Malvern boy's poem helps him deal with uncle's death (From Malvern Gazette)

Malvern boy's poem helps him deal with uncle's death

7:55pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

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A 10-year-old Malvern boy put pen to paper and wrote a moving poem to cope with the death of his uncle.

James Bannister's efforts were recognised by a Young Writer's organisation and he will be published in their 18th anniversary compilation.

James was invited to submit a poem for the compilation after being published in an earlier edition when he was just eight years old.

James said:"I got the invitation to write one and decided to write about my uncle who had passed away a couple of months beforehand.

"I did not know what to write and my mum told me to just put my feelings down."

A Poem For Dave laments the loss of James' uncle, Dave Bannister, and will feature in Young Writers - Coming of Age which is due out in August.

The year six pupil at Somers Park Primary had his interest in poetry sparked by his school literacy classes.

He quickly got the hand of similes and metaphors and learnt how they could articulate his emotions.

"They helped me to get the feelings out," he said.

He admits he would like to become a full-time poet when he grows up, but only if his first choice career - a professional footballer - does not come off.

Young Writers will be awarding a laptop computer as a prize for the best poem in the anthology which will be available at www.youngwriters.co.uk.

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