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Teachers make you write all the time. Journals, informal letters, personal recounts, argumentative essays.. holy moly the work never ends!
But do your teachers write too? We challenged teachers from the WDL English Department to craft their own prose and poetry in November 2022 (yes, after all of you have gone off on your merry holidays) based on a picture that we've chosen. Here's what they came up with!
Mr Adri:
Mr Adri:
Again, not again
I’m given more work to do
Son’s playing alone
Mrs Elaine Tan:
Mrs Elaine Tan:
Whisper into my ear,
Secrets you hold so dear.
Alone you shall never be,
Comfort I bring unto thee.
Ms Seah Wei Ee:
Ms Seah Wei Ee:
Do you have to go?
Mum says you are growing up.
Who will be my friend?
Ms Sarah Teo:
Ms Sarah Teo:
He sits and looks sad.
I draw close; am I a friend?
He stares. I look down.
Ms Grace:
Ms Grace:
Hey, do you know I'm here?
It looks like you are unaware.
Do know that I am near,
Reaching out because I care.
Mrs Alyssa Gan:
Mrs Alyssa Gan:
Bear With Me
Bear was flawless when we met
Bearing a smile sewn on its face
Inviting me in for an embrace.
I bared my soul
To its unflinching gaze
As it bore the weight of my secrets.
As I flung bear into the air
I watched it free fall,
Beckoning me to think it weightless,
Unbuckled and free
Unfazed from all it knew
About me.
Then why do I still feel downcast
When Bear was there to snuggle
And snuffle out my cries?
When Bear sponged up
And collected each tear
I released, yet despised?
Then again, Bear hides my life
In plain sight, bending over
In a corner, waiting for me to
Launch it back up into another
Conspiratorial night.
Ms Lina:
Dear Bear,
It has been a while since we last met. I think it is rather likely now, I will never be an astronaut. I will never be on the road to riches, nor get married and have children. I will never write stories, much less poetry, leaving nothing for others to remember me by.
And maybe that's better. Instead of running around and constantly worrying, it makes me feel like I should just focus my energy on living and being happy. Like you.
As I attempt to imagine what a happy life might look like, I realise the picture hasn't changed much since we were children: a cottage with birches around it, and a soundless river next to it with a bridge - exactly like this one. I will have a shelf full of books, a basket filled with sweets, and a constant friend next to me. Simply to carve a space there; simply to exist silently and then be buried in the garden.
Bear, will you be that constant companion, just like old times?
With love,
Ben
Mr Lin Zhaowei:
Mr Lin Zhaowei:
“Hello.”
“Hey, Bear.”
”Good to see someone around.”
“Yeah, good to see you too.”
“Where is everybody?”
“I don't know. I haven't seen them.”
“Nice shoes.”
“Thanks, mum bought them for me. But I got them dirty yesterday.”
“That's a pity.”
“I didn't want to get them dirty. Mum will be so disappointed. She always scolds me when I dirty my clothes. Last year, I came home all muddy after playing football and she gave me a real shelling. I blame Fred.”
“Will she be angry about the shoes?”
“I bet she'll get mad again. Just that I don't know where she is, like Fred and everyone else. I get a little scared at night when I'm alone in my house. There are strange noises outside.”
“I hope you see your mum and Fred and everyone else soon. I lost my best friend and I've been a little lonely ever since.”
“Why don't you come with me? I could use some company. You'll love my mum. She's always so welcoming of my friends.”
“They used to call me Ted.”
“Hey Ted. I'm James.”
“Let's go before it gets dark.”
Which piece of writing did you enjoy the most? Tell us why here!
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