enough alone. As the week rolled on there was no improvement in Neptune's behaviour and Lilith's heart was broken. Who was going to be there for her when she needed to cry? Who was going to make her pancakes for breakfast on a rainy morning? She didn't want to tell anyone about Neptune's condition in case they took him away from her. She only told Katana the bare minimum so she would not get suspicious. The years came and went and Lilith had taught herself everything she needed to know to take care of herself and Neptune. She had become her own Guardian and even Neptune's. To her it felt like he had died, he was just a body now. His soul was gone to Lilith, but she loved him too much to let anyone take him away. She would simply tell people he was sick whenever they tried to talk to him. He had left a hole in Lilith's heart but she taught herself to be strong, to show no weakness. Emotions are weakness she told herself, emotions are vulnerability.&nbsp;

Chico was the mans name. Leo asked him where his money was. “This money?” he said. He pointed to a pile of money going up in flames. “You really thought we were gonna give you all this money for nothing? No no no. Ah silly mafia” Chico said laughing to himself. Leo looked around and saw everybody else smiling. Leo looked at the door. “Where you gonna go huh? Gonna run somewhere? You’re trapped. You’re not leaving here,” Chico said now pointing the gun at Leo. “You don’t play little games with us, we’re not the same as you”. Leo was frantically looking around for something to help him. “I hope you enjoyed Colombia while you had the chance, sadly this is the end of your trip”. Leo closed his eyes accepting his fate and then bang. Leo opened his eyes and swiveled his head around to see the steel door broken down. The Mafia came straight through the door machine guns in hand. When Leo’s pouch was stolen, he called the Mafia to say that he would need some back up because they weren’t as easy to deal with in Colombia as he had anticipated. He had not known if they were going to be here on time but there was no time to think right now. Chico was shot dead in the head and a gun was thrown over to Leo. Leo and the 15 other Mafia members let fire on everyone in the room until there was nobody left standing. They packed all the money and drugs into bags. Leo thanked them for coming on time and as they turned to leave they heard a rustle. They uncovered a blanket and there was the man with the blue eyes curled up in a ball. Leo looked him dead in the eyes and said, “you won’t be doing that again before shooting him on the spot.

They climbed out of the tunnel and before they closed the manhole they doused the place in petrol and threw a match down the hole before quickly shutting it. The heard the place going up in flames. They escaped the jungle and when they got back to the city they headed straight to the airport. It had been a close call. The Mafia decided they wouldn’t go back to South America anytime soon. They wouldn’t be embarrassed like that again and risk their reputation. Ben Bowen, Transition Year

"For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn."

Reputedly the shortest in the the English language, this short story attributed to Ernest Hemingway contains just six words. By posing four questions, Matthew Porter creates a companion story to re-imagine the tale today.

Who was the baby? Mark and Amy had always wanted to have a child. Unfortunately, through all their attempts they were unable to make a baby. So when the opportunity came around to adopt a child from their closest neighbouring country, New Zealand, they hurried into action. They went online and ordered all sorts of clothes, toys and equipment from all over the world to be delivered to their two-story house in rural Australia. All their correspondence with the adoption centre was very promising and they had agreed to adopt a six month old baby boy named Alex. Then COVID hit. Who placed the ad? The 6 word phrase “For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn”, became synonymous with Mark and Amy’s local town. Mark printed out poster after poster after poster, with the phrase accompanied by a picture of very small, pale blue baby shoes. These posters were distributed all over the place, in shops, on notice boards, car windscreens and even along with the local newspaper.

Merit Award Winner: Short Story Category

Creativity in CCM, Padraig Donoghue, 5 Freeing Experience, Paul Martin 7 So What's Creativity...? 9 CCM Creative Writing Awards 2022 11

Expansive Escape, Kyle Ferguson, 1st Year 29 Marcus Rashford, Connor Kelly, 1st Year 31 In the Moment, Abbie Mai Delaney, 1st Year 32

Firework, Katy Perry 16 Plastic Bag, Daniel Clarke, 1st Year 17 Plastic Bag, Sam Behan, 1st Year 18 Living not Thriving, Abbie Maie Delaney, 1st Year 19 Soaring Through the Sky, Conall Nolan, 1st Year 20 A Cold Day at the Beach, Isabella Kenny, 1st Year 23 Away from Ukraine, Cathal Cannon, 1st Year 25 The Raven, Chandrakant Humraskar, 1st Year 26 Pink, Rebeka Radmanic, 3rd Year 28

For Sale, Baby Shoes, Never Worn, Matthew Porter, TY 35 Wings of the Valiant, Saoirse McInerney, TY 39 Saudade, Diána Matusevica, TY 45 Dust up in Dubai, Sophie Kennedy, TY 53 Bogota Bust, Ben Bowen, TY 59

Creativity plays an enormous role in the education and life-enhancement of everyone in our school community. It helps us to respond to challenges and to appreciate the richness of our world and the people in it. Maya Angelou once said “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have”. Dipping into this selection of poems and stories exemplifies this wonderfully. So many were conceived in response to fundamental questions - how would you feel if...what would you think if…. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How would you feel if you were a plastic bag drifting in the air or a flying bird looking down below? ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How would you describe someone who inspires you or how a story or the world around you made you feel? ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What would you experience if, enclosed in your home for two years, you let your mind and imagination roam free? You don't need to explore much further. It's all here within these covers. These writing take us to Canada, Dubai, Columbia, Ukraine, America, Japan, England, America, New Zealand, Australia and to many natural worlds and imagined places too. Every day teachers in CCM witness the wealth of students' talent. This selection of poems and short stories/prose just scratches the surface. We are so lucky to work in a school that brims with creative potential. The talent of students is so evident. As is their deep compassion, empathy and ingenuity.&nbsp;

In preparing this ebook, I would like to thank every student who contributed and to the teachers in the English department, especially Declan McInerney and Elaine Lyons. Many teachers expressed their admiration and how very moved they were reading these writings. We hope your response to this creative experience will be as equally powerful and enjoyable. Finally, I would echo Mr. Donoghue's warm congratulation to every student selected for inclusion and especially to the four winners across the two categories. It has been a privilege to work with these young writers over recent months and a real pleasure to read their work. Thank you all. And PLEASE stay creative and keep writing! Kind regards, Paul Martin&nbsp;

Selected Creative Writing Coláiste Chill Mhantáin&#160; 2022

Diána Matusevica's poignant story tells of the deep loss of a perfect friend, a special place and a state of being she might never regain - not even in her imagination. Saudade: "A deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for something or someone that one cares for and/or loves."

“Best friends!”, we both shout and fall to the ground laughing, trying to catch our breath. I look up lying down on the colorful crunchy autumn leaves, observing the tall naked trees and the cloudy grey cold sky. I look over and see the brown haired boy heavily breathing, cold smoke coming from his mouth. “What are you looking at?”, he says confusingly. His head tilting and fluffy ears pricked up. “Nothing, it is so cold” “Really? I don’t really feel it.” “That’s ‘cause you are a wolf, it’s so unfair.” “Part wolf”, he says sharply. I never understood why he didn’t like to be known as a wolf. I think it’s pretty admirable. Blaine gets up and sits at our tree stump. We cut it down when we were seven, we were quite bored during the snowy winter. I get up from the cold ground and observe Blaine. He always seemed to look stressed. His shoulders nearly up to his jaw, his leg always shaking as if impatient and fidgeting with his hands. He looks up at me with his brown wolf like eyes. “What’s on your mind?”, he asks cautiously. “The move.” “You need to stop worrying, you won’t be moving house. You can’t. It’s not a hundred percent that you're leaving.” “Blaine, what are you going to do when I leave?”

A poet’s work … to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it from going to sleep. Salman Rushdie

Plastic Bag

I feel as insignificant as a whisper among A thousand voices I'm forgotten and discarded in a heap I lie alone here with no place to call home I just wish for someone to notice me Daniel Clarke, 1 Foyle

My life is very simple I live and die as trash My body decides to crumple As kids kick and throw and smash Although I get to see the wonders From high up in the sky I fall down to a sunder Like a cloud that drifts by And now my final place in life My body stopping in motion I get stabbed by a big blue knife The knife is called the ocean Sam Behan, 1 Foyle

Overall Winner: Poetry Category

Plastic Bag

This house never felt like home after Dad left. I sink into my bed going back into deep thought. I guess we really are going to move. “SAM!”&nbsp;I groan in exhaustion, I barely got any sleep. “SAM! GET DOWN HERE NOW!”, says my mother shouting from downstairs. “OKAY WAIT IN A SECOND”, I lay my rough hands on my face. I am too tired for this. I jog downstairs still in my clothes from yesterday. “I need to go down into town, to check up on the new house.”, she declares while rushing to put on her coat. “I need to see if it’s still available, going to give the deposit in today”, she finally gets her beige coat on and grabs her keys off the counter top. “Here’s some money for pizza, I don’t know how long the drive will be with the snow”, she puts down some coins on the dressers next to the door. Another pizza for today, great. “Bye Sammy!” “Bye, be careful.” Then I hear the door slam shut. I look out the living room window, I always loved the view. The snow and the forest in the back garden and of course all the childhood memories with Blaine in the forest. I

always wished for Blaine to meet mom, but I know he never will. Him being different from humans.&nbsp;I start to hear knocking from the basement, a smile forms on my face. I run down the oak glazed stairs and open up the door, and there wolf boy stands. “Glad you could make it in time”, I say jokingly, swinging my hand for him to come inside. “How long is Elaine going for?” Blaine asks, scratching behind his ear. “I don’t know, but I’d say for the whole day” and with that I feel a soft thump on my head, a pillow drops down on the ground. “Let’s watch a movie then.”, Blaine says proudly as he is already sitting on the couch. I couldn’t focus on the movie. All I could think about is that I’m going to have to tell him. I’m leaving. I met Blaine when I was at my worst, when my parents divorced, he was like an escape from of all it, he made me feel not alone. Made me feel like everything was going to be okay as long as we had each other. I feel movement next to me. Blaine is stretching, the movie has ended. “I really liked the kangaroo, she was quite funny”, he says looking at me waiting for a reaction. “Yeah yeah, same”, I then notice his face drop. “What?” I say puzzled.

feel lonely but my attention was drawn to a metal door with no handle behind reception. It looked so odd and out of place. It didn’t match the gold and rich interior of the hotel. I decided to wander around the hotel, leaving the lobby empty. It must have been in the early hours of the morning at this point. I heard a commotion in the lobby and sneaked back to where no one could see me. From there I saw four men all in black suits, black leather gloves and carrying two duffel bags each. At the head of the pack was Antonio! I watched him lead the men to the metal door and it opened from within. I knew something was up, my detective instinct never lies. Over the next few nights, I watched Antonio do the same thing. He waited till the guests were asleep, or so he thought, and would lead these men to the door, each time carrying duffel bags filled with something. I decided to do some research on Antonio but only found that he was a prestigious hotel owner. Something was off with this man and I was going to get to the bottom of this. The next morning I was talking to Jon but when I asked him more about Antonio he stopped in his tracks. He then said he had to be somewhere and rushed off, like he knew something that he shouldn’t. Later that day, getting ready for the pool, I noticed Antonio checking me out. He looked nervous. I smiled and nodded. He must know something is up. Walking back to my room, I had a bad feeling in my gut. I walked into my room to find it empty! I ran down to reception to find my bags packed and Jon standing beside them. “What’s going on” I exclaimed.

“I’m very sorry sir, I’m going to have to escort you”, Jon replied. “Why?” I asked. “We have got the competition winner wrong, sorry you didn’t win,” he said hesitantly, This had to be wrong. Something must be up with Antonio. He didn’t like that I was asking about him, so he got rid of me. “Hope you have a safe flight home,” Jon said politely I walked out. If Antonio thinks I’m going home now, he has another thing coming, I’m going to get to the end of this. I find myself a new hotel and I begin my case on Antonio. I decide to follow him tonight, I rent a car and wait outside the hotel. At 2am finally Antonio and his men leave the hotel. I need to be discreet about this, I can’t get caught. I followed them and watched as they entered a massive storehouse. As soon as they're inside, I sneak through the back. I hope no one heard. I hide behind a crate of wooden boxes and listen to the men. “We need to get this done quickly” Antonio shouts. Get what done quickly, I think. “No one can find out about this bank robbery,” he says furiously. And then it finally clicked, it was him. He was the man I’ve been chasing for months, and the reason I had no trace

A short story is a different thing all together - a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger Stephen King

was because he had all the money stored here in Dubai.&nbsp;I knew something was up with Antonio and before I could even comprehend it, the crate in which I’m hiding behind is moved and I’m revealed to a group of speechless men. OH NO!! I’ve been caught. I go to run but Antonio catches me and hits me straight across the face. I wake up. “Where am I?” I touch my swollen face where Antonio must have hit me and knocked me out. I wonder how long I’ve been here? I feel the cold concrete where I am lying, I see no windows or anything. I feel eyes burning into the back of my head. I turn and face Antonio sitting on a chair, looking more angry then ever. “We need to have a little chat....” he says. Sophie Kennedy, Transition Year

Living not Thriving

As I sway through the wind at evening light, I can see all the couples within my sight, There’s laughter, joy and bliss, Everything I’ve seemed to miss , I feel bombarded, disregarded and bored, All the opportunities I’ve lost at the sake of a door, As I look down at the couples at the end of the night, I wonder ”what would have happened What would have happened... If I hadn't taken flight? Abbie Mai Delaney, 1 Foyle

I am a bird soaring through the sky so very high. I can see everything, even you and I, Fields look like patches on a cloth, Roads look like little lines, And cars look like tiny ants bringing food to its colony. When it is stormy I will take shelter inside an old barn and make my nest. I am a bird soaring through the sky so very high. Conall Nolan, 1 Foyle

He reflected and remembered seeing those same eyes on his way back to the hotel but he thought nothing of it at the time. He might have been following Leo home this whole time. He didn’t know for sure if this was the man that took his pouch but he looked suspicious and didn’t have anyone else in mind. He knew it wouldn’t be too hard to remember those eyes either. He knew there was no point going to the local police because the police were probably corrupt and even if they weren’t, they weren’t powerful enough to sort out the situation in this city. He was able to check back into the hotel since his ID was in his pocket. Back in the hotel room there was a plan put in place to trace the man. He would go out again the next day wearing a pouch with a small book in it to give it some weight. If the man was in the area he might catch him when he went to steal the pouch. The next day Leo got up early. He had the pouch with the book with him. He left his hotel room and went out to the street but it was already packed with people and cars. He strolled up the street trying to find the person who stole his money. As he was walking a man carrying his shopping bumped into him and spilled all his groceries. Leo helped pick them up and then went about his business. He quickly realized that the pouch had been stolen again. He had missed the person and didn’t get to catch them. He was extremely angry now. He was being embarrassed by some little pick pocket. He was giving the Mafia a bad reputation. He was turning back to the hotel when he spotted the blue eyes in the jungle on the outskirts of the city. He didn’t give a second’s thought before darting towards the man. The man started running deeper into the jungle and Leo gave chase.&nbsp;

As he got deeper into the jungle it got darker and surprisingly colder. Leo had lost track of the man and did not know where he was or how to get out of the jungle. He looked around and heard a crunch, a twig snap. He spun around and saw it was the man. Leo pounced on the man and dragged him to the ground. He gave him a few punches to the stomach and shouted at him to give him his money back. The man said in broken English “Please please, I show, follow”. The man got up to his feet and brushed himself down. He gestured to Leo to follow him. He brought him even deeper into the jungle. They got to an manhole in the ground covered in growth. The man opened it up and went on in telling Leo to follow. Leo was reluctant to follow the man since anything could be down there but he did want his money back so in he went. There was a ladder that looked like it went on forever. It was wet and mouldy and pitch black. He kept climbing down until he reached the bottom. The was a narrow tunnel slightly lit by some lights. The ground was wet. He looked around and realized he was in a sewer. It stank. He followed the man down the tunnel. They took a left turn to a big steel door. The man knocked on the door 7 times in some sort of pattern. The door opened. There was a man with a gun. He let Leo and the man through.&nbsp;There was a huge room filled with people. It was a huge drugs lair. There were stacks of money piled in a corner of the room, drugs scattered across multiple tables and lots of people at each table sorting the drugs out. They all stopped and looked up as Leo entered. A man sitting in the corner rose from a chair. It was the same man with whom he had done the deal and had given him the money. He chuckled walking over to Leo and took out a gun.

As I sat at the edge of my seat watching him stand there over the ball The commentator's words echo in the back of my head "How's your bottle? Oh, he's smashed it!" I jumped with joy after seeing Marcus Rashford smash that penalty in the back of the net To send Manchester United through to the Quarter Final of the Champions League As the whole squad rushed towards him They had completed the impossible - They had come back from PSG They had done what Manchester United had always done NEVER GIVE UP. PLAY TO THE FINAL WHISTLE! Just as United had done under Sir Alex Ferguson That was the first time that a lot of those players had experienced the United way. Connor Kelly, 1 Foyle

As I enter the ring , With time in my mind, I set off when I hear the loud bell chime , The atmosphere’s as quiet , You could hear a pin drop , Anything that ‘s not a stop , So I push on with trust in my horse , Praying&nbsp;we’re ready to handle this course. Abbie Mai Delaney, 1 Foyle

Marcus Rashford penalty v PSG

Listen to Abbie Mai reading her poem about Beezie Madden, the US equestrian rider

CCM Creative Writing Awards 2022

Mr. Donoghue and Mr. Martin are pictured with CCM's 2022 Creative Writing Award Winners: Sam Behan, 1 Foyle (Overall Winner, Poetry, Plastic Bag), Matthew Porter, TY (Merit Award, Short Story category, For Sale, Baby Shoes, Never Worn), Saoirse McInerney, TY (Overall Winner, Short Story category, Wings of the Valiant). Cathal Cannon, 1 Liffey (Merit Award, Poetry, Away from Ukraine) not present&nbsp;

Inspired by mafia and narcos film genres, Ben Bowen brings us to the capital of Columbia and to tales of danger, violence and double-dealing.

The sun was setting and another day was coming to a close on the city of Bogota. It was a windy but humid evening and everyone was on the way home from work. It was always an extremely busy time in the city at this time of the day. Leo was strolling back to his hotel after securing a deal with a local gang organization. The Mafia was trying to branch out into different parts of the world and he was sent here to Colombia. He was a well put together man. His slicked back hair had not a single hair out of place. He had a pair of black sunglasses that couldn’t be seen through by anyone. He had abandoned the usual suit and trench coat to try and fit in more with the Colombian people. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt with sweat marks from the heat, beige jean shorts and a pair of green flip flops. As much as he tried to blend in he still stuck out like a sore thumb with his pale almost ghostly skin and his jet black hair. He had just done a deal with one of the biggest and well known drug gangs in the area. He had been given around five thousand in cash by the gang as a welcoming gift. He thought it strange but he wasn’t going to say no. He threw it in his pouch around his waist. It was a risky move carrying this much money around the city but he was confident he could protect himself, after many years in the mafia. It was getting dark at this stage with the sun barely visible. He turned down left into a busy street to his hotel. He managed to get there through the crowd of people but when he reached for his room key his pouch was gone. He looked back into the crowd to try and find his pouch but it was no use, there was too many people and it was too dark. As he was about to look away he saw these piercing blue eyes staring at him. They seemed so cold and had no emotion.

“There was no kangaroo.” “I’m leaving”, we both say. Both of our eyes go wide. We both have just admitted that we both are leaving our homes, all of our memories.&nbsp; We both just sit in silence for a bit, comprehending what we just revealed. “That’s why my mom is out today, she has gone to put in the deposit for the new house”, I say breaking the silence. “One of the wolves were caught, we have to now move to a different forest. Tonight.” “I’m really sorry”, I mention while putting my hand on his arm, I could feel him flinch. “It is actually happening”, he looks at me with sorrow in his eyes, his ears turned upside down, he looked like a sad puppy. “I guess so”, I could feel the lump in my neck. A heavy thump and warmth hit my body. Blaine never liked hugs. I put my arms around him hugging him back. “I have to go now, everyone is already waiting for me”, suddenly then I feel the cold. He gets up and goes over to the partially glass door. I run over to Blaine and hold out my pinky. He looks at me confused and chuckles. He puts up his pinky finger and interlocks it with mine. Then in unison we say, “Best friends forever”. I hear my moms car drive up to the driveway. I look out the glass door and see the small red, snow covered car. My

mom gets out the car with a concerned and confused look on her face, slowly walking up to the door. She opens the door and sees me and Blaine standing at the door. “What are you doing at the door?”, she asks very calmly. My body is frozen in place, stunned that she has no reaction to Blaine. Maybe she hasn’t noticed his ears. “Why do you look like you just seen a ghost?”, she asks concerned putting her cold palm on my forehead to check my temperature. “This is Blaine, Mum”, I move my hand towards him, Blaine looks at me shocked and confused. Mum looks at me as if I’m crazy. Why is she acting like this? “Sam. There’s no one there.” Diána Matusevica, Transition Year

Creativity in Schools - Sir Ken Robinson Ted Talk

In these poems, students express their reaction to nature, world events and their own reading 

Students share their poems about people they admire and who inspire their daily lives

Her hair as bright as the sun, As brave as a bear As pretty as a rose And as strong as a lion A girl that sings about struggles A girl that shines with confidence Pink is what they call her She never fails to amaze When she goes on stage she shines She shines brighter than a star Voice so strong it sends chills Parents split up but that didn't hold her back Love and heartbreak is what she sings about in her songs Rebeka Radmanic, 3 Slaney

Poetry is what in a poem makes you laugh, cry, prickle, be silent, makes your toe nails twinkle, makes you want to do this or that or nothing, makes you know that you are alone in the unknown world, that your bliss and suffering is forever shared and forever all your own. Dylan Thomas

P!nk - What About Us in the Live lounge

For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn.

Why did they place the ad? The reason the shoes for their adopted-son-to-be were being sold had everything to do with COVID. Once the virus hit both Australia and New Zealand closed their borders, thus prohibiting any travel between the two nations. Unfortunately, the adoption fell through due to the lockdown and Alex was going to end up going to a New Zealand based couple instead, making everything a little easier. Also, due to the pandemic, deliveries were hard to come by for a number of months and, much to Mark and Amy’s surprise, these tiny blue shoes had arrived.

Did anyone reply? What happened in the end? For the next couple of months, everything was quiet. The borders were closed and no packages had arrived. Their offer of the baby shoes (that were never to be worn) had not been taken up on by any member of the local community and they had not received even one phone call to enquire about the price. Then, one day, everything changed. It was announced that the borders were once again opening and travel between countries was once again possible. While Amy was on the way home from work she received a phone call that nearly made her faint with happiness. Once again Alex’s adoption had fallen through and now the Australian couple could finally adopt the child they had always wanted. They had already sold the shoes by that time but all that mattered was they could finally have a family. Matthew Porter, Transition Year

If it were not for these marvelous creations I would have countless monotonous hours on my hand, Staring at the clock going tick…tick…tock as each minute passes, every day would be empty, like a black hole in space However, that’s not the case and that dreaded alternative world doesn’t exist Each time I experience these amazing marvels, I’m flabbergasted at their high standards The chirpy, eerie or triumphant music is a treat to my ears and the vibrant and breathtaking visuals are such a spectacle for my eyes, The environments are expansive and jaw-dropping The stories these marvels tell are sometimes more compelling and captivating than movies, Whether they’re telling of a solider out of time, after a century, losing all recollection of any previous events he experienced Or an Italian plumber trying to save a princess and defeat a turtle who’s trying to take over the universe Heck, that same plumber was even framed by a fake clone of himself and must clean up an entire island with the help of a talking water pump

A variety of ideas is a likeable trait when it comes to creating content Even when it’s an idea like employing Chris Pratt, Jack Black and Seth Rogan which are whacky choices compared to the roles they play, It’s easy to love this creator’s attitude and the content they produce I’m sure both them and their characters will enlighten many more young people in the future! Kyle Ferguson, 1 Avoca

How the inventor of Mario designs a game

Kyle's poem is inspired by Shigeru Miyamoto, the Japanese creator of Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda

Wings of the Valiant - Lilith's Memories, Aged 7

At the start of the Covid lockdown in 2020, Saoirse McInerney stepped into the world of her imagination and began writing a fantasy novel. "Wings of the Valiant", her first book, was completed in 2022. In this extract Lilith, the main protagonist, describes her guardian, Neptune, and how her struggles with him motivated her when later she had to choose between her own future and a young girl’s life.

Overall Award Winner: Short Story Category

Lilith opened the door to her Guardian, Neptune's cottage. She looked around the single all-purpose room with a small table, two beds and a kitchen area. It was made of wood, stone and decorated with many plants. It was a rainy day and a draft breezed in the cottage. In a split-second Neptune was barging out through the front door after his girlfriend Eloise. Tears were pouring down his face as he reached for her hand. He ran out of the cottage after Eloise in an instant, without noticing Lilith. Like she was invisible to him. Lilith stood frozen in confusion, she just wanted to show him the snail Katana and she had found when they were playing knights. She walked over and looked out of one of the small windows. She could see two tiny figures in the distance, one chasing after the other and falling onto their knees. Gripping the sodden ground, ripping out chunks of earth, screaming. She closed the curtains, Lilith was only seven, but she understood when situations were private. Lilith had never seen her Guardian cry like that, it was almost like someone had physically stabbed him. She decided to stay home until he returned so she could give him a big hug. They always cheered him up. The sun had set, it had been hours since Neptune had run out the door. Lilith began to panic, was he hurt? She needed her Guardian, she couldn't possibly live without him. He had always hugged her at night after a nightmare and made her cupcakes when she was sad. He always gave Katana and her a loan of his big coats so they could dress up as wizards and he had taught Lilith to fly, although he never had wings himself. Lilith loved him so much, he really was everything to her.

I look up at the stars At the dark cold night Shelling all around me Threatening my life We have to get out of the country Leaving with pain Getting away from this war Away from Ukraine Cathal Cannon, 1 Liffey

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered Weak and weary Over many a quaint and curious volume Of forgotten lore While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there Came a tap As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my Chamber door Chandrakant Humraskar, 1 Liffey

Merit Award Winner: Poetry Category

She had never found out what happened to Neptune yet as she grew older, she guessed Eloise had broken his heart. She had disappeared off Inishmurray since that dreadful night. Lilith decided she would never get too attached to someone from then on because love breaks hearts. Neptune had become a mess because of Eloise and Lilith hated it. Lilith wanted to be successful in life, one of the greatest Nytophilians to have ever lived. She wanted to change the world and to do that she had to stay strong. No vulnerability. By the time of Lilith's fourteenth birthday Neptune had made absolutely no improvement. He had never spoken a word to Lilith since she was seven years old... And now she was leaving him to live at Melantha's castle like all Nytophilians her age. Her childhood had slipped through her fingers, no matter how hard she could try, she would never regain that lost time. She asked her neighbour to take care of him, stating that his illness had only come on recently. Lilith's parting with Neptune was most difficult of all. A day she had once expected to be full of joyful celebration was burdened with misery. Neptune stared at her with his blank eyes that morning of her birthday. “You understand I'm leaving forever, right?” Lilith said knowing she would not get a response. “Lavender next door will take care of you. Are you going to say something? Anything?” Lilith tried for the finale time. “You've really let me down Neptune. I've had to raise myself and take care of you for seven years. Alone in a world full of people. The least you could do is say goodbye.”

Neptune didn't move a muscle. Lilith sighed. She would have cried years ago but she was strong now. Her troublesome past had made her as strong and dangerous as fire. No one would ever hurt her, even if they tried, yet she still feared ending up in such a state as Neptune was in. She never blamed him for his condition, it wasn't his fault. It was Eloise's. Lilith picked up her bag with her few belongings. “Fine. I'm going now to finally do something for myself and nothing will get in the way of my dreams,” she said flatly. “Goodbye Neptune. I wish you well. Or as well as you could be.” Without looking back, Lilith left her childhood home to her destiny in Melantha's castle. Saoirse McInerney, Transition Year

The last two years have been difficult for us all and especially for young people. This period has shaped and informed such a significant phase in the growth of our students' lives. It has asked them to constantly draw upon their inner resources as they adapt to a changing world and reality. I often reflect on the resilience our students have demonstrated during this period and I trust that as they navigated that time they have acquired and refined skills that will support them into the future on whatever path they choose. As we now emerge slowly from Covid, “Breaking Free” was chosen as the theme for CCM's new Creative Writing selection. This recognises the physical and emotional "liberation" for students and aims to provide the creative spur for them to express their often vivid and uplifting thoughts, perceptions and emotions.&nbsp;Self-expression, through creativity, and responding imaginatively to events and the challenges that life presents are important attributes for a young person to develop and that is why they also hold such an important position in Coláiste Chill Mhantáin's whole school experience. I have very much enjoyed reading these poems and short stories. They remind me again of the gifts of creativity, imagination and empathy which abound within our school community. Every student whose work has been published in this ebook should be proud of their accomplishment and the legacy they have created. However, I would especially congratulate the two winners in each writing category - Sam Behan and Cathal Cannon in the poetry category - Saoirse McInerney &amp; Matthew Porter in the short story category.&nbsp;

In CCM we always seek to nurture and treasure the creative talents and individuality of every student. This may take many forms and next year we hope to include other means of expression in our on-going creativity programmes.&nbsp;I remain indebted to our teaching team for their vision in relation to projects of this nature and I know you all have enjoyed working with your teachers to bring this project to fruition. Finally&nbsp;I would sincerely congratulate and thank every contributor to this wonderful writing selection. Entering their world of imagination has been a wonderful experience and I hope you enjoy reading this writing selection as much as I have. Kind regards, Padraig Donoghue Principal

A Cold Day at the Beach (Haiku)

Stones mixed in the sand The crashing sound of the waves And the cold weather Isabella Kenny, 1 Liffey

I kill an ant and realize my three children have been watching. - Kato Shuson Oh, tranquility! Penetrating the very rock, A cicada’s voice. - Matsuo Bashō The lamp once out Cool stars enter The window frame. - Natsume Soseki The old pond A frog leaps in. Sound of the water. - Matsuo Bashō Dragonfly catcher, Where today Have you gone? - Fukuda Chiyo-Ni* *Written after the death of her young son

Haiku: A Japanese poetic form of three lines and seventeen syllables traditionally evoking images of the natural world. Five famous haikus are shared above. Which is your favourite?

“Nothing, because you're not leaving and that’s it.” He gets up angrily, his fists clenched. “I’ve got to go, see you tomorrow”. He jogs away, seeming distressed.&nbsp; I start my walk home, up the familiar pathway made by our footsteps ever since we were little. My favorite memory of this hill is Blaine and I sleighing down it. I feel the goosebumps on my arms and try to warm myself up with my hands, creating friction. Canada has always been so cold, no matter what time of year. I break out of deep thought as I notice coming up to my house. Every window was dark except the amber light coming from the living room. As I walk in I feel the warmth heat my body, feeling my bones start to ache from the sudden heat. I see mom sitting at the table, she fell asleep. I grab a blanket from the couch and put it around her gently. I notice there’s a lot of papers around her on the table, stacks and stacks. But one paper caught my eye, ‘FINAL NOTICE’. I sigh and pick it up, the paper starts to shake with along with my aching hands. It was our final notice to pay for the house.&nbsp;It’s been quite difficult recently, because ever since mom and my father divorced, mom's business hasn’t been able to ship out their skin products so money was a struggle at the moment. I threw the ruinous piece of paper back down on the table and walked to my room. The bedroom always felt like it was just a big empty space, it did just have a boring skinny mattress with a blanket and pillow messily strewn across it, in a grey wooded bed frame and a little dresser in the

corner of the room. So I never called it my own, it didn’t feel like it was mine. I feel the guilt overwhelm me. He just sighs and starts to get up. “I’m sorry, I’m just a bit distracted. Do you wanna bake cookies?” “Yeah sure.” He says casually. Weird. Blaine would now normally start asking me a bunch of questions, wondering why I was wasn't paying attention.&nbsp;Before I could start questioning him, he had already run up the stairs. There was a very weird silence in the empty white marbled kitchen, as if we both wanted to stay something but we just couldn’t. Blaine was taking out the cookies from the oven. I get into my head again. This feeling that I get around him, there’s a word for it. Saudade. A nostalgic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant, or that has been loved and then lost. Even though the part-wolf, part human is in front of me. I still feel like something’s wrong. “Careful it’s hot”, he says plopping the plate of cookies on the counter in front of me. You could still see the steam coming off of them. Blaine sits next to me on the other blue barstool. I could feel him heavy breathing, he was longing to tell me something. I mean so did I. We both turn to look at each other as if in sync. This is my chance to tell him. Maybe the non chocolate cookies will help ease the pain. Blaine was tapping his human fingers against the marble, he was stressed.

First Year students responded with their own poems to the powerful opening image of Katy Perry's song, Firework. In this, Perry's asks the listener to imagine how it would feel to be a plastic bag drifting in the wind...

Katy Perry - Firework (Official Music Video)

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting through the wind Wanting to start again? Do you ever feel so paper-thin Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in? Do you ever feel already buried deep Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing Do you know that there's still a chance for you 'Cause there's a spark in you? You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine Just own the night like the 4th of July 'Cause, baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, "Ah, ah, ah" As you shoot across the sky Baby, you're a firework Come on, let your colors burst Make 'em go, "Ah, ah, ah" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon It's always been inside of you, you, you And now it's time to let it through, -ough, -ough 'Cause, baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, "Ah, ah, ah" As you shoot across the sky..... Katy Perry

Breaking Free Selection of Student Creative Writing

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