Poetry: One to Six

As part of Ignite Day, Year 12s went on a walking poetry workshop along the River Test at Mottisfont. We spent time in nature, recording and reflecting on the sensory elements around us. We then went to Mottisfont House and shaped and crafted the ideas mined throughout the day, using a final structural device by starting every line with ‘and’ to lend poems an immediacy and energy. Thank you to Mrs Bell and Mr Richardson for organising this trip.  

ONE

And that was it

and that was that

and that was all

and that was over

and that was the end

and that was everything

and that was it

and that was how it began

and that was how it started

and that was what sparked it

and that was the beginning

and that was it

Jonathan Yang

TWO

And as I stepped out

into the blazing sun

I realised it’s things like

climbing a tree – in the shade, in the risk – in the view-

in the small but worthy heights of

accomplishments –

And the slight sweat stretch of skin and warming of sore muscles –

that makes life worth living.

And I’ll set out

under the sun

again,

if only to find another such tree

and to be out of reach of a foreboding sense of constraint.

Sara Eftakhari

THREE

And I breathe the fresh air

and walk towards the shallow river

and I’m transported back to my childhood

and I remember a summer day

and taking off my shoes

and I remember the cool water around my ankles

and I remember the stones

between my tiny toes

and I remember laughing

and I wish I could be that carefree little girl again

Saskia Egland Jenson

 FOUR

And we sat under a tree

And we wrote about love, for what is this, but love?

And I realised there is no breach in the skin of the earth; and

grown children shimmered in the distance

breaking the skin on their world;

and jet-green beetles glimmered and hovered

and clover and buttercups

and daisies, daisies rioting-

and hearts breathed in violet foxgloves and tender swirl of water

and the dung bloomed next to the buttercups and flies feasted

and white flashes danced dog fights

in the nests of nettle

and the sun/air moved the reeds

and there was a spire, behind a hill,

and the hill was behind the trees

and the trees were behind the water

and the peacock joy of the dragonflies

sang out loud.

Emma Bell

FIVE

And I guess we did have a good time

and you laughed at me,

and I laughed with you

and the jokes could have caused offence, and maybe got us into trouble-

and I would always say I have no regrets

and we both know that’s not true.

And it could have gone better

and I could have walked you home,

and we would still laugh at your stupidity-

and I would leave you for the night

And feel better about myself

And maybe not be the mess I’m in-

And I wish that happened.

Ethan Simmonds

SIX

And the path into the unknown
And the racket of crickets in the wilderness of bushes
And only the flirt of butterflies inhabits it
And only the twist and turn of nettle fortifies the ground

And the path into the unknown
And the trout serenade through the river
And aqua life
And continue beyond the sight of us all into the looming bridge

And the path into the unknown
And as that river meanders further
And the population decreases, humanity excels in placing pipeline
And protecting fence to prevent others from jumping towards the now corrupted river

And the path into the unknown
And beyond the fence where beauty
And nature reclaim
And towers to heavenly extremes
And only a cathedral spire can be seen from a specific angle

And the path into the unknown
And before the towering greenery the water glides in formation
And with elegance
And one small tributary becomes a tribute to exploration
And makes a small detour.

Nature's attempt into the path of the unknown.

Sacha Hemingway