You know when it comes to poetry, one of the best things about it is that you can write about anything you like.
There really is nothing that you can't write about and so ideas for poems can come from anywhere.
A while ago I had the idea that I should write a poem about road safety and so I did. I decided it was a good
idea as it's such an important subject to learn about and remember. I then decided to use the poem to
help create this road safety page on my website.
When I got thinking about road safety, I thought about what I was
taught to do as a child. I remembered learning about stopping, looking
and listening all the time and being told not to play games near roads.
Then I thought about how difficult that can be when you're running
around and enjoying yourself. I know that even adults can make mistakes
when they are near roads, as it's easy to forget things when you are in
a rush and are not paying attention.
I thought about all of this when I came to write my poem and tried to
include nearly everything I know about road safety. At first I wasn't
sure of how to write it, but then I imagined that the pavements could talk
and I wondered what they would tell us. Then using that idea I called my poem
'I've Heard The Pavements Speak' and wrote it as if I was listening to the pavements,
whilst they told me all the things they know about road safety. Have a read and see what you think.
I've Heard The Pavements Speak
Listen, listen, have you not heard?
I've heard the pavements speak,
They say, "You children must be careful,
When you walk upon my street."
"You must look where you are going,
And you must listen for the sounds,
For at anytime, day or night,
There are always cars around."
"And those cars they can be very quick,
But you might not even know they're near,
For although you might not think it,
They can be hard to see and hear."
"And you know cars, they can be bullies,
Because they're all strong and overgrown,
And they're not just like it when they're in groups,
They can be like it on their own!"
"And we know cars are just not very fair,
For they don't stop and look around,
They don't look where they are going,
And they don't listen for your sounds."
"But don't get it wrong,
It's not the case, that cars don't even care,
It's just that when they do what cars do,
They find it hard to know you're there."
"So to children, here is our advice,
These things you can't forget,
To be sure that you make cars your friends,
You must show them all respect."
"When you're on our kerbs, facing the road,
Be sure it's still you stand,
And if there's anybody with you,
Be sure to hold their hand."
"And make sure that when you hold it,
You hold on real tight,
And then use your eyes and check our streets,
By looking left, then right."
"Then don't go if you're not sure about it,
Don't go when you're in doubt,
For if you ever go like that,
A car can jump right out!"
"Now all these things you might forget,
Especially when you're at play,
So to help you to remember,
We've a rhyme that you can say."
"Whenever I am near a road,
I stop to see and hear,
And I never step into that road,
Until I know that it's all clear,
For when it comes to my road safety,
It's me that is the boss,
And I'm never going to cross a road,
Until I'm sure it's safe to cross."
"So learn this rhyme and use it,
Again and again and again,
For then you and cars and roads,
Will only be the best of friends."
So there you have it, that's the end,
For all the words I've read,
Are all that I could listen to,
For it's all the pavements said.
And you know, I think, those pavements,
They're really very clever,
And all the things they said to me,
You should remember forever.
Neil Stevens. 17th November 2003.
So there it is, my poem about road safety, I hope you enjoyed it. As it says it's worth trying to remember the things it tells you as they are very important. You might have noticed that one part of the poem is a rhyme that can be taken out of the poem and learnt by anyone to help them remember about road safety. To make it easier for you or anyone else to learn the rhyme I have written it out seperately and you can see it if you click on the link below.
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