Many years ago we had an uninspiring English teacher whose usual lesson plan was to tell us to get out our comprehension books, read an extract and compete the following comprehension exercise. To avoid this tedium the class would encourage him to regale us with stories of his time in the RAF during WWII. When he set homework he offered a choice of a story spread over 4 sides of exercise book or instead, a poem. No choice there – it was a poem every time. I could knock out something on his chosen theme in ten minutes. Result! I appreciate this didn’t enhance my learning experience and there are regrets there but there were so many more interesting and entertaining avenues to explore after school or at the weekend than homework. This memory came to me this morning after breakfast and I set myself the task to write the first thing that came into my head on no subject in particular in a maximum of ten minutes. I scribbled on a piece of kitchen roll which , if I keep it will doubtless sell at auction many years hence for an astonishing sum. Obviously the auction will occur after I’m dead as is often the case with poets, it will take a while to appreciate the genius.

The subject formed itself and I set the title accordingly. Give it a try yourself – against the clock. Just 10 minutes – that’s all you have. See if you can eclipse my masterpiece.

Is your resulting piece a profound statement on life, something very deep and meaningful like mine or a waste of ink?

Remember it’s the first thing that comes into your head, jiggled around a little, whether the lines make sense or not. If you need a theme you’ll find it from your first couple of lines.

The End of All Things

The loss of life

No liberty

The grey of life descends

No hope for the screaming aardvark

On whom much of this depends

 

The sound of fire

The silken rope

No coming as to terms

No chance in the failing moonlight

Of any second thoughts from worms

 

No gift of time

The ticking clock

No future’s painted path

No light in the receding tunnel

One candle on the hearth

 

No tray of thoughts

A house adrift

A taunting gauntlet thrown

Nobody effervescing

Bleached white all human bone