Poems for the Easter Term edition of the ‘Draconian’ have now been selected. Two boys have the distinction of having two poems selected – George Harwood and John Betjemann.
Both of them wrote on the subject of ‘Dawn’. First, here is George Harwood’s poem:
DAWN
Now rejoice, all ye men, for the earth is untwined
From the talons of night, dank and dread,
Aurora and Zephyr, the gentle Sun-wind,
Are warming the East with soft red.
The dewdrops appear, brilliant gems on the ground;
Or, encircling the Hyacinth fair,
They rest on the herbage, and all things around
Are bright in the fresh morning air.
Quiet through the undergrowth hid from our sight
Hurries cottontail cheerful and gay,
And in the blue heavens with heart pure and white
Chants the skylark, blithe herald of day.
G. Harwood (age 11)
John Betjemann’s poem is in a different style:
DAWN
Ever ting-a-linging my bedroom clock is ringing,
Ringing, ringing,
As the sun breaks in the east;
And, stretching with a yawn,
I curse the lovely dawn,
And wait in moody silence till the bedroom clock has ceased.
I've read the poet's rhymes about early morning chimes
At awful times;
And the sun through window panes;
The little birds twitting
And the big ones flitting.
But poets never write about the dawning when it rains.
J. Betjemann (age 13)
Poems were also submitted on the themes of ‘Babies’ and ‘Pets’. We had an “Ode to a Cat’, ‘A Baby Bunny’ and this, in the style of a nursery rhyme, from Betjemann:
ODE TO A PUPPY
(By His Mistress)
Oh! puppy dear, I sadly fear
Your waistcoat's at the wash,
Your cutlet, too, is soaked right through
With all your lemon squash.
'Now who did this?' Give me a kiss,
Don't sulk, dear, or look haughty;
I know my pet will not forget
To say that he was naughty.
Your little nose that sniffs and blows!
Your little mouth that yawns!
That pretty howl! and Daddy's scowl
When you tread on his corns!
Those dinky legs like little pegs
That spoil the drawing-room floors!
That dainty mat whereon you pat
Your ducky muddy paws!
Now with this praise my pet will gaze
With truth in both his eyes,
And mummy's mind is always kind
In case her doggy dies
J. Betjemann (age 13)
The Skipper's War 