Transcript

MUSIC

Okay, Queenie … can we go over the plan before Chicken returns from watering the vegetables?

Queenie – Of course we can. Let me get the Master Plan out and I’ll walk you through it step by step. Here, I’ll roll it out on this large table. You grab that corner over there. Now, put this heavy book there to stop the plan from rolling back up again.

Great – so,  where’s the first step on this plan?

Queenie – Well, that’s over here. Ummm … this would definitely be easier if I had an object we could use to represent Chicken. Then you could see where we are in the Plan as we talk it through. Ummmm … what do I have that can represent Chicken?….. I know … an egg. Here, let’s use this egg. So, I’ll put the egg here at Step 1.

Perfect – so, what happens in Step 1?

Queenie – Well, Chicken returns from the garden, and we suggest that the two of you go over some of the poems that have come in for the Summer Competition on the topic of Home. She loves reading through poems, and so she won’t be able to resist the chance to review some submissions with you. So, that’s step 1 … now, for step 2 … hang on, where did the egg go?

Oh, it rolled down the other end of the table.

Queenie – that won’t do. The egg has rolled down to step 27, and we’re still talking about step 1!

Ummm … Step 27? There are 27 steps? Isn’t there a shortened version of the plan we can talk through? I’m not sure we have the time to walk through 27 steps before Chicken returns.

Queenie – Oh, Little Dazzy Donuts - there aren’t 27 steps in the plan! That would be silly! There are 62 steps! There’s no way we could pull off something as complicated as this in just 27 steps.

62 steps????? In that case, we’ll definitely need a summary version. So, in brief, what happens while Chicken and I are reviewing the Summer poetry entries?

Queenie – Well, I’ll be out in the garden preparing for her surprise homewarming party. While you’re reviewing the poems with Chicken, I’ll be sneaking her friends into the garden, getting the food ready …. and trying to stop the sheep from eating the lettuces … the usual things you’d expect a party organizer to be doing!

There will be sheep at this home warming party?

Queenie – Of course there will be sheep! We’re getting Chicken’s friends together to celebrate her moving into her new home in the backgarden of the Club … and so I’ve invited her friends. That’s the sheep she knows, the cows, the donkeys, the roosters. That sort of thing.

Gosh, I’m now starting to see why you have 62 steps in the Plan. So, all of those animals are turning up while I occupy Chicken in here reading poetry?

Queenie – Exactly! They turn up in Step 17! I see that you’re getting it now.

Okay – well I can hear Chicken coming. Just exactly how long do I need to occupy her for? Don’t forget that I’m only learning to speak the chicken language. It could be tough for me to keep her busy for long when I only understand two words that she says – I know the chicken word for “yes” and the one for “no”.

Queenie – how long? Ummm …. That’s a good question. Well, I don’t know for sure … but you shouldn’t occupy her for more time than I need to organize the party … or any less time than I need. So, just occupy her for the right amount of time. Does that help?

Not in the slightest. Oh well, we’ll make it work. I tell you what, I’ll pop out occasionally to see how things are going. I’ll make some excuse to leave the Club briefly, and see if you’re ready. Or just call me on the phone when it’s time to walk her around to the garden.

Queenie – Okey dokey! I don’t see any way this can go wrong. We’ve thought this through in fine detail – we’ve dotted every t and crossed every i!

SOUND (Door)

Oh, hi Chicken.

SOUND (Chicken)

Queenie: Hi Chicken. Sorry that I’m leaving just as you arrive, but I need to pop off and run a few errands. Little Dazzy Donuts here was wondering if you’d be willing to help him review some of the early entries into the Summer competition. How does that sound?

SOUND (Chicken)

Queenie: Excellent. Okay, Little Dazzy Donuts … I’ll leave it in your capable hands.

SOUND (Door)

Perfect. Okay then Chicken, here are the entries that we haven’t reviewed yet. How about we sit down together and read each one, and then decide whether we should play it or not. What do you think?

SOUND (Chicken)

Excellent. Given that I can only understand the Chicken words for yes and no, I’m glad you started that last sentence with a yes. Okay, here’s the first entry to review … it’s from Amber in England. Take a look, and see what you think?

SOUND (Chicken)

Wonderful – well, I think it’s a yes too. I love the idea that Amber has written a poem about her dog, Roxy. Here, I’ll play the recording so that everyone can hear it. The poem is called My Roxy.

Amber: Inside the Intelligent Black, the toy destroyer. Inside the toy destroyer, the messy bones. Inside the messy bones, the colour blind. Inside the colour blind, the mischievous eyes. Inside the mischievous eyes, the faithful heart. Inside the faithful heart, the rough tongue. Inside the rough tongue, the American & English type. Inside the American & English type, the webbed feet. Inside the webbed feet, the blackberry juice. Inside the blackberry juice, the Intelligent Black.

What a wonderful poem. Thank you so much Amber for writing such a wonderful poem, and for recording it so beautifully for us. I love how your poem contains lots of clues about Roxy – what sort of dog she is and why you love her so much. I bet Roxy is tremendous fun. Okay, Chicken … let’s see which poem is next.

SOUND (Phone).

Oh, hang on … Chicken – can you read this poem from Ayush while I answer the phone?

Hi, this is Little Dazzy Donuts at Kids’ Poetry Club.

Queenie – Hi Little Dazzy Donuts, it’s Queenie. I know you can’t say much at your end as we don’t want Chicken to figure out what’s happening … I just wanted to let you know that I’ve made it to Step 19… but still have a long way to go. On reflection, I’m not sure it was a good idea making this a pot luck! Every animal has brought the food they like eating … and so the food table is mostly covered in grass, clover, and the like. I really hope you weren’t looking forward to anything like cake or sandwiches. Oh, hang on …. Mind the radishes! Yes … those radishes there. Oh, I have to go, Little Dazzy Donuts – I feel us sliding back to Step 18 … just keep Chicken occupied a little longer.

SOUND (call ending)

Well, Chicken, I guess it was a wrong number. So, how’s it going with Ayush’s poem.

SOUND (Chicken)

A big YES then! Well, I’m delighted to hear that. Let’s take a look at it myself … oh yes … I can see why you liked it so much! Okay then, Ayush is from England, and let’s hear him reading his poem now. It’s called “Home”.

Ayush: Wherever I travel, wherever I go, Home stays a beacon, wherever I roam. A safe sanctuary, for travellers weary, For days so full yet so dreary. Running through the jungle, running through the road, Home stays a fortress, wherever I roam. The safe four walls around you stand, As do you all, hand in hand. Walking through the door, looking back at the night. Home stays a safe haven, No matter the fright. Laying down in bed, after a long days work, Home stays a warm hearth, wherever I roam. Across the globe, around the world, There ain’t no place like home.

Well, I really liked Ayush’s poem. He’s done such a wonderful job of highlighting how homes are so important to us – as a beacon, a safe sanctuary, a fortress, a haven, a hearth. As he says at the end of the poem, there’s no place like home.

Okay, Chicken, let’s see who’s up next. Oh, it’s Alfie from England with his poem “The View From My Window”.

SOUND (Outdoors)

SOUND (Chicken)

Gosh, I have no idea what that sound was. Why don’t you read through Alfie’s poem while I pop outside to see what’s going on?

SOUND (Door)

Hi Queenie … is everything okay out here. We heard a crash or a bang … something loud.

Queenie: You heard that? Whoops! Sorry! We were stringing up lights around the outside of the garden to make this all feel cozy for the party, and a sheep fell off the top of the step ladder. It’s okay though – she’s totally fine and is now off checking out the food table. That said, the shock of the bang almost caused a stampede of animals, but I managed to calm things down just in time. Oh, hang on …. Excuse me …. Does that cabbage patch look like an outside toilet to you? …. There are facilities clearly marked over there. Oh, I’m sorry, Little Dazzy Donuts. I have to go ….. has anyone seen the shovel?

SOUND (Door)

Hi there, Chicken. I think the crash was the bin out there. It must have fallen over in the wind. Now, where were we?

SOUND (Chicken)

Oh yes … Alfie and the view from his window. Let’s take a look at Alfie’s poem. Oh, I like this … did you like it too?

SOUND (Chicken)

Wonderful! Well, let’s play it!

Alfie: My view is the cows in the sun. Horses than run. Fields peaceful and long. Wassell wood as close as ever. My brother talking to the neighbour not a care of covid. Sun seems to always shine these days. Some days I feel worried and sad. Missing my friends. I feel safe and happy in my house. I am grateful of my view.

Thank you so much, Alfie, for your lovely poem. It sounds like you have a wonderful view from your house – I like the thought of watching horses and cows in the sunshine … and also how you describe your home as safe and happy.

So, I wonder who’s up next. Ah yes … it’s Natasha from England, with her poem “It’s Not Me”. Check this one out, Chicken.

SOUND (Chicken)

It’s a big “Yes” then! That’s wonderful. I agree. Let’s listen to Natasha’s poem now ….

Natasha: Remind me who I am, Without this added side-effect, Happier, focused, more awake, More intact I guess. I’m just a little girl, Brown hair tied in two small bunches, Twisting, turning, spinning my plate, Only until it’s perfect. Counting, counting one two three, Until I get it right, Blink ten times, Check four times, Now stop. No more, I’m done, I’m finished, How can this be me? Well this is who I am now, I’ve lost who I was meant to be.

What a wonderful poem, Natasha. Thank you so much for writing and recording it. It really captures what life in a home has been like during lockdown – where normal life is paused, leaving us filling time and struggling to remember who we are. Your poem encourages us all to pause and think about how our own lives have changed.

SOUND (Phone)

Oh, I better get that, Chicken, in case it’s important.

Queenie: Hi Little Dazzy Donuts! It’s Queenie! We are so close now … so can you just occupy Chicken for one more poem? Let’s see …. The lights are up … the food is on the table … the music is ready to play …. Ummmm … what have I missed? Oh my gosh – the solar lanterns! I forgot the solar lanterns …. Okay, everyone … line up around the edge of the garden facing in towards the middle … I’m going to hang a solar lantern around each neck. (SOUND - Cow) Why? Why? I don’t have time to answer questions. Come on everyone … where’s the can-do spirit? Okay, Little Dazzy Donuts – we’re almost ready. Just one more poem! Now, when you come out here, we’ll be all quiet with the lights off … and as Chicken enters the garden, we’ll turn the lights on and shout Homewarming Surprise! Okay … I have to go hang solar lanterns!

SOUND (call ending).

Gosh, Chicken – yet another wrong number. So, how about we look at one more final poem, and then call it a night?

SOUND (Chicken)

Wonderful – how about this one here … it’s from Maisie in England. Her poem is called “How to be kind”, and it’s an acrostic poem. You know, we had an episode focused on acrostic poems recently.

SOUND (Chicken)

Yes – I agree! This is definitely one we should listen to. I’ll press the play button now.

Maisie: Justice can be used by everyone, Understanding everybody is key. Similarity lives through all of us, Teamwork makes a dream work. Ideas of kind manners and freedom are great work. Controversy will not bring us down, Equality is our speciality (we are equal to everyone).

Well, Maisie, I really like your acrostic poem. For those who didn’t catch it, it spells the word “Justice”, and I really like how it spells out what it takes to be kind in our home – whether that home is a building, or a community, or a country.

Okay, Chicken, I think we’ve reviewed enough competition entries for one evening. How about we lock up here, and head home?

SOUND (Chicken)

I tell you what … I’ll walk you around to your home behind the Club. It will be good to see how the vegetables are growing. You have the whole place looking so nice back there now.

SOUND (Door)

SOUND (Walking)

Oh my … I do like this gate that you and Queenie built. Here, let me open it for you and we’ll head into the garden.

SOUND (Gate)

Queenie: Homewarming Surprise!!!!!!!!!!!

SOUND (Animals)

SOUND (Chicken)

Happy Home Warming, Chicken!

Queenie: Welcome to your surprise home warming party! Look, we have all your friends here!!!!!! But, be careful where you step!!!!!

MUSIC