The vivacious and enthusiastic champions from the Immaculate Conception reading group have finished their Dickens challenge and, to celebrate, one member has written a poem about their journey. Click on the links within the poems to go back and read their blogs.
2012 The Year of the Dickens Challenge
We were a year ago given a task
But what was it I hear you ask
To read five books and then review
They came in boxes, were shiny and new
Some of us bake and sew and keep chickens
But this was five books written by Dickens
The first tome that we set upon
The story known as Dombey and Son
Mr Dombey, Paul and Florence
And so our story did commence
The tale it did very soon unfurl
That Paul was not long for this world
None of us wanted a child to die
And Dr Carole wondered why
Was it rheumatic heart disease?
And how did he have his symptoms eased?
And then there was Walter at sea thought drowned
He came back later – oh great he’s found
And Captain Cuttle, a favourite of Pam’s
With a great big heart and arms like hams
Then on we went without a stop
Our next book The Old Curiosity Shop
An annoying old man
And Little Nell his greatest fan
And off they went into the night
Pursued by Quilp – he is a fright
And in the spring we started to talk
About a trip to London to do a Dickens walk
So off on the train the group did go
But not me I broke my toe
And before Dickens drove us round the bend
We started on Our Mutual Friend
Another one of Charlie’s tomes
That kept us all inside our homes
My housework did not keep me busy
I needed to know what happened to Lizzie
And mentioning housework again I must
Find out if treasure was hidden in heaps of dust
And then the bit that made me shiver
Bradley Headstone died and fell in the river
We kept the reading going and as yet
Our books stayed dry and did not get wet
"When synchronised swimming we did do ":http://readinggroups.org/news/dickens-champions/dickens-champions-getting-into-the-olympic-spirit.html
We were all coincidentally on page 302
We rolled on in and didn’t stop it
Our next Dickens novel was Little Dorrit
A sweeter child there could not be
Little Dorrit or Amy to you and me
Mrs Flintwich is not all she seems
Having some strange visions in her dreams
A lady who could not have been sweeter
A victim of a cruel wife beater
The father of the Marshalsea
But in prison all their lives – not meant to be
And so the plot it twists and turns
And John’s love for Amy, this she spurns
A lovely story when it’s told
And love will win as it does of old
So lastly a book if you’re in the right mood
The unfinished story of Edwin Drood
But on this book I’ve nothing to say
I must get on and read it one day
I’m not so keen on a book with no ending
It’s like a love letter with no sending
So thanks dear reader for taking the time
To read my latest silly rhyme
And now my talents I am exceeding
I’m off to do more Dickens reading!
Written by Trish B, #1 Dickens fan
Get involved
Read all our Dickens Champions’ blogs from 2012 here!
Did you challenge yourself to reading a Dickens’ novel last year? If so, we’d love to hear from you, email us or post a comment below and tell us how you got on.
