Exeter pupils' poetry selected for literary festival
The work of three Exeter School poets has been selected for publication by the Budleigh Salterton Decorative and Fine Arts Society.
The collection of poems will be published in September as part of the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival and the work of five other pupils will also be on display.
The Year 10 pupils were invited to write poetry on the themes of poaching and conservation as part of a Budlitfest creative writing project during their English lessons.
English teacher Ben Masters said: "After a week of lessons discussing, amongst other issues, the plight of the last male northern rhino and other endangered species, pupils sent off a selection of poems.
"We were delighted to discover that Megan Bailey, Bethan Reynolds and Phoebe Solway's works had been selected for publication. Their poems displayed great heart and originality, as well as a feel for the music and imagery that makes poetry memorably haunting.
Bethan said she thoroughly enjoyed creating this piece of poetry, not only because she enjoys writing but because it is based upon a subject she feels strongly about.
"It was easy to write about something that, especially now, is affecting our lives and our futures so much," she said.
"I was shocked and happily surprised when I found out my poem had been selected because so many great pieces had been written in our school year. I am grateful to the people involved in choosing my poem as one to be published.
"Due to this, I do wish to continue writing in the future as this has given me encouraging confidence in my writing. It is also something I do enjoy and I am now enthusiastic to get my opinions across in my writing."
The collection, which is to be published in tandem with the arts events in September, opens with Megan's poem 'A World without Animals'.
Megan said conservation is a very important act as it helps protect endangered species that might become extinct by poaching or catching them for pets or money.
"In my poem I highlight what the world would be like if every animal was killed to extinction and how it would affect the future generations and this idea of the effects that what we do in one moment could affect the whole world is a reason why this project and being selected is so important."
Poems by Year 10 pupils Georgia Willis, Jess Wright, Jashan Patidar, Lauren Sampson and Emma Daly will also be on display during the event.
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