Perserverance

Who says that things cannot be done?
Nothing’s impossible on earth;
Most things are possible under the sun;
But perseverance should be thine friend!

The one who gives up with ease is a fool!
The wise person labors with determination;
Yet, one must choose the things that one can do,
And go full steam ahead, till comes success.

Perseverance is the secret of success;
By continual toil, failures can be avoided;
Great things were done by burning mid-night’s oil!
"The toiler harvests best of fruits in life."

Dr John Celes

The Hobbit

My Favourite childhood book

Mr Doran says:

"My favourite childhood book was the 'The Hobbit'. I read it when I was about 12 and read it a couple of times since. I've no particular reason why other than the story and the way it is written was like nothing I have read before. I still like that fantasy/historic/legends type genre "

Teamwork is........

The theme for the week is teamwork and while this may not exactly be a poem I thought it of interest.

Could you make up a better one (especially for X !!) ?

Acting as one

Believing in each other

Committing to excellence

Doing whatever it takes

Embracing a common vision

Fostering group intelligence

Giving the benefit of the doubt

Harnessing the power of many

Inspiring cooperation, not competition

Juggling skills and talents

Kindling collaborative genius

Looking out for each other

More "we" and less "me" thinking

Not minding who gets the credit

Overcoming obstacles together

Putting principles before personalities

Quickly resolving differences

Recognizing each other strengths

Sharing the workload

Treating each other with respect

Utilizing everyone's skills

Value everybody's input

Working side by side

Xpecting exponential results

Yearning to succeed together

Zestfully making a difference

Meiji Stewart

Kidnapped

Mr Rees says:

 "Kidnapped was a favourite of mine. I had the pair with Treasure Island, a book full of adventure and escapism for a typical boy. I used to read it early on a Saturday or Sunday morning instead of waking up my Mum and Dad! Soon it'll be my boys reading it !"

I-Spy book of Planes

Mr Walker says:

As a child I lived not too far from Heathrow Airport and on weekends or school holidays I would be able to cycle up to the airport fence and watch planes taking off or landing.
One day my mother gave me "The I-Spy book of Planes" so I then spent a great deal of time looking for tridents and dc-8's or spotting a particular BOAC or BEA plane. It also gave me a great desire to travel and see the world which I still have today. 

Invictus

One of the most famous poems about courage. Nelson Mandela regularly recited this poem to other prisoners on Robben Island and was empowered by it's message of self mastery. In the film Invictus, Madela give the captain of the South African rugby team a copy of this poem to inspire his team to win the Rugby World Cup.

The truth is in fact that Mandela gave him a speech called "Citizenship in a Republic" ! (Maybe we'll look at that another time...)

Out of the night that covers me
Black as the pit from pole to pole
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced or cried out loud
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyod this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade
And yet the menace of the years
Fins and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate
How changed with punishment the scroll.
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley