Name: Adrian Mitchell (1932–2008) Nationality: English
Fact: In a National Poetry Day poll in 2005, Mitchell’s poem ‘Human Beings’ was voted the one people would most like to see launched into space (so that aliens would be able to read a thought-provoking poem on the mat er of ‘being human’!)
With a classmate, do a one- minute brainstorm and write down as many words as possible that you associate with the word ‘playground’.
‘Back in the Playground Blues’ BY ADRIAN MITCHELL
I dreamed I was back in the playground, I was about four feet high Yes dreamed I was back in the playground, standing about four feet high Well the playground was three miles long and the playground was fi ve miles wide It was broken black tarmac with a high wire fence all around Broken black dusty tarmac with a high fence running all around And it had a special name to it, they called it The Killing Ground Got a mother and a father, they’re one thousand years away The rulers of The Killing Ground are coming out to play Everybody thinking: ‘Who they going to play with today?’
an example of hyperbole
(exaggeration of ideas in order to create emphasis and gain
