During the Festival of Libraries 2023 the Schools Writing Trail landed across Manchester in eight locations in the City Centre. We invited audiences of the trail to write their own poetry responding to the trail via stations alongside trail locations and online via #MCRSchoolsWritingTrail.

We’re so happy to publish some of those collaborative poems here.

Central Library Collaborative Poem
first line by Nimrah Kamal, Yr. 7, Levenshulme High School

In you, I see light beyond the galaxy.
In you, I see a bright fire.
If you don’t give up, you can find the light.
You are a bright star.
Your eyes keep joy all around you.
I see happiness when I look in your eyes.
The beauty you hide beneath those eyes.
In you I see the water and the sand.
You shine as bright as the universe.
You are the source of my light.

Manchester Poetry Library Collaborative Poem
first line by Hezha, The Comino Poet in Residence Project

Birds singing in the bright green oak trees
catkins waving on hazel trees
the flowers are below, the grass is green
dandelions fly in the crisp breeze
a good fountain for life
fish swim in the deep of the oceans
we search the ships, the fields, the seas
we go on and dare to dream