Smeaton300: Poems on Roots and Journeys Part II - Children's Competition

Throughout 2023, the University of Leeds Poetry Centre has participated in Smeaton300 , a creative programme from arts organisation Foxglove, working with artists and scientists inspired by the work of the UK's first civil engineer – John Smeaton. 

 

It has been a real pleasure working with poet Rachel Bower who delivered writing workshops throughout October with community groups and primary schools in the Leeds area. The workshops were themed around ideas of roots and journeys, inspired by Smeaton’s interest in navigation. 

 

We are delighted to now share the winners of the children’s category of our Smeaton300 poetry competition. 

 

Children’s Winning Poems  

 

1. ‘Homing Plants’ – Pupil from BEESTON PRIMARY 5ED
2. ‘Home’ – Pupil from Y5 ST JOSEPHS CATHOLIC PRIMARY
3. ‘'Open the Door’ – Pupil from Y5 BEESTON PRIMARY 5DM

 

1st Prize - £50 book token 

2nd Prize - £30 book token 

3rd Prize - £20 book token 

 

Class Commendation  - Beeston Primary 5ED  - (Miss Dalrymple’s Class) 

 

Rachel Bower’s Judge’s Report  

 

I want to commend and congratulate every student who wrote a poem in the Smeaton workshops! There were so many inventive ideas, images and words flying around the classrooms and it was a pleasure to work with all these young poets! It is always very difficult to choose a winner, especially when there are so many brilliant poems! Do not be disheartened if your poem did not win - keep writing your stories and words and they will find their way into the world! 

 

The winning poems and the highly commended poems offered a particularly original or unique perspective on ideas of home, belonging and journeys.  

 

The winning poem, ‘Homing Plants’ felt very original and had great energy, rhythm and rhyme. I loved the opening idea that plants can make you feel at home ‘even when you’re not’ - that home is different for everyone and can shift with us, wherever we go. 

 

‘Homes’ included so much rich sensory language - I could smell the apple crumble and shampoo and the scent of new footballs, and I love the idea that playing football ‘feels like home.’ It offered a great portrait of all the different things that make up the feeling of ‘home.’ 

 

‘Open the Door’ included a great range of specific images and some really rich sensory language, and the repetition of ‘I open the door’ worked really well to maintain the rhythm and flow of the poem. 

 

1st Prize of £50 Book token - Pupil from BEESTON PRIMARY 5ED 

 

Homing Plants 

 

Plants make me feel at home 

even if I’m not, 

I have a lot in my garden, 

A lot, a lot, a lot! 

My grandma plants all the time 

but sometimes not. 

She grows a lot of plants, but sometimes 

they don’t turn out how she wants. 

And that’s okay! 

 

Because we love plants, 

it doesn’t matter if you do not, 

because in my garden we have  

a lot, a lot, a lot! 

It doesn’t matter if you made a  

mistake, because they help you grow, 

just like my plants. Trust me I  

know, they do help you grow! Because  

in my garden I have a lot of pants, 

a lot, a lot, a lot! 

 

2nd Prize of £30 Book token – Pupil from Y5 ST JOSEPHS CATHOLIC PRIMARY 

 

Home 

 

Home is quiet, 

Home is family. 

Home is my sister 

Home is my mum and dad 

The smell of shampoo 

And the smell of apple crumble 

Makes feel at home 

Every single day 

 

Home is my friends playing on the street 

Home is my friend 

Home is my family 

Home is the football pitch 

Home is basketball 

Home is tennis 

When I play football it feels like home 

When I smell the smell of new 

 Football balls 

 

For months and years I have felt at  

Home, the end of my house, 

Is the end of day 

The sound of dogs, barking in the distance 

That is my home, my dad 

Scowling at cats, that is home 

My mum dancing in my room, 

That is home 

The end of fun, 

Is the end of day.  

 

3rd Prize of £20 Book token - Pupil from Y5 BEESTON PRIMARY 5DM 

 

Open the Door 

 

I open the door to smell mum’s  

perfume spritzed in the air, Dad 

cooking a delicious meal and  

my brother playing with his toys. 

 

I open the door to see my family, 

laughing and joking around. They  

call me over for a drink and laughing 

starts again. 

 

I open the door to hear my friends, 

cheering and jumping about with my  

mum singing in the shower and Dad tucking  

me in bed. 

 

I open the door to feel my body, 

being kissed on head and hugged tightly  

feeling the warmth inside me. 

 

I open the door to see myself in 

the mirror, identically the same. 

it wasn’t a dream but reality. 

Dreams can be true. 

 

The warmth, the good, my family and friends 

all love me just as much as my dreams tell me. 

 

Congratulations also to these special mention/ highly commended poems! 

 

ST JOSEPH’S YR5 

 

My Home  

 

Home is cosy 

Home is life 

When I’m not home 

I feel lonely with one sight  

I remember my dancing  

I remember the fights  

But nothing can stop me from loving my destiny! 

 

When I walk into my room 

So many memories flow by  

The times I was low  

And the times I was high 

So many hours flow so fast by  

But my colouring imagination 

Doesn’t remind me the time 

 

Home is where my heart belongs 

Home is where I stay, 

Sometimes mischief runs around the house 

But our family bond stays strong to time 

 

Home is my shield  

Home is my light 

Home is my everything 

So colourful,  

So bright! 

 

A family that prays together stays together in  

Happiness and joy.  

 

Home is  

 

Home is my nanny 

Home is my family  

Home is my bunnies 

Home is my grandad’s secret lasagna. 

Home is my bedroom 

Home is my grandad 

Home is my mum’s spaghetti 

Home is cozy 

Home is fresh 

Home is warmth 

Home is where I live 

I love my home ♡ 

 

Home is  

 

Home is where my family is, 

Home is where you can smell freshly baked bread, 

Home is where there’s spider webs outside, 

Home is my cobbly drive, 

Home is where my sister is, 

Home is with my parents, 

Home is the tree outside my house, 

Home is the way we walk and talk, 

Home is where we’re comfortable and watching films, 

Home is where home is!  

 

ST JOSEPH’S YR6 

 

Home is … 

 

My family, 

the hugs we shared. 

 

My grandad, 

the breakfast sandwiches he makes. 

 

The garden, 

the lush green grass, 

running through the sprinkler, 

those times will last 

 

My teddies, 

the places they’ve been, 

their soft cuddly feel 

make a mark on me. 

 

My dad, 

the things he does, 

he loves to run. 

 

My mum, 

she’s good at baking, 

she’s an inventor I think 

 

My baptcha,  

I loved her so, 

I wish she didn’t have to go 

I still miss her still 

but she’s up there. I know! 

 

My loving family! 

 

My dad’s amazing, 

He’s a superstar. 

He’s fabulous at hugs, 

He’ll never leave me far. 

 

My sister’s mischievous, 

When she pranks me, she flees, 

She’s in year 4, 

She looks just like me. 

 

My puppy is cute, 

Her name is bramble. 

When I throw her ball, 

She goes to scramble. 

 

I love my mum, 

Her perfume by Boutique. 

And her cheeky laugh, 

That’s what makes my family unique. 

 

Home. 

 

Home is my family, my sisters, my bed, 

Home is the books on my shelf waiting to be read. 

Home is dance, the rhythm, the beat, 

Home is the super, warm, loving heat. 

Home is my journal, me writing all day. 

Home is the spring flowers, blooming in May. 

Home is fajitas my mum makes, 

Home is something no one can take.  

 

BEESTON – 5ED 

 

Our Home 

 

Your home could be big, small or far away. 

But this is our home. 

Eiya, Els and Ibs. Are all the words we use.  

I hear my sisters’ giggles and laughs. 

I smell the delicious cooking travel through the house. 

I see my sisters’ smiles that brighten up my day. 

At night, it still might be dark. 

However, I snuggle in my comfy bed that lights my life up. 

Some days can be sad, gloomy and angry. 

But I’ve always got my family at my back 

Family is all you need in a disastrous situation 

If you don’t have family, you have friends 

If you don’t have friends or family, 

You have me. 

Remember some days can be sad, angry or anxious. 

Remember some days can be happy, excited or calm. But … 

Kind has 4 letters but so does mean. Friends has 7 letters but  

So does enemies. Honest has 6 letters but so does lieing.  

Right has 5 letters but so does wrong.  

♡ So just remember that ♡ 

 

I know when I am at home…  

 

I see K 

I know when I am not at home 

I do not see my dog 

K is my cute dog 

He knows when I am not home 

I know when he is not home 

When I am not home I miss going onThe field with him. 

When I am at home I go on the field with him. 

 

Home sweet home is where I live 

 

Home is where I’m safe and  

Loved. Home is where I’m warm 

I feel at home when my mum/dad bake  

Pizza. My home is where my brother 

Is at. My rabbit (MiMi) is hopping  

Hopping hopping. 

BEESTON – 5DM 

 

What is home? 

 

What is home? Home is fun just like my phone, 

What is the sound of a clock ticking? Because my home is 

Filled with laughter and music, joy and love. 

 

The pillow on my bed is where I put my head, 

Dream all about what is ahead. 

 

Smeaton300 is a creative programme from arts organisation Foxglove, working with artists and scientists inspired by the work of the UK's first civil engineer – John Smeaton. 

John Smeaton was born in Leeds in 1724 and dedicated his life to developing ways of working for the public good. 

This year, the University of Leeds's Cultural Institute and School of Civil Engineering commemorate the 300th anniversary of his birth through a series of curated events. 

Our thanks to all our project partners, Rachel Bower and indeed the community groups and primary schools that took part.