Page 48 - Herioter 2021

‘Through the gates CLEANER
Purple spray is all I see.
we go; don our Purple spray in all my dreams.
Spray all day and spray all night.
masks, to-and-fro’ Purple spray, a ghastly sight.
Sofia Macchi Watts and Madeleine Lake (S6)
THE UNIVERSITY APPLICANT
Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s Epitaphs of the Gone.
War, Advanced Higher English students exploring All excitement replaced with doubt.
the poetry of the First World War came up with No visits to grimy halls, whose walls are filled with
modern epitaphs capturing the essence of life at anticipation.
Heriot’s in 2020. Courses overbooked, places uncertain,
opportunities unequal.
S6 PUPIL We are the year of worry.
This wasn’t the year I was promised, Bea Hart-Brown (S6)
When I started back in August. REMOTE LEARNER
Becca Shulman (S6) Online learning with no motivation. THE CENSORS
Days surrounded by the same four walls
HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL And a feeling that it would never end. School Hall lies empty this morning.
The ghost of past tolerance,
Gaze into the front facing camera. Iona Henderson and Hannah Gribbon (S6) Desperately performing,
‘Colours recipients, come on in… To a non-existent audience.
Form a socially distanced line.’ RECEPTIONIST Laurence Linklater and Charlie Hogg (S6)
Laurence Linklater and Charlie Hogg (S6) The next of the endless procession of children
walks in. CLASS OF 2021
RUGBY PLAYER ‘Sorry, but I forgot my mask today.’
There is something desolate about a pristine Twenty-five and counting… Corona haunts the hallways.
Goldenacre pitch in December. ‘Remember it tomorrow.’ We feel the anticipation.
No sand, no mud or scars from the game we But they never do! Students in and out of isolation.
scarce remember. Laurence Linklater and Charlie Hogg (S6) The future of the class of 2021 remains
Laurence Linklater and Charlie Hogg (S6) uncertain.
The traditions we cling to appearing more and
NEW PUPIL AUTHORITY more unlikely.
Through the gates we go; 2020: the year of regret, Will this really be the reality of our last year?
Don our masks, to-and-fro. Of U-turns and backtracking and false, poisonous Lisa Kean (S6)
On our way to our very first class, lies,
Dearly hoping that we’re all going to pass. That destroyed the future of the children in some THE ENGLISH TEACHER
Track-and-trace setting the pace places, and awarded them in others. Listen to the science,
For a year of woe in every case. 2020: the year where they failed. But don’t forget the arts.
Bea Hart-Brown (S6) Iona Henderson and Hannah Gribbon (S6) Mr Jonny Muir

‘I think you are A year of celebration? Here lies 2020.
You did not end too soon.
Instead: closed doors, face coverings, protests
on mute’ for human life. Martin Cunnane (S2)
Florence Gill and Rebecca Dawson (S3)
The introverts loved you.
Here lies the year 2020. Louisa Stevens and Heidi Dawson (S3)
Pupils in English classes in S1 to S5 were You were blamed for what you did not do.
asked to do something similar, albeit not #Blame2019 It was going to be the best,
inspired directly by Kipling. Turned out to be a pest,
Christina Yan (S2)
And I will never like a year less.
Here lies ‘Our Social Life’. The seesaw of life. Violet Fluendy and Amy Henriksen (S3)
Died 2020. Eva Cozzi and Katie Matthew (S2)
Will forever be forgotten. Pushed us apart,
Peter Foo and Max Ajilogba (S3) I think you are on mute. Brought us closer.
Sam Davies (S5) Andrew Power (S2)
Is there WiFi down here?
Issy Byrne, Katie Goddard and Trudy RIP to all those who did not invest in Zoom. I am crying,
Kerr (S1) Connie Soutar (S5) Under the mask.
Sam Davies (S5)
1914 still beat you. It was not just a ‘cold’.
Louisa Stevens and Heidi Dawson (S3) Lucie Edwards and Martha Trotter (S2) 2020 died.
From a virus?
Cough, cough… Game over. Kirk Findlay and Tom Buttars (S1)
See you in two weeks. (Do not pass ‘Go’).
Tristan Geake and Corey Campbell (S3) (Do not collect £200.) Corohno.
Angus Clark (S2) Ailsa Brodie and Greta Wallace (S3)
Six feet apart.
At all times. If maths was a year… What’s the Netflix password?
Erin Le Fevre (S5) Kate Douglas, Evie MacPhail and Jenny Richards and Lucy Hardman (S5)
Lucy Topley (S3)

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