Competition

First Prize

The Family Photo
by Boyd Tarlinton

The little one
Smiles
Snuggled in his mother’s lap
He curls up
He is warm
Even though it is cold
He feels secure
His brother beside him

The big one
Leans against his mother’s arm
Enjoying the moment
Listening to the bird’s song
Feels the breeze
Against his face
He feels comfortable
Looking at his little brother

The mother
Looks down at her children
Love from her heart
Shows in her eyes
Enjoying their time
Alone
Not wanting the moment
To end

The father
Arms wrapped round
The family
Makes sure they are safe
Protected
Secure
A moment in time
Captured forever

Second Prize

The Cry
by Boyd Tarlinton

The Cry
The scream
The terror
The pain
By the lake
The one with the boats
And the two men in black
I scream and I cry
As the day goes by

The creaking bridge
The wet bridge
The bridge on which I cry
The bridge on which I scream
The bridge by the lake
The one with the boats
And the two men in black
I scream and I cry
As the day goes by

No one hears me
Although they are right beside me
They look away
They walk away
On the bridge by the lake
The one with the boats
And the two men in black
I scream and I cry
As the day goes by

Third Prize

Survival
by Sara Jentz

A lone cactus, arms outstretched, begs for rain,
While a single oasis, half dry, stands hopefully in the desert
The heat is unbearable and still.
Everything is silent.

Eagles soar while small creatures flee in terror,
Sandstorms strain to move with the burden they carry,
A crow watches intently, waiting to devour the fresh meat of a recently attacked rabbit,
And a kangaroo bounds quickly across the bare plains.

The sun sinks below the horizon and darkness overtakes the light.
Creatures scatter, preparing to hunt.
Suddenly, the still night comes to life.
Squeaking, squawking and squabbling fill the air as animals feed and fight for survival.

Then silence.
The animals creep home,
Satisfied with their meal.
One by one they go to sleep in burrows, under rocks and behind dry rotten logs.

As daylight creeps across the plains,
The moon falls asleep and the sun rises, ready to torture the earth once more.
The evil sun takes a drink from the oasis, satisfied with the drought it has created.
The animals are dismayed.

Some generous clouds gather and look like they are about to burst.
CRACK! Rain pours down.
While the animals rejoice,
The sun's face turns red with anger.