What We Didn't Do On Our Holiday

When I was at school (when schools were still in black and white), at the beginning of a new term, we would always have to write a poem or an essay entitled What I Did On My Holidays. At the time I quite enjoyed it, but I realised when I became a teacher myself that it wasn’t such an inspiring idea. So, how about writing a poem about what you didn’t do – or wished you had done – on your holiday?

First make a list of all the things you would like to have done. These can be regular activities, like going to the beach, painting, playing tennis, visiting the zoo – or maybe you could use your imagination a little. For example how about water ski-ing in the Mediterranean, white water rafting in Peru, swimming with sharks, having tea with The Queen, winning a million pounds, travelling to Mars, going back in time…

Then use the list to write a poem. (See Jan’s List Poems below for more ideas.)

Here’s a poem I wrote on a similar theme.

Travelling by car is much more fun

Than flying in an aeroplane

Anyway, Mum gets airsick

And there’s nothing to see when you’re up in the clouds

I’m glad we didn’t go to Italy

Because I can’t speak Italian

And Blackpool beach is underrated

When it rains the glistening sands are beautiful

In Italy, Alex says, the sound of the surf

Keeps you awake

But we’re not far from the beach.

It’s only a ten-minute walk, if you run

You don’t see many dolphins from Blackpool beach

But, even better, we swam with the jellyfish.

We much prefer fish and chips

Who wants to eat boring old Spaghetti Bolognese, anyway?

I’m glad we went to Blackpool

Not to Italy, like my best mate Alex

Mum said we mustn’t tell him what a great time we had

He’ll only be jealous

Send your poems to us and we’ll publish them here or on The Poetry Zone.