Rang I & Rang II
Ballads
A ballad is a simple lengthy poem with a song-like rhythm.
They tell a story about folk heroes, history, love, crime or the supernatural.
A ballad usually has stanzas of four lines.
Writing Tips:
- Choose a dramatic topic about an event you are familiar with from your community, family, current events in the news, sports teams etc.
- Decide on a rhyming pattern for each four line verse.
- Repeat an important line or verse.
- Write in four line stanzas.
- Use repetition and alliteration to heighten the effect. Alliteration is a technique used by poets to create emphasis. They group words together starting with the same letter i.e. The big, brown, bold bear bounced boldly by.
William was a brilliant thief.
He ran around stealing sheep.
He came out night and day.
Taking all the sheep away.
Graham Cottrell – Rang I
William was a brilliant thief.
Stealing was his belief.
He had caused the greatest grief.
When he eats the stolen beef.
Daniel O’Sullivan – Rang I
William was a brilliant thief.
Stealing everything he sees.
Even money and bunnies.
Chocolate eggs and honey, he was really funny.
Oran Moynihan – Rang I
William was a brilliant thief.
He gave the police lots of grief.
Then one night to their relief, they caught him red handed stealing some beef.
That’s the story of William O’Keeffe.
Kevin Daly- Rang I
William was a brilliant thief.
But his life of crime was very brief.
He went to jail and met a chief.
Who helped him turn over a new leaf.
Ben Walsh- Rang I
William was a brilliant thief.
He loved to steal from Kevin O’Keeffe.
When he was caught he felt great grief.
Until he saw the lovely beef.
Rory Lynn- Rang I
William was a brilliant thief.
He hid his gun in a handkerchief.
One day he woke in disbelief.
He got handcuffed by Harry the Chief.
Jack Moynihan – Rang I
William was a brilliant thief.
All he ate was rotten beef.
Once he stole a golden leaf.
Then the police caught him on the reef.
Joe McAulliffe – Rang I
William was a brilliant thief.
He stole some money from a chief.
He hid behind a big leaf.
When he was caught it was such a relief.
Matthew O’Connor – Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
He used to steal beautiful beef.
The cows got sick with grief.
So William turned over a new leaf.
Kieran Angland – Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
The Garda gave him a big leaf.
He kept on running round and round.
Til he fell to the ground.
Ben O’Doherty – Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
He loved stealing money and beef.
William out smarted the chief of police.
He changed his name to Denis O’Keeffe.
Denis Murphy – Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
Wherever he went he caused grief.
He sailed the ocean on a reef.
To avoid Jack who was the chief.
Jack O’Connor- Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
He was stealing from the chief.
He was silly and greedy and not very nice.
He was always in disguise.
Dylan O’Flynn – Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
He had a bag full of beef.
He stole a shelf full of meat.
And had a beautiful beefy feast.
Brian Hubbard- Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
Who like to steal some beef.
It was his favourite meat.
So he sat down on his seat.
Dylan O’Shea – Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
He stole things from an Irish Chief.
He gave it to the English Queen.
She thought he was very mean.
Adam Murphy- Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
He went around on a bike that creaked.
He was kind of a freak.
And then he got caught by the chief.
Michael Lane- Rang II
William was a brilliant thief.
Who slept on a leaf.
Every day he robbed corn beef.
Now he’ll never be a chief.
Ethan Hourigan- Rang II