IGCSE Descriptive and Narrative Writing (Examples)

The Fireworks Display

2) Describe a firework display, including sounds and smells as well as what you see, and how the spectators react to it. Write about 350-450 words.

        I struggled to inhale as I pushed against the herd of giants in front of me. There were people in all directions, laughing and giggling. The beckoning aroma of warm pretzels and popcorn flew around with the different perfume fragrances. It seemed as if the whole population of the country was on the road. People played around with abstract smoke bombs and waved neon glowsticks that contrasted with the midnight sky. A cool breeze sent chills up my spine every second, that made my teeth chatter. I glared up at the dark sky, lit by shimmering stars.

         I was very excited to be spending my holidays watching a fireworks display. It reminded me of the old times when my friends and I were careless elementary schoolers. We would come here every week to watch the fireworks until we all were scattered across the globe. A flash of joyful memories played itself in my mind. I smiled up at the sky as my eyes glistened under the moonlight. 

        The cheering turned up a notch as a trail of light made its way up to the sky, then exploding into millions of tiny red flames and crashing down again. There was a deafening BOOM! Immediately, the smell of gunpowder dispersed through the atmosphere. More trails of light could be seen ascending. They all burst at once, creating a supernova of rainbow-colored arrays. You could hear each rocket sizzle like a sausage on a frying pan, then collapsing. It made everyone's ears split as if standing under a loud speaker. 

        Around me, I could see children chuckling and an old lady overwhelmed with tears of utter bliss. The fireworks were like daisies sprouting from the sky! I felt as if my dreams were drawn in the light upon the starry black. The chemicals kept exploding vibrantly in the sky as tears swelled up my eyes. Tears of joy trickled down the edges of my plumped cheeks and soaked my sweater mildly. The light show kept going on, drawing works of art in the sky. A flower, a heart, a snowflake, all possible things being drawn on the dark canvas. The exciting gamut of colors touched every receptor in my eye! People were still cheering and the fireworks kept enkindling the airspace. It was pure magic! I could've stayed the entire night and morning, watching each spark light up the dark like a promise of hope.