Introducing
Deanna Jackson, age 14, who has always written poetry since she was
about eight years old. However, it wasn't until her first year at
Secondary School aged 11, that she began to commit to it. Deanna
wrote poetry to express her feelings, not just about starting a new
school, but life as a whole, and how she felt about it. Writing
poetry became a natural thing to do, particularly when she was
upset. If Deanna felt that she couldn't speak to anyone, then she
wrote poetry which gave her a voice. Now, she mostly writes poetry
for the enjoyment. However, it will always be her support mechanism
whenever needed.
I
met Deanna on 11th August 2012, when she attended a
Creative Writing Workshop that I led at Wellingborough
African-Caribbean Association's Fun Activity Day. I was impressed by
the way Deanna very quickly wrote and delivered a new poem, fresh off
the press during the session. At the end of the workshop, Deanna
handed me two of her poems. So it is with much pleasure that I post
them here:
Tribute to the Stars
So
many stars have died so young
There lives we’ll never forget
When they started taking drugs
they didn’t consider the effects
There lives we’ll never forget
When they started taking drugs
they didn’t consider the effects
Whitney
Houston topped the charts
but the drugs sent her singing downhill
she always looked so exhausted on stage
but she struggled on still
but the drugs sent her singing downhill
she always looked so exhausted on stage
but she struggled on still
Amy
Winehouse lived her life
through many ups and downs
she was so pale and weak
and in her sorrows she did drown
through many ups and downs
she was so pale and weak
and in her sorrows she did drown
Michael
Jackson, we will remember
as the legend of music he was
His painkillers made him feel so great
and his death was such a loss
as the legend of music he was
His painkillers made him feel so great
and his death was such a loss
So
let this be a warning to you
before it is too late
for these stars thought that drugs would help
and they had a much worse fate
before it is too late
for these stars thought that drugs would help
and they had a much worse fate
Realisation
When
I was young, life was simple
Just like a roundabout
there never really was any change
so there were no reasons to have any doubt
Just like a roundabout
there never really was any change
so there were no reasons to have any doubt
When
I was young, I had no priorities
I had no list of things I wanted to do
other people didn’t matter as much
I had a more self-centred view
I had no list of things I wanted to do
other people didn’t matter as much
I had a more self-centred view
When
I was young, I could laugh at things
that I didn’t even understand
Things just seemed like so much fun
I didn’t think life needed to be planned
that I didn’t even understand
Things just seemed like so much fun
I didn’t think life needed to be planned
When
I was young, things were different
I didn’t know what was yet to come
I never realised how bad you could feel
And how it felt when you wanted to run
I didn’t know what was yet to come
I never realised how bad you could feel
And how it felt when you wanted to run
When
I was young, I didn’t want to grow up
And when I did, I wanted everything to rewind
But now, I’ve finally grown to realise
Age also gives you a stronger mind
And when I did, I wanted everything to rewind
But now, I’ve finally grown to realise
Age also gives you a stronger mind
