A new Poet for you to try.

This is by a young lady called Natasha Rees, recently published by Scholastic in a collection of poetry.

The Magic Box.

I will put in the box:
a cosy, cuddly koala sleeping high in a
eucalyptus tree,
the hunting hawk's haunting call,
a slithering snake snoozing in the blazing, dusty desert dunes.

I will put in the box:
silvery dolphins darting through a colourful
coral reef,
the final fading words of an ill grandparent,
the flying flame of a long-gone phoenix.

I will put in the box:
a million growing blue-grey galaxies,
a heavenly psalm sung during a funeral.

My box is created from fossilised, turquiose
coral,
dug up from the millenium-old depths of an
underground sea mine in the rough, ice-cold
Atlantic.
The lock is sapphire studded platinum found
in the ancient, rotting wreck of Zanzibar
and my key is the fang of a sabre toothed tiger
from the Ice Age,
still as razor sharp as ever.
I will explore in my box, racing over African
plains,
searching for a limping lion or a tiny tiger
without its parent.
I can fly in my box, faster than any falcon,
sleeker than any eagle.


P.s. I should mention that Natasha is my niece and 9 years old.
She wrote this during a workshop at her primary school run by a local writer. Any typos are mine.

I think that is really good Richard and for a nine year old it is amazing.
Does poetry run in your family?

BTW. I think we should get together and demand a return of THE HAT. Anyone agree?
Richard K

Nine years old? That's incredible! Truly beautiful sentiments. What an amazing talent at such a young age.

Richard K - I miss THE HAT too. I'd grown very fond of that hat. I think a campaign may be in order.

I feel I should point out that I'm still wearing headgear, didn't realise I was going to cause all this controversy.

True, but it is headGEAR, not THE HAT

So tell us about your niece - has she shown a talent for writing before?

She is a voracious reader and well above her reading age, I know she is always making up stories and would imagine they are encouraged to write them down at school but this is the first thing that I've read of hers. It's all the more touching when you think that she's lost three granddads in the last 2 1/2 years (Her dad's parent were remarried) and a grandma.

I think we shall have to keep an eye out for her, obviously she is going to be a writing star in the future.

Now back to THE HAT.

I have checked the forum Health and Safety policy - you may not have seen it yet Richard? - and it may say.

'It is a requirement that avatars should wear appropriate head gear at all times when performing their forum duties.'

After gaining the views of several fellow forum members ( one ) we have decided that THE HAT alone meets that criteria in your case. Can I suggest that your avatar reverts to the former head gear to avoid this issue becoming a bit sticky?

If you do not agree with this policy, you do, of course have the right of appeal to the Head Forum Hat and Headgear Officer ( HFHaHO )

I hope we can come to an agreement and do not end up with a head to head ( with HATS of course ) on this issue.

Richard K, I think Richard G may have interpreted our understandable grief for his spectacular HAT as being inappropriately harsh. With this in mind might I suggest a solution? It may be possible for his avatar to sport both THE HAT and the Buff, thereby satisfying his need for renewal (and a warm head) as well our need for THE HAT. Would this appease both the Health and Safety Directives and Richard G's obvious desire to refresh his image? (I feel I should also point out that I rarely wear a hat of any form as people tend to laugh at me when I do. Is the fact that I have a considerable and unruly mop of hair sufficient headgear to comply with the policy?)

But to get back to the important issue: Richard G, I think it's astonishing that one so young can have worked so much emotion into such a well worded verse. I'm not, as you probably know, any sort of expert on poetry beyond the occasional badly scripted limerick, but I did feel compelled to comment on this one. I imagine that losing so many loved ones in such a short space of time has had a profound effect upon her. It's fantastic that she's using her life experiences in such a positive way.

OK. peace on THE HAT - no intention of cyber bullying Richard, just a bit of fun.
The buff looks great and I think it is quite neat really as I am quite jealous of the batman motif. I wear a buff when I am out walking in the winter - and this spring. They are very versatile aren't they?

Going back to your niece - I think she is really talented and should have a great creative future in front of her. I hope she gets encouraged at school to express herself. That sort of talent deserves to be encouraged.

Richard it's far too late now. The hat bombardment will begin shortly (or when I can be bothered to take the photos)

Yay! Hat bombardment! Bring on the hats!

I think I'd better keep my head down then but keep a watch out for flying trilbies and bowlers.