Lexie H

“Summer’s Here, So’s the Fear”

A poem about free school meals vanishing over summer.

Ah, summer—the season of sun,

Of ice creams and barbecues,

For families with money, it’s fun—

For us? It’s budgeting voodoo.

The bell rings its final term-time chime,

Kids cheer like it’s Christmas Day.

But for us, it’s hunger o’clock time—

Three meals, seven days? Okay.

During term, there’s magic—school food:

A hot meal, no charge, no shame.

Now it’s back on us—ain’t that good?

Oh look, poverty’s a game!

Let’s pack up a picnic of air and hope,

With a side of whatever’s on sale.

We’re gourmet chefs with no damn rope,

Crafting “snacks” from what’s least stale.

“Make it fun!” the leaflets say—

Turn lunch into a ‘learning goal.’

Sure, just teach my toddler to filet

A tin of beans with a broken soul.

The fridge hums low, a pale, cold ghost,

Cupboards hold their silent dreams.

One child longs for crisps the most,

The other weeps in quiet streams.

Tesco’s till says £42.90,

My purse says, “You’re joking, right?”

I put things back with hands all clammy—

Just rice tonight… with candlelight?

But hey, let’s not be bitter—

The government says, “It builds grit!”

They think hunger makes us fitter—

Character, forged while we eat… jack shit.

So cheers to the summer, raise your toast

(If you’ve still got bread to burn).

To struggling parents coast to coast—

May school meals soon return.

And when they do, we breathe, then brace—

A fragile calm in a brutal race.

For summer comes with quiet dread,

As empty bowls return instead.