Competition

Highly Commended

My Loss
by Annie Leyland

When we came to see you
Laying in the hospital bed,
I did not realize the seriousness
Of what the doctor said.

We said our short goodbyes
Not knowing it would be the end.
I kissed you on the cheek,
You said I will always be your friend.

We were told you died that night
Shortly after we said our goodbye.
I really don’t understand Grandma
You left me, why?

Your absence hurts me,
It’s like a hole inside.
Nothing in the world could fill it
But the tears I cried.

I want you back beside me,
You to hold me to your chest.
Tell me your childhood stories
As I lay and rest.

Now you’re gone I begin to realize.
I see what you meant by friend.
You’re watching over me
Until I reach my end.

Now I know this
It helps ease the pain.
I am just waiting until the day
I get to see you again.

I miss the time we had
The time we spent together.
It is now that I wish that
Time could last forever.

Highly Commended

The Truth
by Melanie Dinjaski

Ever since mankind began
Much blood has been shed through war.
Whether for power, rights or glory,
It’s been worth fighting for.

Many have questioned why?
Why go through such dreaded pain?
Through blood, sweat, tears and loss,
With men and women slain?

Well, the answer is quite simple,
You see money and power rule,
And like a beggar wanting pennies,
They will fight for it like fools.

They do not care for life and love,
Or morals that make things right,
They will kill, rape, torture and steal,
Because for money, that’s alright.

With crooked schemes and governments,
The people’s minds have been corrupted,
And with the media on their side,
Their plans can’t be interrupted.

The pointlessness of war
Seems ever so clear today.
“All for profit, and all for one”
Is a common motto these days.

Peaceful times can be reached
If together we all try,
And maybe the morals we held before,
With our conscience has not died.

I must say just one more thing,
Before I go on my way,
Please think about the people’s lives
That have been wrecked by war….today.

Highly Commended

Confrontation
by Danika Hampel

Disfigured by dappled shadows,
a figure waits silently.
Rags hang limp from his frail frame,
lifeless spheres search.
Foliage crackles underfoot as the tramp shuffles nervously.
He is momentarily distracted by the groaning swings that thunk monotonously against the steel frame.
“Focus”, the tramp whispers.
A contorted grimace emerges as laughter croaks.
His target is in sight.

Confrontation.
Boy cowers under stark cream cotton,
Gucci loafers cemented to the earth,
a quivering, quaking blob.
Perspiration lines his brow,
clutching his shield; his school bag.
Helpless, darting eyes,
his affluence cannot save him, in a deserted, desolate park.
Trapped.

The tramp absorbs and savours the boy’s fear.
Veins threaten to burst from his clenched fists,
his prey’s feeble whimpering inflames him further.
“Suffer”, the figure wills,
compliance is granted.
Although tears course downwards the boy is not yet crushed.

“Why me?” is the whisper escaping the boy.
“You got everything I ever wanted and needed…”
The tramp hesitated momentarily mentally questioning why he was telling the boy this but felt unable to suppress the raging torrent of his emotions.
“My revenge for a shitty life of rummaging through the tip for food and sleeping on doorsteps.”
Confusion envelopes the boy’s features.
With his pallid body shaking the tramp continues,
“No one gave a damn about us poor beggars. The wealthy just ignored our hellish reality even though they could have given a few bucks to help.”

The clanging swings drown out the boys startled yelp as the tramp lunges.
Limbs flail madly as a tug of war for the school bag begins.
The boy is powerless against the fury and determination of his foe.
He is left lying helplessly as the tramp’s ragged back vanished into the leafy shadows.
Clutching his prize to his chest the tramp shuffles, dodging the fallen logs, his grimacing smile broad at the prospect of dinner tonight.