Competition

First Prize

Brace Face
by Philippa Maguire
East Brisbane, Qld

Brace Face.
Train Tracks.
Metal Mouth and more
The pain! The agony!
Next day, they're so sore.
You wake to find tightness that stays
And you starve for a couple of days.

Grandma says you look cute
(But grannies say that sort of thing)
And my friends say
It's a groovy kind of mouth bling.
But I know they are just being kind
Seriously, what are they? Blind!

My whole 10 years I've loved my white teeth.
But the orthodontist (whose name is Keith)
Says you need help to get them straight
And shoves on some metal and says ""Off you go, mate."

A very funny story, I am sure you'd agree.
A boy and a girl with braces like me
Are kissing at a dance
Trying to be cool
But the braces get stuck
And they start to drool.
Nose to nose, they can't get free.
(Hope this doesn't happen to me.)

From the 1950s the braces have changed
From big ugly grey monsters to rainbows arranged.
You can even choose colours of Brisbane Lions side
Is there a better way to show off your AFL pride?

Food gets stuck. It's a feast in there!
There's peas in the wires, like some green nightmare.
If you don't brush, it stays there for days
All building up, a rotting maze
Until your sister says "OMG. That is soooo gross."
Especially when you get too close!!

Brace Face.
Train Tracks
Metal Mouth and more...
The pain! The agony!
18 months or more
If any boy calls me a name like those
Watch out, Brace Face will punch him in the nose!

Second Prize

Boat Ride
by Miranda Kidd
Chapel Hill State School, Chapel Hill, Qld

Let me go on a boat ride, Mum!
I'll hear the wishing waves whisper,
Like a wild water safari
Let me touch the salty seas
Let me see the far horizons
The oceans will divide, collide
Let me go on a boat ride!

Let me dive off the rocking boat
And plunge to a world of octopus
With fish as colourful as rainbows
And with seaweed floating high
I'll hear the whales sing their note
Let me dive off the rocking boat!

May I ride on a dolphin's back?
I'd fly through the air then soar way down
Can I touch the sea with my palms?
Can I wet my hair in the ripples?
The boat ride would have a little slack
But may I ride on a dolphin's back?

May I follow the seagull's path?
And imagine that I'm flying too?
I'd watch the wonderful world pass
I’d follow the seagull as white as clouds
On the water like a salty bath
May I follow the seagull’s path?

Let me go on a boat ride Mum
I'll whisper to the white horses
Let me see the real me
Let me venture deep inside
And take out what I always hide

Let me go on a boat ride, Mum. . . . .