Imaginative Easterhouse poem impresses Lord Provost and Poet Laureate

A schoolgirl's poem about Easterhouse has lifted the Lord Provost's poetry prize. The work features the schoolgirl being transported to local landmarks via a rocket, tiger, helicopter and giraffe.

Oakwood Primary School pupil, Erin Crichton (11) was congratulated on her winning work entitled 'Travelling through my Home - Easterhouse' by Glasgow's Lord Provost Sadie Docherty and the city's Poet Laureate Jim Carruth at the City Chambers today Monday 13 March.

Erin learned of her win at school assembly. She said:" I was so excited I could hardly speak. I really like writing."

She also explained she'd put a tiger in her poem because her mum likes them and she thought it would be really funny to have a giraffe in a cinema.

Erin met the Lord Provost with her mum Laura McQueen and big sister Rachel Crichton.

The Lord Provost said: "I really enjoyed meeting Hannah and talking to her about her highly amusing poem.  It's a great win for her and Oakwood Primary is, naturally, very proud."

Jim Carruth, Glasgow's Poet Laureate said: "A wonderful honour again to judge this competition and a particular pleasure to come across the winner's imaginative take on Easterhouse. With more than a thousand entries it takes something really special to catch the eye of the judges. Congratulations to all those shortlisted and roll on next year's competition."

Erin and the five runners up will each receive a Waterstone's voucher and a goody bag. In addition Oakwood Primary will receive the winner's trophy - a specially commissioned silver salver.

The runners up are:

'My Place' by Emilie Kelso (Antonine Primary School)

'Being a Baby' by Sandra Diogo (St Maria Goretti Primary School)

 'An Aite Agam Fhein' by Isobel Driscoll (Glendale Gaelic School)

'My Favourite Place' by Tristan McLellan (Bankhead Primary School)

'My Place: Listen...' by Howie Gardner (Scotstoun Primary School)

Gaelic version

Dàn mac-meanmhainneach mun Taigh Sear a' drùidheadh air Àrd-Phròbhaist agus Prìomh Bhàrd Ghlaschu

Tha dàn nighinn sgoile mu dheidhinn An Taigh Shear air duais bàrdachd an Àrd-Phròbhaist a thogail. Tha an obair a' taisbeanadh na h-ighinn ga giùlain gu comharran-tìre sa choimhearsnachd air rocaid, tìgear, heileacoptar agus sioraf.

Chaidh meal-a-naidheachd a chur air Erin Crichton (11) à Bun-sgoil Oakwood airson a h-obair air a bheil an tiotal 'Siubhal tron àite agam Fhèin - An Taigh Sear' le Àrd-Phròbhaist Ghlaschu Sadie Docherty agus Prìomh Bhàrd a' bhaile Jim Carruth ann an Seòmraichean a' Bhaile an-diugh, Diluain 13 Màrt.

Fhuair Erin a-mach gun do bhuannaich i aig cruinneachadh na sgoile. Thuirt i, "Bha mi dìreach air bhoil agus cha mhòr gum b' urrainn dhomh bruidhinn. Is fìor thoil leam sgrìobhadh."

Mhìnich i cuideachd gun do chuir i tìgear san dàn oir is toil le a màthair iad agus bha i den bheachd gum biodh e anabarrach èibhinn tìgear a bhith ann an taigh-dhealbh.

Choinnich Erin ris an Àrd-Phròbhaist còmhla ri a màthair Laura NicCuinn agus a piuthar mhòr Raonaid Crichton.

Thuirt an t-Àrd-Phròbhaist: "Chòrd e gu mòr rium coinneachadh ri Erin agus bruidhinn rithe mun dàn èibhinn aice. 'S e duais mhòr a th' ann dhi agus tha Sgoil Oakwood anabarrach uasal aiste."

Thuirt Jim Carruth, Prìomh Bhàrd Ghlaschu: "B' e urram mòr a bh' ann breithneachadh air an fharpais seo uair eile, agus gu h-àraid tlachdmhor tighinn tarsainn air beachd mac-meanmhainneach a' bhuannaiche mu An Taigh Shear. Le còrr air mìle inntrig, 's e rudeigin sònraichte a th' ann nuair a tha na britheamhan air an glacadh leis. Meal-a-naidheachd air gach neach a bha air a' gheàrr-liosta agus greasaibh oirbh gu farpais na h-ath bhliadhna."

Gheibh Erin agus gach aon de na còig buannaichean às a dèidh eàrlas à bùth Waterstone agus baga làn de nithean annasach. A thuilleadh air an sin, gheibh Bun-sgoil Oakwood geall-dùbhlain a' bhuannaiche - aiseid airgid air a coimiseanadh a dh'aon ghnothaich.

Is iad na buannaichean eile:

'An t-Àite Agam' le Emilie Kelso (Bun-sgoil Antonine)

'Nad Leanaban' le Sandra Diogo (Bun-sgoil an Naoimh Maria Goretti) 

 'An t-Àite Agam Fhèin' le Isobel Driscoll (Bun-sgoil Ghleann Dail)

'An t-Àite as Fheàrr Leam) le Tristan MacIlliallain (Bun-sgoil Bankhead)

'An t-Àite Agam: Èist...' le Howie Gardner (Bun-sgoil Scotstoun)

Winning Poem in full

All winning entries have been collated in a book for posterity.

See below winning poem

Gaelic: Nòtaichean do Luchd-deasachaidh

Tha na h-inntrigean a bhuannaich uile air an cruinneachadh ann an leabhar airson nan linntean ri teachd.

Faic gu h-ìosal airson an dàin a bhuannaich. 

Travelling through my Home

Easterhouse

Erin travelled to the funky Easterhouse F.A.R.E.,

On a bumpy, rocky, red and silver rocket.

Zooming through the gigantic yellow building

Observing the playful people running around like mischevious monkeys.

Erin skimmed to Easterhouse Parish Church,

On a fantastically fierce tiger scowling its great white teeth.

Glaring at the bright beautiful stained glass windows,

Trying not to distrurb the peaceful people praying.

Erin soared to Easterhouse Auchinlea Park,

In an amazing black and blue helicopter.

Its engine roared as the pilot searched for the great big lake,

And satisfied landed on long green grass with the quiet swans swimming.

Erin rushed to the Easterhouse Vue Cinema on a tall giraffe,

Its looonnnng neck getting caught in screen curtains.

Every so often stopping to eat the yellow sweet popcorn.

Finally settling to watch the humorous movie.

By Erin Crichton