Spirited Poetry 2019

Mursal (Age 15)

Fulham Cross Girls' School

Journey round the Ka'bah

"Sweat dripping, blood pumping belly aching

I push forward with my body shaking...

But it's worth it for the creator of everything.

It's the 12th month of the lunar year

And I need to go seven times around

But it's worth it for the forgiver of sins.

The temperature's at 40 degrees

I have four rounds to go: exhausted...

But it's worth it for the giver of all.

Built by Ibrahim but destroyed by the Quraysh

All hope was lost but then Allah helped us...

So it's worth it for my Lord."

Click here to hear this poem read by guest judge Paul Cookson.

Dariya (Age 10)

Shrewsbury International School

Journey through life

"Sometimes a simple thing can make you see,

beyond the typical existence.

There are no ways to run and be free.

New knowledge has a strong persistent .

There's so much wisdom in the words,

And power in the understanding.

But everyone has different roads,

At times the roads have walls and endings.

The journey starts at times through books,

At times with just a glimpse of danger.

It's not as easy as it looks,

Life can sometimes be such a stranger.

You ask it questions and converse.

You try and hide your darkest secrets.

But she at times has no remorse,

And drops you in a brand new frequence.

You feel exhausted and in pain,

And ask her questions of great darkness.

But life will show a brand new lane,

That looks so light and not so hopeless."

Click here to hear this poem read by guest judge Paul Cookson.

Anika (Age 7)

Church Hill CofE Junior School

Journeys Taken To See The New Born Baby Jesus

angel telling

Mary listening

Mary worrying

oh dear me

Joseph marrying

Mary loving

journey starting

journey ending

Bethlehem crowding

donkey clip clopping

inn filling

keeper talking

stable smelling

baby crying

shepherds coming

star glowing

star shining

Men following

king of kings

Click here to hear this poem ready by guest judge Paul Cookson.

Jacob (Age 12)

York High School

A Pilgrim's Story

As we walk along the ancient streets,

With years of history beneath our feet.

Stories we shared along the way,

All following what signposts say.

They lead us to the ancient town,

Where the king once lived, but wore no crown.

The man was humble with nothing to loose,

Yet they still called him 'King of the Jews'.

He lived his life as a preacher,

To anyone who listed: man or creature.

He had no food to prepare a dish,

Yet he fed five thousand with bread and fish.

People came from miles around,

To share this man and hear his sound.

The first of the pilgrims to make their way,

To see and hear what the man had to say.

Trouble followed with every turn,

They didn't want the people to learn.

The Romans and the priests from this cold town,

Wanted to bring the Jew King down.

They arranged with on of his trusty ten,

To betray the man and his den

He told them where he could find their enemy,

He would be in the Garden of Gethsemane.

He was taken by them to stand his trial,

Found guilty of heresy with no denial.

To be taken at once to be crucified,

And this is how the good man died.

Two thousand years on, the pilgrims roam,

Around the city of rock and stone.

To find out answers to their prayers,

In the churches and religious lairs.

They use their Bible as a holy map,

To walk this town lap after lap.

The pilgrim's rejoice and give the nod,

Because in body and mind,they have truly found God.

Ella (Age 9)

Aberford C of E Primary School

Death

Death is a strong word.

And I am dead!

Laid in my coffin, waiting for the journey.

My journey.

I grab my ticket before I leave for the corpse carriage.

Nervous and worried, anxious and insecure,

I step into the darkened carriage of the afterlife.

Who knows where I'll end up.

Maybe in Hell - maybe in Heaven - only God knows.

Many people are in the carriage of despair or good fortune,

They are all waiting for their surprise stops - just like me!

But, this is my journey.

Carriage stop one the very bottom

HELL - only a few have managed to disappoint God.

Stop two - further questioning about life on earth - good or bad

Stop three - Will re-examine - those who know they have sinned

but are given another chance to explain - to repent their sins.

Stop four - Return as a form that is not human, but an object that shall not move to its own platform.

Stop five - Return as a soul that haunts every ones dreams forevermore

Stop six - You shall guide all baby's births and make sure they are well.

Stop seven Heaven - My stop. I have pleased God, thank you

"But you have earned it young one!"

Marceau (Age 7)

Riverside Primary School

Follow The Diva Lights

When the night is windy and scary,

When the night is spooky and cold,

When the night is gloomy and stormy,

Follow the diva lights and it will guide you home.

When the road is polluted and bumpy,

When the road is lonely and long,

When the road is abandoned and hard,

Follow the diva lights and it will

guide you home.

When the city is silent and empty,

When the city is quiet and terrifying,

When the city is frightening and sticky,

Follow the diva lights and it will guide you

home.

When the light is blazing and shiny,

When the light is shining and flaming,

When the light is welcoming and guiding,

Follow the diva light and it will

guide you home.

Sohail (Age 12)

Solihull School

Hajj Pilgrimage Poem

Hajj is a place where Muslims must go

Hajj is beautiful,intriguing and sweet

Hajj has mysteries for me to meet

I like to get sins washed away

And read at the holy Kaaba on a Jumma Friday

It is so hard to walk in the still,scorching hot sun

But this is something we Muslims must do before life is done

This is not a holiday but this journey must be accomplished

This holy mission was sent by God for us to obey

And do whatever risks it takes for us to risk a good life

I heard that some people just go because their loved ones are gone

But the main thing is that they go for religion and God before their life is done

Saskia (Age 17)

St Mary's School

Journey

"Another night slinks by,

You wait,silent as a stone.

When new day comes, Mother rises

From her well-twigged,downy throne.

Light brings warmth like bubbling song,

Creeps through the hollow,calling.

But you stay safe beneath that shield,

Nothing tempts you, not Mother,not Morning .

The flock is off!Countless wings

Lend voices to the dawning call,

Be brave, still fledgling! You reply:

I'm yet too young,too small,

Days fly by ,hope on,peck past,

While still unbroken is your shell.

Mother despairs, her unmet child

Trapped inside that small, round cell.

Till one unlikely rain-soaked day

Scratch upon scratch, ceiling a-quaky.

Awake.Unfurl.Stretch damp wings,

Twitching for a Journey."

Isabelle (Age 10)

Driffield Junior School

Lourdes Acrostic

Live a life blessed by Mary.

Opportunity to be healed.

United in faith.

Respect the community.

Drink the holy water.

Embrace people for who they are.

See the grotto where Mary appeared to Burnadette.

Fatimah (Age 7)

Curwen Primary School

Mecca come to Mecca

The journey pilgrimage to perform Hoü and Umrah

There blessing there blessing

For every Muslim for every Muslim

We walk around the Kabba 7 times

It makes you closer to the Lord

Reward for this action in the here after in the garden

of paradise

Shaya (Age 12)

Solihull School

Out of the Cage

Packing my bags,tired and weary

The morning is dull, dark and dreary.

I open the door, and step outside

They said it would be fun, I'm sure they lied.

The path ahead,exhausting and long

The morning fast approaching, I hear a mockingbird song.

Through the good things,the bad ones are sifting.

Slowly but surely, my spirits are lifting.

The feeling, I've felt nothing like it before

My legs are burning, my feet are sore.

But I'm filled to the brim with joyful delight,

It feels as though I'm a bird mid-flight.

Though I'm leaving, my spirits are overflowing with hope.

I have something to hang on to, a spiritual rope.

The view was dazzling,truly pure.

It moved me and touched my very core

Twisha (Age 11)

Ayelsbury High School

Pilgrimages

I need to go an a Pilgrimage- what should I take

Got jobs to do and acquaintances to make

However packing isn't a piece of cake ...

A bit of devotion with finding what's true

A pinch of love wouldn't hurt

And of course nobody can ever forget the words:

"Remember to pack some advice from an expert!"

Maybe I'll add a sprinkle of honesty,

And a sat nav for staying on the right path

I'll add a tin of good deeds

So God doesn't show his wrath!

In the spiritual merchandise shop

I know exactly what I'll buy

I'll buy a lesson for life

That shows me how fast time can fly...

So that's my packing done- and now I can relax,

Knowing that on the way to seeing God, I have finally left my tracks.

Mack (Age 12)

Solihull School

The Jeruselem Rap Battle (by Lil Macky)

Many people visit the wall of the west,

Life is a lesson; I'm passing the test.

Write a prayer on a little piece of paper.

My boy Jesus said, 'honour thy neighbour'.

Christians, Hindus,Muslims, Jews, In Jerusalem there's nothing to lose.

By far the best place in Israel

On this sight equality will prevail,

Race shouldn't be something we judge someone by

Tomorrow, I'm gonna see a Rabbi.

Christians,Hindus,Muslims,Jews, In Jerusalem there's nothing to lose

Many people visit Mohammed's rock

There's a mosque above it, nowhere near Iraq

Also, the Muslims have the Hajj,

Did you know the Zamzam water is free of charge!

Christians,Hindus,Muslims,Jews,In Jeruselam there's nothing to lose

Next is the place where Jesus was crucified,

But we all know that he never really died!

The Church of Holy Sepulchre is the site of the tomb

Magdalene saw him and her heart went BOOM!

Christians,Hindus,Muslims,Jews,In Jerusalem there's nothing to lose

But in this sacred city there is a lot of beef

Loads of people fought,just for their belief

Now it's time for Lil Macky to end his rap

Go to Old Sils and get a sausage bap

Christians,Hindus,Muslims,Jews,In Jerusalem there's nothing to lose

Liam (Age 12)

Solihull School

The Religious Rap (by Lil Grimey)

A dope spot we hang in is the Western Wall

Learning religious tings, you don't learn in school (ennit fam)

Writing prayers on a little piece of paper

You can search it up but be sure to do it later.

'Cause we'll be walking,and walking, and walking all night

Just waiting to see the light.

All religions come together and be one

In the Church of Holy Sepulchre, you might see a nun.

Next onto the little town in France

The country of mimes and the country of romance.

Where a little girl named Bernadette spotted her first vision

Then making a decision to follow the Catholic religion.

'Cause we'll be walking, and walking, and walking all night

Just waiting and waiting to see the light

All religions come together and be one

In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, you might see a nun.

Now finally we're at the Cathedral of Canterbury

'Cause this is the place where my boy Henry IV was buried.

Once upon a time a Becket was made Archbishop

But then he sadly died 'cause he was way too ambitious.

'Cause we'll be walking, and walking, and walking all night

Just waiting and waiting to see the light.

All religions come together and be one

In the Church of Holy Sepulchre, you might see a nun.

Emilie (Age 11)

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Today God Took Me To The Beach

Today God took me to the beach,

Where he carried me on his own two feet.

We sang and he taught me a hymn,

That told you not to sin.

Next, he took me to the river Jordan,

I took out the flask that my water was stored in.

I cleansed then washed myself

And cleared my mind for my mental health.

God told me not to listen to Satan,

Otherwise I could be handing my fate in.

We went to the forest,

So that we could listen to the birds' chorus.

I saw a prancing deer,

Where my house was near.

Finally, we went to a fountain,

At the top of a mountain.

God told me he would never leave my side

And would me in my every stride.

That was just a day with God,

Which could never be taken from me

even by the greatest fraud.

Sami (Age 6)

Parkhill Infants School

Umrah

My Dad went on a journey.

He went for days.

He went to Mecca,

So he could pray.

He saw the Kubbah.

He went far and I missed him.

We will give him lots of chocolates.

Meg (Age 15)

St Mary's School

You

"I've come this far without you

the journey that is my life,

but lately I've been kind of blue

and I didn't think I could survive,

this feeling of the loss of you.

Some days it consumes me

and I never know what to do,

then I think I shouldn't make a big deal

because he doesn't feel,

the same way I do.

I've grown up without you

and I'm stronger for it,

so I guess in a way I should thank you,

Because I am who I am today.

I guess it's ok

that you're not here,

because you never truly were

when you were I was full of fear,

But you were like whatever.

I know I was never

The twinkle in your eyes,

but then one day you left

and didn't say goodbye ,

and I was left alone."