Competition

First Prize

Colours
by Elizabeth Waldron

Esme Zaffre, widow of the Blue Mountains, lounges in a scarlet seat of velvet
Embroidering vermillion thread through a satin cloth,
Rose by rose.
Outside the window red dust, red sunset sky, red kangaroo behind a tree

At the roadhouse Esme looks in disgust at the waitress with her rosy cheeks,
lipstick and sunburn, and wonders, wonders, how bad this ochre outback will be.
Later she dreams of opal miners, opal strikes, flashing opal red.

Beryl Smalt of Dismal Swamp, lady of the land,
Strolls through leaf litter, ferns brushing at her hands,
Intertwined branches blocking out the sun.
She weaves through slim slivers of viridescent light,
As vines twine and loop above her head.
Moss blooms on rocks like verditer on a bronze statue.
Saying goodbye to the jade land, travelling where the opal waits.

Beryl and Esme finally meet outside the bluestone hotel opposite the school.
Children in navy uniforms run to meet their parents,
As adults in denim jeans and chambray shirts babble and drone.
Beneath bluegums a shallow dam evaporates under an azure sky

The ladies share a cuppa in willow-patterned china,
Craning their necks around the hydrangeas and agapanthas in a wedgewood vase.

Together they create an opal of sorts; of red and blue and green.
When they find each other, oh, what a sight, it is a colourful world they see.

Second Prize

The Wolves Come at Night
by Boyd Tarlinton

The wolves come at night
They stalk in the shadows
They slink in the darkness
Silent and mysterious
Claws bared
Sneaking, creeping, lurking
Silent assassins
Drifting through the night

They come on a wind of hate
Feeding on anger
Yellow eyes
Void of emotion
Planning the attack
Circling, flanking
Closing in
Charging into the battlefield

The wolves leap upon their prey
Bloodshot eyes, merciless
Razor-sharp claws slashing & shredding
Ripping teeth, devouring
An epic battle between light and darkness
Never ending
The wolves come at night
Destroying all in their path

Third Prize

Disturbing the Peace
by Kirsten Fabian

Monkeys perform gymnastics on tangled vines,
And anacondas strangle anxious trees.
Rustling leaves disturb the silence
As immense figures block the scorching sun.

Magical mists cover the twisted branches,
And muffled voices of flamingos echo through thick grass.
Diminutive ants march along the stony ground,
As huntsmen spiders stalk unsuspecting flies.

Rain falls heavily from angry clouds,
And fearsome thunder startles numerous animals.
Leaves plunge to the ground

As the storm attacks ferociously.
Lighting strikes innocent trees,
And the colossal giants tumble down.
In an instant the forceful rain comes to an end
As once-threatening clouds drift away.

No more terrifying sounds,
And no more intense rain.
Animals are restless
As they timidly creep out of their homes. . .

BANG!