Fireworks Poetry Competition 2011

The darkness has fallen but the light is still here.

Wizz fizz the rainbow is here the sparkles are falling very near.

The after burn smells so smokey it makes my throat go all croaky.

The fifth of November has been and gone
I can't wait till the next one.

mabann (Unverified), 01/11/11

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F ireworks are loud.
I n the South Parks.
R ainbow colours in the sky.
E ach sparkle flying high.

W onderful colours for just one night.
O ne colour after another.
R ainbow flashes in the black sky.
K ids are watching the colours bursting.
S parklers are in the sky.

Malika and Shan (Unverified), 01/11/11

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She
Said that
She thought that
There would be fireworks
Sonic booms, whizzes and bangs
Catherine Wheels lighting up her heart.
Friends had experienced it: cinema kisses and
Firework displays to rival Sydney at New Year.
But it never happened that way – not for her.
Just a gradual glow that warmed her heart a little
More with each encounter… until it became all encompassing and she
Admitted that it was love. She says it’s not what she’d have
Looked for, but that she is grateful for the way things turned out,
Although to compensate I’m obliged each year to take her to a fireworks display.

lbo (Unverified), 01/11/11

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Firework memories One chilly November night, in a field, I once stood,
Wrapped up like a snowman, with a fluorescent pink hood.
Eagerly awaiting a frenzy of fireworks to begin,
Whilst my brother covered his ears to muffle the din.

Our faces flushed by the bonfire, ablaze with orange and gold,
With flames that crackled as they danced, chasing away the cold.
The smell of smoke that tomorrow would still hang in the air,
And linger even longer in my long blonde hair.

Then with a screech and a bang, a whizz and a whirl,
The rockets ricocheted and the catherine wheels swirled.
Making starry psychedelic shapes of red, green and blue,
Followed by a chorus of Oooh's in awe of the view.

And when the last firework faded from the sky,
A sadness crept over me, the ending was nigh.
But the night was not over, not by any means,
For it was back home to baked potatoes and beans!

Abbey (Unverified), 30/10/11

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Cat Down

Thumping heart in the loo
pumping my fist on my chest to be awake
for the morning after the flying roman candles.
There is a dead cat lying on the lawn
and three more houses to check
but no trace of white on the cat.
He is all black,
a sweet thing with two tags
one where the address dropped off.
This deserves a cigarette as I stand
alone not knowing who owns
a black cat barely seen
in the break of day and by night a shadow.
Today he is dead with a crash bang wallop
after a night of sparklers hangs in the air,
what a day to be a cat.

Lita Doolan (DI Reviewer), 25/10/11

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This Bang

Bang and She goes spraying into the dark cloud
Of tacit romance, tacit longings, tacit dreamlike reality.
Bang and She goes sailing towards the grains of black pitch
Devoid of safeguards and cushioning.
Bang and She screams, falters and then sings, soars at her highest,
As the wind takes her high, high, higher.
Bang and She along with you see the world alight,
Lit up, little sparks that ignite this little black pitch.
You come, you watch, you watch her as She glows and sprints
To the corners of this seamless sky,
She darts, She sparks, She
Is our fire.

Dreamsy (Unverified), 22/10/11

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It’s a Dog’s Life

I’m howling at the moon tonight ‘cos I’ve got the firework blues:
My owners locked me in the house and went out on the booze.
Incarceration’s causing me the maximum dismay,
I’m banged up in here because of the RSPCA.

No one thinks a mongrel can have fun on Bonfire Night.
They think that roman candles will give me an awful fright;
That rockets, squibs and sparklers will make me cower and squeal;
That I’ll go mad and bite someone because of Catherine wheels.

The truth could not be further from these incorrect surmises:
I love a bonfire party with its flashes and surprises.
There’re also lots of sausages and burgers left around
When the darling little children go and drop them on the ground.

I’m devising an escape plan to make sure that I can see
This year’s Oxford Round Table firework party.
I’ve been watching Cool Hand Luke, The Great Escape and Papillon
To inspire ideas of breaking out and going on the run.

I’m a desperate dog who’s bitten by the most enormous yearning
To see that mighty South Park Wicker Man alight and burning.
My life won’t be complete without a frolic in the glow
Of a million pallets burning as I chase sparks to and fro.

But remember I’m a strange dog to enjoy such loud percussions,
And to revel in the flash and lights of multiple explosions.
If your pets find themselves outside they probably won’t like it
So ensure they’re tucked up safe and sound inside their favourite blanket.

But I’ll be howling to get out and join the autumn fun;
To frolic in the firelight and to nick your burger bun.
I’m a mongrel who loves fireworks - and I just want to lose
This locked up feeling causing me these terrible firework blues.

SMB (DI Reviewer), 18/10/11

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Bang,pop,crack goes the fireworks in the dark sky,
They look like rockets getting ready to fly,
Swirling,curling in the air they glow so bright,
It gives the poor animals such a fright,
Whoosh! Up high above the houses, behind they leave a trail of sparks, yellow, orange, red and white exploding like a shooting star,
Squeak, sizzle oh so loud they make the noise of a broken car,
Screaming, shouting and clapping the crowd bellows with excitment,
This is why you should always remember the 5th of November.

stephanie jamie conner (Unverified), 03/11/11

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Whoosh up high above the house , behind a trail of sparks yellow,orange white and red exploding in the dark.
Bang , there goes another one , screaming as it goes its getting high , up in the air and fizzes as she blows.
Beautiful colours of a catherine wheel
The heat of the bonfire you will feel
Fireworks exploding in the sky
Calm and relaxed you will lie
As guys are thrown upon the fire
Spectacular visions soar up higher
But when the night is finally done
You have next year to continue the fun

CHLOE (Unverified), 03/11/11

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I found the poem by Ibo really excellent.

Jocelyn (Unverified), 02/11/11

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Fireworks are bright and
Shine in the light
You wait and wait when suddenly...
Wizz, bang, pop
They Wizz to the top
Top of the sky is it no lie
But then it stops
And you can't wait till next year

MO (Unverified), 01/11/11

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Barbeques roasting,
Fireworks hosting,
Boom, bang, whizz, pop
Fireworks never stop
Boom, bang, whizz, pop
The croud goes woo when the fireworks go boom

Jorde Polin Joan (Unverified), 01/11/11

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FIREWORKS
When the night falls
The sky lights up
With loads of pretty colours
The colours are green, purple, orange, black, gold and beautiful colours.
When the colours go up sky they
Fade away, and there's loads of pretty colours.

Rhaisian and Leah (Unverified), 01/11/11

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See the fireworks sparkling
Put some more out plenty to do
And remember to not go near them
Running with excitement
Clanking and banging
Love the colours in the sky
Enough for tonight and dream of them.

f&f (Unverified), 01/11/11

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Flash! Bang! Boom! Whizz!.
Fireworks do all this!
Children scream and shout as the Cathrine wheel spins.
BANG! The final firework blew as
The sky faded black once more.
People dream of the 5th of November until it comes again......

T & J (Unverified), 01/11/11

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Fireworks

Big or small we love them all.
Swallowing the sky with their colourful light.

Flash, bang, whizz, boom.
Fireworks put the sky in a fiery tomb.

Blue, orange, red, green.
All in my firework dream.

The sky becomes bright with light.
Like a flare in the night.

What a sight all the oooohs and arrrs children scream in delight.

Nye and Connor (Unverified), 01/11/11

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Fireworks

Fireworks light
Gradually gain height
In their flight.
A few seconds.... boom
People shocked
Locked in the amazment
"Time for Christmas!"

loujake (Unverified), 01/11/11

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Barbeques roasting,
Fireworks hosting,
FIZZY, BANG, POP
fireworks plenty,
maybe twenty,
coming then going
NO!
all we know we'll share it again soon.

Idrees (Unverified), 01/11/11

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Sparklers glitter!
Catherine wheels spin!
Golden fountains rain!
Bangers scare us!

Flowers are the pattern up high,
Fireworks shine in the sky.

Natalie (Unverified), 01/11/11

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Remember, remember the 5th of November
Wizz, bang , pop!
Sparklers are fizzing
Fireworks are wizzing
Remember, remember the 5th of November
People cheer
Because all they can hear is...
Wizz, bang, pop!
The fireworks have been shown
Everybody has been blown

FIREWORKS WILL COME AGAIN!!!

Marie and Sophie (Unverified), 01/11/11

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Firework Display: A moment of silence,
That is all that it took.
Just one moment,
And then the ground shook.
Hundreds of fireworks,
Flew into the air.
A crack and a pop,
And an enormous bright flare.
The space had been filled,
With whizzes and bangs.
People staring awestruck,
In small groups and small gangs.


It was an amazing display,
Of awesome fiery power.
With one final BANG!
As the clock struck the hour.
An explosion of colour,
Falling quick from the sky.
It's a certain type of magic,
That can be seen with the eye.
Another still moment,
As the sky faded black.
Then a loud roaring cheer,
Before the silence came back.

Madams (Unverified), 31/10/11

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There was a young candle called Roman
Stuck in a bucket with loam in
His only ambition
(Fits in with tradition)
Was to light up the sky in the gloaming

Bloomers (Unverified), 31/10/11

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We'll get them with a bang
Said the gang
I'll get some powder said Guy Fawkes
we'll put it under the vaults
when the day came it was November 5th
a big bomb we all wisheth

But they were not quick
the gaurds did arrest and put in the nick
Off to court and their sentence they dread
Cause magistrate said off with the head

Now we do burn an effigy
so we can all be happy
Parliament is still there
to haunt us everywhere

[I dispute the historical accuracy of this poem -Ed.]

Whitchy (Unverified), 27/10/11

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They’re guaranteed to make me jump
and make my heart beat sort of thump
I hate loud bangs, they make me scared,
especially when I’m not prepared.

I don’t know why they have to make
those fireworks – for heaven’s sake
They scare the cats and dogs and me,
the point of them I cannot see

This started when I was quite young,
my older brother with his gun
Would chase me round the house with it,
then ‘bang bang sister, you’ve been hit’

On Guy Fawkes night he had such fun
with jumping jacks to watch me run.
The rockets they would whoosh away
and I could only stand and pray

That they would not land back on me
nor set fire to our garden tree
But still that time I did enjoy
in spite of such a naughty boy

I look back on those happy days
before we went our separate ways.
I miss him lots – he died you see
But now he watches down on me

I’m sure he’s sorry for the fright
he gave me every bonfire night
But even now when bangs I hear
I always feel a bit of fear

Chris (Unverified), 26/10/11

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All was quiet and all was still
That is until...
An explosion of colours
A fusion of lights
Brought shock to my system
As well as delight

I was warming my being
In the cold lonely night
Dreading the winter
The frost and the bite

I looked out of the window
To see infinite black
And then a smoky cloud crept in
and suddenly - BANG!

I remembered my childhood
Huddled around
Gasping in wonder
At a bonfire-fuelled cloud

I felt cold to the bone
Although heat was near
I flinched away from the sparklers
But the sizzling I could hear

Now the light has gone out
And the fire is no more
I close the curtains
And walk out of the door.

Fierygirl (Unverified), 22/10/11

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As we watch the fountains of colour in the sky. It doesn't make us sigh or cry.
But gives us such an amazing delight, under the sparkling moonlight.

For we have the warmth and beauty in each others embraces. No fears or worries just joy on our faces. For what we see gives us such a delight and makes then what we see a spectactular sight.

The beauty of the colours in the sky
Blue, green red and orange. And with all this diplay of colour and delight gives the world an aura and delight.

But the main thing is we have the noise and the big bang!!

DarthDragul (Unverified), 21/10/11

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I heard about this competition
and thought it would be grand
to think of all the possible
things which could be banged

I've thought of all the doors
I've banged shut out of spite
One day he'll surely realise
I always must be right

I think the most embarassing
bang I can recall
is dad's old car back-firing
outside my old school hall

I'll never forget the bang
of my brothers BB gun
the stinging in my butt
just as I'd turned to run

the last thing that had come to mind
are sausages that fry
but probably best left in the pan
not spread across the sky

So now I've come to reason
the nicest bangs for me
are fireworks on South Park
with tickets that were free!

Mimerelli (Unverified), 21/10/11

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We stand together in this crowded field,
Rooted to the ground.
Looking up to our dark destinations.
We contemplate...

Our collective fate is already sealed:
Soon we will leave this world in an orchestrated storm of light and sound.

The scattered sparklers and swivel and swirl before us among a swarm of expectant faces, like candles at a sacrifice, their incandescence staining children's vision with colour changing lines and dots which remain long after they're dropped and forgotten.

How sad that they all end with a
fizzle, or a comment of parent's disdain
"What a swizzle! When I was a kid they lasted forever!"

A bonfire burns in the distance, beyond the crowd and dances in ecstasy. Embracing the beauty of life it remorselessly consumes.
Later, when everyone has left, and many days have passed, a dark circle will greet every new blade of grass.

But we are Rockets, not bonfires or sparklers. We'll go out with a bang...
or at the very least with a crackle.

ActorPoetPlaywright (Unverified), 21/10/11

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firery light, dark and drear,
crumbling sounds, close to my ear,
fizzing pajamas, mouldy socks
bronchial tightness, knees that knock

glory of bonfire, smoke in hair
story about guy fawkes, told with despair
shame he didn't manage it, blowing up the king
would've been good to get rid of, that parliamentary thing

T Raign (Unverified), 18/10/11

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There was a young man from Rangoon,

With intentions towards a racoon

Her hair it was stripy

His business was dicey

And later he tried a baboon.

BANG

Nut Cracker (Unverified), 17/10/11

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Fire Trees. Silver Flowers
Far- fire trees with silver flowers;
Near-silver flowers in fire trees;
Loads of fireworks bang among the bonfire of ours,
Life is full of passion and dreams.

nan (Unverified), 16/10/11

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Bumbling along a lane one day,
I came on a crow just mubling away
To himself about 'craw-craw'
'Crack-parr', 'Crrooooow'

What is the problem?
Can I help you?
'Cra-craaaw', he answered
Hardly a help

Then the source of his cackling
fell right in my felt
Hat made but yesterday
Special, for the occasion

How could he know it would cause such evasion?
Fizzzzle! Crckprreee! Crick-ptle and PSssszzztkct!
Off did I ramble, fast as a ram
Caught in the headlights of an oncoming tram

Tonight! Oh, wherefore?!
I wondered alound
Did I offer to light fireworks, a bonfire, control the crowd
Of a gaggle of ganders, a hippo and baboon

Who tried to sun themselves by the
Light of the Moon
Perhaps I'd noticed
There was something they said

About going back to Arkansas
And living in my shed

Crackpot (Unverified), 13/10/11

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BANG! as the rockets light up the night
BANG! as the children squeal in delight
BANG! as the bangers give us a fright
BANG! as the bonfire burns so bright

Bang, hiss, sizzle, pop and blast
Firework night is here at last

Rose66 (Unverified), 13/10/11

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Bang! The crackle of light!
Crash! The fright in the night!
Boom! Shake the walls of the room!

Crunch! The frost on my feet!
Crack! The tree covered in sleet!
Zoom! The rocket's away!

Pop! Roman candles are hot!
Fizz! The sparklers for kids!
Fire! The flames leap higher!

Sounds!
Visions!
Amaze!

FireCracker (Unverified), 13/10/11

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