You can do amazing things with a story. The children of Todmorden's schools have created poems from some of Todmorden's stories. You can read all the poems here, just scroll down and see!
 FERNEY LEE STORY POEM
Based on the story "Strange Lights on Stoodley Pike"
STRIKE A LIGHT ON STOODLEY PIKE
One day I saw a spaceship
Flying in the sky
It was glowing, it was flowing
Like an apple pie
I saw a crazy UFO
Up on Stoodley Pike
I like to go and ride my bike
Up on Stoodley Pike
When it’s dark in the night
I always use my lamp
In the night I shone my light
And saw Fungus the tramp
Fergus has a beard
He shuffles round the town
In manky clothes, and snotty nose
He looks just like a clown
We heard something shrieking
It could have been an alien
It was weird, it was wacky
But it was actually mammalien
It was green, it was gooey
Like a wok full of chop suey
It smiled a cheesy smile
Its name was Loopy Luey
Mr Reader’s Class, Year 4/5
 CORNHOLME STORY POEM
Based on the story "Todda and the Centurion"
TRIBES OF TODMORDEN
There was a Roman called Sam Dyer
Who was as fierce as fire
A blood-stained sword by his side
His friend was Lucy D
They came across the sea
They all came to Todmorden to hide
There was a tribe in Tod
Who worshipped their own god
They were strong and brave and sharp as knives
One day there was a battle
Sam slaughtered all the cattle
Tribesmen were fighting for their lives
But the seer Mystic Meg
Refused to run or beg
And told Sam all about his death
In two years you will die
You will hang down from the sky
The River Calder will steal your last breath
Sam just shook his head
Slashed his sword and Meg was dead
Then galloped like a dragon across the moor
But in two years he was back
He was ready for attack
The battleground stunk like a sewer
It was such a terrible smell
Sam’s horse slipped and fell
Mystic Meg’s words all came true
Sam was hung and drowned
When the Tod tribe came around
They had a talk and knew just what to do
Then they made a deal
Our valour you won’t steal
But only if you answer riddles old
Find an eagle that can’t fly
A knot you cannot tie
And a bank that hasn’t any gold
Well, the Eagle Cragg has never flown
There are knots in wood full grown
But to find a bank without gold is no joke
The River Calder banks are stone
And the Romans left Tod alone
Where the seer died now stands a mighty oak
Year 3
 CASTLE HILL STORY POEM
Based on the story "Churn Milk Joan"
JACK AND JOAN
There was a girl called Joan
Who lived all alone
And wandered the moors all day
She took the milk from Longfield
In a churn tightly sealed
And set off on Boundary Way
But after one hour
The milk was sour
She saw some ice on the stone
She reached for the ice
It would have been nice
And it was too tempting for Joan
So like a magpie
She wandered by
And took some without a care
She didn’t look round
Then she heard a sound
Jack Frost was standing there
He said I’ll cause a great blizzard
Shove snow down your gizzard
And I shall steal your soul
Then the sky cleared
And Joan disappeared
Into a large icy hole
There are rules and laws
About things that aren’t yours
You don’t want to upset Jack
If you’re set a task
And you want things, just ask
But make sure you put the thing back
Castle Hill 6L
 WALSDEN JUNIOR STORY POEM
Based on the story "The Stones at Dobroyd"
WHO LET THE STONES OUT?
George and Rebecca lived on the hill
They found it hard to pay the bill
Rosie was the horse they had
When they had her they were glad
Rebecca was sad, she wanted a child
Even though it might drive her wild
George with the fairies, made a deal
It was a secret he must conceal
Who let the stones out, who who who who?
Who let the stones out, who who who who?
He couldn’t tell Rebecca the deal he had done
He had to exchange Rosie for a son
Rosie had the blood of the land
And Rosie made George understand
George met a snake in the grass
When he tried to ssssslither past
The snake showed George the magic stone
Where he cracked his snake jawbone
Who let the stones out, who who who who?
Who let the stones out, who who who who?
The fairies came back to claim their prize
Rosie looked them in the eyes
This is my land, I’ll never leave
I’ve got a secret up my sleeve
They held a party on a midsummer night
They danced in the field with the pale moonlight
Rosie said just leave me alone
But in the morning I’ll be stone
Who let the stones out, who who who who?
Who let the stones out, who who who who?
George and Rebecca sighed together
They wished that they could stay forever
You can see them on the hill
Now they’ll never pay that bill
Who let the stones out, who who who who?
Who let the stones out, who who who who?
Mrs Horsfall & Year 5
 WALSDEN INFANTS STORY POEM
Based on the story "The Legend of Langfield"
THE WEIRD LEG END OF WALSDEN
There was a man called Rob
Who didn’t have a job
So he had to steal everything (Where’s my trousers?) FW
He stole all the time
So we wrote this rhyme
Which includes a song that we can sing (Pala Kimbo) FEM
Por la pala kinbo
Dimba damba dimbo
Zimbo mimbo wimbo
Don’t forget the limbo
He went to the pub
For some drink and grub
I think the pub was called the Chocolate Bar (Mars Bar) SC
He rested his old bones
And sat down on the stones
He heard the singing fairies from afar (Dooby Dah) BP
Por la pala kinbo
Dimba damba dimbo
Zimbo mimbo wimbo
Don’t forget the limbo
He saw a table full of food
Just right for his mood
Including Grandma Pollard’s chicken pies (Yum yum) AW
Chocolate pizza, fish and chips
To make you lick your lips
But the best was the big ice cream surprise (Chocolate sauce) LD
Por la pala kinbo
Dimba damba dimbo
Zimbo mimbo wimbo
Don’t forget the limbo
The fairies had a stick
They did a magic trick
That made Rob stop stealing stuff again (Call the cops) CR
He got on his bike
Then rode to Stoodley Pike
And never ever stole a thing again (Hurray!) All
Por la pala kinbo
Dimba damba dimbo
Zimbo mimbo wimbo
Don’t forget the limbo
Walsden Infants, Year 2
 TODMORDEN C of E STORY POEM
Based on the story "The Breath of Life Candle of Death"
STONE COLD
Fred, Fred laid in bed
With a pillow on his head
Having dreams of shooting stars
When in the churchyard just next door
He thought he heard a tiny roar
He put on his Man U top
And down the drainpipe he did drop
He tiptoed all alone
And saw an angel made from stone
Stepping over bones of old
Reading carvings made so bold
When all of a sudden the angel cried
Because she felt so sad inside
Fred looked in surprise at the angel’s crying eyes
“Tell me angel what happened to you”
“It was Dorothy the Witch on Pendle Hill
who turned me to stone and made me still”
“How can I help you take back the curse?
How can I make you feel better not worse?”
“Go through the graveyard by the silver birch
Enter the door of the old stone church
By the altar made of wood
We will spill the witch’s blood
Light the candle at my feet
The transformation will be complete”
And from that day onward when the stars are in the sky
You can hear an angel cry
Year 6 – Mr Wightman’s Class
 ST JOSEPH’S STORY POEM
Based on the story "The Bridestone Rocks"
TROLLS TOGETHER
Two trolls called Joe and Kate
Had a lot on their plate
Joe got down on one knee
And said “Will you marry me?”
Kate said “Solve this riddle
While I play my fiddle”
What are we scared of I say
But we embrace every day
Chocolate, Candyman
Spiders, Jackie Chan
Clowns, Gorillas and Cheese
Midgies, Nits and Fleas
Joe went for a stroll
He wasn’t a happy troll
The riddle was on his mind
The answer he must find
Joe sat in the slime
The answer he knew was time
He didn’t hesitate
He asked Kate for a date
When he saw her he said “Hi”
And gave her a nice mud pie
They had a fantastic time
And that is the end of our rhyme
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