“I Wish” by Kabir, aged 7

I wish to sit on your shoulder again,
and I wish to sleep in your lap too.
I wish to play game with you,
and I wish to watch movies too.
I wish to hug you tight,
and I wish to bring back you right.
I wish to hear your voice again,
and I wish to call you PAPA again.
I wish God would have not taken you home,
as PAPA I miss you a lot.

“The Lonely Soul” by Gabby, aged 9

Like a leaf in the wind.
Or a hair on a head.
She’s one in a thousand.
Not recognized.
Just a fly in a crowd.
No one to love her.
Being swatted away.
Walking away, she meets
the one that will take her in.

“Friends” by Ananya, aged 8

We have fun with each other.
Yet, we quarrel every day.
Friendships grow stronger
in a surprising way.
I like adventure.
A plot.
A story.
My friend just wants
normal things without a query.
Friends are but
my happy companions.
We are Ninjas,
or bakers,
or people who run a farm.
It feels as real
as me having an arm.

“Mum” by Esme, aged 13

Homework helper.
Children feeder.
Money lender.
Garden weeder.

Table layer.
Food provider.
Monster slayer.
Sweetie hider.

Rucksack packer.
Biscuit baker.
Bug attacker.
Cookie maker.

All night worker.
Late night drinker.
Champagne slurper.
Wine glass clinker.

“My Heart’s Desire” by Ira, aged 9

No, no no my parents say,
if we get a puppy now, we'll have to give it away.

We are moving people you see,
so we can't have a puppy in our family.

I always cry for one you know,
we can't have a puppy unless we know where to go.

In the hot hot summer when he will drool,
his lick will keep me refreshed and cool.

My parents tell me to keep the thought at bay,
"You'll definitely have a puppy one day!"

In my class I'm the odd man out,
"Everyone has at least a puppy", I cry and shout.

To get a puppy, it'll take years.
When I think about it, I'm always in tears!!

“Family Love” by Líle, aged 8

When I'm alone you help me see,
the world around me is not as it seems.
There is danger in every corner,
but with you by my side, we can fill the world with pride.
You help me see that anything is possible.
In dark and stormy nights you guide me through the forest,
with your love.

“Children Should Be Children” by Summer, aged 9

Friends make the world go around.
Old or new,
if someone looks sad,
say, hello how are you,
Some don't speak English.
Some have had a tough time.
Anyone can be a friend of mine.
There's lots of grown up stress.
There's a lot to learn and see.
For now, let's be children.
Enjoy being you and me,
Some children come from war.
Others have not much food.
Always be kind and never be rude.
Now let's go to the park,
helping each other out.
No bullying goes on here.
Not even allowed to shout.

“Friendship” by Neevh, aged 9

Friendship doesn't always come from above,
it flies down to you just like a dove.

It can come from a hug, it can come from a smile
and usually it lasts for quite a while.

It's like a umbrella to shelter you from rain.
And it's also a plaster for when you are in pain.

They are trustworthy and reliable, honest and kind.
And if you make a mistake, they will not mind.

A friend is a friend that plays with you everyday.
Three cheers for friend, Hip hip Hooray.

“My Books, My Friend” by Sanaskriti, aged 13

Since I was four,
I started to meet a friend,
who took me to a tour.
Then had a satisfying end.

That friend has different names,
a language style, an engaging plot.
More interesting than games,
and sometimes emerges as a mystery pot.

A friend who has a number of friends inside,
characters I can identify with.
Funny, serious, jealous, shy.
And these give wings to my imagination in it.

It is like a travel,
without even using my feet.
Discovering the misty Castle,
or witnessing the Deadly Battle between win and defeat.

When I am with that friend,
not only we share the joy,
it is more than just an enjoyment.
Now unraveling the truth who it is!

Those are my books.
Having different creators named ‛authors’.
Both in my happiness and my sadness, it is there always.
Exchanging the world with each other like
“Best friends”.

“Gratitude Is…” by Poppy, aged 9

The first light of Spring, breaking out of the shadow.
The spark, that refused to go out.
You braved the rain, at times of great sorrow, in a planet reduced to self-doubt.
Taking the hope, shining the star, you are the inspiration, that has made us come so far.
You lead us to the future.
You leave behind the past.
Together we can survive, and break free at last.
This lockdown’s made us sadder, we want to curl up and die.
But for your persistent optimism, makes us spread out wings and fly.
So I award you with this prize,
meaning more than any other.
The same meaning of this poem.
Thank you Mother.

“A Journey With My Best Friend - Siwan” by Lily, aged 9

I walk to the sweet stables.
I see Siwan in the meadow and collect her from rolling round in sunshine buttercups.
Saddle up, Saddle up, Saddle up.

I happily jump on her back and the sun reflects on her soft, champagne mane.
Walk on, Walk on, Walk on.

We walk across the meadow and we see the emerald trees swaying in the breeze.
Trot on, Trot on, Trot on.

Following the twisty, bumpy path, we go on the glorious beach with the shiny sand and the shimmering ocean.
Canter, Canter, Canter.

Patting the seafoam with her hooves, she enjoys hearing the splish, splash of the water.
Gallop, Gallop Gallop.

The waves gallop in like a million White horses and Siwan wants to make new friends.
Jump, Jump, Jump.

The magical sun is about to set and its colours fill our hearts.
Nuzzle, nuzzle, nuzzle.

“My Dear Family” by Zoe, aged 12

I know that you are always here for me.
With you I can always be free.
Like when a baby bird learns to fly,
If I begin to fall, you carry me through the sky.
You keep me tethered to this world.
You see sides of me that no one else will ever see.
But at the end of the day you always love me.
And allow me to be the person I want to be.

“A Unique Bond” by Shubhangi, aged 12

You’ll find there’s both family and friends living here,
a big group of minds, and hearts,
with some of us similar and some of us not.
At times you can’t keep us apart.

There’s one who is cranky, and one who is shy,
and one who is really uncouth.
And just when you think you have guessed who’s who,
you’ll really uncover the truth.

The truth is that we’re a little of each.
A group of imperfects are we.
And sometimes I might complain about them.
But at the end, I love them and they love me.

‘Cause the one thing that ties us together for life.
No matter how far we’re apart.
Is there’s always going to be family and friends.
A big group of minds and of hearts.

“My Family” by Jeyan, aged 8

A happy family is a wealthy family.
They spend their life happily.
When we feel bad, our parents share our sorrow.
Our sadness they borrow.
They teach us there’s always a tomorrow,
and warm our torso.
They help us choose the right destination.
They choose it with information.
They are happy, when we also are.
They are our superstars.
A family’s happiness, we should conserve,
because they deserve.
My family is my best pal.
Love them always I shall.

“Friends” by Annie, aged 8

Fabulous.
Respectful.
Incapable of being mean.
Extra Nice.
Not rude.
Determined to make you happy.
So kind.

“My Superhero Mum” by Mila, aged 11

My superhero,
always saves the day.
Helping other people.
Changing them to a sunny Yellow! from grumpy grey.

My superhero
always makes me smile.
Making me have positive thoughts,
and can make me laugh for a while!

My superhero
has solutions to every issue.
Sitting kindly next to me.
When I'm sad, they give me a tissue.

My superhero
has really helped me learn
what it means to be a true superhero,
for you never know when you're the superhero in return.

“My Relation” by Leander, aged 12

We say family is home,
they love like no other.
Our hair they comb
as could only a mother.

On trips we went,
once here once there,
and time we spent,
out there somewhere.

But if it’s not enough,
for then we have friends,
be they soft, be they rough,
and so the joy transcends.

Games we play
where beasts we slay,
and friends we shall stay,
long after today.

Family supports you,
friends do that too.
To each other we stay true,
and stick together like glue.

“Family And Friends” by Onelani, aged 12

We share a laugh,
when life is tough.
We share a tear,
when they disappear.

My family, my friends,
my greatest possession.
My liberty, my tends,
my best impression.

In all the world I have never seen,
love that is so keen.
Up the hills, through the valleys,
across the desert, through the alleys.

They make me feel safe.
They make me feel secure.
My family, my friends,
will always endure.

My family, my friends,
my pleasure my pride.
My only tends,
my only side.

There is a little creep,
inside my soul.
Their love is so deep,
MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, I LOVE YOU ALL.

“Ruffles” by Ella, aged 8

Running and playing.
Undying love.
Fluffy.
Furry.
Lovely and funny.
Excellent to play with.
So cute!

“We Are A Happy Family” by Kuhu, aged 6

I love you, you love me,
We are a Happy Family.
We shall have our backs together, Forever.

I love you, you love me,
We are a Happy Family.
We shall have our backs together, Forever.

We will help each other.
We shall have our backs, together.
We will try and help everyone in need,
Indeed so glad.....

I love you, you love me,
We are a Happy Family.
We shall have our backs together, Forever.

We shall help each other, build their memories.
Our memories are bare, inside our mind.
When we spend our time together,
When we spend our time together.

It was such a wonderful time.
It is even better now,
As everyone can do their own things.
As everyone is home together.

I love you, you love me,
We are a Happy Family.
We shall have our backs together, Forever.

“Brave Girls” by Gwen, aged 12

We are brave girls,
making a strong world.
Believers, changers.
Arts and crafts.
But so much more than that.
The crafts, donated.
The badges, only memories
of good times had with friends.
Dipping toes in a moonlit lake,
and sleeping in a wagon,
Beneath shining stars, we take
memories not for granted.
Trips we have implanted
in our strong, smart minds.
We seek, we find
Service, Leadership, and Action.
We split into factions
to use ideas and helping hands.
Changing the world, our land,
and we can change the world.
85 cents a box, our earnings unfurled.
Brave girls, changing the world.

“Family And Friends” by Shaheer, aged 8

I was creating a list...
about what makes me happy.
As you know I am...
Very creative and swaggy!!

I feel very happy...
when I see a melted chocolate.
And I want three...
no...at least six, seven, eight!!

Gaming, gadgets and drawings...
also make me feel good.
But, still there is something missing...
that I never understood!!

One day I got sick...
my parents took great care of me.
My friends sent a lot of flowers...
which were lovely to see!!

Then I realized...
the importance of friends and family.
If you have them all...
then you are very lucky!!

“Caterpillar & Muma Butterfly” by Aneeshwar, aged 6

Once upon a time there was a crunching munching caterpillar. He saw a butterfly.
Caterpillar said, “Hello Butterfly.”

Butterfly replied, “Hello, son, Caterpillar…”

The Caterpillar was surprised and said, “ha ha… Am I your son ?
I don’t even look like you ! Why are you calling me son ?”
Look at that baby and Mumma bird. They are the same.
Look at those tadpoles, they turn into big tadpoles and they will swim in the pond.”

Mumma says, “some animals won’t be like that.
No Son, they won’t turn into big tadpoles.
They turn into frogs and they hop on to the land and from one pond to another and finally they lay eggs. That’s called life cycle.
I am actually your Mom.
So, after a few days you will turn into a Chrysalis and then you emerge to be a butterfly just like me.”

After a few days that happened.

The End.

“Life Is Nothing Without Nature” by Amogh, aged 10

There are no mountains
without tectonic plates.

There are no forests
without trees.

There are no birds
without sky.

There is no honey
without bees.

There are no cows
without grass.

There are no fish
without water.

There are no planets
without universe.

There are no friends
without enemies.

There is are no families
without kids.

There are no humans
without Earth.

There is no water
without hydrogen and oxygen.

Life is nothing without nature
as nature is our best friend!

“Not Really” by Ella, aged 10

I really want to meet her.
I created her yesterday.
I haven’t met her, not ever.
She’s never met me.
Tails entwined, we should walk toward the setting sun,
and shift,
and shape into something else.
She is the source of my powers.
But that’s not real.
I laugh at myself for having such thoughts.
I’ve grown out of my imagination.
I can tell, because no-one will join in.
I remember, wistfully, the day when we played together,
yurning a cage-like field into a magical land
with dragons,
and lions,
and caves,
and rivers,
and kittens.
All the things I loved most.
But she’s gone.
Then, I remember the day that I tried to play with another girl.
I had horses,
but she turned them into zombies.
I wonder if I’m better off playing my silly games alone.
I tried to bring it back,
but it’s faded.
I made the Girl of the Shadows, out of a distorted painting that I thought was good.
But she disappeared.
Ran away.

“A True Friend” by Abby, aged 12

A true friend loves,
never leaves you behind.

If they offend you,
forgive them, be kind.

They hold you up in trouble.
They keep you on your feet.

They watch and love you,
outside or virtually!

Nothing can break a true friendship.
Not a single thing can.

Their love is unstoppable.
It last a whole life-span.

“Rain” by Shay, Mona and Alice, aged 11, 12, and 12

It comes without a warning with speed and haste.
I love it, the smell, the noise and even the taste.
Drop, Drop, Drop.
As it hits the ground you hear the faintest Plop.
They are like marbles, white, graceful and pure.
It’s an angel crying from above, but you can't be so sure.

But sometimes it's like a lion, roaring so loud.
And it always makes the internet go down.
The Puddles in the floor makes us slip and slide.
It's like a fun rollercoaster ride.

But as soon as you think it's over,
it comes back like a rapid Range Rover.
After the war has past,
you finally get peace at last.

The sun shines down from above the clouds.
God parts from us, then smiles and bows.
Have fun outside while you can,
because the rain will return when you want a tan.

“My Dear MOM” by Aditeya, aged 13

My Mom is an epitome of love.
She is an Angel from the heaven above.
She is my sunshine , she is my shining light.
She is so wonderful , she makes me smile wide.
When she becomes my strength,
it makes me feel confident.
She wipes away my tears.
She always ease to my fears.
She is my best friend.
Our friendship never ends.
She is the best gift of life to me.
She is my lovely Mommy.
There is no other like my Mother.
Everything she carefully maintains,
but still never complains.
She is so beautiful like flowers.
Lots of love and blessings she showers.
She wants me to excel in every field of life,
and achieve success in my life.

“Where I’m From” by Aman, aged 11

I am from a sea of people
with brown skin and dark shiny hair and eyes.
With different religions practiced and myriad languages spoken.

I am from spicy biryani and deep-fried samosas with chutney on the side.
I am from Urdu and Persian and Pashto.
I am from a tall mountain of beautiful mosques.
I am from steaming chai.

From the long days my mother toiled in medical school in the city.
From the glistening sweat my father broke under the hot blazing sun of the desert.
Soaring crows and eagles dot the brilliant blue sky, my grandparents looking up.

I keep these tokens and memories under my pillow and in my pillow case.
Seeping slowly through,
dreams come to me at night
of a land far-away.

“Mother’s Day” by Susanna, aged 14

I was on the phone to grandma,
when I realised.
Mother’s Day was growing very near
and my mother is very dear.

It was whilst talking about cake,
that I remembered the kitchen dreams,
turned into nightmares.
With good intentions,
my mother and me.
Would bake a cake just to see
that we could.

Although we would substitute many ingredients,
to our surprise it would taste rather good!
However, one might add,
that we baked a rice pudding, that
turned into a wonderful rice cake.
A new phenomenon not found by humans,
until the day, when we decided to bake.

Although I tease my mother about making a mess,
I truly believe, that she is the best.
Whenever I am stuck, she lends a hand,
tells me that everything is ok
and that I do her proud every single day.

I love my mother very much,
she is the best mother in the world.
Well except for maths,
she still counts with her fingers
and toes if needed!

So, thank you very much to all
Mothers out there.
But I am sorry to inform you
that mine is the best
and always will be!

“My Mom Can Be So Many Things” by Rebecca, aged 11

My mom can be so many things,
so many things my mom can be.
When our house is messy,
she becomes our cleaner.
When I am sickly,
she becomes my doctor.
When I am hungry,
she becomes a cook,
and my dad a waiter.
When I do school confusedly,
she becomes my teacher,
and sitting next to me comfortably,
she is my mother.
My most wonderful mother.
My mom can be so many things,
so many things my mom can be.

“Dear Bestie” by Umme, aged 14

It’s A Pleasure For Me To Have A Friend Like You,
You Make Me Smile When I Feel Blue.

Whenever I Need, You Always Need There,
I Am Thankful For Your Love And Care.

You Help Me Bringing Out The Best In Me,
There's No One Like You Dear Bestie.

You Always Hold My Hands And Never Let Me Break,
You Being My Medicine, When I Get Ache

You Are My Partner In All Of My Crime,
Situation Not Matter You Always Been Mine.

You Always Live In My Heart,
And We Will Never Be Apart.

“A True Friend” by Akriti, aged 11

I am your friend,
from the very beginning,
and will be till the end.

If you are bored,
and have been ignored,
don't feel alone,
just ring my phone.

If you are free,
and wanna laugh in glee,
we can have a talk,
either can go for a walk.

I'm your bestie.
You can always count on me.
We can sometimes go out,
and click a selfie with big pout.

Having a true friend is very rare.
A fake friend will leave you,
after their purpose is done.
It's very difficult to find a true one.
This thing I dare.

Friends are like our chosen family,
always waiting to help us eagerly.
A friend will never let us weep,
this is known as true friendship.

“Fake Friends” by Didriksha, aged 13

Getting real friends is such a bless,
or else fake friends are always ready to mess.
Fake friends like to pretend.
Now I think fakeness is a trend.
Real friends help to mend the problems of your life.
While fake friends are always ready to stab your back with a knife.
Real friends are always there for you.
While fake friends take away the thing you try to pursue.
Real friends shine in your life like the spark of stars.
But fake friends will soon go away very far,
gifting you a hilarious scar.
Real friends are like the precious rare gems.
While fake friends are very dangerous and lame.
Real friends are like the flowers of Spring:
roses, marigolds and daffodils.
While fake friends are like the fallen leaves of Autumn:
deprived of enthusiasm,
making your world filled with criticism.
You don't need to expose a fake friend.
They will get revealed as soon as they reach their dead end.
They will vanish from your life like vapor,
and you will rid of those fakers.

“My Best Friend” by Chanelie, aged 6

Giant green friend.
My best friend.
Dark green friend.
With I overspend.
Offer yummy fresh fruits,
I eat sitting on roots.
Flowers for pleasure.
It is a treasure.
I tell a poem,
while standing on it's stem.
My friend is listening,
without any whispering.
Giving me shade,
like an old maid.
My friend giving me everything,
while I am giving nothing.
It is a giant green tree,
who helps lot to me.

“Happiness” by Sofia, aged 7

Gliding on a
fluffy cloud,
Sliding on a
rainbow, love whooshing around
me. The laughter of
children rings as
the children run out
of school, shouting, “Mummy”, or
“Daddy”. As I start to
think, I realise I have
wings! I glide away in
the air! For me
this is
a wonderful
day!

“Horses” by Mackenzie, aged 8

I see horses in my dreams and memories.
Every time I dream, I see horses just for me.
I hope that a silky coat and beauty within the horse is there waiting for me.
We would make bounds and dreams full of memory.
I would be friends,
and share everything.
Hopes and dreams just for me.
Horses are a dream and memory.
Horses prancing in a field while I started dreaming of hopes and dreams for a silky coat and
beauty within the horse, waiting just for me.
Horses are my dream,
and memory.

“Pandemic Problems” by Ivy, aged 9

Fun filled holidays travelling adventurously.
Exhilarating musicals viewed excitedly.
Appetising yo sushi wolfed down swiftly.
Normally in school learning confidently.

Succulent dinner at nan’s guzzled voraciously.
Warm hugs embraced affectionately.
Comforting friendships laughing hysterically.
Absent hand holding missing terribly.
Desperately hoping to live normally.

“Family” by Janie, aged 8

Family isn't just
a
bunch of people
who
you live with.

They are people
who
love and protect
you.

They are people
who hug
and
kiss you goodnight.

They are people
that never forget
you. You love them
too and hug them
too.

They will live
in your
heart when they're not
there. They are always
with
you even if they are far
far
away. Someday not far
from now
we'll
all be together once
again.