Competition

Highly Commended

Civil War
by Boyd Tarlinton

Nations consumed from the inside
A world destroying itself
Swept away
The nation imploding

Devoured by greed
Ravaged with hate
One part shattered
Separated and burnt

Attacking from the inside
Torn and broken
Smashed in two
Devouring itself

Killing itself
And everything else
Dying and clawing
Separated even further

Neighbour killing neighbour
In burning rage
Brother killing brother
In roaring hate

A land bled dry
No winners
No cure
Until each side
Realise they’re not so different

Highly Commended

Drought
by Brigid Horneman-Wren

Plants and
Gardens
Turning into
Dust

Dam levels
Going down
Down
Not stopping

Animals and
Plants
Lifting heads up
For water

Humans doing
Everything
In their
Power

Rain comes
At last
2 minutes
It's over

We ask
Why us?
The answer:
Our fault

For it is us
Who don't
Realise until
'Tis too late

We must
Fix our
Mistakes
Or Else

The drought
Won't go
'Twill stay
Forever

And we
Won't survive
Not now
Not ever