Kirk Franklin is an American gospel music producer and poet. He was known to have come from a very hard and difficult life. His dad would abuse his mother. His mum gave him up. He didn’t realize that he had other brothers and sisters till the age of 32. Thankfully his life changed around.

However, because of this, many of his poems and songs are based on his life story. He has written songs such as; “How it used to be”, “Chains” and “Help me believe”. Kirk Franklin is known to be a Christian and bases most of his poems and songs on his religious aspect of life.

In this poem, the poet, Kirk Franklin points a thought of trying to understand how God works, in ways he doesn’t understand. He also raises many doubts asking if there is a God. And if so, he is wondering where. However, towards the end, he tells God to protect him. It also says, “The only way my faith can grow, Is when you let your winds blow,” Metaphorically it is saying, the only ways he can let his trust and belief in God grow, are if God lets trials and hard times come to him. One thing which Kirk Franklin has achieved in this poem is that, he leaves the reader thinking and questioning the poem he has written, wondering if that is how they are as well.

However, the reason why I have chosen this poem is because firstly it is unusual, and being a seventh day Adventist myself, makes me understand it more. You also have to think deeply into thinking what Kirk Franklin was describing. If you couldn’t do this, you would walk away not knowing what he was describing. He even ends with; “You’re making me stronger now, so rain, and don’t go away.” This shows that, although at the beginning he was confused, he has now said that he is getting strong.

He also says because of this don’t leave me; I am willing to learn and understand you more. The ending few lines show that, the thought at the beginning now has a pathway. I also like how God is being described indistinctly. Instead of saying ‘God’ himself, he is describing God and what he does.

 Renee, Year Eight

The poem "Death is Nothing  at All" is a poem about death and how when someone dies you shouldn't mourn for them for a long time.  The poet obviously believes that there is an afterlife after death because he thinks that we will all meet again.  "How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!"  He doesn't want anything to have changed now he is dead and he doesn't want to be thought of as a dead person.  He wants to be remembered the way he was when he was alive.  It is almost as though he is saying that he will be back in a little while, but of course he won't be.  He also doesn't want the person he wrote this to to be ashamed to think about him, or talk about him.  "Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?"

I think the poem develops the theme well by using repetition.  On almost every line he makes a reference to not forgetting him or making sure that you talk about him or even to him!  It is almost as though he is afraid the person will forget him.

I chose this poem because I have never really lost anyone close to me in my family apart from my dogs so I don't really understand what it is like to have a loss like that.  I also don't believe in "heaven" and "the afterlife" so it is interesting to look at it from that point of view.

I think the overall message of the poem is that you have accept death because it is just another part of life.

Lily, Year Eight