Monday 5 November 2018

The Decimation of Education 

Where have all the Teachers gone ?-
Where did learning go?
The day you shut  the libraries
Was the day the curtains closed?

You now spread the confusion:
 Are masters of illusion?
The schools are now shivering in fear
some might not even be here next year

The corridors are quiet and the children have all gone home.
There are no lockers left to lean on because  you've cut us to the bone.
The Head Teachers have marched on Westminster in an attempt to stop the rot.
The children have lost their free meals, -what a nasty lot

Fracking the education system at the end of our street,
Cracks on the playground appear beneath their feet. 
We start to fall down them,  and some teachers leave,
Minds in turmoil: together their toxic tongues deceive.

You speak to us  but the voice creates fear.  
You don't really listen but our message  it is clear,
Your stats don't add up and your record is always stuck.
We have run out of funding  and now run out of luck!

you have sucked all the blood from creation,
The artists have all gone. 
Children of this nation-
You were never wrong. 

The figures and data are the scourge of it all,
Your cuts are hovering like vultures….…
So please catch us when we fall.

With limited resources, you try to squeeze us by the waist 
As the fog moves in it leaves a nasty taste.
So let the teachers do the teaching, 
 Be inclusive with your heart.
You should have already  done this- 
And done it at the start.


Academy Trusts testing the tested, 
Surely, the money could be better invested!
The wounds on the whiteboards spread the disease
The leaders are misleading; I'm down on my knees.
From Cornwall to Cumbria the assembly lies frozen and cold-
Bring back the Arts let us be brazen and bold!


They are piling on the pressure because their calculus failed 
Another train leaves the station with another one  derailed.
A curriculum confusion and another box tick for the clones-
They are tightening the rope with far too many loans.

You are without compassion; the Austerity confounds me.
The time has come to say never never not in my name 
so stop  all the cuts in education it isn’t a very nice game 
the children aren't playing but you still pull the plug
if the hole gets any deeper it will be the hole that you dug.

The poetry class has now ended and all the paper has gone,
All the writers have left town, cos someone got it all wrong.
As the clock ticks, I'm cooking up ideas to try to help out;
The music lessons have stopped and all the protesters shout !

First I'll take all the sharp scissors before it can get any worse. 
Just say to all the ministers ,why don't you listen to my verse?
There’s one thing you can do  at your peril , that’s to mess with class four;
Because if you do, there will certainly be a class war.

The play is not finished until the budget bites down,
So help all the children on your side of town.
Make them think twice cos it’s their future not ours,
 To make them sit up and listen in those ivory towers!

 This is my timetable and I'm beginning this now,
So respect all the teachers please take a bow .
This is such a scandal,so was Alice Cooper right?
This is going to be hard so lets put up a fight! 

You call them “little extras," thats an insult to us all .
Next time there is  a vote surely you will fall.
We are not happy, so this message I'm going to send-
Stop this Decimation and protest until the end!

Daren Peary 


Wednesday 31 October 2018

 THE PUMPKIN MOUSE

HE HAD A PUMPKIN HOUSE AND A PUMPKIN CAR
A HE KEPT A PUMPKIN LIGHT  IN  A PUMPKIN JAR
HE HAD A PUMPKIN DOG BUT NOT A PUMPKIN CAT
HE HAD A PUMPKIN SUIT AND WORE A PUMPKIN HAT 

HE HAD A PUMPKIN BIKE AND LOVED PUMPKIN CHEESE
HE ATE PUMPKIN HONEY MADE BY PUMPKIN BEES
HE HAD A PUMPKIN MOUSE WIFE WHO HAD PUMPKIN HAIR
HE HAD A PUMPKIN SOFA AND PUMPKIN CHAIR

HE WORKED AT THE FARM MAKING PUMPKIN SOUP
PLAYED PUMPKIN DRUMS IN A PUMPKIN GROUP
HE LIVED IN PUMPKIN TOWN WITH THE PUMPKIN  MICE
A KIND OF PUMPKIN LIFE THAT HE THOUGHT WAS NICE

HE WAS THE PUMPKIN MOUSE AND KEPT HIS HOUSE CLEAN 
HE NEVER  WANTED TO  GO OUT ON HALLOWEEN
HE WROTE ON A PUMPKIN  AND REMEMBERED TO MENTION
THAT ALL HE WANTED WAS A PUMPKIN EXTENSION

HE HAD PUMPKIN DREAMS AND A PUMPKIN BOAT
HE SAILED THE OCEANS AND STAYED AFLOAT
HE WAS A MOUSE THAT LOVED PUMPKINS AND WAS SOMETIMES CONFUSED
WHY THE PUMPKINS WERE THROWN OUT AND SOME NEVER USED 

 ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WERE NOT PERFECTLY ROUND
THE FARMER WOULD TAKE THEM AND WITHOUT A SOUND
THE PUMPKINS WERE DUMPED OVER THE FENCE
BUT TO THE PUMPKIN MOUSE IT DIDNT MAKE SENSE

STILL HE DIDNT MIND HE HAD A MISSION
TO TAKE ALL THE PUMPKINS TO A DIFFERENT POSITION
HE HAD A PUMPKIN CART WITH A PUMPKIN HORSE
HE HAD 40 KIDS AND LOVED THEM OF COURSE

HE READ THEM PUMPKIN STORIES AT NIGHT UNDER THE MOON
THEY HAD PUMPKIN HOT CHOCOLATE WITH CREAM AND A SPOON
HE TOLD THEM PUMPKIN FAIRY STORIES UNTIL THEY WENT TO SLEEP
THEY WERE ALL TUCKED UP TIGHT AND TOLD NOT TO PEEP
 IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AND THE PUMPKIN SANTA WAS COMING

YOU COULD HERE THE SOUND OF THE SLEIGH AND THE REINDEERS HUMMING
THE PUMPKIN  MOUSE TOWN WAS ALL COVERED IN SNOW
SO I’M GOING TO TELL YOU SO YOU CAN GO
JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES AND DREAM PUMPKIN DREAMS
JUST FOLLOW THE PUMPKINS DOWN TO THE STREAMS
ACROSS THE GREEN VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS OF WONDER
DOWN TO THE BRIDGE THEN YOU GO UNDER 
THE PUMPKIN TREE  THESE MOMENTS ARE RARE

IM OFF TOMORROW SO ILL SEE YOU THERE

Monday 27 August 2018

HERTFORD


HERTFORD IS THE PLACE FOR ME 
IT CERTAINLY IS THE PLACE TO BE 
WHETHER YOUR BY THE RIVER HAVING A THINK 
OR IN THE PUB HAVING A DRINK 
THERES SOMETHING FOR ALL YOUNG AND OLD
PLENTY OF HISTORY AND  STORIES TO BE TOLD 

RESTAURANTS  BARS   COFFEE  GALORE 
A CASTLE THAT GUARDS US AGAINST ANY  WAR
Mc MULLENS IS  BASED HERE SO IT MUST BE GOOD
I LOVE THE NIGHTS WHEN WE GET THE STREET FOOD 
RIVERS AND FIELDS  AND  NATURE SURROUNDS 
LOTS OF PEOPLE ON THESE  COMMON GROUNDS 
QUAINT LITTLE SHOPS, HOTELS AND ALL 
SOON SOME WIILL CLOSE AND SOME WILL FALL 

I LOVE THE WALK AROUND HARTHAM  COMMON
I TAKE MY DOG I GO THERE QUITE OFTEN
PARKING ISN’T  GREAT BUT THERE’S  ALWAYS MULTI STOREY
THERE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL HOUSES AND YOU CAN 
SEE ALL THIER GLORY 
 MANY SINGERS, MUSICIANS ,POETS  WITH A  THEATRE TO SHARE
GREAT PEOPLE WHO  COME HERE  I LOVE WHAT THEY WEAR
 WE EVEN HAVE MR EZRA A FINE SOUNDING CHAP
HE CERTAINLY HAS PUT US RIGHT  ON THE MAP
THERE ARE  MANY MUSICAL  FESTIVALS  GALORE
 AND  OUR  VERY OWN MUSICAL MYSTERY TOUR 
THE WHITE HART AT SALISBURY SQUARE 
IS SO NICE IM USUALLY  THERE 
HAVING A PINT WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND MY POOCH
WHY DON’T YOU COME AND HAVE  A MOOCH 
THE HERTFORD CLUB IS NICE BY THE RIVER FOR  EATING ALFRESO 
WEVE GOT ALL THE STORES EVEN A TESCO 
WE ALSO  HAVE A MUSEUM  AND THE  ARTS PLAY A BIG ROLL
YOU CAN JUST CHILL BY THE RIVER WHILST HAVING A STROLL
THERES  RUGBY ,CRICKET  AND A GREAT FOOTY CLUB
IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY HUB

 BUT OLD FATHER TIME BRINGS  THINGS THAT WILL CHANGE 
SOME MIGHT  FIND IT  TOTALLY STRANGE
BUT NEVER FEAR WE HAVE NOT ONE STATION BUT TWO 
SO IF THE CITY IS THE PLACE THATS  FINE JUST FOR YOU
THEN YOU CAN EASILY  BE THERE ITS QUICK WHEN THEY RUN 
SOMETIMES IT IS GREAT AND I KNOW YOU’LL HAVE FUN 

 I KNOW SOMETIMES THE TRAFFIC CAN BE A PAIN IN THE NECK
SOMETHINGS TO WORK ON  OR  KEEP IT IN CHECK 
THERE ARE POCKETS OF PROBLEMS THAT WE ALL NEED TO SHARE
WE MUST JOIN  IN THE FIGHT WE ALL NEED TO CARE 

 IT'S  THE FAMILY PLACE  EVEN IF YOU JUST COME FOR A DAY 
IM SURE YOU WILL LIKE IT  YOUR WELCOME TO STAY
WE WILL PUT OUR ARMS AROUND YOU AND MAKE YOU OUR FRIEND
I KNOW IT’S NOT PERFECT BUT IM GOING TO STAY UNTIL  THE END 
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE SO  JUST COME AND SEE
OH YES AND  PLEASE DON'T FORGET  THERE IS ME. 

Monday 23 April 2018

book


A book is not just a book 
It’s not just a line on a page 
It’s something that comes alive
 And like wine matures with age 

It’s not something that should sit there 
collecting dust on the shelf
It’s not about the cover 
its the knowledge and the wealth  

its something that can launch you into the  world of imagination
it is days spent together a companion  a celebration 
it can bring tears of sadness and joy
something for each and every girl and boy

if it doesn't get you at first don't fear
you can always put it down and  pick it up next year

 a book is not just a book 
its art wrapped in a cover
one for each month 
one for your sister and brother

 and if you find words come alive on the page
treat them  with calmness no need to rage
read a few lines or a rhyme at your pace
it shouldn't be something like we do in a race

some may need help making sense of it all
we shouldn't laugh cos that just isn't cool
helping each other have a good look
cos it really is nothing without a good book

an adventure begins with each turn of a corner
the words that run cold some times get warmer 
we live for the time when all the children stop crying 
the story is written the experience is dying

the smell of the new and the old just as good
praise be to all we have enough wood
the poet  breathes in and the words all come out
the writer the healer is what its about

a book is never just a book it excites and consumes
when you get to end  another beginning resumes 
the author can lift you and drop you like rain
no need to inform you no room to explain 

if you read well then share tell the story
gather the children watch them gasp in the glory
when all the world is their stage and enough has been said 
come mother and father take  your children to bed 

 with love fold your corner hold time by the hand 
whether you have drawn a line in the sand
a book is not just a book and for these lines to survive
we must read  to each other and keep the poem alive
pick up the words and let the feast begin now
never ask why never ask how 


read feel the passion in each word that is true
read as if the experience is new
remember a book is not just a book look and see
and if you don't get it just come and ask me 

so let the pirates escape and your mind open wide
we can sail on together  on the very next tide
it really doesn't matter no one will look

just remember i told you a book is not just a book