Ronnie McGinn's Poetry Page

Rudyard Kipling once wrote:

"I Keep six honest serving-men:
(They taught me all I knew)
Their names are What and Where and When
And How and Why and Who."

These six serving-men make up part of the guidelines I use for forming an opinion about a poem.

For some learning how to structure a poem begins an early age, often evolving from nursery rhymes.

I wrote my first poem when I was nine; the teacher ridiculed me in front of the class for daring to think I could write a poem.

It was forty years before I tried again.

The reason I mention that is because this week's poem came from 10 year old Ciara Murphy of Ballincollig, Co. Cork, Ireland.

It is probably one of the best poems by a ten year old I have ever come across. Ciara gets the utmost use out of her six serving men.

Her rhyming scheme is to be admired and there is a tremendous promise in her use of metre that arguers well for her future.

We can all look for to some great poetry from Ciara.

"My Ideal World"

My world would be filled with kisses & hugs,
And be without bad guys & drugs.
My world would be full of love,
The flag would be a turtle dove.
No fuel that causes pollution,
Bio-fuel would be the solution.
Daggers only used to cut meat,
An endless supply of crops & wheat.
Everyone would get along,
And sing a peaceful, happy song.
So that is my perfect world,
Inside my head, jumbled & swirled.

© Ciara Murphy