Year 8 English

This term the Year 8s have been exploring and writing poetry in English. As part of our mini-focus on slam poetry, Year 11 student Mila shared some of her own slam poetry and then supported students as they had a go at developing some phrases and ideas. The following slam poem was written by Emily, who was so inspired by Mila’s presentation that she wrote a complete poem at home. Slam poetry is designed to be heard rather than read - perhaps have a go at reading Emily’s poem out loud with tone and pauses to experience its full powerful effect! 

Dr Jodi Williams 

8A English Teacher 

Anomaly 

by Emily K

Put on makeup to be pretty

Buy new clothes every week

Aren’t we tired of the pressure 

To be always looking chic?

Do we need someone’s approval

If it means we’re not truthful?

Why do we need to cover up,

And not let others know you’ve stuffed up?

I want to stand up 

Be loud, be proud, in the crowd 

But somehow society keeps dragging me down,

Down,

Down into the depth of their world

Locking me in

Want me to change who I am

For the Insta screens

Here I am walking around unseen

Amongst others that look just like me 

Miserable, sad, some even mad

As we throw away the life we could have had

The pressure claws at us

Saying 

Don’t mess up

Don’t let them know

Don’t let them realise  

What’s behind all those pretty lies

Again and again

Don’t ever break

Don’t ever crack

As we’re dragged deep

And the pressure builds 

We’re hiding tears with smiles 

Hoping they will last for a while 

So no one knows 

What you haven’t shown.

I don’t want this life 

This life I am living

I don’t want to be different 

But I do want to be me

I don’t want to care what others think

But I want to care what God sees

Even if it means I have to be

An Anomaly.