Baton Bearer

AS the 2022 Commonwealth Games opens today in Birmingham, Hightown Writers Workshop pays proud tribute to one of the Queen's baton bearers, our very own member, Kath Norgrove, in recognition of her inspiring leadership of Sustainable Bridgnorth and the End Pointless Plastic Campaign and work with Severn Trent Water. 

Congratulations Kath !!!! 

credit: Shropshire Star

Where to start, when there’s so much to put right?

Kath says, ‘Make a simple change, reuse or refill’

Plastics – it’s one place to start to curb Mother Earth’s blight.

Where to start, when there’s so much to put right?

Plastic pollution plus poverty, pestilence and climatic plight

We watch. Our planet burns. Are we helpless to stop things that kill?

Where to start, when there’s so much to put right?

Kath says, ‘Make a simple change, reuse or refill’

(by Elizabeth Obadina)

Memory Lane - a triolet by Elizabeth Obadina

Portsmouth from the Round Tower

Nothing looks quite like it looked like before

When I travel down memory lane

The streets have changed, the scuffed brown front door is no more

Nothing looks quite like it looked like before

The park seems so small and parking’s so difficult down by the sea shore

But clouds still race o’er an ocean still blue and the ferry still runs just the same

Nothing looks quite like it looked like before

When I travel down memory lane. 

My Wily Visitor a triolet by Sue Akande

credit: Sue Akande

Sunning himself, I spied him through the glass,

What a shock to see this wily visitor on my lawn!

Sleek and reddish brown, sitting on my grass!

Sunning himself, I spied him through the glass.

The long snout, pointed ears, bold as brass!

No mistaking Mr Fox, that bright April morn.

Sunning himself, I spied him through the glass,

What a shock to see this wily visitor on my lawn!

Shopping List - a triolet by Martin Edwards

I forgot my shopping list

I don’t know what to do

Essential to my brain assist

I forgot my shopping list

My heart is in a pasta twist

My stomach’s turned to stew

I forgot my shopping list

I don’t know what to do

Ready Salted - a triolet by Martin Edwards

Ready salted crisps are bliss

I eat them every day

A snack a day I never miss

Ready salted crisps are bliss

Some days each bite’s a quiet kiss

Some days the bag I’ll slay

Ready salted crisps are bliss

I eat them every day

Big Bang: a triolet by Adam Rutter

As our April meeting warm up activity we revisited the 'triolet' verse form.

Originating in mediaeval France, the triolet is an 8 line poem in which the first two and the last two lines are repeated (A and B) and the first line (A) is repeated for line 4. 

There is  a rhyme scheme : A B a A a b A B  (lines A, a and a should rhyme and lines B and b should rhyme).

BIG BANG   by Adam Rutter

At the beginning was the Big Bang

Stars and galaxies were born

The first signs of life then sprang

At the beginning was the Big Bang

Supernova explosions rang

With song the entire universe performed

At the beginning was the Big Bang

Stars and galaxies were born

A Birthday ... by Elizabeth Obadina

Today I share my birthday with Amber.*

I am – well old – and she’s just turned fourteen

With sparkling eyes and cheeks flushing rosier.

Today I share my birthday with Amber,

And remember long ago excitement and optimistic wonder.

Now my life’s turning red just as hers beams bright green.

Today I share my birthday with Amber.

I am – well old – and she’s just turned fourteen.

*A long time ago, on a normal working day which also happened to be my birthday, I accidentally gatecrashed a lunch break birthday party for a lovely young lady called Amber. I hadn't the heart to muscle in on her celebrations but I have many times since wondered whether the joie-de-vivre and laughter of that moment stayed with her as she grew up and made her way in the world. At the time I slipped away and penned this triolet.