An inner-city secondary school in Peterborough; the end of an early Autumn term day. It’s been bright and sunny, which makes you lazily regret the loss of freedoms you had only a matter of days before. Everyone has told, re-told, and swapped the stories about how they spent their summer holidays. Timetable anomalies and rooming glitches are mostly ironed out. Students and staff have started along the fixed path that will lead to Christmas, aware of the shape of the school year and knowing what lies ahead. And then something happens; at first far away, then here. Then everywhere.

It is twenty years ago …

 

                                                                   ____________________

 

A Whole New Perspective

 

They’re brand new here,

finding their way

and bedding in.

Learning the layout

and how to move about the place.

Everyone needs to be patient,

stay calm.

We know it takes time

when you come up to big school,

so we’re patient and kind.

They can’t be expected

to know all the rules –

how could they?

It’s a whole new perspective,

and scary.

There’s no need to push,

everybody will get there in the end.

 

Five hours ago, but also

just now;

another new intake

crowding the stairs,

finding their way,

getting bedded in.

Everyone needs to be patient,

stay calm.

We know it takes time

to evacuate a building,

so we try to be kind.

It’s a whole new perspective -

some struggle to climb

against the downward rush,

and it’s scary.

Please don’t push,

we’ll all get there in the end.

 

Someone comes in

          ashen-faced

          ashen-voiced:

 

My God ...

                    they’re jumping

          out of

                     all

 

                          the

 

                      windows