Helena's World

I was asked to write a poem for the remembrance ceremony that took place on 11th November 2009 at 11.00am in my local community and this is what I wrote - a poem in honour of those who have fought and lost their lives in the wars that have scarred and continue to scar our planet.

Today we remember,
today we show respect,
honouring those who've fallen,
the brave, courageous dead.
My heart bleeds for their sacrifice,
for the families who've cried,
for the pain and hurt
when their precious loved ones...

A poem inspired by something a neighbour of mine said the other day (a young mother with two young children).



Children laughing,
screaming,
shouting,
frazzled mother
searching,
searching
searching...
Children screaming,
shouting,
laughing,
frazzled mother
searching,
searching,
searching...
Children shouting,
screaming,
laughing,
frazzled mother
searching,
searching,
searching...

Where is it?
Can't find it?
Ah, got it!
Mute button pressed...
Ah, what quiet!
What bliss!
Did someone say
"Silence is golden"?
Wha...

In one of my previous posts I was talking about the most important part of a picture book and this inspired me to write this poem.




Picture Book Delight
Characters, story, pictures...
Which is the biz?
What makes a
picture book delight?
Is the message important?
Must it warm the heart?
For me, all have a part to play,
working together in harmony,
creating a sum
greater than the whole,
producing a wonderful,
magical synergy.

Copyright © Helena Harper

So, here's to 'wonderful, magical synergy.'  Long may ...

With the start of a new school year and parents and children all over the country thinking once more about grades and marks and passing exams, it's a suitable time to consider whether our education system is really delivering what our children and what our society need. My overriding impression after having been a secondary school teacher in the U.K. for the past twenty years is that I've been on a merry-go-round. I've seen things being introduced, then abolished, then introduced again. I'v...

This question was asked in one of my Facebook groups and I thought it was a very interesting question. For me, the most important part of a picture book is that pictures and text combine into a really exciting or endearing story. There has to be a synergy between the two. Pictures are, of course, hugely important, but if the relevant text isn't there - with some sort of interesting or humorous storyline (and repetition is fine for young children), then it'll just be a collection of pictures. ...