Right before the school holidays, the girls at Railway High School started working on a multimedia project that combines creative writing and digital storytelling. They each had to write a poem and then think of ways to express that poem via images – some of the girls have started doing this with photography, using their newly acquired skills to take one photo for each verse (a photo that they feel that best captures, literally or symbolically, the meaning of each verse), while others will later apply their video skills to “film” their poem.

Since this is an ongoing assignment – due to the logistics of lending out the camera to each individual student – the girls’ “digital poems” will be finalized as the semester goes on, but I was so impressed by the quality of their creative writing, that I could not wait to share a sampling of these poems with you. Enjoy!

The Town Child
by N. Mounika

I live in the town in a street,
It is crowded with traffic and feet.
There are buses and motors and trams –
I wish there were meadows and lambs.

The houses all wait in a row,
There is smoke everywhere I go,
I don’t like the noises I hear,
I wish there were woods very near.

The Olympian
By Harika

I am not an Olympian
Because I am strong.

I am not an Olympian
Because I am fast.

I am an Olympian
Because I know that others
are faster
and stronger.

I am an Olympian
Because I am not afraid to try.

I am an Olympian
Because I know
at heart
we are all Olympians.

Onset of Night
by Hajra Bano

Singing birds, dancing girls, working men
Come to an end.
The glowing sun goes to sleep
Away from all the heights and fights,
Snake charmers begin their show,
People come out of veiled houses
To rejoice after the working day,
Transforming the running world
To a languid ball of fire…
It comes majestically
Bringing to the speckled roof
A bulge of light.

Mother
by Manisha

A mother is a special gift
Of love that’s deep and true;
You know she is always standing by
To guide and comfort you.
A mother with unfailing strength
Can keep you safe from harm,
And yet you feel the softness
Of her gentle face and charm.