Poetry can be a quick and concise way of delivering a strong message – and youngsters from across Rotherham did not hold back when it came to expressing their views on how we are handling climate change.
Year eight pupils from five Rotherham schools took part in workshops – organized by The Poetry Society – with professional poets as part of a competition to create work which reflected their concerns about the future of the planet.
The results were then presented at a showcase event at AESSEAL’s Factory for the Future and are now set to appear in a short volume, The Natural Course of Things - Young Poets For A Greener Future.
AESSEAL and AES Engineering Group Managing Director Chris Rea said:
One day I came into work to find young poets everywhere. It was refreshing to hear their views, not always flattering, on how my generation is handling climate change. This short volume brings together the best entries from both these competitions. Hopefully, it will help us remember and take a little time for reflection. We are incredibly proud of the work put forward by these young writers, and AESSEAL remains committed to nurturing creativity in our local communities through initiatives like this one
Students from Wales High School, Saint Bernard's Catholic High School, Thrybergh Academy, Clifton Community School, and Rawmarsh Community School took part and the audience was deeply moved as they delivered their unique perspectives with confidence and passion.
After reading their work the budding poets toured AESSEAL’s Tree Walk, which has been designed as an educational resource uniting engineering and the environment.
Poems focusing on lakes, trees, the mountainous regions of Poland, climate change, what life may be like in 100 years’ time and the prospects of the survival of animals, feature in the book alongside works from students from all over the country.
Overall winner of the competition Isabelle Stevens was presented with a £100 book token by the then Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Sheila Cowen for her poem, The Future, which you can read here:
The Future
A hundred years from now
Wow that’s a long way
But hear me out
What would the aliens want to say?
They might be mimes who seem
More normal
And dogs that like to keep a
Tiny journal.
The Antarctic might not be there
And hamsters might not
Have hair.
But if we be more
Sustainable
There might still be
Kids who like to eat
Bibble.
If we say goodbye
To the horrible
Vehicles
Then the world might
Just be a bit more
Breathable.
