Cathy Cassidy

SONG TITLE WRITING COMP WINNERS!!!!

At last the results are sorted… after much careful consideration and weeks of sifting through hundreds of truly excellent entries! Well done to everyone who entered!

POETRY SECTION WINNERS….

I chose three equal winners – each one fantastic in its own way! See what you think!

Big Girls Don’t Cry (song by Fergie)
By Clare Kelly, age 14
(Clare, please email with your address – have tried to contact you but emails keep bouncing back)

At only six, I watched my father
Pack his bags, and began to cry.

Until he knelt next to me
And looked me in the eye
And said,
‘You are a big girl now,
And big girls don’t cry.’

And so I wiped my tears away
And put on a brave face
And gave my father
One last hug, one sweet embrace.

‘Big girls don’t cry,’
I thought in bed.
‘Big girls don’t cry at all.’
Until I heard the muffled sobs
Come creeping through the wall.

I crept out to my mother’s door.
‘Big girls don’t cry,’
I’d heard him say,
And had taken it for true.
But that night, at my mother’s door,
I learnt that in fact
They do.

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Misery Business (song by Paramore)
By Katie Flood, age 13, Ireland

Look at them, what a pair,
Her hair’s a mess, he doesn’t care,
“Teen love” is what they call it.
No matter what, you’ll never spoil it
They’re a picture-perfect couple
In an autumn scene
With reddish/brown leaves,
Singing indie rock ‘n’ roll ,
Sitting on a park bench,
Their noses red and converse laces untied.
I can tell they love each other
By the way they kiss.
As I watch from afar,
I can see myself being her
But I know that’ll never happen,
Not to me.
I’ll be lucky if it happens
In my wildest dreams…

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My Sweet Prince (song by Placebo)
By Daisy Cross, age 11, Gloucestershire

My sweet prince would wear starry armour,
Gleaming in the moonlight,
As he whisks me away
On his midnight horse.

My sweet prince would take me away
To his castle in the sky,
To a palace made of moonlight,
Where we’d stay forever.

My sweet prince would fight all evil,
Keep me safe for always.
He perishes by daybreak,
But he lives in my dreams.

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POETRY SECTION RUNNERS-UP….

Six very different runners-up… I think you’ll like them!

Faraway Voice (song by Katie Melua)
By Irene Brockie, age 12, Ireland

Even though I can’t see you
I know you’re still there
You are the voice in my head
A faraway voice
So faraway.

It hurts
But I can still hear you
I can still listen
I don’t have to keep pretending
‘Cos I know you’re there

You are the faraway voice
That keeps me alive
The faraway voice
That I continually strive
To be.

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Misfit
By Jenny Thirgood, age 14
(Jenny, please contact me with your address)

Long tousled hair,
Dark, crazed make up,
To match her rebellious soul,
Saturday night is raving time.
She enters, making heads turn,
Adrenalin rushes through her,
As she slowly becomes free and wild,
She dances like a hell fairy,
Kicking out,
Shaking her hair,
Playing guitar,
And rocking loud.
She’s never felt so alive,
Feeling the rhythm,
Touching the words,
Becoming the music!
Rock chick on the loose.

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I’m Mad About You
Kirsty Reaich, age 12, E. Kilbride

If you knew how much I loved you,
Maybe you’d understand,
That now and then I hallucinate,
I think that you’re holding my hand.

My heart flutters like an autumn leaf,
Falling to the ground,
I’m so in love I become lost,
But when I’m with you I’m found.

What is this feeling?
Is it love?
Inside I’m all shaken up,
I just seem as peaceful as a dove.

You’ve only been away for a minute,
And already I miss you so bad,
I feel like I could crumble,
But trust me I’m not mad.

Well that’s not true…
… I’m mad about you.

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Lifeline (song by Brooke Fraser)
By Beth Rust, age 13, New Zealand

A gentle wind
Tugs softly at
My hair
Playful waves wash
Onto the shore, swirling
Around my ankles.

The rolling hush
Of the sea
Fills me completely
The faint smell of
Salt and seaweed
Carries to me on the breeze

I wonder how the world can
Be so beautiful when
I feel so much pain?
But I can
Finally see there is
An end to this depression

Now I know that
What I seek is
Not out of my reach
And each step
I take brings me
Closer to realizing

That I don’t need
A lifeline to
Pull myself out

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It’s Over (song by Cheetah Girls 2)
By Eugenia Esteva, Spain

You were a man,
You were my Granny’s love,
You were my Mum’s dad,
My Grandad.

I didn´t know you well.
You were ill, you didn’t remember
Neither my name,
nor my age.

I loved you so,
although you shared,
no talk, no song.
you only watched and stared.

Now your life is over,
but I will remember you…
not as that silent man,
but as the man you were before.

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Girls!
By Sophie, age 10
(Sophie, please send me your address)

Flip flops…
Cute tops…
Lemonade
In the shade…
Late nights…
Water fights…
ice cream…
Sweet dreams…
Party Time!...
Looking fine…
Sleeping in…
Sneaking out…
That’s what girls are all about!

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STORY SECTION WINNERS…..

Three fab winners, all equally imaginative and well written… check out these extracts!

Stranger (song by Hilary Duff)
By Rachael Hodgkinson, age 15, Liverpool

A surprise invitation turns Kayleigh’s life upside-down…

Life is full of choices – which risks are you willing to take? I had one of those decisions to make, and I chose to take a risk. I was sure it would be worth it… no matter what the cost.

That very morning, Amanda Barnes, queen of PG, had tottered over to my desk, the remaining pruned and plumped members of the Popular Girls crew arranged behind her. A smile danced gracefully upon her glossed lips.

‘Hope you can make it,’ she sang. With a twirl of her fancy stilettos, she moved on. I gaped at the rich purple envelope dropped in my lap, my heart as still as the sparkly silver ones that decorated the front…

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Kaleidoscope (song by Kaleidoscope)
By Alex Smith, age 13, Herts.

A very special valentine creates some magic of its own…

“I’ve brought the Northern Lights to you,” Elliot explained. The multi-coloured lights on the wall looked beautiful, a kaleidoscope of colours, and maybe it was because of the tears in my eyes or maybe it was my imagination, but the lights appeared to shimmer into the shape of a heart… I rubbed my eyes. They were! I turned to face Elliot.

“Do you like it?” he asked, blushing.

This was all too strange. Me? Make Elliot Drewin blush? I didn’t know if it was dread or hope, rising inside me. My heart did gymnastics that even gold medallist acrobats couldn’t achieve. Elliot was coming nearer and nearer, so close now our noses were almost touching. Then he kissed me, and I didn’t need the Northern Lights because I could see my own kaleidoscope of colours…

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Deal With It (song by Corbien Bleu)
By Shannon Smith, age 11, Aberdeenshire

Amy realizes that she’s had enough of being a victim….

“Hey, wait up, Amy!”

Blake is coming down the road, swinging his school. “Here,” he says, throwing me a chocolate bar. “You look hungry.”

We walk on in silence for a few minutes, then Blake turns to me, a sad look in his eyes. “Amy, why aren’t you telling anyone?” he asks. “Why aren’t you telling anyone that you’re being bullied?”

His words cut like a knife, because that’s the very first time someone’s said that to me. I realise now that I am a victim of bullies, and it won’t stop, unless I fight it…

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STORY SECTION RUNNERS-UP

And there were six deserving runners-up – read these extracts for a flavour of each story!

Wallflower (song by Switchblade Symphony)
Samantha, age 15, Singapore

A heartfelt story of shyness and dreams…

There are many different kinds of flowers in this world. While some of them can be small and hidden, like daisies, among the sea of green, tumbling weeds, most of them are bright, bold and beautiful. But people don’t know, not all of them, that there’s another sort of flower in this world.

This flower is just like the daisy, lost among the sea of green, so much so you can’t always find it, so much so that no one actually bothers to look out for this flower. It just remains lost, blending into the background where it will remain, waiting to bloom.

That flower is me. I’m a wallflower…

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How To Save A Life (song by The Fray)
By Laura Walsh, age 14, Cheshire

A sad, touching story of love and loss…

I’ve been through it over and over in my head a thousand times before. I hope that one day you will understand.

He’s everywhere to me. When the wind blows I can feel him touching my face , when it rains I swear I can see his reflection in the raindrops. I’ve never really told you what happened, but I owe you that much. A year has gone by now and I promise you I have tried again and again but I just can’t do it. I’ll start from the beginning…

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I’m Callin’ You (song by Artist Outlandish)
By Ameena, age 16, W. Midlands
(Ameena, please email your full name & address)

An emotional story of racism and bullying…

I’m lying on my bed, dreading school tomorrow. All the thoughts about GCSE, working hard, trying to fit in and even friends, it’s all too much for me. The main thing on my mind is the bullies. I replay scenes of the girls teasing and taunting me, throwing my bag around, calling me names because I wore a hijab (the Muslim head cover) and pulling my hair. Tears soak my pillow. I can’t take it much longer.

At the moment I feel like there is a big rock of sadness in me, which is hurting me and causing pain to my body, and I have to carry it everywhere. I just want to rip myself up. I cry myself to sleep every night. I feel left out, isolated, lonely, frightened, scared, abused. The one thing that frustrates me is that I think I’m OK. I’m nice, funny, a laugh to be, but I have no friends. This makes me question about God sometimes, but then I remember that I have to remain patient and strong. I know I have faith in God, I do, but then there’s always a but…

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White Shadows (song by Coldplay)
By Ana Allen, age 14, Wales

I feel the waves licking my toes like lollies, as the water turns them to ice-pops. This is Scotland after all. I gaze out to the misty nothingness beyond the sea, wondering if anyone has dared to trespass on her property, and survived. I see Blakeney Isle, and threatening clouds towering over it. I wonder if it’s going to rain? Better not risk it. I back away into the dry sand, it feels warm but I know it isn’t. My feet are just freezing…

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Lip Gloss (song by Little Mama)
By Jane Herz, age 9, New York

A witty story of cool kids, cliques and American high school life…

I hate Mindy and her clique.

I was friends with her for about three minutes in kindergarden, until she bragged that she had a better costume for Halloween then I did. Not much has changed.

“Oh, hey, Selina. Did you hear about my party? It’s going to be awesome!” Mindy said. “Guess what? You’re invited!

“Really?” I asked hopefully.

“No.” Mindy replied flatly. “Why would I like, ever, invite you?”

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Beautiful Liar
By Emma Aldington, age 11, Cheshire

A spine-chilling tale of family secrets… and lies.

Her beautiful blue eyes gazed at me but I walked out off the room, slamming the door shut. I ran up to my room and banged on the walls. I ripped my posters and threw my bedding on the floor, I screamed and smashed my pencils on the desk, I grabbed my lamp and chucked it at the window. I was out of control; the world spun above me and the lights went out. Everywhere was black.

Somewhere, out of the darkness, came a dream. A dream about that long-ago day at St. James’s Park, with Mum, Dad and my younger brother. We were all sat on Dad’s blue rug, covered in bottles of pop and empty tubs that had once contained cakes and biscuits. There was a large oak tree next to the rug, and it blocked the sunlight. The air was warm and pleasant.

Dad looked at me and whispered, “Am I alive?”

HIGHLY COMMENDED:
The following entrants caught my eye for drama, style, imagination or originality. Sorry I cannot mention every entrant, but you’re all winners to me. The highly commended, in no particular order, are…

Gina Loughrey; Eilidh Avison; Ellys Bagnall; Katie Bloor; Julia Kennific; Hannah Safi; Lucy Pozman; Lauren Gray; Claudia Molina; Evie Rae; Naomi Smith; Rachel Halsall; Hannah Ferraby; Nicola Wilson; Catherine Messinger; Julia Cushion; Perdie Bennett; Amber Garrett; Talia; Sarah McLaren; Zoe Screti; Jenna Hilsdon; Veleda Tam; Sonibel Rae; Romany Lowe; Emma Perry; Georgia Hazelgrove; Fadekemi Abiru; Elizabeth Taylor; Rebecca Johnson; Sylvia Kuo; Jessica Smithson; Alice Kennedy; Cynthia; Em Chappell; Mee Joo; Lucy Edgley; Rosie Teasdale; Sarah Murphy; Elisha Pearson; Ruth Dempsey; Elizabeth Teoh; Eleanor White; Bethany Eager; Helena Bostyn; Chelcie Henry-Robertson; Summer Van der Vliet; Elisha; Hannah Kirby; Suzanne Karioki; Laura Wile; Lilli Sher; Imogen; Xiaman Wu; Emma Youngs; Jessica Johnson; Lucy Smith; Bethany Jones; Zoe North; Connie Fensome; Jessica Tucker; Jessica Syed; Rachel Chung; Ria Fern; Kirsty Dunbar; Jessie Stenny; Chloe Charlton; Cassidy Gunner; Millie Ryan; Raisa; Lucy Sherwin; Orlagh O Kane; Millie Stokes; Jane Carmel; Myah Pace; Molly o Reilly; Vanessa Elliott: Laura Parker; Amy Devine; Isabel Brodie; Ruva Mankola; Abbey Lettres; Avril; Georgie Riley; Franki Jones; Paige Dalby; Laura Appleyard; Emma Ferraro; Nin Eld; Rhiannon Brown; Holly Clarke; Sarah Louise Smith; Sophie Stead; Aasha; Emily O Hara; Laura Foster; Faith; Katherine Helmsley; Connie Smith; Alice; Jordanne Bell; Melissa; Imogen Chappell; Sophie Lycett; Jessica Tucker; Natasha Sporn; Laura Mahady; Amy McCarthy; Kathryn Kelly; Megan Hind; Sacha Baranciokas; Flo Willis; Charlotte Agar; Nadine Hay; Jodie; Olutoun Quadri; Hannah Ackroyd; Hannah Shaw; Sarah Buggy; Victoria Kilpatrick; Abbie Jackson; Maddy Ross: Rhian P; Amber; Egle; Danii; Dervla Reilly; Katie Johnson; Maille Noonan.