Poetry - Tempest Avenue

We started our new Literacy topic today - writing poems! We heard a fantastic poem called 'Tempest Avenue' in class that was read by the poet, Ian McMillan [if you want to listen to it again, click here]. The poem was very simple, and described what was going on in the different houses along Ian's street:


Tempest Avenue
It is 5am, and I am standing

In the half light bedroom

Holding our son. He is finally asleep

And I lay him gently in the cot,

Trying not to rattle the toy bear

Attached to the bars. Next door

Mr. Lowe is having a dream about

The glassworks at Stairfoot. Look:

All the workers have turned to glass,

What a strange dream. Across

The road, Mr. Ford is cycling

Out of his drive to the pit. He

Cycles during the week, takes the car

At weekends. Down the street

My Mam is standing at the kitchen

Window, looking at our house, thinking

‘Our Ian will be asleep. I hope

Mr. Ford’s squeaky cycle doesn’t wake him up.’

And I am being careful, so careful

With these words, laying them

Gently into this poem, turning to the door.

                                                     Ian McMillan

Please can everyone find out the name of the street where they live, as we are going to need that in school for the title of our poems. Ask your Mum and Dad where you live!