The Women I’ve Worked With

In a final thought, for the time being, about National Writing Day’s theme of connection, and in addition to the power of ‘and’ , connection maps and ‘hair’, here is mention of a poem by Liz Venn which we enjoyed very much last week.

It is called The Women I’ve Worked With and is a praise song. We found great pleasure in writing in response to it. I think some people wrote very personally, and I think some of the writing will find its way to the people it celebrates. More connections!

Here is the first verse:

This is a song for the women I’ve worked with,

for the plasters I’ve borrowed, the aspirin,

for the Friday prosecco, the trainers they wear

to commute and the heels they work in.

And here is the last verse which  sends up a prayer for the usually unsung people who help us through our days:

May every Friday be Cake Friday.

May grey never touch them.

May their passwords be strong.

Your song might be for fellow football players or neighbours. One of the group wrote about parents -the ones discovering how to be parents alongside you – and I thought about all the non-teaching staff I have worked with over the years, the caretakers with mop, bucket and sawdust, the secretaries and bursars who have helped me out of all kinds of pickles.

Here’s Alicia’s song (thank you for sharing, Alicia):

To the teachers I taught with...

To my Hilts, my rock and single support through my NQT year.

For Crazy Em, Fleabag and wordy extraordinaire - you inspire me daily.

To the unnamed for showing me how NOT to be a teacher.

For Mrs K, the OG, the one who taught me everything.

To Cole, of unlimited patience, always hovering at the time out chair when it has all gotten too much.

For other Hannah, my saviour when KS1 science goes too deep.

To Bottom, smiling and tea-ing us all through thick and thin.

For the lady shredding my predecessor to shreds at the inaugural conference - I want to be just like you when I grow up.

And here’s a final verse from another teacher:

You can find Liz Venn’s poems in Cast: the Poetry Business book of new contemporary poets. Her website is https://lizvenn.wordpress.com/poetry-prompts-blog/. She posts poems there and some great prompts to start you writing.

If you would like to read more about her, try Kim Moore’s blog https://kimmoorepoet.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/sunday-poem-elizabeth-venn/

 or the Great Fogginzo’s Cobweb:

https://johnfogginpoetry.com/2014/08/

These are both sites worth knowing about if you don’t already.

Happy National Writing Day 2021!