3 link Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Hi Folks, Not sure as to where to post the above so I thought I would try here, my 5 year old son has been given the task at school of writing a short poem on steam trains. Now he has to recite this poem to his class so we are not talking " War and Peace " but just a few quirky lines, any ideas or help please ? Regards, Martyn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Don't - really - don't attempt to write anything for him. Got some good video with audio of steam trains in action? Show him those, see what he comes up with. That's the way for something that's likely to be original and interesting. You can tidy it up for spelling... We still remember my bro's effort when set the task of a poem about an animal, about age 7. Our Dog He stands, He sits, He squats, He shits. He runs. Don't tread in it, When you run after him. Better than Wordsworth's 'two feet long and three feet wide'... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim49 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Well..... this is short and it rhymes..... The guard is the man who rides in the van that runs at the back of the train. The driver up front thinks the guard is a **** and the guard thinks the driver's the same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Hat Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 One my grandfather taught me, "When I grow up to be a man, Im going to drive a train, From somewhere to somewhere, And all the way back again. Just change somewhere for where-ever you want. With me it was always Darlington to Whitby! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb900f Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I am a guard and I don't work hard ,and I often have a fiver But when we're late, I sit in the brake , And put the time down to the driver. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted February 15, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 15, 2013 Found poetry: To stop The train In cases of emergency Pull down the chain; Pull down the chain. Penalty for improper use: Five pounds. and Passengers will please refrain From flushing toilets while the train Is standing in the station. I love you. (set to music by Dvorak) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peach james Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 007 by Kipling? (rather more lines than you want) Or from Thomas: Once an engine attached to a train Was afraid of a few drops of rain It went into a tunnel Squeaked through its funnel And never came out again or even Coughs and Sneezles Spread Diseasles James Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 15, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 15, 2013 This is the night train Crossing the border Bringing the cheque And the postal order... I guess cheques and postal orders rather date that.... Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Welchester Posted February 15, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 15, 2013 Night Mail, surely? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Both Night Mail and Skikbleshanks the Railway Cat could be enjoyed by a bright 5 year old but reciting either of them might be a bit much of an ask. A shorter one that I remember (but can't attribute) goes: I'd rather be an engine driver Than be a little gentleman. I want to go shunting and hooting Not hunting and shooting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee-Ess Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 For a simple and attractive poem, you can't beat 'From a railway carriage'- by R L Stevenson. See www.bartleby.com/188/138.html for details. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I thought the idea was for the young 5 yr old to write the poem, not us. 34the letter........... was right. If he writes he will know what he means and wants to say. Let him watch a DVD or take him to a heritage railway sure get him to find words for the sounds he hears and the sights he sees and then let him write. Sorry about that, its the ex teacher in me coming out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 link Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Good evening, Thank you all for your ditties and rhymes and for your thoughts on this subject, and I have to agree with what Westerner and 34the letter said " If he writes he will know what he means and wants to say ". So as James is now on half term I will take him up to the Watercress line for a treat for both of us, and then afterwards he can put pen to paper. Thanks again, Martyn. P.S. Hello Paul, I think our posts met in the middle. Although the Bluebell line is a little further away, maybe that would be the best option as that was my childhood haunt back in the early 70's, cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisWV10 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Never forgotten this from my junior school years. We had to learn and recite a railway related poem Paddy on the railway picking up stones Along came an engine and broke Paddy's bones "Oi" said Paddy, "that's not fair!" "Well," said the driver, "you shouldn't be there." No idea of the origin, other than it being recited by a girl called Denise! C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 15, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 15, 2013 Night Mail, surely? Certainly is! Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted February 15, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 15, 2013 Try to pick a single aspect of the steam loco, i.e. the steam coming out of the funnel or the wheels going round. Did your sons school give any examples to work from? If he has examples get him to start by changing one thing (might be the loco's name). Once he has done this and is comfortable with it then get him to change a second thing (possibly the location). Only once he has done this would I try to get him to write a poem of his own (I would still expect it to be similar). This technique is effective and is frequently used in schools (I use it myself when I am teach children in the same year as your son). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
28XX Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 A warning to anyone still in command[Cattle truck noises]"Ranks! Fire!"Of their possible future, to take care.In derelict sidings the poppies entwineThe cattle trucks lying in wait for the next time. Roger Waters Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom J Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I will confess (safely, I hope, now past the age of 30!) to having been awarded a merit certificate at primary school (Year 5) for having written a poem about the Great Western, most of which I plagiarised and transcribed from John Betjeman. I have always considered that to have memorised JB's poetry at that age was worth a merit certificate in its own right, to assuage my guilt! Funnily enough my little lad loves visiting said poet's statue at St Pancras these days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebottle Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Good advice from Kris, westerner and others there. I wish that I'd thought to compile a list of suitable poems and songs when I was trying to indoctrinate Ms BB in her infant days. Rick rack, rickety rack See the train go along the track When I grow up I want to be an engine driver But if I can't be that I'll be a deep sea diver. ("Rick Rack",by Gerry Rafferty) Gordon (Edit to add song title) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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