“What Is Gratitude” by Achyut, aged 7

(available to listen to in episode 62)

What is gratitude? My brain ponders.
Thanks to the brain
to help me think.

What is gratitude? My eye glances.
Thanks to the eyes
to help me see.

What is gratitude? My ear listens.
Thanks to the ear
to help me hear.

What is gratitude? My mouth utters.
Thanks to the mouth
to help me speak.

What is gratitude? My heart pumps.
Thanks to the heart
to keep my beat.

What is gratitude? My hand feels.
Thanks to the hands
to help me touch.

What is gratitude? My stomach grumbles.
Thanks to the stomach
to help me digest.

What is gratitude? My foot strolls.
Thanks to the feet
to help me walk.

What is gratitude? My body parts ask.
Thanks to the body parts
to keep me healthy.

“When Spring Comes” by Agasthya, aged 8

(available to listen to in episode 64)

When Spring comes, it spreads some kind of joy in everyone's life.
A new strength just grew inside me.
New buds of green opened during Spring,
throwing out the fresh fragrance.
It fills my heart with pleasure,
like a beauteous treasure.
I am so so grateful for Spring.
If Summer's a prince, it is the king.

“My Best Friend” by Jeyan, aged 8

(available to listen to in episode 59)

My grandfather is kind,
he buys me whatever I find.

Advice he always gives me,
he once saved me from a bee.

He spends his precious time with me,
his favourite drink is tea.

His love for me is immense,
he is my only line of defence.

“Books” by Ananya, aged 7

(available to listen to in episode 59)

Fiction books,
like fantasy,
take me to the castle.
Other books,
like sci-fi,
take me to outer space.
My atlas takes me all around,
but I don’t move an inch!
These books you see
teleport me
to many different lands.
Today, we’re stuck in
because of COVID,
but my books
are the key
to traveling
without moving an inch!
Oh books,
what would I do
without all of you?

“Autumn Care” by Oliver, aged 9

(available to listen to in episode 62)

Autumn leaves are falling right down to the floor,
in September we shall be going to our school once more.
Days are getting darker, the nights are drawing in.
Halloween is almost upon us, and dressing up will begin.
No trick or treating this year, for we all must take much care.
We all will still have fun as we are reeling in the year.
Let's hope we have fun, for Autumn is here.

“A Simple Cat Am I” by Clarissa, aged 10

(available to listen to in episode 59)

A simple cat am I,
snuggling down, I sense the day go by.
Reclining on a soft, silk pillow;
lounging in sun-dappled shade by the willow.

A thankful cat am I,
for the mice that creep, the birds that fly.
Animals that sacrifice their meat,
to make the juicy food I joyously eat.

A curious cat am I,
long tail twitching like a flag on high.
Watching! Eyes of inquisitive green
spy dragonflies dance with electric-blue sheen.

A grateful cat am I.
Loved from birth until the day I die.
Dawn ‘til dusk I feel heavenly bliss.
Other cats don’t experience life like this.

“Our Teachers” by Amogh, aged 10

(available to listen to in episode 51)

You helped us overcome challenges.
You have helped us throughout our whole journey.
You have shown us the right path throughout the year.
You may be leaving school but you will never leave our hearts.
We will keep your lessons and correct our mistakes you told us.
You have given us information that will last us a lifetime.
You have made a significant contribution in our lives.
Thank you for being our teacher!

“My Family” by Riyansh, aged 10

(available to listen to in episode 64)

My family are who I’m thankful for,
I love them to the core,
Everyday they nurture me,
And the things they do you will see.

My dad always keeps me laughing hard,
While protecting me like a guard,
He always puts a smile on my face,
And helps me do things like tie a shoe lace.

My brother never lets me down,
Hardly ever makes me frown,
He helps me whenever possible,
Never makes anything impossible.

Finally my mum cooks food you should see,
And never ever abandons me,
When I’m sick always stays by my side,
Her love will always amplify.

All my family show their kindness and love,
Their love flies gracefully around me like a dove,
I am thankful to have a family like this,
Who always shower me with hugs and kiss.

“The Wind, The Sky, The Nature” by Atira, aged 9

(available to listen to in episode 62)

The crunch of animals scurrying through the leaves.
The singing of birds in the trees.
Sitting there, thinking, while I stare at the leaves
falling from the sky.

The wind lightly blowing in my face.
The wind blowing the trees making the leaves.
Fall faster down from the sky.
I sit down, and watch.

The sun shining through the trees as I sit.
The sun shining on my face.
Not a cloud to be seen.

As I sit, I think.
The Wind, The Sky, The Nature
is calm and quiet. I will miss
all of this when Winter comes.

“Being Born” by Xinyue, aged 9

(available to listen to in episode 54)

On that sunny morn,
I was successfully born.
I became a part of my country,
and a member of my family.
On that day,
I saw all the grass and trees.
On that day,
I saw all the flowers and bees.

In the womb for my first breath of air,
how that moment is rare!
If I didn’t take that breath,
I’d most likely meet death.
I wouldn’t have those friends of mine,
I wouldn’t see any sunshine.
But I was lucky,
some might even say blessed.
As I was born with success.

If I wasn’t born,
I wouldn’t be able to see, I wouldn’t be able to hear,
I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be there.
Like in the middle of nowhere.
I wouldn’t know that I was in the dark,
while other people are in the park.
But I’m truly grateful,
for I was born.

“An Autumn Poem” by Ayesha, aged 9

(available to listen to in episode 59)

Apples are falling Down,
Under the trees with a loud Sound,
The people are Preparing,
Umbrellas in their Bearing,
Many colours all Around,
Nature has been Found!

“Gratitude” by Shreyashi, aged 11

(available to listen to in episode 57)

Gratitude is a flow of heavenly thoughts.
It teaches to be tender and oblige.
Gratitude is a personal art of fineness.
Teaches to arise.
It is a concept of moral thought,
guides as a well wisher.
It is nothing but a friend in disguise,
plays with its counterpart ever and ever.
A very positive concept it is,
attracts peace and pleasure.
Teaches politeness and sublime,
as a resourceful teacher.
It is a self-evaluator,
needs no utterance.
It always embraces and values behavior,
without hindrance.
It brings nearer to elders,
generates affection.
Gratitude empowers from within
reveals "you are not alone".
Do good and be good is it's soul.
Its mind is acceptance.
Gratitude; always a lesson of pearls.
A worth of its kind .

“Gratitude Brewed” by Menucha, aged 12

(available to listen to in episode 64)

After a long day,
all you could ask for is a steaming hot cup of tea.
That was what always came to me.
Whether it was chamomile or mint, peach, or green.
Every day, when I would come back, it was waiting for me.
Waiting for me to drink it.
Waiting for me to sip.
Waiting for me to thank that person who made it for me.
I walked and walked.
Taking small steps.
And then I ran.
I ran into my grandma’s arms.
I gave her a hug.
and I told her thank you.
Thank you for the tea.
That was all I had to say because the thoughts were inside:
inside my head and inside my heart.
They were going into hers.
And that was an evening that changed my life
forever, because my grandma never forgot the tea.

“Be Thankful For All You Have” by Liliana, aged 11

(available to listen to in episode 64)

Giving thanks to all,
Who have shaped your life.

Being thankful to all those,
Who have cared for you
Who have protected you
Who have stayed by your side
Through all your hardships
To your friends, family, teachers, and all-
Cherish them, express your gratitude,
Be thankful.

Being thankful to all items,
The clothes you wear
The food you eat
The shelter you live in
The belongings you have
To your shoes, your home, your books-
Cherish them, express your gratitude,
Be thankful.

Being thankful to your body,
The beautiful eyes to let you see
The nose to let you smell
The tongue to let you taste
The ears to let you hear
To your body-
Cherish them, express your gratitude,
Be thankful.

And being thankful to yourself,
Your ability to learn
Your ability to grow
Your ability to overcome challenges
Your ability to be passionate
To the unique, brilliant you-
Cherish yourself, express your gratitude,
Be thankful.

Be thankful for all you have.

“My Dad” by Millie, aged 11

(available to listen to in episode 62)

I think of the trips we take so often,
and I think of trucks and coaches.
The bike ramps we always make
with pallets from work, we ride down.
We listen to songs in the car on the road or on the record player.
Songs made in the 80’s.
When I think of him, I think of the holidays to Disney,
and Germany, and Wales, and tons more.
There wasn’t a place he couldn’t name, where he hadn’t been to.
I loved hearing all the stories about coaches, and the cars he has crashed, and bikes he has crashed.
His voice I’m hearing in my head right now.
I don’t know why, but I see him as good as I can actually see him.
I suppose it’s because he’s always telling a joke or a story.
Travelling the world with me.

“My Sweet Family” by Urvashi, aged 12

(available to listen to in episode 54)

I love my mother, I love my mother.
She improves me too much further.
She taught me everything including the weather.
She also taught me about the feather.

I love my father, I love my father.
He taught me about all the farmers,
and how in the farms they grow crops together.
He always wants to improve my sports further.

I love my grandfather, I love my grandfather.
He teaches me grammar.
He wants to improve my English further.
He likes to see Virat Kohli the cricketer.

I love my grandmother, I love my grandmother.
She tells stories of Rohan the joker
to me, my brother, and to my sister.
She also tells us about Sara the juggler.

I love my family, I love my family.
We all live together.
My pet's name is Emily.
I want to live with my family forever.

“The Holiday” by Alfie, aged 11

(available to listen to in episode 51)

Toes in the sand.
Sun is dancing in the water.
Making new friends on the park.
We went to the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen!
I'm appreciative for my holiday.

“I Am Grateful For” by Varsha, aged 12

(available to listen to in episode 54)

I am thankful for:
Healthcare workers helped sick people recover.
Leaders helped by making new plans.
Researchers helped to discover new medicines.
Reporters helped share the news.
Truck drivers helped by transporting supplies.
Farmers and grocers helped by making sure there was healthy food to eat.
Garbage collectors helped by keeping communities clean.
When they went to the market,
shoppers helped by wearing masks and staying six feet apart,
and kids helped, too, just by staying at home.
It may seem like staying at home was doing nothing,
but this was an important job.

“The Light” by Neha, aged 13

(available to listen to in episode 57)

While the world hopes for a ray of light,
I look at the dark, starry sky;
wondering when we’ll win this fight.
Why 2020? I’ll never know why.

While the world hopes for a ray of light,
I sit at home in sorrow;
through the day, amidst the night,
for a minute of going outside I could borrow.

While the world hopes for a ray of light,
I start with a fresh perspective;
knowing that I just might
be melancholy and introspective.

While the world hopes for a ray of light,
I start to appreciate the little things;
knowing that I have enough and the gift of sight,
I feel like I might have wings.

While the world hopes for a ray of light,
I embrace my creativity;
help at home, work hard sitting upright,
writing this unwritten ditty.

While the world hopes for a ray of light,
so far I cannot see;
but from optimism and a vision bright,
I know the ray of light is always with me.

“Thankfulness” by Kanan, aged 13

(available to listen to in episode 64)

Let your dawn begin with a thankful note and dusk end with a wide smile.
Stay up ‘til twilight to see the moon shine and being thankful to the sun for it's light.
Be thankful towards the Earth for supporting our footsteps.
Be thankful to the air, every time you breathe.
Thankfulness is the feeling of gratitude.
Don't let gratitude be a favour
as being thankful doesn't mean you are weak
but a feeling of gratitude you seek.

“Enchanted By Birds” by Archita, aged 14

(available to listen to in episode 59)

My day breaks with chirping of the birds,
I wonder that their mates heard.

They laze on my window asking for grains,
looking at them reminds me of flying planes.

They erect their nest for numerous times in entity,
one grasps to be optimistic and struggle from birds' ability.

The nest made on my window bewitch me the most,
seeing the birds incubating the eggs is the moment by which I am engrossed.

Glancing the struggles made by nestlings to fly,
it's not the wings but the efforts which kept it in sky high.

I feel pacified while gazing at the birds' flamboyant vivid feathers,
and self motivated to see them withstanding every execrable weather.

From every of the small creatures we need to learn much,
battling with inevitable fate is one of such.

“I’ve Been Saying Thank You” by Akubueze, aged 16

(available to listen to in episode 51)

I have been saying thank you,
but never said it gratefully.
Saying it for it's a usual word,
but realized the method of thank you
should be done like it's the last time I say it.
The method I said thank you after eating
was a mistake because
now the same taste is gone forever, never to return.
I saw the need to say thank you with all of my heart,
like it's the last time I say it.

I have been saying thank you,
because everyone else did,
and it's a casual thing to say.
But soon, I saw that my thank you
should be a thank you that will move mountains.
For if it moves mountains, it should move you.
For the things I wear
need a thank you found somewhere over the rainbow.
Now the fashion's taste and style is gone forever, never to return.
It pained me for not saying that thank you,
found somewhere over the rainbow to you mum

I have been saying thank you,
for it was always a thing to say when someone helps you,
and everyone else did it, so did I.
But immediately, the help stopped coming in 2016.
The thank you seized up, for the reason to say it stopped.
Now, when boys and girls trouble me,
I don't know what to do
for the one speaking on my behalf is gone forever never to return.
It hurt for all the time she spoke on my behalf, I said thank you mum,
but the thank you was from the mouth and not the heart.

Don't know if it is too late,
but everyone else, including you, said it's never too late to do anything.
Distance is never a barrier.
So, where ever you may have journey to,
thank you, and this time it is a thank you said like it's the last time I'm going to say it.
Thank you, and this is a thank you found somewhere over the rainbow.
And thank you from the heart, and not the mouth, which you alone understands.

“Should I Grow Up?” by Turanya, aged 13

(available to listen to in episode 54)

Once came a thought,
"How can adult life be?"
Will it be good or
will it be frightening?
Then I thought,
should I grow up?
Let me ask someone and see.
I asked a friend:
a senior of mine.
I asked,
how is adult life?
He sulks up and says,
oh! it's bad,
it's boring and sad,
I think you are lucky,
but just wait and see.
I was disappointed:
is this adult life?
How bad it can be?
I think I need a view.
Then I found somebody,
a cousin of mine,
and asked the same.
He said,
it's cool,
it's nice,
you must check it out,
it's nice.
I am confused
what to do.
I think I should be chilling.
Adult life would be thrilling!

“My Father Is The Best” by Aditeya, aged 13

(available to listen to in episode 51)

North, South, East or West.
My father is the Best.
He never takes a rest, he is always on the move.
On his favourite tune. he loves to groove.
He is the best buddy. He is my best friend.
We play together many games on weekends.
I’m his little cute adorable boy.
Papa, I love you. I say it with joy.
My father will always care,
and we make a nice pair.
With this poem, I like to share.
Superhero without cape is my lovely FATHER .

“Grateful For Change” by Asmita, aged 15

(available to listen to in episode 59)

My life was a wild forest.
The world not at its kindest.
Everything merged into shades of green.
And I was just one poor unloved teen.
I always saw but wasn't ever seen.

I had only a memory of you, dear.
Like a wisp of breath in the air.
Joy was a fallen leaf, hope a bird.
Time was a thief who kept his word.
And I did hear but wasn't ever heard.

Then I looked in the mirror one day,
I saw you; You told me to get away.
My life is a garden now, dear.
Change is a bubbly friend this year.
And the world seems worthy of care.

“My Life” by Subha, aged 14

(available to listen to in episode 57)

Subha is my name,
I want to play Ball badminton game.
This is my aim,
and I want to become a Ball badminton player,
but I got failure........

I didn't accepted this failure.
Still, I am trying to get success.......

So my friends.......
"Ever tried,
Ever failed".
"No matter,
Try again".
"Fail again,
Fail better".

Failure is not the opposite of success,
it's part of success.........

“My Thriving Garden” by Prachi, aged 14

(available to listen to in episode 57)

I look outside my window.
I am surrounded by Earth.
I gazed towards the blue vibrant sky.
The ravishing but strangely figured clouds.
But suddenly those sounds,
God that has walked upon these grounds,
although, it was the rain palpitating.
This was just devastating.
But it did make me remember my childhood.
The fact that no one understood.
The birds preaching ever so gracefully.
So contended, so youthful.
But not only playful.
But as the summer sun starts settling in,
the alluring flowers start blooming.
I take in the fragrance of sprouting flowers.
From buttercups to roses flourishing in showers.
Time is constantly passing.
Hours on end I am surrounded by a fully thriving garden.