Happy National Poetry Day

By Alison Stronge | Latest News | Comments are Closed | 1 October, 2025 | 1

Happy National Poetry Day from the library. A great opportunity to let you know about the wonderful collection of novels written in verse format available in the library. These are quick and easy to read but really pack a punch! Moonrise, from Carnegie Medal winner Sarah Crossan, Moonrise poignant, stirring, huge-hearted novel concerns the relationship between two brothers and asks big questions. What value do you place on life? Brian Conaghan and Sarah Crossan have joined forces to tell the story of Nicu and Jess, two troubled teens whose paths cross in the unlikeliest of places. Punching the Air is a deeply affecting verse novel explores systemic racism in today’s America. Come and browse the dozens of of verse novels and discover the power of poetry to tell a story!

This year’s theme for National Poetry Day is “Play”, and I would like to share a couple of poems from this playful collection of poems by Matt Abbott entitled “ A Hurricane in my Head book (Poems for When Your Phone Dies).
Enjoy!

Football is NOT for Girls

There’s something about boys and football

That leaves me feeling curious.

Why do they love it so much?

When it leaves them feeling furious?

My dad and brother get

SO ANNOYED

When it doesn’t go their way.

Why do they follow their football team,

When they hate to watch them play?

I always try to join them,

When they watch it on the telly,

But my brother yells

“IT’S NOT FOR GIRLS!”

And I feel rage in my belly!

They get angry whenever they watch it;

I get angry when I’m not allowed.

And how come the camera shows us

Pretty women in the crowd?

I don’t understand why they can watch.

Even though it’s not for girls..?

Some of us love to slide in the mud

It’s not all curtseys and twirls.

But then something happened

That summer.

When the world went football mad

My eyes lit up like floodlights;

It silenced my brother and dad.

Female commentators, female pundits.

And in the studios female pros.

PROFESSIONALS.

Who played for their COUNTRY.

I swear I nearly froze.

Football IS for girls.

The boys are just being greedy.

I watched some woman online:

We’re skilful and we’re speedy.

I feel excited and inspired.

And I know I’m not alone.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about life,

It’s that there’s more than what we’re shown.

The Spine-Tingling Horror of 0%

No power no socket,

No charger or cable.

Just a sad-looking phone

Lying blank on the table

No voltage

And no more vibrations.

No more emojis,

No notifications.

I’ve tried it and tried it,

But the battery is flat.

It might work for ten seconds,

But it’s gone after that.

If I could just share that photo

Or finish that text,

I’m certain my mind

Wouldn’t be quite as vexed.

I charged it for hours;

All green in its glory.

But I just can’t resist

All those video stories.

So I try to forget it,

And I go meet my friends.

No need to show off

And no need to pretend.

I don’t know how I’ll manage

But I’ll give it a shot.

Unbridled imagination

Is the only thing I’ve got…

No tags.

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