Competition

Highly Commended

The Stalker
by Claire Smith
Burpengary State School, Burpengary, Qld

As long, dry grass sways in the breeze
And monstrous clouds soar overhead,
A hungry cheetah stalks its prey
And soon the poor buffalo will be dead.

As the buffalo walks to the waterhole,
The cheetah slinks along the ground;
And even though it's moving quickly,
It doesn't even make a sound.

As long, dry grass sways in the breeze,
The cheetah approaches from the rear.
The clueless buffalo bends to drink
But doesn't realise the enemy is near.

As the cheetah waits patiently,
It prepares itself for an attack.
The buffalo's ready to make a move
But the cheetah is quickly on its back.

As long, dry grass sways in the breeze
And monstrous clouds soar overhead,
A satisfied cheetah has stalked its prey

And now, sadly, the buffalo is dead.

Highly Commended

Long-Lining
by Karlee Cooper
Trinity Beach State School, Trinity Beach, Qld

Diving down, into the deep, blue sea,
Wondering what surprises await me.
My heat thumps, hard against my chest,
And as I swim, I think, this is the best!

I start to go faster and faster some more,
I wish I never have to go back to the shore!
The water sparkles with a kind of glow,
Oh how I dread the moment when i have to go!
And then I notice a fish, caught in some rope,
Please don't be dead, I hope!
It is struggling frantically but still alive,
Like a bear with its nose, stuck in a hive.

I get some sharp coral and set the fish free,
But as I swim further, I start to see,
More fish, and sharks, tangled in the line,
Most are dead, this is such a crime!

I go back to the boat and get some men,
And we free the sea creatures so they can swim again!
I now spend my spare time trying to make a new law,
To ban the disposing of nets, long-lining and more.
I know, one day, I will succeed,
It's not just a want, but is truly a need!!!

Highly Commended

Sadness
by Daniel Coveney
West Ipswich State School, West Ipswich, Qld

Sadness trickles down the side of your face
in a little ball of water,
It sneaks around your mind
never letting you forget,
It prances across your heart,
breaking it into a million pieces,
And then it ends,
leaving you feeling
Hopeless.

Highly Commended

When I was There
by Bridget Kenny
St Mary’s College, Ipswich, Qld

I could yell in your ear and you’d never hear me,
I could be the salty sea and you'd never taste me,
I could hold your hand and you'd never feel me,
I could be the car exhaust and you'd never smell me.
I could stand under your nose and you'd never see me,
Because when I was there, you never saw me for what I truly was.