Made in Eastbury: the Anthology

Identity. Place. Belonging.

Who are we?

Me

Plastic

My fondest memory

Nanna’s eyes

Her ill-fated destiny

Reflections of a Straight White Dude

Different

A White Man’s World

I am a Woman

Equal pay for equal work

Kobe Bryant

Usain Bolt

Paul Pogba

Luka Modric

Ode to caretakers: I ain’t got time

Teacher

These are just some of original poems which were written by

students and staff at Eastbury Community School. The final sixteen

were chosen by a community editing team, who voted for their

favourites, the ones which spoke to them best, and then were

reordered into the anthology you have in your hands now.

Who are we?

Who am I?

Am I new?

Or have I come from a set of two?

I was told to fly afar,

With my wings spread apart,

But how can I when we are…

Shot and bolted,

Hung and insulted?

All that we do to each other these days.

Corrupted with phones and TV sets,

Influenced by celebrities who are undressed.

Told to be perfect,

If it means suffocating with an overgrown chest,

Push and pull until we have impressed.

We tell each other danger is outside,

But danger is the things we feed our minds.

Blerta Muja

Me

I would be a thing holding the secrets,

Not a notepad or a boring old leaflet,

I would be a diary containing thousands of pages,

So that the person who writes in me would take ages and ages,

I would be the one who’s her best friend,

I'll be with her till the end,

She would write and write on my lines,

She would write on me a zillion times,

I have the lock, she has the key,

Which she uses to open me,

But sadly I cannot help her with anything,

But the most precious thing to her is true happiness I bring.

Harmandeep Kaur

Plastic Life isn’t fantastic When you’re treated like plastic You get used And constantly abused. You knew there’d be a catch You’re not pretty Or up to scratch You were the ugly one in the perfect batch. All the services you cannot provide Have got you thinking about suicide Your pain isn’t biodegradable It can’t decompose- it’s just not able. You knew they never wanted you They threw you in the trash You were another forgotten soul In the never-ending stash. You’re melted down And made into something new Till they let down (again) And bid you adieu Then you are called ‘the problem’ The one polluting the seas Only some are loved, even that is seldom You simply cannot please. So as you can see, life isn’t fantastic When you’re treated like plastic You are used And constantly abused. Kiswa Akhtar

My fondest memory

I have seen your beauty,

But you have been criticised,

You have in you the most beautiful people, the most beautiful places,

Every time my feet brushed your paths,

You put a smile on my face.

In you, I have met the most amazing souls,

I have made perfect connections,

I found the perfect rhythm,

And I heard the perfect melody.

You got me into my feelings,

You got me wanting to stay,

You made me change my mind -

I rarely do.

I was settled and content with what you gave me until you said "I got you".

I opened my heart,

And I could feel this purity,

I could touch the generosity,

My heart has been given so much love,

It's full of memory.

Of bonds that cannot be broken,

You are my reality.

In you, I was me.

I had fears, but I have had the purest moments.

They criticise you, but you are beautiful.

You are made of the most beautiful people.

I'll surely come back to see you,

But I'll leave with a heavy heart,

As you let me touch the love I thought I’d never find,

With the tips of my fingers,

I experienced what is like to be loved through your eyes.

Because you are full of genuineness and generosity;

You touched my heart fondly,

You are my greatest memory.

I have fallen in love with you,

I'll never forget you,

Because America,

You are my sweetest memory.

Miss Lostau

Nanna’s eyes I clear my throat and its my mother in my ears

the sound of her older years that mixed often

with her fading contralto notes

But my laugh

and my hands

are my fathers

his long bony big knuckled fingers that held brush and pen

as I do

carry on working long after his are dust

Yet in the mirror now

more and more with passing years

it is his mothers face that stares

back at me in the mirror asking

where the years have gone

I am at once dismayed and grateful

that they live on

in some small way

in me

and that glimpses I see

in my children's children

echo echo

that genetic bond we share

And also I wonder

how many other generations of the past I am looking at

through my nanna's grey eyes

Miss Ebdon

Her ill-fated destiny She lied and screamed

cried and dreamed

“Is this who I’m meant to be?”

To her demons she screamed

“Is this the life I’m to lead?”

“What have you done to me?”

She spent her night losing her fight

Screaming in fright

“I must end me.”

Her knot was tied

Her tears she dried

“I’m ready.”

She said with pain

And with woe

“I was never sane; I was always meant to go.”

And then she fell

Sealed her fate in hell

“Yes really.”

Kiswa Akhtar

Reflections of a Straight White Dude

I drove. Now we’re lost.

I clearly can’t lead alone;

You should take the wheel.

Mr Dray

Different

You tell me I should try to fit in,

I ask you how?

You say being different is a sin,

And that diversity is foul.

We all try to look like the rest,

All big and smart and rich,

But when I say being different is the best,

You walk away like I’m an itch.

Maybe thinking about others would be good,

Not everyone belongs in one place,

Maybe we all, no matter who we are, we should,

We should realise and accept we all have a different face.

Don’t try to be someone you’re not,

No one knows you more than you do,

You shouldn’t just try to fit in with the other lot,

You, although you don’t know it, are special too.

No one can tell you where you belong,

If you know you’re someone else - that’s it.

Don’t be afraid to not play along,

Everyone will find a place where they fit.

You told me I should try to fit in,

I asked you how?

You said being different is a sin,

Let’s see who’s wrong now.

Naofa Ahmed

A White Man’s World

So they asked me a question: "Does racism still exist?"

We live in a world where "the white man" has it all. Whose country is getting better? "The white man’s" you hear them say. Anyone who isn't "The white man" is a "sad man"

A "turned down man", a “frowned upon man", a "trapped man". Aren't we all humans? But there's no way we can be equal with... "The white man". “Racism is the thing of the past.” Don't you dare lie to my face?

The colour of your skin will make it positive you don't win; If you're black you lack, you slack, you crack. They won't ever call you N*gga to your face - Just know you are coming last in every race.

I go to school; I stay after school; I look around 99% black cleaners, I question - why?

Then I remember it isn't the "white mans" job to do. If I get a C in math and "the white man’s" son gets a C too.. You’re out and he's in?

Is it fair? No But remember we live in their world.

They try and silence us by putting bullets through our head

scream, scream, shush, shush now you're dead and that's all to it

Black History month - forgotten or not important enough

The Queen’s Birthday dearly remembered in our hearts But of course but by now you should know we live in

"The white man's world"

So did I answer the question?

Ruby Oppong

I am a Woman I am a woman and I stand here today To celebrate those who have helped pave the way, For a society that’s better, more equal and fair, That generates compassion and encourages us to care. We’ve come a long way and I’m so thankful for that. Thankful I can vote and for the Equal Pay Act, But it shocks me to think that women had to fight, To get something, that for me, is a fundamental right. And in my opinion, there’s more we can do For those who suffer (they could be me, they could be you), For those who are denied access to education, For those who are abused within our own very nation. We must be aware of the biases we hold. All of us have them and it’s time that we’re told To not make assumptions, to not pretend we’re unaware Of the fact that we stereotype, we hurt and we scare. We must know that our gender does not determine our worth; Our abilities and desires were not assigned at our birth. Women can be strong and assertive and lead. Women don’t have to marry, and they don’t have to breed. We don’t need to ‘man up’ to show that we’re strong. It takes strength to tell others that they’re in the wrong If they use ‘banter’ to excuse harassment and abuse. It is not a reason and it is not an excuse. So I am a woman, and I’m not the only one, Who is surprised that there’s still so much more to be done. We need to keep working, both women and men, Until no one has to say ‘me too’ again. Miss Goodall

Equal pay for equal work

There was a young Physicist at CERN,

Who wanted to see how the world turned,

They made a great find, which blew all their minds,

But this did not equate to what she earned.

Mr Simpson

Kobe Bryant

Dribbling up the court,

he exerted pressure on his opponents with no fear,

petrifying them with a single glare.

Like a shark,

he sensed struggle in his contender,

striking with unbounded strength and speed.

Flowing through the competition like sand through my fingertips,

as he jumps, the wind propels him.

As the fire rages in his stomach,

hot enough to liquefy steel.

His passion and pure determination glimmers as shame smoulders.

He gives it one last SLAM,

Strong enough to shatter the Earth’s core.

He showcased his eminence,

and celebrates one last time.

Leart Shehi

Paul Pogba

As tall as a mountain,

As big as an ogre,

As tall as a mountain,

As big as an ogre,

As fast as a cheetah

A courageous role model,

A monstrous beast,

Attacking his opponent’s at a blazing speed,

Shoots as powerful as a lions roar,

Comes and goes out of nowhere like lighting,

A giant with his loyal chanters helping him -

switching, intercepting and scoring.

Luke Singh

Luka Modric

Luka Modric was a seed,

And was as hopeless as an orphan,

Until football adopted him.

He started to evolve into a seedling.

The scout gave him sunshine

And his coach gave him water.

Then his leaves began to sprout

He started to develop even stronger roots

Which started to link up and create an unbreakable knot.

Now he’s an unbeatable obstacle,

Now he’s the tallest and most fearless tree in the forest,

But there’s still more growing to be done.

The water continues and continues

To give the energy Luka Modric needs,

But without the ambition,

Luka Modric can never get the nutrients he really needs.

Raheem Adedoyin

Ode to caretakers: I ain’t got the time

Teacher: Can you…

Caretaker: I ain’t got time! You know it’s only me today,

There’s utter chaos everywhere and it’s not going to go away.

There’s a Pigeon in the assembly hall,

Little Timmy’s lost his ball (over the next doors wall),

Furniture to move from all the rooms,

And now there’s another radio call…

I’ve got to be here and there - I’m needed for this and that,

I have to pick up litter, I really can’t stay for a chat,

I should be in disguise like John Green, covered in a different hat each day

Then people wouldn’t notice me, I wish they’d all go away,

I’m going to and fro-I’m heading back and forth,

If I had the chance I’d go with them geese, the one’s migrating north.

I used to be 6 foot tall you know, I’m worn down to 5 foot three,

I’ve got this trolley with a little box, I’m making a delivery,

I’ve been trying to have a break, you know, and gone cold has my cup-of-tea,

My back, my feet and don’t mention the trouble I’ve had with my very dodgy

knee.

So, Mr Sir, you’ll have to catch me again and did I forget to mention?

You’ll have to fill out such-and-such a form and ask my boss on this extension.

- Off he goes yelling “this really is a crime”-

Teacher: …all I was going to ask you was… if you could tell me the time?

Mr Durling

Teacher

Each day is the same:

8.45am

Punctuality, politeness,

Organisation, forthrightness.

9am

Empathy, kindness, compassionate deeds,

Tolerance of different ways, different creeds.

10am

Another way of looking, another interpretation.

Mindfulness, self-love, accepting imperfection.

COFFEE

11am

When to take a time-out, how to control your emotions,

When to take it seriously, how to go through the motions.

11.30am

Broadening horizons, knowing what’s out there.

Building confidence, knowing it’s in there.

12.30pm

Discipline, expectations, run like clockwork,

“I know it’s funny, but try not to smirk”.

1.30pm

Biting your tongue, avoiding outburst.

“Have you eaten today? – but yourself first!”

COFFEE

2pm

Is that how you spell it? E and then O?

Bravely showing the class that you just don’t know.

3pm

What have you learnt today, now it’s past three?

This isn’t what I’ve taught the kids,

It’s what they’ve taught me.

Miss Deighton