Stage 2 history poems - convicts living on hulks in England in the 18th century
Lulu 3S
I hope when we get to the colonies I’ll have my name again, for now all I have is a number.
As soon as we get to the colonies I’ll laugh aloud in joy, we’ll be off this horrible hulk and free from the ship that shadows my dreams now.
But when we do arrive no more scrubbing of the dirty deck, no more barred, blackened windows that let in no light.
It’ll be good hopefully or at least better than this dark, dank place.
All I did was steal some bread so my family could be fed, I didn’t know that they’d arrest a seven-year-old child.
I wish I could see the future or maybe make my own, because it might not be how I dare to dream it on this floating, futureless ship without sails.
Life on a hulk By Violet S 3S
Air all dirty and crisp at night
Feeling cold and scared at night.
Dark blue water crashing on the windows
Boats all sit there, in neatly-lined rows.
Fluttering flags, and flailing winds
Running rats, and iron rings.
Disgusting food shoved into white bowls
Dusty floors with scattered food scraps
Misty skies with cloud-like traps.
Tired people working for torturous ‘leaders’
They are all nothing more than desperate needers.
James Grace By Sophie D 3S
Life aboard the hulk is hard, eating rotten mouldy food.
The hulk is a big dirty bore, and sometimes I feel as if I could live no longer.
Wrapped in rags we are forced to work all day, and at night the wailing wind stings my cheeks like wasps bites.
Sometimes at night if I get some sleep, I dream of that dreaded day, the day I left my fated family.
The horrible hulk swallows me up, and my hunger is all I can think of.
My hunger makes me so tired I have to go to sleep at night,
Slowly, the boat forces me to sleep.
Convict 5418 By Tom 3S
I stole a waistcoat because I was as freezing as a wild animal with no fur
It was hanging there flapping, on the washing line as I walked past
The Police caught me and started to chase me like I was the most wanted convict in town
I was going to get hanged but I got put on a horrible, hellish hulk
I suffered in pain, it was dark damp and disgusting, I almost fainted
When I finally got off the hulk after two years, I was poor, I was homeless
I was worried I would have to steal again
But for now, I was happy in the shining sun.
Bella 3R
The long grey rats scurry across the cold stone bed
A choir of coughing mixes with the rattling of the chains
We slowly drown the river of tears
We breathe pain, we eat despair, we choke on sadness
Oskar 3R
Ice in my bones,
surrounded by moans
And the mighty hulk’s groans
In this gaol at sea
I dream to be free
From the strangers, all chained to me
Even though I pray
We work all day
Unable to getaway
One toe out of line
Then a cat and nine,
How I regret my life of crime.
Stanley 3R
My memories of my family are fading but they are still my best memories.
Stealing that loaf of bread I regret but at that time my hungry tummy was laid to rest.
Being caught I felt really bad, but at least my family had a little meal.
Court was scary and so was the judge.
Boarding the hulk was terrifying but I pulled through for the years and years I was there.
All I could think of was my home but I knew I was going far far away.
Tilly 3M
The prisoners are so full of em’ selves. They think that they can jump off the Hulk & then run away, but little did they know that we are sailing in the OCEAN…
But em’ might get seasick.
There are a lot of bugs on the Hulk but they will have to deal with it.
I chain em’ together & they can’t run away.
They’ll be too dumb to figure something out.
They couldn’t even walk in em’.
