Competition

Highly Commended

The Stage
by Caitlin Gregor
Fernvale, Qld

I stand in the dusty wings.
Quietly the music comes.
The stage calls to me.
I break free.

All thoughts go out of my head.
The spotlight dazzles me
and for a moment
just a moment
I am free.

I hear nothing but the music.
My steps echo around the theatre.
The music stops.
I glide into position.
The applause fills my soul
and lifts my spirit high.

But I am standing
in the dance hall
i magining
remembering
The stage.

Highly Commended

Pain of War
by Kirsty McCormack
Redbank Plains, Qld

Standing barefooted on the burning sand,
Staring at the horizon of doom.
I see far beyond, no houses in view;
I stare as the danger still looms.

I grasp my gun with my left hand,
Shield my dying sister with my right.
I can see the tanks in the distance,
The house blown away by their might.

Although there are things that I cannot see,
Like a haven of safety or aid.
Nor fresh food or water are left in sight
And no good clothes being laid.

All I feel is pain and darkness within,
Deep in my soul and my heart.
My parents died from those tanks afar;
They blew my home and my life apart.

My mind's everywhere, I feel so lost.
My heart shattered to a million pieces.
I feel the heat, yet I still feel cold.
I’m scared but only anger releases.

I wish it would stop so I could feel warm.
I wish they would stop my heart ache.
But they don’t stop my pain and they don’t stop my ache,
But it's my life I know next they will take.