Mother Goose Poetry Competition | Leicester Symphony Orchestra

KS2 POETRY COMPETITION – MOTHER GOOSE

Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite was originally written as a five-movement piano duet for for the two children of Polish sculptor Cyprian Godebski, Mimi and Jean, aged 6 and 7, and was first performed by two older children in 1910 at the opening concert of the Société musicale indépendante, with orchestral versions following shortly in 1911.

The piece was also transcribed for solo piano by Ravel’s friend Jacques Charlot in the same year as it was published. Both piano versions bear the subtitle “cinq pièces enfantines” (five children’s pieces), and cover the themes of five fairy tales:
• Sleeping Beauty
• Tom Thumb
• The Empress of the Pagodas
• Beauty and The Beast
• The Fairy Garden

Leicester Symphony Orchestra will be performing the orchestral arrangement on February 7th at Judgemeadow Community College and would like to offer children the opportunity to enter a poem based on one of Ravel’s themes for Mother Goose, with winning poems read out on the day by Leicester’s poet laureate Mr Shay.

POETRY TOPICS AND IDEAS

KS2 Poetry Competition – Mother Goose

POETRY TOPICS AND IDEAS

Sleeping Beauty - Sweet Dreams

Listen to this movement by searching online for Mother Goose Suite i. Sleeping Beauty.
In the story, Beauty sleeps for 100 years.
This movement is very gentle and dream-like. Listen for:
• The solo woodwind instruments
• The pizzicato (plucked) strings
• The long legato (smooth) phrases
• The gentle ending

Your poem
As you listen to this music, write down how it makes you feel.
Create a poem of your own called Sweet Dreams

Choose This Poem

Tom Thumb – Tiny Creatures

Listen to this movement by searching online for Mother Goose Suite ii. Tom Thumb.
Tom Thumb is no bigger than his father’s thumb. In the story, he has many adventures – including being swallowed by a cow!
This movement feels like Tom is taking a walk around – maybe in the grass which might feel like tall trees to him?
Hear his steady footsteps as he moves about.
Hear the woodwind high trills as he leaps about in the middle section.

Your poem
Imagine how it would feel to be as tiny as Tom – or even as tiny as an ant.
Create a poem of your own called Tiny Creatures

Choose This Poem

Empress of the Pagodas – Faraway Palaces

Listen to this movement here by searching online for Mother Goose Suite iii. Empress of the Pagodas.
This story takes us to the land of dragons and pagodas – possibly China.
Listen for:
• A shimmering opening
• Fast pentatonic melodies from the flutes
• The harp in the background
• The four chords – like a fanfare – that bring the piece to an end

Your poem
Imagine you are an Emperor or Empress.
Perhaps your musicians are playing to you?
Perhaps you are dancing.
Create a poem of your own called Far Away Palaces

Choose This Poem

Beauty and The Beast – Contrasts

Listen to this movement by searching online for Mother Goose Suite iv. Beauty and The Beast.
This story is well known. The music paints a picture – first of Beauty then of the beast.
Listen for:
• Beauty dancing at the start of this piece – a fast waltz
• The bassoon signals that our beast has arrived
• Beauty and the beast then dance together
• The piece ends with very long sustained notes.

Your poem
Think of your own contrast – young and old, day and night – or something else.
Weave them together into your own poem called Contrasts

Choose This Poem

The Fairy Garden – Magic and mystery

Listen to this movement by searching online for Mother Goose Suite v. The Fairy Garden.
This has a gentle start, perhaps mysterious to begin with – but it grows in excitement before too long.
Listen for:
• The strings opening gives way to another flute melody – played as a duet with the violin.
• The final 30 seconds of the music – listen for bells and drums and a finaltriumphant fanfare!

Your poem
Imagine you have magical powers, or that you are exploring a magical kingdom.
Call your poem Magic and Mystery

Choose This Poem

SUBMISSION FORM

KS2 Poetry Competition

Poetry Competition for KS2 based on Ravel's Mother Goose Suite

Company

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Name(Required)

First Last

First and last name of the poet making the submission.

Age(Required)

Please enter a number from 7 to 11.

Entries are limited to children in KS2 (7-11)

School(Required)

The name of your child's school.

Poem Topic(Required)

Please select one topic from Ravel's Mother Goose Suite for the theme of your poem.

Poem(Required)

Enter the words of your poem (max 70 words)

Parent/Guardian Contact Details(Required)

First Name Last Name

Phone

Email(Required)

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Untitled

I am the parent/guardian, agree to the entry conditions, and give permission for the entry to be submitted

Acceptance of Terms(Required)

I am the parent/guardian, agree to the entry conditions, and give permission for the entry to be submitted.

CONTEST RULES/CONDITIONS

• Entries are to be from children in Key Stage 2 of education (typically ages 7-11)
• You can submit a maximum of five poems, no more than one for each topic
• Each poem must be assigned to one of the five topics
• Each poem must be no longer than 70 words
• Mr Shay will select winning poems to be read at the concert
• Submit your poem via the Leicester Symphony Orchestra website by 31st January 2026
• Come to our concert – if your poem is read out, you will be invited onto the stage to meet Mr Shay!

QUESTIONS AND ENQUIRIES

If you have any questions about the above, please contact us.