Competition

Highly Commended

True Aussie Gem
by Eva Hawrylko

Many people think the true Aussie gem
Is gold, silver or opal.
And all those who think
These are the true gems of this country
May be quite mistaken.
For the true Aussie gem
Is the shining wood of the Ghost Gum
Glowing in the early morning sun.
With the radiance of a thousand pearls
Of all our many gum trees
The Ghost Gum is the fairest.
Standing straight and soaring high,
That is the true Aussie Gem.

Highly Commended

The Unicorn Dance
by Madeline Abbott

Silver is the moon,
Rustling through the trees,
The unicorns are dancing,
Their manes blowing in the breeze.

Shiny silver horns,
Beautiful blue manes,
Dancing in the forest,
Even when it rains.

Come down from the clouds,
Come up from the sea,
I want you to come and meet me.

Come with me,
And have some fun,
But don't come when the sun comes up!

Go Back! Go back! Go back!
Before the hunters come
Come back when the moon comes up.

Highly Commended

Endurance
by Travis Granger

The sun beats down on an aged skeleton
In a musty-smelling oasis,
A repulsive skull,
Lies half buried in the sand.

Sandy plains shimmer with the scurry of ants;
A city of tiny people
Running for safety as a huge devil towers over them,
A shield blocking the sun.

An ant-eater lumbers
To the ants' nest, like a bear trotting towards his prey.
The rotting carcass of a camel,
Is being eaten by greedy vultures.

A dead tree's legs crawl over the sand,
Trying to taste any moisture from the dusty ground.
As the sun goes down and the night sky appears,
The grateful animals start to hunt, as the coolness in the air awaits them

Highly Commended

The End has Come
by Danielle Harris

Trees with dancing branches
Sway in the wind.
As the crying clouds
Shed their tears.

It has been many months since the rain has come.
Animals, friend and foe, gather in the storm.
They screech and squawk in happiness.
The animals celebrate,
Performing a rain dance.
As the storm strengthens, they find shelter.

The storm dies.
Joyful animals splash on the saturated ground
Until the puddles disappear.

The grateful plants have no more thirst.

The rain has shattered the drought.