Peterborough Reads is running a fortnightly writing competition during the lockdown period. The competition consists of a series of challenges inspired by the winners of Peterborough Book Awards 2020.
The first challenge asked children to write or perform a poem inspired by Benjamin Zephaniah, author of Funky Chickens, which won the Best Poetry Book category.
Taybah Ali, age 11, was chosen as the winner with her poem Lockdown. Taybah's poem managed to portray the anxieties that lots of us feel in a light-hearted and positive light. The rhythm and rhyming scheme of them poem is a good reflection of Benjamin Zephaniah's poetry - well done Taybah!
LOCKDOWN
Sitting down, got nothing to do
My sister's annoying, so we argue
Can't go to school, well that's a shame
Doin' work on the laptop, but that's not the same.
Can't see my friends
I want these days to end
I'm waiting for the day
To see my fam-ly again.
My bathrooms are filled with loads of soap
So that I won't get the virus, I can only hope.
At this very moment I've got no plans
So give me twenty seconds to wash my hands.
Now I'm back
My hands are clean
Eating a flapjack
Watchin' Mr Bean.
Jokes aside, this is a serious time
Please stay at home.
You'll save loads of lives.
Taybah Ali
Age 11