Woodbrook Student Poetry Selection 2021

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Woodbrook Poetry Competition 2021

1st place Freya Dempsey, Reminiscent 2nd place Evelyn Conway Kearney, Isolate 3rd place Abhirami Santhosh, A Familiar Sight

Sonnet - Watching Romeo and Juliet

Time stops Seconds feel like thousands of lives in hell Burning torture throughout his whole body His heart is being squeezed By the man who is supposed to be his best friend Harshly stabbing him in my back Every kiss he takes from her Is like one stab to his heart Every touch is like a stab to his stomach What a traitorous thing to see So backstabbing in the eyes of the best friend So unfaithful in the eyes of the wife Everything broken in his eyes Just yesterday this was him Kissing her lips Holding her All gone in the moment Every memory ripped in half All because a man witnessed His wife In the arms Of another man Lexie Cummins 3rd Vartry

Three classrooms, all alike in standing, In Woodbrook, where this play could be seen. Our attention were they demanding, For a tale of that which has long since been. Three actors they had, and not anymore. For Covid-19, and the lockdown too, Have had many difficulties in store; Now there is little for actors to do. Alas fickle weather got in our way, For along came a small drizzle of rain. Inside we had to go, ruining our day; We did not get to see them die in vain. And so here we must leave this tale of woe, That of Juliet and her Romeo. Niamh Tapley 3rd Vartry

Hearing the raindrops hit against the glass, We all looked out the windows in the class, Buzzing with joy to see the play at last, We waited for the hours to slowly pass. &nbsp; The van pulled up at half two on the dot, We looked out and saw people practising, We all brought our chairs down to get a spot, It commenced and rain started scattering. &nbsp; It was very annoying that it rained, As I would have liked to see the whole thing. When I got home I was so tired and drained, That I slept till my alarm made a bing. &nbsp; Overall it was enjoyable to watch, As the performance from them was top-notch. Ruby Roche 3rd Vartry

The autumn leaves were turning brown, And home I went bearing a frown. The clouds cast a gloomy grey, Then a familiar face brightens up my day. Golden fur and deep brown eyes, He looks up and gets a big surprise. He scurries through the kitchen to meet me. He jumps into my arms to greet me. He covers me in kisses galore, As if he hasn't seen me before. His name is Alfie and he's a labrador. He loves to run along the seashore. We take him for walks at least twice a day, We've even walked as far as Bray. He gets up to mischief all the time, But I would be very sad if he wasn't mine. He brightens up my everyday, He is always looking to play. I'm looking forward to the spring, And all the joy Alfie will bring. Emma O’Reilly 3rd Vartry

The Times We Are Living In

I will always remember my days at school&nbsp; Bag on my back and sports bag too.&nbsp; Meeting the principal and all my pals&nbsp; Ready for the day that I had planned.&nbsp; English and Irish, Maths and PE&nbsp; Woodwork, TG really suited me.&nbsp; Geography you're nowhere without that&nbsp; Cookery and Science well I really miss that.&nbsp; But then&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;came along and we were all sent home&nbsp; To home school,&nbsp;God I felt alone&nbsp; Wishing I was back at school&nbsp;&nbsp; So much easier when your there with your crew.&nbsp; But I managed&nbsp;it all, I got through it well&nbsp;&nbsp; Great help from my teachers that I knew so well,&nbsp; But I hope the day comes pretty soon&nbsp; When we all&nbsp;are&nbsp;told that we can go back to school.&nbsp; Darren Carroll 3rd Vartry

‘Boys will be boys’ does not make it right; To cheat and lie, steal and fight. Why can they do all of these things? While girls will be judged just for their bling. Why can girls not be like boys? Over the years, we too have made noise. Why can’t we all just be the same? Or will one of us always get the blame? Equality is a word we often hear today, Yet is the price of attainment still too great to pay? Niamh Tapley 3rd Vartry

My fingers pick the chords Though laden with string scars The mercurial noise rings From the notes I barre The strings I play then pick a pattern Up, down, down, up, up, down The chords ring out, each in turn And whisk away my frown Ella Redmond 3rd Vartry

Waking up, I stretch and sigh Feeling that only forty minutes had gone by Ticking and tapping as I look at the time, Two minutes to three the clock chimed. I reach out to grab my phone The dead silence and creaking reminded me I was alone Wide awake fully - insomnia is my drug Wondering if she was awake too, wanting a hug. A few minutes pass as I hear light footsteps Her nails tapping the ground - enough was already said. I see her droopy eyes and I knew that it was all I need My tiny dog, sleeping right next to me. Michelle Tugarino 3rd Vartry

Creative thinking is a life-skill. Daily, the staff of Woodbrook witness the wealth of talent amongst the student body whose interests and achievements it would be impossible to exhaust. We are so lucky to work in a school that brims with creative potential. One of the most popular TED Talks is Sir Ken Robinson’s ‘Do Schools Kill Creativity?’ in which he argued that achievement and conformity take precedence over the liberation of imagination and initiative.&nbsp;At Woodbrook we aim to harness both. Woodbrook College was delighted to announce their inclusion in the Creative Schools Initiative this year. The Creative Schools Initiative is run by the Arts Council who select prospective schools to design and run their individualised projects over a two-year period.&nbsp;The aim of the project is to boost creativity and creative thinking in the school community. Woodbrook College has been assigned €5,100 to fund the project. The following clip may give a flavour of what is involved. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3u1ENZaYJs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3u1ENZaYJs</a> Our Creative Associate, Bex Shelford, is helping the school to develop and implement its Creative Schools plan. Bex is a visual artist who has a particular interest in installations. She is so looking forward to working directly with the pupils next year and tapping into their abounding creativity. To learn more about Bex, you might like to view her website at <a href="http://www.bexshelford.com/">www.bexshelford.com</a>. My thanks to Mr. Paul Martin for organising the Woodbrook Poetry Competition and for so creatively putting together this poetry ebook.

We have many budding writers in the school and, while it’s difficult to find a positive in the current pandemic, Covid has given some students the impetus needed for self-expression. Albert Einstein, oft revered by scientists, once commented that ‘creativity is intelligence having fun.’ I look forward to being part of that fun next year. Ms. Elaine Shiely Creative Schools Coordinator&nbsp;

From Where I live

A Selection of Student Poetry

Woodbrook College 2020/2021

Twitching of eyes, with a snobbish smirk, Rabid tapping with fingers, as anxiety lurks. Unstable breathe hitches, hearts rapidly race, The dealing of cards, prayers for an ace. The dawn of despair, the farewell to hope, An addiction’s abuse of flaws, too hard to cope. Muscles squeezed close; a gulp forced down, Enemy’s cards evenly placed, expecting a crown. ‘A two and a nine, quite the unlucky pair’, ‘With my seven and three, it hardly seems fair, Another round then of three and maybe more’. My mother smiled at me, ‘Alright then, sure’. Abbie Byrne 3rd Vartry

I sit here in Stalingrad ready to pull the trigger at will. The Nazis ready to unleash their wrath. The cold is taking hold, My torn body only born, The distant gunfire coming closer as it gets colder. It tears into me like daggers, But no one cares, they’re too busy trying not to freeze. The commander calls out “Take fire” They’re here now shooting through the wire. The devil has arrived. Robert Munro 3rd Vartry

Listen here to Freya's reading of Reminiscent Overall winner of this year's Woodbrook Poetry Competition

Hey, it’s been a while, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Since I’ve seen the people who used to make me smile. March 13 hit like a bus, It did its best to separate us, While most of us tried to stay in contact, There is no denying the fact, That I think we’ve all moved on, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;And yet I’m still writing this, spoken-word type song. Though we had our ups and downs, All our smiles and frowns, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I feel like we’ve drifted, Like we’ve nearly shape shifted, Into completely different people, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Ones we wouldn’t recognize, Need a new pair of eyes, Forgotten all our lows and highs, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Those memories as far away as the skies, But we can still get to the moon, We just have to go through em’ Outer space is pretty lonely when you’re out here on your own, But if we did it together, We could get through everything that this past year has thrown. Freya Dempsey 1st Dodder

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.

Everyday, I think about dying. About disease, starvation, violence, terrorism, war, the end of the world. It helps keep my mind off things.

Mr Hurley and Mr Martin are pictured with competition winners: Abhirami Santhosh, 3rd Vartry (3rd prize, A Familiar Sight), Freya Dempsey, 1st Dodder (1st Prize, Reminiscent) and Evelyn Conway Kearney (2nd Prize, Isolate).

Selection of Other Student Poems

Enriching Experience, Principal's Introduction 7 Creativity in Woodbrook College 9 Woodbrook Poetry Competition, Winners 2021 12

Woodbrook Poetry Competition

Reminiscent, Freya Dempsey 15 Isolate, Evelyn Conway Kearney 17 A Familiar Sight, Abhirami Santhosh 18 FaceTime, Lola Forsyth 19 Motivation, Katie McCabe 20 Covid Poem, Aoife Mohan 21 The Recipe for Happiness, Reece Gray 22

The Times We Live In, Darren Carroll 25 Equality, Niamh Tapley 26 The Great Space Symphony, Adithya Santhoshkuma 27 Peaceful, Ayse Kelleci 28 Betrayal, Lexie Cummins 29 Sonnet - Watching Romeo and Juliet, Niamh Tapley 30 Sonnet - Watching Romeo and Juliet, Ruby Roche 31 Recipe For Happiness, Emma O'Reilly 32 Recipe For Happiness, Ella Redmond 33 Recipe For Happiness, Michelle Tugarino 34 The Bluff, Abbie Byrne 35 The Face, Robert Munro 36 Was It All Worth It, Saskia Cepillo 37

The Great Space Symphony

Gazing up towards the night sky, the night wind accommodating The pure delight and happiness of a child, the world bending to their will. Stars twinkling, appearing just as they were many thousands of years ago, Beckoning eager minds to the ageless elegance bestowed upon them. Created so long ago that our world was but mere stardust, The warm gaze filled with sagely wisdom looking down upon us.&nbsp; For our place is not here, but rather out there, in the vast expanse of space,&nbsp; The embodiment of everything that was and what could be. Thousands of brains churning, much like the primordial soup That was the universe, eventually to come to the key to the universe. We would not be here were it not for fate, fate which propels us, Fate which gives us the means to be the stuff of legends. Space, the final frontier, is the next step in humanities adventure, An adventure that will come to be written as we go, No doubt the best literacy, for that is what we as humans strive to be, The absolute best and nothing less. Adithya Santhoshkuma 3rd Vartry

Often when I am upset There is a place I go I leave the world behind me And time seems to slow Nothing can be wrong When you’re wandering with the trees Or lounging in green grass Or watching buzzing bumblebees The soft flowing stream The reassuring breeze Sweet smelling lavender Can put anyone at ease Silky flower petals Welcome my touch And make me feel much better When the outside world is too much Leaves rustle, birds tweet The tall oak branches sway As though to remind you That it will be okay Ayse Kelleci 3rd Vartry

The Recipe for Happiness

It started in China, many months ago And travelled the world, Had many feeling low. Our lives had changed in so many ways No school, no shopping Trying to fill in long days. So many got sick And people were dying, Hospitals were full And airlines stopped flying. A pandemic that closed our world, A time we never thought we would see, Like a war without bullets. But maybe it was meant to be. The vaccine was quickly invented, And certainly brought glee People were so happy to get it, A visit to their GP. People took up swimming And baked banana bread TikTok became more famous Woke up late from bed. If there's one thing I've learnt from this Covid One thing I never will doubt It's the hugs and time spent with family Is what life is all about! Aoife Mohan 4th Danny

As I step out of the shadows A hundred eyes beat down on me As I approach the blocks with mellow A stretch and a bend sets my body free I stand there, time in slow motion, And names being called to their inevitable doom, With the image in my head a good nation, And I am dazed in the dark gloom, I pull myself up on the block As I look down to see the clear water glisten, And my eyes stuck in a deadlock, Which is interrupted by a siren. As the beeps begin, I get into position, And once they stop, my feet leave the earth, My hands enter the water, and my head filled with ambition, And the coldness of the water, as strong as a mammoth Once I am completely under, I get a sense of joy, On the final stretch, the crown roars like thunder, As I swim with happiness Reece Grey 3rd Vartry

The last year has clearly shown us that life is unpredictable. It has often thrown us back on our own resources. We have had to call upon others around us for support. We have had to explain to ourselves what we are going through so we can get to the other side. Woodbrook College always seeks to support students as they progress along their life path. Self-expression and responding creatively to a changing world are essential in all our lives. That is why they also hold such an important position in our school experience. Poetry and creativity help us to confront and to better understand the often complex experiences we feel as we navigate the world around us. This has only been heightened during this time of Covid. For this reason we launched the Woodbrook Poetry Competition this year. I would like to warmly congratulate the three winners and each student who entered the competition. A selection of these entries are included in this book. It was a real privilege and pleasure for me to read these poems and, even briefly, to enter the vivid worlds inhabited by our very diverse, sensitive and talented students. I thank them for opening up their worlds to us and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did. Mr. Henry Hurley Principal

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. 

Woodbrook Poetry Competition 2021 Winners and Selected Entries

If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. 

Emily Dickinson

Hugging them, It almost feels like the last time I saw them was years ago. Because when everyone heard about a pandemic they thought about, Staying at home No school Relaxing everyday. They never thought of Not being able to see our loved ones Or hug the ones we hold close to our heart, None of us thought about the burden of not being able to see everyone, Everyone excited for summer? But what would you even do if you can’t see your friends or have a BBQ with your family, Blowing out birthday candles became waving your hand And celebrating special occasions became a FaceTime, We all loved the idea of a break, We all now realise, That life is so precious, And time is so special, To those who are hurting over the pandemic right now, You’re strong enough to succeed And you will hug them again, Within time and patience. Lola Forsyth 2nd Dodder

I don't like this feeling. The lack of motivation. Forced indoors all day and night Because of a pandemic that could kill a nation. Katie McCabe 3rd Dodder

“You can find poetry in your everyday life, your memory, in what people say on the bus, in the news, or just what’s in your heart.

Carol Ann Duffy

Was it worth it all?&nbsp; Yes to the leaders it was, but as I recall I was only left with remorse With my marriage ending with divorce Was it worth it all? That I lost my best friend Oh, how foolish was I to think that that was the end. The war of course had to take my brother away On what I thought was a regular Monday. Just one year then I would have been with him On the battleground that was so grim. Was it worth it all? When I saw the people around me die - Guy after guy after guy - The smell of dead bodies would last weeks And blood dripping like a leak. Was it worth&nbsp;it all? When I lost my best friend Oh how I wish I could pretend That didn't happen. He stuck by me since we were nine Thought it was all going to be fine. Both of us there right in the centre (We always had the feeling since the enter) Sounds of explosions and guns surrounding us crossed (That one day one of us would get lost)

Then as if time stopped, Bullet after bullet I saw as Tom dropped. My eyes blurry and ears ringing I run towards him as the war kept singing. Blood gushing out of his mouth How did this all go so south? Held his hand and screamed, "Don't leave!" He smiled back with such belief With one last breath did he say It was all going to be okay. Then slowly did he close his eyes And that was how my best friend died. Was it all worth it? Saskia Cepillo 3rd Vartry

I will stay at home, Do life online, Write sad poems To pass the time. Watch the news, Hold my breath Listen to professionals Speak more of death. Got new glasses, Now I can see These same four walls Just in HD. Evelyn Conway Kearney 3rd Dodder

When all time stops, Surroundings not seen. The rain goes plip plop, Raindrops hitting the screen. The door ajar, creaking and opening, The room illuminated with little light. The stranger who continues his endless foil, Spilling blood on innocent soil. Thunder booming, not a word whispered, The stranger's silhouette is seen. Beneath the blankets, I peered, Wondering where he had been. Merging with the shadows, Wearing black on black. Even with poor lighting, I knew who he was. Taking out his sword, With a small click. Leaping from the bed, I soared. A move that was never predicted, I kicked. Metal on metal, For as I held his weapon. As light as a petal, One will die tonight, I reckon. As I stare into the eyes of the fallen angel.&nbsp; Abhirami Santhosh 3rd Vartry

From Where I Live A Selection of Student Poems

Compiled and designed by Paul Martin Copyright, Woodbrook College, Bray, 2021