-
Introduction
View the activity introduction for more information on the topic
-
Read aloud
Read the question aloud
-
Accessibility
Open the accessibility toolbar to change fonts and contrast, choose a different language, use a ruler and more
This activity is designed to help you explore modern poetry.
It is based on a poem by Wendy Cope called 'Tich Miller'. In 1998 Wendy Cope was the Listeners' Choice as Poet Laureate in a BBC Radio 4 poll.
*******************
Tich Miller
Tich Miller wore glasses
with elastoplast-pink frames
and had one foot three sizes larger than the other.
When they picked teams for outdoor games
she and I were always the last two
left standing by the wire-mesh fence.
We avoided one another’s eyes,
stooping, perhaps, to re-tie a shoelace,
or affecting interest in the flight
of some fortunate bird, and pretended
not to hear the urgent conference:
‘Have Tubby!’ ‘No, no, have Tich!’
Usually they chose me, the lesser dud,
and she lolloped, unselected,
to the back of the other team.
At eleven we went to different schools.
In time I learned to get my own back,
sneering at hockey-players who couldn’t spell.
Tich died when she was twelve.
*******************
Want a bit more help with this before you begin? Why not watch this short video?
Question
/ 5Ms Duarte
Do you want to skip questions and finish?
Hold up, it looks like there may be an issue with your spelling. Why not try it again?
You need to check your answer before you proceed. Are you sure you want to skip?
Teacher explanation