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  • Meadowbank Changing Manifesto
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Meadowbank Changing Manifesto

Colin Herd

We need another word
for badminton. If everyone’s
comfortable calling squash
squash, at least for the meantime,
we should consider the following
suggestions: swish, jumpwhack,
trainersqueek shimmyracket,
weirdsport, hurrystyles, nothockey,
ritzyexuberance, breathybeats,
SmashThePants, thintennis,
Whichsideamimeanttobegame,
Whatsthescorenowsport,
high-and-fluttery, middlerackety,
deftness, highnet, shuttlecockhitting,
over-the-top, sullyknee, pinstrip,
or how about we play it really
cautious and classy and just
trim the word to BAD? We’ll take
a vote so it should be pretty
painless. Starting localised
in this sweaty, noise-art
cardboard changing room,
but branching out like a
brakeless shuttlecock that’s
been watching Forrest Gump,
we’re going to refashion
every sport until the world’s
a different and/or better place!


Colin Herd

Reproduced by permission of the author.

Tags:

change English National Poetry Day 2018 sport

About this poem

One of the poems chosen for National Poetry Day 2018 on the theme of ‘change’.

Learning Resources

SQA Key: National 5        Higher
  • Meadowbank Changing Manifesto Teaching Notes

    Choose from the following activities to build your own Level Three or Four poetry lessons. The writing activities could be adapted for Senior students.
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Poster

Meadowbank Changing Manifesto

One of the poems selected for National Poetry Day 2018, for the theme of 'change'. Why can’t we change the names of all sports to better suit the activity?
Download the poster

Colin Herdb.1985

A lecturer in Creative Writing at Glasgow University, Colin Herd is also a poet and gallery director.
More about Colin Herd

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