Two of Queenswood’s creative writing students took part in a national poetry competition ‘Lest We Forget’, which invites 4-18 year-olds to write a poem in any style on the theme of war and peace in nod to Remembrance Day this year.

Hope Dies 

Hope dies at the end.
Where conflicts from a man,
Spread to a much bigger span.
Hope dies. Hope dies at the end.
Where children await.
For what is now the army's bait.
Hope dies. Hope dies at the end.
Our own countless tragedies.
Are just their abnormalities.
Hope dies. Hope dies at the end.
But when we are done.
And all is now won.
Hope dies. Hope dies at the end.
So now I look across a sea of blood.
It comes down. Down as a flood.
Hope dies. Hope dies at the end.
Though, when all hearts rise.
And all but blood stained lies.
Hope begins anew. And peace is out to lend.

Mia R, Year 9

Loveless 

We waited anxiously by the door. Breath baited, hearts hitched in our tiny throats.

A single, white envelope dropped through the door.

The world went quiet, no one dared to move.

My mother pushed everyone aside, busily sweeping up the cream coloured, crinkled letter, with a blood red stamp slapped on top.

As if the finery and fanciness would be able to make up for the contents.

We heard our mothers scream, but no one rushed to comfort her. No one was able to move.

The breath escaped our lungs by our barely beating hearts, as we fell on top of one another in a flood of fear and pain.

Issy N, Year 10