Competition

Highly Commended

Backyard Jungle
by Erin Victor

I'm hiding from my enemy,
Feeling rather timid.
I am in a strange place
And she is close by.

I see her in the distance
And as she approaches,
I jump in the swamp
To camouflage myself.

I struggle through the reeds
And then crawl out.
I zigzag round the trees
And, from the corner of my eye, I spot her.

I dart round behind my victim
And capture her in my net.
She is screaming, trying to escape,
But I won't release her.

I scamper away,
Dragging my treasure behind me.
I dangle her from the branch of a groaning tree,
And then I hear the voice of doom,

" Erin, take your sister off the clothes line!"

Highly Commended

The Lemon Tree
by Luke Prentis

The parents have planted a sapling of a lemon tree.
The laughter can be heard from the toddlers waddling around the lemon tree.

The lemon tree has finally blossomed.
The children are staring nervously out the window
while their parents are dressing them in smart little uniforms.

The lemon tree has grown into maturity,
as have the children sneaking in the backdoor
with a peer at the twilight hours.

The lemon tree finally bears fruit,
as do the children bear fruit of their own
while the parents look on smiling with pride.

The lemon tree looms over the now grown children,
while they mourn with dispirited faces
looking at the ground of their elders.

The lemon tree's fruit is starting to wither with age,
as are the grandparents watching their grandchildren
run 'round and 'round the lemon tree.

The lemon tree has lost its leaves and its roots are dry and brittle.
It does not look like the lemon tree will bear fruit this harvest.
But around the skeleton of the lemon tree, a new sapling begins to grow.

Highly Commended

Crazy
by Hoang Vo

I remember when
I remember when
I remember when I lost my mind
All the people never knew
It took too much
And I was out of touch
I remember when
I remember when
I remember when I lost my mind
then I forgot too much.
Now he's in control.