Marley and her poem

A seven-year-old Nantwich girl has received national recognition after penning a brilliant poem about life in lockdown in her home town!

Marley Sharp was reading Michael Rosen’s “A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry” and was inspired to reply to the “Laughter Rap in Plastic Town” poem by John Agard.

The Pear Tree Primary School pupil decided to write a poem in reply based on a child’s perspective on Covid-19 and life under lockdown in Nantwich.

Called “Rainbow Rap from My Town”, her work encapsulates the life and times from a child’s perspective.

And since sharing her poem on social media, Marley has received responses from national broadcast outlets hoping to interview her to get a child’s perspective on the lockdown.

And she has also had messages of support from Michael Rosen’s team, with the 73-year-old currently in hospital battling the COVID-19 virus.

The Children’s Poetry Archive, Young Poets Network and Blue Peter have also praised Marley, and she has been awarded a Blue Peter Badge for her thought-provoking work.

She has also sent her poem to John Agard.

Marley said: “When I read Laughter Rap in Plastic Town, I noticed it had some some similarities to life in lockdown.

“I decided to write a poem as a response to Laughter Rap but with Covid 19 and the lockdown in mind.

“So I got on with writing a poem and it went really really good.

“As it was inspired by Laughter Rap, I wanted to call mine Rainbow Rap because of the Rainbows all around town.

“Writing is the thing I do when i’m bored and get to express my feelings and fears as its easier than telling people all your secrets, you can just write them down.

“It’s like keeping secrets but sharing them too. I just really love it”.

Marley’s favourite writers are Roald Dahl, David Walliams, Jaqueline Wilson, JK Rowling and all the poets featured in Michael Rosen’s A to Z of Children’s Poetry.

Marley’s mum Charlene Sharp, who lives on the Kingsbourne Estate, said: “Marley is an exceptional writer.

“She loves to craft poems, lyrics and stories so this was a great opportunity for her to channel her emotions about life under lockdown into a creative piece of work.

“She misses her friends greatly so she wanted to share her poem with all the children of Nantwich, to bring hope that they’ll all be able to play on the park again soon.”

You can watch Marley perform her poem, below:

And here is Marley’s lovely “Rainbow Rap from My Town” poem in full:

Rainbow Rap in My Town by Marley Sharp (1)

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