Recently the Year 6 English Enrichment class were asked to compose a poem on an element of the natural environment, using comparative poetic devices such as simile, metaphor, personification, zoomorphism etc. As an extra challenge they were asked to try and explore a particular issue through their poem, such as growing up, environmental sustainability or the value of being human. Perhaps you’ll be able to see this as you read. Enjoy!


Tree Life Cycle by Kimia J

A seed,
Buried in the ground,
Waiting for sunlight, water, and fresh dirt,
Like a baby,
Waiting for food and milk,
It needs to grow.

A seedling,
Slowly growing out of the dirt,
Taking its first steps,
Like a toddler,
Taking their first steps into childhood,
Finally starting to grow up.

A sapling,
Almost an adult,
Living its own life,
Like a teenager,
their adulthood just round the corner,
No longer a child.

A mature tree,
The main stage of their life,
They start to produce flowers and fruit,
Like an adult,
Living their own lives,
A fully grown tree


Leaf by Fawzy A

Vibrant green,
Like a viridescent blindfold blocking brightness onto the tree.

Symmetrical patterns fill it,
Mother nature’s child.

Captures water, absorbs fire,
Changes colour, blossoms.

Protects the branch like birds guarding their eggs,
Providing shade for everyone.

Grows fruits,
Assisted by the tree’s roots.

Yet,
Gets nothing back;
All alone,
To survive on its own.


The Earth by Calvin C

The Earth is a patient thing
Waiting and waiting and waiting
It waits all day, it waits all night, 
It looks at humans with wrath and spite
Year after year it lies, waiting, watching without eyes

The Beach by Sara B

Oh how I love the sound of crashing waves,
Hidden amongst the beach there are big and small caves.
The sun beams down on my face;
My cousin and I are ready to run down to the water, it's always a race.
Its where the sea meets land, 
Where the water covers all the tiny grains of sand.
Massive waves come crashing down onto the shore,
Making it perfect to boogie board


Change by Ikshum L

Clovers bloom, flowers shoot;
Blossoms water the hills ,
Warmth filling the room;
Smell of daffodils linger.

- 

Never ending sun,
Sweltering hot,
Having lots of fun,
Heatwaves brought;
It’ll be over when it has just begun.

– 

Wilting trees and a cold breeze, 
A fog looms ahead;
Till the big freeze,
leaves dance and spread,
till the temperatures drop to nil.

-

As slow as time can run,
Foggy mist in the air,
A slumber yet to be done;
The land calm and bare.

-

And it goes on. 


Forest by Orlando C

My hand awaits, for something;
Anything.

Years pass and family came to me,
My home became home to many,
Nothing could ruin this;
Or so I thought.

They came in packs, 
Their bodies shook the earth,
Their claws dug through my flesh into my body;
Pain like a thousand daggers.

I thought it would never end,
I cried in agony but they continued,
They left as they came;
Except my family,
Gone.

What had taken days,
Months,
Years,
Gone in seconds.

What being could be possible of such destruction?
No words could describe my pain,
My loss.

I await again;
Hands empty,
Scars healing,
Heart open.