Wondercrump Poetry!

Poetry competitions for children are not new - W H Smith's Writing Competition, Cadbury's Poetry Competition, the Pushkin Prizes in Scotland - all wonderful ways of inspiring budding poets. This collection is the first competition from the Roald Dahl Foundation, set up by Dahl's widow to fundraise for charities which help children with problems of literacy, blood disorders and spinal injuries. The collection is an extraordinary one (what's the secret of Halesworth Middle School, I wonder - they never fail to provide a bunch of prize winners in any poetry competition?). The most moving poem for me was Rosanne Flynn's 'friend' - a poignant and marvellous testimony to friendship with has lasted since schooldays. Having recently come back from my old school's 75th anniversary and met friends not seen for many years, I wondered with astonishment about how a 14-year-old has gained the wisdom and understanding of the timelessness of school friendships. 'I soak in her appearance / her face has aged and changed, / She smiles. / I know she feels it too. / Somewhere we are still dancing.' A perfect poem from the competition's overall winner.