Our Children – Writing the Poem

Adopt London have asked me how I wrote the poem for the animation ‘Our Children’.  I’m never quite sure where my poems come from when I write them. Sometimes I sit down and they just fall out and other times it takes ages. I think this one came from all the young people in care that I have worked with over the years.

These children have things that are complicated about them, and things that are straightforward, like all of us.  In some ways, it’s impossible to separate these things out. The shy ones can be the most thoughtful, the ones with too much energy may be the most likely to get involved in things first, the ones with a disability are the most resilient, and the ones with the most difficult lives can have the funniest stories.

For me, real family life is better than cleaned-up family life anyway. Having chips for tea and sitting on the sofa is where my own family has the best times and that’s where I drew my inspiration from. It’s in the everyday things like tying shoelaces, doing a drawing, and going for a walk that the magic can be found.  Everyone is changed by being in a family. We shape and help our children, but our children also shape and help us. Your house has a lot more mess but is also a lot more fun.

So, basically, I just get all that in my head, take my rhyming dictionary off the shelf, and go from there, hoping that in the end there will be a poem.  Thanks to Adopt London for all their help and for the great work they do.  I hope the poem and animation inspires people to adopt a London child and to have their lives changed!

Meet Dalton he’s fearless but hates sitting down. And Kofi who’s kind but dreads the playground.

Or Jayden who’s noisy but loves eating beans. And Mia who stutters but draws like a dream.

When you look at these children what do you see? Do you think, I don’t know If they’re quite right for me.

Because Kelly has lived in too many places. And wants someone to teach her to tie her shoelaces.

And Cairo is wanting a trip to the beach, which is something that’s always been out of his reach.

ou could provide us a safe place to be, creating a bond that helps you and helps me.

Because there will be love there and joy and great fun, and someone for us to call Dad or call Mum.

But their start in life means we have extra needs. But that doesn’t mean you Can’t help us climb trees.

Or sit on the sofa,  or swim in the sea, or go to the zoo, or have chips for tea.

And all of these wonders can happen or not, as you sit and think “Could I really adopt?”

A family grows and some lives are changed, and no one will ever quite be the same.

And could you be the one who makes it come true? Us hearing the words – “We’ve found someone for you”.

With huge thanks to Peter Snelling of MyPockets.