If there are any tensions to be felt in the Dove Farm household, it's likely that things are sparking off between me and Celine, our eldest daughter - just one of the hazards of being the eldest, I guess, and similar in temperament to her mother.
But is it not written into the job description of 'eldest children' to push the boundaries and 'feel the pain', easing the way for their younger siblings?!
Celine is now at middle school, (what used to be the old 'Juniors') - it's a good system, as it allows children to stretch their wings beyond primary but it bridges an important development gap, before they have to cope with the cut and thrust of secondary school.
She has just won a 'highly commended' and £20 in book tokens for a poem she wrote at school for a national poetry competition. The topic was 'the Environment' and all the shortlisted poems are worth a read - it's heartening to see young people caring about their world, let's hope they stay anxious enough to take action once they are grown up. You can read these poems at
I am showing Celine's poem here, because I am proud of her and her achievement, (naturally) and it offers a small window for me, as her mum, to simply celebrate her being my daughter. Love you Celine....
The Rainforest
In the density of the leaves,
A coiling python weaves,In and out of the trees and flowers.
Can anyone doubt the rainforest's powers?
In the humidity, a community thrives,
Frogs with green luminous eyes.
An army of ants, almighty and strong,
A chorus of birds chirruping a song.
The leaves are as green as green can be,
A rainbow of colours is what I see.
But I turn around and what do I find?
A whole different scene cripples my mind.
The trees are being chopped down,
And emptiness is all around.
A parrot caws its lonesome cry,
A frog springs from a leaf nearby.
The decades of trees are chopped down in seconds,
As for the animals and plants, death beckons.
The end of this mighty forest is near,
The moral of the story is surely now clear.
So let us find,
In our selfish minds,What everyone can do
And you can help too,
To save the rainforest from destruction.
by Celine Stretton
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