The blue whale! It’s a creature that has haunted Eddie’s life. He saw it first on The Life of Mammals, when his soul was touched by David Attenborough’s cry of joy as the impossible beast surfaced right by the tiny boat. This initial fascination was given strength, knowledge and direction by Big Blue Whale, a book by the incomparable Nicola Davies. This week Eddie announced his attention to write a blue whale poem, and he researched it over the course of the weekend with the DVDs and the book. Here is the result. Eddie, my younger son, is 15 and has Down’s syndrome.
Blue Whale
David showed me the skeleton
of a blue whale
The Blue Whale
eats a lot of food
he said.
The Blue Whale
is so big
it can only live in water
I see
The Blue Whale
in the sea.
I feel happy, excited
I see blue
blue sea
and light shining on
The Blue Whale
I see its food
krill
small
like my little finger
The Blue Whale
eats
a lot
a lot
of
little krill
The Blue Whale
lives in the ocean
all the time
men search the seas for
The Blue Whale
to take photos, films
for people
like me
Thank you
David Attenborough.
Dear Eddie
Your poem is full of WHALE and little krill. It makes me happy too.
Thank you from Julia
Thank you! From Eddie.
This is a great and celebratory poem….so genuine; and in form, like a series of haikus. Thank you Eddie (what’s the sign for krill, I wonder?)
Really nice, thank you. Just hold up your little finger – that’s krill. From Eddie.
Thank you. That has made me smile on this grey day
Thank you! From Eddie.
You’re a star eddie!!
Thank you! From Eddie.
Beautiful !!!!!
Yay! From Eddie.
That is an amazing poem from an amazing boy!
Thank you! From Eddie.
Lovely
Thank you! From Eddie.
Thank you Eddie..a lovely poem which makes me want to watch the David Attenborough film again, and perhaps buy Nicola’s book!!!
I like Nicola’s book! Thank you. From Eddie.
Thanks Eddie thats a grand poem.
Thank you! From Eddie.
What a perceptive poem!
Thank you! From Eddie.
Thanks Eddie that’s inspirational; chip off the old block!
Thank you! From Eddie.
Well said, Michael! Like father, like son, both bring equal pleasure in their use of words.
Very very good – better than I could do (and I’m 61!)
Thank you! From Eddie.
Eddie. That’s a great poem. Keep composing. Keep being inspired.
Hope your dad gets the chance to show you a real one sometime soon.
That would be nice!
Great rhythm. I especially liked ‘a lot/a lot/ of krill’ and the description of the oceans being searched to bring back images.
Thank you! From Eddie.
Absolutely lovely – you clearly have your dad’s gift for writing!
Thanks! From Eddie.
What a great poem -simple, but says it all. Through the eyes of the young!
Thank you Hilary. From Eddie.
Excellent stuff Eddie. Keep looking over your shoulder,your dad might catch up with you one day
That’s funny. Thank you! From Eddie.
Great stuff, Ed! I look forward to reading lots more of your poetry!
thanks for the poem Eddie – do more when you want.
Nice one Eddie, your poem says it all and says it so well. Now you will be able to look back on your poem in years to come at the snap-shot you have made of it. I hope that it inspires your enjoyment of the life you meet when you’re out in the canoe – it might not be as big as a ‘blue’ but the other animal lives are there to see and marvel at too.
Thanks Eddie, that was a lovely poem.
I love your poem Eddie. I really hope that I will be able see a Blue Whale one day. If I do, I’ll think of you!
Your poem feels big and blue and special just like the whale, Eddie. I keep going back to it and reading it again and again. Thank you!