Ardgillan College Poetry
Unsafe
Unsafe, the word itself feels unwelcoming When I was young it felt as if it were the monsters under my bed Now I’m growing up and it’s the voices in my head They tell me not to wear that shirt, to hide my face in the street, to ignore the men I hear in the distance, to second guess every person I meet
I shouldn’t have to agree with other women that we don’t feel safe walking alone in broad daylight, with my friends, in a party or in the comfort of my own home, to the people online I talk to on the other end of my phone
I hate when I look in the mirror and I consider if I like my face I hate then when I walk on my own, I consider if I need to buy mace The people I love most who promise to keep me safe I’m sorry that I doubt you but I feel unsafe.
DECIDE
Decide your future at thirteen,
Decide the man that follows can’t cause pain,
Decide I hate the men I stand between,
Decide to walk home from the train,
Decide that school’s the one to blame,
Decide it’s okay to hate this place,
Decide to hide my face in shame,
Decide it’s sad to carry mace,
But the man that follows still remains.
“JUST INCASE”
I shouldn’t have to cover my skin when it’s scalding,
I shouldn’t have to check behind my back when walking,
I shouldn’t have to stay home when it’s dark,
I shouldn’t have to listen to your catcall in the park,
I shouldn’t have to cover my face,
I shouldn’t have to carry this mace,
All the things I do to feel safe,
All the things I do for a “just incase”
Untitled
All of my people have been erased, and I suppose that I am next. It is the inalterable law of the universe; as set in stone as Newton’s laws. I am resigned to my fate. Nothing can stop my erasure from history. My name will slowly be eroded from its annals, until all character is removed.
Who cares if he was gay? Who cares if he murdered 50 people? The lake water calls, until I drown in its despair.
I suppose that this is the ultimate freedom; I suppose that this is the ultimate imprisoning. My actions, my personality, my character. All is filed down, until I become a pawn for somebody else’s ideals.
In reality, the ability to do anything is the prison cell I live in.
Untitled
Men don’t know what women go through,
Men don’t know that women can’t go outside at night alone,
Men don’t know how I feels to have eyes on them from a man old or young,
Men don’t know why women choose bear over man,
Men don’t know that’s bears won’t look at us the way men do,
Men don’t know that bears won’t harass us into doing something we don’t want to do,
Men don’t know how it feels to be told to put our shoulders away cause they will be distracted,
Men don’t know how it feels to be a women today,
Men don’t know,
Men won’t know.
Untitled
When I am bored in my house scrolling through TikTok all I can think about is playing my favourite sport. But sadly I am too young so have no way of transport to the pitch. Hopefully when I’m older I get good at the sport so I get rich.
Untitled
I am happy, I am kind, In sports, my joy I find. Boxing gloves and running shoes, Walking paths where I choose.
Math in school, it’s a grind, Numbers swirl, I lag behind. But in the kitchen, I excel, Baking cookies, casting spells.
Dinner served with care and grace, A chef’s hat on, I find my place. In cooking’s art, my spirit soars, A world of flavours, mine to explore.
Just a girl
I feel awkward when talking to others I feel useless to mothers and brothers I feel as though my voice is not being heard I feel like sometimes I’m just a nerd
I feel like my stories aren’t important I feel every opinion I have starts an argument I feel as if I can fly And then I feel as I might just die
I feel like as a girl I shouldn’t talk And outside it feels unsafe to walk I feel as if I’m just here for decoration And should be grateful I even have an education
As a girl looks seem to be worth more than wit I feel as I might as well just quit As a girl I’m called a piece of work And feel every male around me is sa jerk
I feel awkward when talking to others I feel useless to mothers and brothers I feel I should be happy to spin and twirl But after all I’m just a girl
“Little Red Riding Hood”
A little girl from a village so small, Wears her red hood and stands quite tall. Her mother calls her name, Her grandmother’s ill, she goes out in the rain. She didn’t know she wouldn’t be the same.
Out on her walk, in the grimey mud, A lonesome wolf notices her hood. He asks the girl on her whereabouts, And she answered “My grandmothers house”. The wolf takes a road off to the side, Striding tall with an aim in mind.
As riding hood approached the door, She heard the sound of a un-human snore. ”Hello Grandmother! I brought you pills, Take them mindfully to cure your ills.” She turns around and sees a wolf, Runs out the door with the speed of bulls.
And so, the story ends, The wolf did what he always tends. To do, but riding hood was smarter, Running out the door like a worried toddler.
Untitled
Teenagers have it hard,
Many of them sneak out the window through their backyard,
They sneak around doing drugs,
Many of them think they’re thugs,
They’re faced with the challenge of peer pressure,
They drink alcohol without a measure,
Boys can’t be themselves without being slagged,
Girls are constantly being nagged,
Getting called fat causes people to go to the gym,
But then again people are called too thin,
Parents are putting pressure on you to do well,
But that just causes you to rebel,
The important thing is no one is perfect,
So you should treat everyone respect.
Untitled
When I wake up in the morning for the first day of school
I felt like crying because of all the new rules
Last year was tough with exams and stress
But this year will be more fun with trips and more success
Untitled
When I wake up I want to play gaelic the feeling of watching your favourite county play is great. And to play is even better. The smell of the freshly cut grass mixed with morning dew
Football
Football is the game,
Football is the aim,
Effort and effort is all it takes
So much time dedicated to one thing
Pressure
When I put the uncomfortable uniform on, As I slowly open my curtains to see frost on the window, I shiver not because of the cold but of the exhaust thought of school
As I am about to walk into the gates of the school I can smell the pressure from a mile away I can hear the teachers practicing there speech to us talking about the junior cert Imagining what it’s like in June
Untitled
I am happy with my life. There’s nothing I could ask for. I love my family and my friends. I am grateful for my dad. I love my family and my friends. I will accomplish anything for them.
Untitled
Girls are often fake to eachother,
causing drama and tension around.
Sometimes even stealing lovers,
causing everyone to whisper sound.
Not many girls have respect for their friends,
as they speak badly behind their backs.
This may cause there friendships to end,
not many of them ever relax.
7:30am on a Tuesday
7:30 on a Tuesday. Eyes red and bulging out my skull. A cold day in November, sky grey and dull. Crawl out the door to school. Higher then can be. I feel all the eyes looking. I feel them judging me.
I know it’s not right. I’ve heard it enough. From worried peers and parents. ”You’re killing yourself son.”
Now it’s 8 o’clock. I’m still high in school. The youth have a problem. Smoking doesn’t make you cool. It takes total control, fries your brain like a fool.
I know what it’s like to be in that position. I know it’s hell to live through addiction. But it does get better i promise you that. It’s been almost 6 months since I’ve last had a whack.
Untitled
Just small not tall
A myriad of interests, none of them,
Understood, related,
I feel, mostly hated
A small group of friends,
Tight knit,
A perfect fit,
My rock in the ocean
Of being such a disliked notion
THE WOMAN I AM
I can’t be to Loud but can’t be too quiet Cant be to tall but can’t be too small Can’t be too fat but can’t be too skinny Can’t be opinionated but can’t have none at all Can’t be too sporty else I’m weird. Can’t wear too much makeup but can’t wear none at all. Can’t be too smart but can’t be dumb So what can I be ? Nothing at all I’d want to be someone but I can’t be anyone. The expectations vs reality The truth vs the lie I want to be someone But who even is that . ????? Who is a girl if society doesn’t pick who she is Can she be who she wants to be Or just be like everyone else A young girl scared to be who she wants to be. Trapped in her shell for years to come
Untitled
The air is thick with iron’s clang, Weights rise and fall machines hum bang. Sweat drips down as muscles burn Each rep a lesson each step a turn.
The mirror gleams with silent pride No crowd to cheer no place to hide. But through the strain I find my way— Stronger than I was yesterday.
Worth
Hate, Hate people because they’re nothing like you, Loath them because they don’t do what ‘normal people’ do.
Hate, Hate the government because they’re the reason you’re stuck here, Despise ‘the man’ because you’ll never get anywhere near him.
Hate, Hate your school because it’s making you a mindless drone, Curse out your teacher in breathy murmurs because she’ll always have a bone to pick.
Hate, Hate the lads because they don’t really care, Talk behind your mate’s back because he’d never really be there for you.
Hate, Hate yourself because everyone else does, Hate yourself because you don’t know who you are, but of course your dad does.
Hate, Hate everything, hate it all because it’s never loved you back, Feel the gut wrenching pain of existence and throw it all back into the faces of the people you love.
Love, Love your parents because you’re supposed to, Adore your brother, sister, uncles and your dog to because they love you too, accept it.
Acceptance, Accept life for what it is, a cesspool of horrors and chemical’s making you ‘happy’ Understand that you can live as you wish to, making life complicated but worthy,
Worth, Feel the worth of it all because its all you have, Walk through life and make it out as if half of any of it is worthy of you.
Mirror
I walk through the halls with mirrors on the walls.
When I look at them,I don’t see me but who l pretend to be.
To fit in with them,I cover who I am, this mask of mine is so fine, am always scared they’ll discover who I am.
When they do, I know what I’ll see thier backs turning on me.
I walk through the halls with mirrors on walls. You know what I see the true me.
Being a Girl
Being a girl means being small,
Not being short but being almost nothing at all.
A girl shouldn’t speak out of line,
She should be respectful and kind,
Not skinny, not fat,
She should listen to men, and only then,
Her words will work, her mouth shall move.
She can make a sound, speak aloud.
But without a man, the woman will lie,
In her bed, lonely and quiet, she will die.
A Match
It was a sunny morning in Phibsboro the two rivals meet,
Both teams want the bragging rights, as you could see
The fights commencing on the streets. The fans were
In the pub with blood and their hands. This was more
Then a game it was war. You always want to score first
On these occasions. As the celebrations commence in
The stands the players are encouraged.
Untitled
I felt trapped
I felt embarrassed
I didn’t know what was happening
I didn’t know who I was
I felt anxious for the first time
I felt depressed
I felt I wasn’t enough
I felt like I had to lose weight
I finally met my friends
I finally accepted myself
I finally became proud of myself
I finally spoke up
I finally realised it’s ok to express yourself
I realised it’s ok to feel uncomfortable
I realised that it’s all part life’s journey
Strange
One night i decided the darkness will not take over the light The bullies will take up a fight and everyone will be in a fright The light is warm and the night is cold
Everyones life deserves to be told The school life is hard , draining ,paining Teachers pushing us to much
Giving us hours of homework, notes and such Nothing in life is fair until we all make a change If we stand together it won’t be strange
Untitled
I tiredly wake up seeing my father on heavy rack
As he showed me the books to stack
Facing the other way me gawking at his back
My kindness and decorum is something I greatly lack
Thoughts running round my head like someone running on a racing track
Though my thoughts are all black
OCD
how does it feel to live a life, that’s not controlled by your head? no rules and no rituals, just an empty space that allows you to process your thoughts without the recurring feeling of uncertainty,
the feeling that nothing is ever ‘even’ enough, ever clean enough, ever normal enough and ever good enough. that the feeling of the cycle breaking is just the cycle continuing.
it’s hard to imagine a life for myself without these quirks, it feels as if it’s a part of me a daily occurrence, a routine that i hope to one day leave behind, leave behind the fear and the sinking feeling and instead rise and move on from it.
Untitled
school is not cool
maths makes drool
so bad it nearly makes a pool
so many people around me look like shmoul
hair shaved so thin its not even cool
unlike me, i have lots of hair
similar to a bear
i like my steak done medium rare
Cycle
The pressure is never ending
As you step onto the green
You feel it deeply
That you just want to feel seen
It’s a never ending cycle
How much can we take?
We just want to succeed
The pressure is never ending.
School
Back in school 🏫
With these rules 🗒️
These gals ain’t cool 😎
There just some fools 🤪
They live in their books 📚
They don’t cook 👩🍳
Gotta see them here and there👋
They just spawn everywhere 🫥
The Shop
I run around the shop
The colourful sweets catching my attention, making me stop
But I cant stop
John milk is strolling closer
Carrying a bottle opener
I sprint away
Grateful to survive another day
Sports
Playing sports has its ups and downs But the friendships you make Will run around town
I put pressure on myself To be the best I can But i dont need to Since my dad is my biggest fan
I find it hard sometimes To prove everyone wrong But when I take a step back I should relax and that is wrong.
Words
Words don’t make sense
There’s many that mean the same thing but for no appert reason they are spelt differently
Words don’t make sense
There so strange , to listen to , to say ,to spell
Words don’t make sense
They can mean many thing even though it’s only one word
Words don’t make sense
There only there to communicate
But even though they make no sense I love to talk.
Prison
I hate these old battered walls
Where souls come to die
Where creativity crumbles and pressure calls.
Where people judge and rumours lie.
I hate these dull bleak rooms
Stripped of gold and grace
Dead dreams and inspiration loom
Souls the colour of my lace.
Everything happens for a reason
When the woods are quiet and the birds are chirping, it’s happening for a reason
When she says your great but she’s just not ready, it’s happening for a reason
When they say your not good enough and you need to do better, it’s happening for a reason
When you fail the test everyone passed, it’s happening for a reason
When you get a promotion at work, it’s happening for a reason
Whatever happens, it’s happening for a reason
Pressure
The power of pressure
Comes from the expectation to preform
The need to avail
And fear to fail
You roll the dice
Success Rewards all the sacrifice
Football
Played football since I was six
Got dropped at sixteen
They say I’m to small, not got enough tricks
I got to build back up
Got to get to the top
I’ll work hard, I won’t stop
Till I get to the top
Mental health in sports
I like the word sport, It heals me with life, But sometimes I wish, I could stab it with a knife.
I play lots of sports , Most with a ball, Some with ur head, Which are the trickiest of all.
I find some sports hard, Because of my health, But the kids that find it easy, Are the ones doing it for wealth.
I do it for fun, But also for hate, I like to challenge myself, I know some can relate.
Sports
I play lots of sport
Each and every day
I play with a team
Home and away
I play in the morning and sometimes the night
I play when it’s dark and also when it’s bright
I try my best
I play for my crest
And after my match I lay down and rest
Make it Make Sense
Fabricate a lie and relay it back to you
In my head it’s only letters
Make it make sense to make it better
Unsafe
Walking down the road again,
Looking down at the detrain,
It’s just boys I tell myself
Why am I so afraid?
My conscience is thinking bad things
Anything could happen cat calling, uncomfortable jokes and sadly even get raped
It’s just a walk
Why do I not feel safe
It’s just a walk
Boys and Girls
Boys and girls have different pros and cons
Boys are judgy and tend not to be vulnerable to try and get along
Girls are petty and try their best to hold unnecessary grudges
But once you put the two together you can see why
Boys are really sensitive and kind on the inside
Girls are empathetic and nice once they understand what you’re feeling on the inside
People tend to only see the cons but think more positively and you’ll realise the pros were there along.
School
7 O’Clock in the morning
Is the time I wake up
To go to this place
Where sometimes it’s rough
Teachers can get mad
And sometimes they can fold
From arguing with
A fifteen-year-old
Before you know it, it’s period one
And the homework is piling up
But it’s the morning
I’m bored, where’s the fun?
When is it break?
I catch myself saying
Regardless of what I think
Nothing can help, not even praying
Before I know it
It’s time to have food
And I can have time with my friends
In my first happy mood
Last period, I think
One last hour
Do I last?
Or do I jump in the bower
It’s over, Im free
Im finally home
At a whopping 20 past 3
The Struggles of School
Although I was tall, I mostly felt small. Always afraid to speak, it made me feel weak. Enough friends to be cool, but never smart enough at school. Trying on different versions of myself, but put back on the quiet shelf. Constant anxiety, playing it off by variety of various things that made me sit quietly. Trying to be happy but caught in negativity. I wish I spoke so people knew I was woke. Messed up in a class leaving me with a scar, mortified of questions about it, made me want to get in my car. To drive away to another day. But hey, thats just school and sometimes it can be cool.
Her
She is big and blue
And she’ll do as she will get you there in two
And she is the one for you
She may be old but in my eyes she is gold
Match
9am, it’s bright and cold
Getting ready to leave my home
9:45 going to play football
Early in the morning and it’s going to start physical
The game starts and it’s already rough
To get a result it will be very tough
30 minutes in and already a broken bone
That should give the match it’s tone
Half-time and the midfield is fried
Everybody is starting to feel tired
Ball hit the crossbar
Then we cored a winner from far
Balbriggan
Balbriggan is a kip
Surrounded by the shore
But violence is the core
Dating back to 1920
“Is there crime”, yes there’s bluntly
But the people are so friendly
Sunday morning football
Sunday morning we go to war
Get up early and out the door
Onto the pitch try start quick
Tell the boys don’t take the mick
See a man hit him hard Let him know this is my yard
No matter what we put up a fight
Our minds set with the the win in sight
Games
I hate mushrooms I think they’re mingin.
If you throw me a spice bag, I might just dig in.
The chips are crispy the chickens tender.
Me and the boys are going on a bender
It’s dark outside it’s late at night
It’s time to go home and play some Fortnite
Untitled
I’m jogging on the pitch scanning for space
Waiting for my teammate to pass the ball
And beat the defender with my unbelievable pace
I take a touch into space with the ball at my feet
Will I cross or shoot
There is only a keeper to beat
My dad and brother have been here before
It’s my time to shine and make the crowd roar
Untitled
Uncomfortable uniforms
Subjects I don’t like
Big groups
People drinking and vaping
Arrogance
Exams
Not having friends in classes
Not getting time in matchs
Not understanding things
People messing too much during classes
When my friends aren’t in
Feeling uncomfortable
Trying to explain things to people
Untitled
Things I don’t like
Spice
School
People who carry
Food Poisoning
I really like to eat anything anytime as long as it’s edible
I’ll eat if it’s impeccable, when I don’t eat it is regrettable
Sneaking down stairs I’m unditectable
Food poisoning I’m indefectible
Sardines from Lidl there unforgettable
Got hit with the potatoe blight
I started to see the light
Thought it was the end
Here we are again…..
Uncle Stephan
Life is good life is great,
Until you wake up and someone’s made a mistake,
Your sister is late which you hate,
You find out in a week that it was not fate,
Your uncle has past which is sad,
But you find out he’s in a better place now.
Her Eyes
The stars have nothing on her eyes , there like looking at a firefly ,a magic experience that passes by ,they make me wanna fly in the sunny sky ,and I will love her till the day I die
Untitled
I woke up again, I pull out my pen, I’m in my class, waiting for it to pass, the bell rings, i pack all my things, I head home, I go to eat, I get trapped in my phone, I felt defeat now it’s time to repeat.
Complete And Utter Nonsense
PB & J sammies Sittin’ in my jammies Watchin’ all the seasons of TWD
Doin’ what I want Thinkin’ that I’ll haunt My best friend forever cause I’ll be a banshee
I like the colour yellow Screamin’ at ya HELLO And it’s the same colour as my Irish Dance dress
I really like to draw And my doggy’s paw Just to let you know her name is Izzy, I guess