Riku Fryderyk Borowczyk is a member of the South Woodford Young Writers Club and has recently signed a publishing contract with Pegasus. Here, the nine-year-old offers his poetic thoughts on lockdown
At the time of writing, it’s been three weeks since my last day of school. The way I see this situation is that it has highlighted a once-in-a-lifetime event, a never-ending holiday. So, you may think, what to do during this holiday when you cannot go out much?
This is a big question mark. While in lockdown, I have had time to work on my book publication, been able to practice skills and work on some things I couldn’t do much because of school. Playing board games with my family (don’t get mixed up with bored games, those are a terrible invention!), cooking, or even playing in the garden, are a great way of spending time at home.
As for me, I now spend Wednesdays with South Woodford Young Writers Club on Zoom, still consuming new skills of writing.
I miss my favourite sausage rolls from Wanstead High Street. However, my mum now has more time and inspiration for cooking. My parents don’t live together (not that I’m making myself Andy from The Suitcase Kid by Jacqueline Wilson), but due to the lockdown, I get to spend more time with my dad as he is working less. This is very exciting, as it’s not a usual thing for me.
Although there are many positive things to think about, I realise that our world is out of control, that Mother Nature has turned on us and endangered people’s lives. I hear about what’s happening on the radio, although my mum thinks that hearing or watching the news now might not be for my young ears.
In the Young Writers Club, our teacher, Shameem, has given us the splendid task of writing a poem about Earth, and I would like to share my poem with you here:
The tables have been turning
My stomach’s stopped churning
A bad man threw a black cloud
And devastated that town
Mother Nature was tired of us
Now it’s over
There’s not a Range Rover seen
There will be no illness on our Queen
Or us
We’ll stay and pray for the best
And we won’t make a fuss
Let’s enjoy and appreciate
That there’s less littering
Our world’s ecology is quickening
My heart is alive
Full of happiness
It’s a time when people start spending time with each other more
Now our family shall rest
While in the action places
Doctors are on a quest
SAVING LIVES
