A selection of poems written by Tipperary Creative Writing Group. Tutor Patricia McHale , as part of the Adult Learners Festival 2021
Funded by Community Education.
Returning to Learning
When I was a child,
I couldn’t learn,
Afraid of getting things wrong.
But now as an adult,
Returning to learning
Has opened a whole new world.
Betty Ryan © 2021
My Future?
Retirement’s looming…
How will I fill my days?
Friends say, “Relax and enjoy.”
But I want more.
I don’t want to stagnate,
Maybe wither and die.
That’s not my future.
Lifelong learning
Where age is no barrier.
Opportunities to explore
New skills, knowledge, new friends…
That’s my future.
Mary Davis © February 2021
Second Chance
When I was little, I went to school.
I didn’t like it much.
The teacher was quite scary,
With her books and sticks and such!
I didn’t know when I started
I’d be there for many years…
And that getting educated
Sometimes meant lots of tears!
Years later I’m back to learning,
But this time, it’s my choice.
It’s brilliant, it’s great, it’s marvellous,
And the teacher’s very nice!
I’m learning how to create
A short story, novel or play.
And who knows?
If I’m lucky,
I just might be famous
Some day!
Marie Hennessy © 22/ 02/ 2021
Wipe the slate clean
Wipe the slate clean
Dust away the cobwebs
Pull open the curtains
And let in the light
You can start again
And again
Tapping in to your potential,
Potential formally missed
Experience the joy
Of new knowledge
And new experience
Flooding in
Add it all together
Subtract what you no longer need
And all will be more and better
Better than you could conceive.
(PH 2020)
A NEW WAY OF LEARNING
Looking back, it seems not long ago
School books packed on back
Always on the go
Through hail rain and snow
Eager to learn.
Now time and tide has turned
Another stride – and we’re online
Another drum – struggling but doing fine…
Learning new ways to live,
New ways to learn
Nellie Keane © 2021