Muddy

It covers our trousers,
and sticks to your shoes.
Clothes in the wash,
trainers thrown in the corner.
Mud caked on in the morning,
impossible to remove.
Dirt sodden from the boggy ground,
rain and soil.
What an awful mess.
You walk through the house
leaving a train of grubby tracks.

by Stephanie

The Weather

Here in Northern Ireland,
the wind blows cold,
the rain falls heavy,
every day the temperature falls a degree.

In your country
you have scorching sun
and the wind blows hot,
but you also have massive droughts.

Whilst we pray for heat
you beg for rain.
We want the sun
but you want the clouds

We want your weather.
You need ours.

by Ben

My Secret Garden

It's my place to escape -
escape from my thundering troubles.
The breeze calms my nreves,
is pleasing to my eyes.

The grass has never been cut.
butterflies fly high over my face.
The bird's next has never been invaded.
Baby buttercups sway with grace

Ladybirds creep over my skin,
while I lie there dreaming.
I don't want to go now.
My dream hasn't ended.

I'll stay for another few hours
letting my hair wisp in the air,
skimming stones through the pond,
watching the ripples in the water.

by Suzannah

Typical and Unpredictable

Stratus clouds overcast the sky,
above the mountains and sea,
building up quite a storm.
Sun trying to break through,
billowing waves crash against rocks,
lightening collecting in the sky,
followed by subdued thunder,
drizzle pattering down like water
from a loose tap.
Obscure cloud taking over.
Drizzle altering to dense rain.

by Natalie

Acting the Other Sort in a Divided Ireland

When going into the "wrong area"
you keep your head down,
and don't say a word.

If someone stops to ask questions
you mask your identity
to stay out of harm's way.

If eyebrows are raised and eyes glare,
and if the mystery unfolds,
you lie through your teeth
and act like "the other sort"
for the day.

by Alexandra

A Divided Ireland

Broken from our mainland.
cut in two,
north and south
under different rule.
I feel so confused.
Who am I?
where am I from?
Ireland? Britain?
How's this country run?

by Fionnuala

Unpredictable Irish Weather

On the way to school it drizzles.
Everything's so damp.
Walking home it's sunlit,
dispersing all the rain.
In the evening
dark clouds roll in,
followed by lightning
illuminating the sky.
Wake up in the morning
to sunbeams shining in the window
glowing up the room.
what will this new day convey?

by Fionnuala

The Cow

The cow's as big as a dinosaur.
It's just grass and hay.
Black and white spots like a chessboard,
head the weight of a hippo's.

by Sean.

Rain in the Mourne Mountains

Black clouds shadowing the tall mountains
hiding the cairn
to which many climbers have added stones.
Mist slowing creeping in
to block out any hope of sunshine.
Cold winds whistling
through the empty playground.

Watching from the window
as our field drowns
in an everlasting shower of tears.
Bashing the puddles in the air
the downpour hits it, full speed.

Running outside as the rain
bounces off the ground beneath us,
dashing through the puddles,
rain pouring down our faces.
Black sky above
and below -
sticky clothes glued to our moist skin.

At home, a bubbly bath just waiting.

by Emily and Joanne

Sectarianism

People fighting,
people killed -
no-one is safe.
Hatred over religion...
are these people even religious?
What can be done
when the people with power
are too overwhelmed?
Money can only do so much.
The don't know what's happening
until it's written on paper.
But I know,
I've seen it,
it's all around.
No-one understands anyone else
because they don't even try.
What is unknown doesn't have to be wrong...
but they don't have time to find out.
Belief is just another reason to hate.
Children raised as bigots
grow up to murder those who aren't like them.

by Aisling

Amaryllis: Freaky Moment

Elegant ballet dancer
floating on air,
long thin stems,
legs dancing,
head-petals
moving gently
with the soft sound of flutes.

by Perrine

Learning to Fly

Stand
and reach your arms out wide.
Just close your eyes
and let go.

by Alexandra

Rugby

Don't run backwards,
don't pass forwards,
do the donkey work,
score a try,
pass the ball,
kick the ball for posts,
forwards ruck.
Backs run,
run to the corner flag,
win the league,
win the cup.
Another in the bag.

by John

Happiness

I'm like a gleeful elephant
flopping along in a lake.

I'm like a cup of hot chocolate
spilling over the brim.

I'm like a newborn baby
ready to explore life.

I'm like a million years
of a lifetime.

by Nina