Bad Time Rhymes Awards - 21st February - Waterstones, Piccadilly

Judges Andrew Motion and Kevin Wells, Grief Encounter Patron and Holly Wells’ Dad from Soham.

The Bad Times Rhymes Poetry Book includes a selection of the poems we received. The book is available from either the Grief Encounter Project's Office or Watersone's book store for £8.99. A sample of the first 6 pages can be found here.

The winners are:

Winner 7-11 year old section

My precious Dad
I remember when my dog died
That made me really sad
But now I feel empty and heartbroken
Because I’ve lost my Dad.
Rob died when I was three years old
He was only twenty seven
He knew that he was dying
I hope he’s now in heaven.
Dad wrote me a letter
He said that he was sorry
He asked me to look after Mum
To be brave and not to worry.
Mum’s made me a memory box
In there’s his teddy and his hat
Photos, card and tie pin
All precious stuff like that.
I hope my Dad can see me now
And is watching me grow up
I’m in the football and rugby teams
I might even win a cup.
I’m trying to do my best, Dad
I hope I make you proud
It isn’t always easy
Are you watching from the clouds?
You used to call me ‘Top Man’
That’s what I’m trying to be
I want to be a policeman
Mum says wait and see.
I know I’ll never see you again
That makes me really sad
But I’ll never forget you
Because you were my Dad.
Winner - Edward, Havelock Junior School

Edward, who was 3 years old when his Dad died from a brain tumour. Dad was 27 years old. Edward has a 2nd Dad now and is happy, but this doesn’t mean he will ever forget his first Dad. He wrote this poem for him.

Joint Winners 12-18 year old section

My Pot and Me
I take my pot everywhere,
I take my pot anywhere,
It’s supposed to be a secret,
Everyone asks what’s in my pot,
I say it’s a secret,
A very big secret,
Everyone laughs and says,
“How can you have a big secret in a little pot?
That secret must be dumb.”
I run and cry.
In this pot is something special.
Something no other kid here has in a pot,
In this pot is my Mum,
Shattered in a million pieces,
No one can put together.
Winner Nadya - Connaught School for Girls

Nadya lost her Grandpa and used her feelings about his death to write this imaginary poem about how she may feel if her Mum died. She loves writing poetry; we hope she carries on!

Dear Friend
Dear Friend,
These are my last words to you,
The ones I never said,
I never had a chance to say,
Because sadly you are dead.
I didn’t show you my respect,
To such a friend as you,
Perhaps I should have told you more,
Like when I liked you too.
I should have let you stay round mine,
That night when you got hit,
Even if our mistakes were my idea,
And fault I should admit.
If I could change that night at all,
You know I simply would,
I think about you all the time,
As any best friend should.
I should not count myself as that,
Or be considered friend at all,
If it were not for my mistakes,
You’d still be standing tall.
I cannot think of you as gone,
It is way too soon for you,
You cannot be allowed to leave,
Or I shall have to leave too.
I have to say goodbye for now,
There is something I want to say,
You shall be here with me,
And I will find you one day.
I’m sorry.
Winner - Sophie, Kings School, Ely

Sophie has not experienced the death of anyone close, but the judges felt she really got in touch with the emotional aspects of losing a friend.

Special Prize

Wish you were here
I wish you could tell me to unroll my skirt;
To do up my top button, to tuck in my shirt,
I wish you could have seen me at sports day last year,
But simple as simple I wish you were here.
‘Cos you were my sunshine, you were my day.
You were the one who took the blue times away.
You were my smile and you were my light,
You’re the one who demolished sadness and fright.
You’re the one who believed me when no one else would,
You stuck up for me on everything, now I wish I could.
Your love was for always, and mine was too,
And I promise to never, ever forget you.
You remember the good times we had, all of us at home?
Nagging Luke to do his homework, dragging me off the phone,
You remember those summers? Down Brighton pier,
I wish we could do it again, I wish you were here.
‘Cos you were a one and only, you filled a space,
You are a person I could never replace,
You made me happy, no more and no less.
You’re the one that was there to help me when I got in a mess.
You made fun times fun and good times good,
You remember that time up in Bluebell Wood?
The flowers were beauties; and that magnificent deer!
I wish we could go again, I wish you were here.
I wish that the world had not been so cruel,
To snatch you from us, breaking every moral rule.
Stealing you away, quietly on the sly,
Knowing that I was nowhere near ready to say goodbye.
But then again, when would I be?
Ready to say goodbye to a person who meant that much to me.
When is anybody really ready for a thing like that?
It’s been one of my hardest challenges, surviving that smack.
I want to hide in a corner, and crawl underneath
My snugly warm duvet, that’s the power of grief,
Its scary that one’s whole world can just disappear,
And I wish you could help me.
I just wish you were here.
Winner Katie Beer - Mill Hill County High School

Katie’s poem exceeded the word limit but all the judges thought it was an outstanding poem and we awarded her a special prize. Her mum was very ill when she wrote this poem.

Mill Hill County High School won the £1,000 prize for the school with the most entries.


News Home News Archive Newsletters Archive		Bad Time Rhymes Awards - 21st February - Waterstones, Piccadilly Judges Andrew Motion and Kevin Wells, Grief Encounter Patron and Holly Wells’ Dad from Soham. The Bad Times Rhymes Poetry Book includes a selection of the poems we received. The book is available from either the Grief Encounter Project's Office or Watersone's book store for £8.99. A sample of the first 6 pages can be found here. The winners are: Winner 7-11 year old section My precious Dad I remember when my dog died That made me really sad But now I feel empty and heartbroken Because I’ve lost my Dad. Rob died when I was three years old He was only twenty seven He knew that he was dying I hope he’s now in heaven. Dad wrote me a letter He said that he was sorry He asked me to look after Mum To be brave and not to worry. Mum’s made me a memory box In there’s his teddy and his hat Photos, card and tie pin All precious stuff like that. I hope my Dad can see me now And is watching me grow up I’m in the football and rugby teams I might even win a cup. I’m trying to do my best, Dad I hope I make you proud It isn’t always easy Are you watching from the clouds? You used to call me ‘Top Man’ That’s what I’m trying to be I want to be a policeman Mum says wait and see. I know I’ll never see you again That makes me really sad But I’ll never forget you Because you were my Dad. Winner - Edward, Havelock Junior School Edward, who was 3 years old when his Dad died from a brain tumour. Dad was 27 years old. Edward has a 2nd Dad now and is happy, but this doesn’t mean he will ever forget his first Dad. He wrote this poem for him. Joint Winners 12-18 year old section My Pot and Me I take my pot everywhere, I take my pot anywhere, It’s supposed to be a secret, Everyone asks what’s in my pot, I say it’s a secret, A very big secret, Everyone laughs and says, “How can you have a big secret in a little pot? That secret must be dumb.” I run and cry. In this pot is something special. Something no other kid here has in a pot, In this pot is my Mum, Shattered in a million pieces, No one can put together. Winner Nadya - Connaught School for Girls Nadya lost her Grandpa and used her feelings about his death to write this imaginary poem about how she may feel if her Mum died. She loves writing poetry; we hope she carries on! Dear Friend Dear Friend, These are my last words to you, The ones I never said, I never had a chance to say, Because sadly you are dead. I didn’t show you my respect, To such a friend as you, Perhaps I should have told you more, Like when I liked you too. I should have let you stay round mine, That night when you got hit, Even if our mistakes were my idea, And fault I should admit. If I could change that night at all, You know I simply would, I think about you all the time, As any best friend should. I should not count myself as that, Or be considered friend at all, If it were not for my mistakes, You’d still be standing tall. I cannot think of you as gone, It is way too soon for you, You cannot be allowed to leave, Or I shall have to leave too. I have to say goodbye for now, There is something I want to say, You shall be here with me, And I will find you one day. I’m sorry. Winner - Sophie, Kings School, Ely Sophie has not experienced the death of anyone close, but the judges felt she really got in touch with the emotional aspects of losing a friend. Special Prize Wish you were here I wish you could tell me to unroll my skirt; To do up my top button, to tuck in my shirt, I wish you could have seen me at sports day last year, But simple as simple I wish you were here. ‘Cos you were my sunshine, you were my day. You were the one who took the blue times away. You were my smile and you were my light, You’re the one who demolished sadness and fright. You’re the one who believed me when no one else would, You stuck up for me on everything, now I wish I could. Your love was for always, and mine was too, And I promise to never, ever forget you. You remember the good times we had, all of us at home? Nagging Luke to do his homework, dragging me off the phone, You remember those summers? Down Brighton pier, I wish we could do it again, I wish you were here. ‘Cos you were a one and only, you filled a space, You are a person I could never replace, You made me happy, no more and no less. You’re the one that was there to help me when I got in a mess. You made fun times fun and good times good, You remember that time up in Bluebell Wood? The flowers were beauties; and that magnificent deer! I wish we could go again, I wish you were here. I wish that the world had not been so cruel, To snatch you from us, breaking every moral rule. Stealing you away, quietly on the sly, Knowing that I was nowhere near ready to say goodbye. But then again, when would I be? Ready to say goodbye to a person who meant that much to me. When is anybody really ready for a thing like that? It’s been one of my hardest challenges, surviving that smack. I want to hide in a corner, and crawl underneath My snugly warm duvet, that’s the power of grief, Its scary that one’s whole world can just disappear, And I wish you could help me. I just wish you were here. Winner Katie Beer - Mill Hill County High School Katie’s poem exceeded the word limit but all the judges thought it was an outstanding poem and we awarded her a special prize. Her mum was very ill when she wrote this poem. Mill Hill County High School won the £1,000 prize for the school with the most entries.