Poem of the Week

We have introduced you to Rochelle in a previous edition of the newsletter. She has done so much fantastic work with us in rebranding Wilnash Care and launching our new website. Well it turns out that she is a talented amateur poet as well! Here’s something she put together with her daughter in mind. But it is good advice for anyone, particularly teenagers glued to their mobile phones.

 Sticks & Stones and Mobile Phones

A little guide for youngsters on texting etiquette, cyber bullying

and responsible phone use

By Rochelle Dallas

Oh, look at you! You’ve got your first phone,

The world in your hands and you’re never alone.

You will never be more than a group chat away,

From the faces you see in the classroom each day.

You’ve begged for this phone for months, maybe years.

So now let’s not use it, for sadness and tears.

Group chats are fun, and full of noise,

As you quickly forget about childhood toys.

Think first, be polite and always be kind,

You just never know what’s on someone’s mind.

It’s hard to hear how something is meant,

So think carefully before your text has been sent.

Text in a group can be twisted or mocked,

You might think it’s funny but they might be shocked.

If in doubt, pick up the phone,

So much more can be heard from your tone.

How you say what you want to say,

Can be hard enough, anyway.

The words that you use aren’t really what matter,

It’s more how you sound when you’re having a chatter.

And how you stand and how you appear,

When you say the words you want people to hear.

But texting is just words on a digital screen,

It can be super hard to say what you mean.

Things can turn awkward, when someone begins.

To say something nasty, that they should have kept in.

And you may think you’re helping, as your friend is now sad

But by getting involved, you appear just as bad.

At night the screen backlight will keep you awake,

Stop you from dreaming and make your head ache.

But you need your rest for tomorrow at school,

To learn lots of things so you don’t look a fool.

The very best thing about having a phone,

Is that when you are tired and want to be alone…

There’s a little button on the side or the top,

That can switch it off and the noise can stop.

Go pick up a book or play with your brother,

Or find that ball or something or other,

Love these years, you will soon be grown,

Enjoy your life outside of your phone.