My ballad is based on real events. In 2010, a 7-year-old boy was found dead. His parents were sent to jail. Instead of raising a whip, raise awareness. Gracia
This is just the first half of Gracia's hard-hitting poem.
Why mother? by Gracia Vargas
From Monday, to Friday,
You beat me ‘till I decay,
From Friday to Sunday,
You beat me ‘till I fade away.
A mother’s love is stronger,
Stronger than a whip,
Why do you beat me mother?
Until my muscles rip.
I am no fish mother,
Why do you force me away,
Down into a bucket, mother
If I do not obey.
What about my birthday mother,
What about the cake,
You don’t have to remind me, mother
That I’m not worth to make.
What about my sister mother?
What happened to her?
Is she in a graveyard mother?
Where you wish I were.
What if they ask mother?
What do I reply?
What if they force me mother?
I can’t tell a lie.
What about the blue marks mother?
Traced around my eyes,
Why are they so blue mother?
The colour of the skies.
Lost… by Emma Hennekens
“Go and play outside,” said mum, By Emma H
“The sun is shining bright!
The flowers are standing tall
And the moon has said goodnight!”
The girls slipped their velcro shoes
onto their gentle feet
and ran into the forest
as the birds began to tweet.
They climbed up a huge, lush tree
And saw above the woods.
But then off in the distance,
Was a woman with a hood.
So one little girl jumped off
To see if she was lost,
And all her friends were worried
So all their fingers were crossed.
Off she skipped to the lady,
With a smile on her face
Then said, “Are you ok miss?”
And the lady cleared the space.
Suddenly out of nowhere
A dark ditch opened up
And a girl fell to her death
Then the trap was closing up.
Members of the class were inspired to give a musical interpretation of Gracia's ballad. Thank you Justus, Annie and supporting musicians for this great performance.