What Do You Think Counts?

In association with National Poetry Day, poet Laura Mucha attempted to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for Largest Poetry Lesson (Multi Venues). Over 1,000 schools and 100 – 150,000 children took part. Thousands of children submitted their ideas of what they think counts, who they are counting on, and what they are counting. Laura read through all those ideas and wrote a draft poem, during the Largest Poetry Lesson attempt, students edited the poem and came up with new ideas. This is the final poem.

 

You can listen to a recording of Laura and her students’ brilliant poem or read the poem text below.

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK COUNTS?

I’m counting how many licks to finish a lollipop,

how many times a grown up says “no”,

how many marshmallows I can fit in my mouth,

how many times I cry about homework,

how many sticky notes I can put on Mum’s face,

how many monsters I have in my head.

 

I’m counting the days

until I’m a famous tennis player,

days since the war started,

days until I see Daddy,

until I have a friend.

 

I’m counting on my Nain and Taid

because they give me hugs

and say “sweets cost 1p

back in the day”.

And the friends

I don’t need to pretend to,

that respect me,

that play.

And my bunny, Binky,

my axolotl, Bob,

because although they eat my homework,

they always keep my secrets safe.

 

I’m counting on the people in power

to protect the planet,

on teachers

so I can get a good job,

money, a better life,

and my football coach

because

I WANT TO PLAY

IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.

 

I’m counting cows on the way to school,

raindrops in my mouth,

memories of people I’ve lost.

 

I’m counting on someone

to love me no matter what,

to want the best for me,

keep their promises,

listen,

and keep me safe,

so I don’t have to worry so much.

 

I’m counting on

the small things –

because they all add up.

 

What do you think counts?

 

 

 

This project is in collaboration with the Forward Arts Foundation, The Poetry Archive, National Literacy Trust, Centre for Literacy in Primary Education and The Poetry Society, and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.