Competition

Third Prize

The Peaceful Box
by Emily Knobloch
Alderley, Qld

In my box there is

The sweet, freshness of rain in winter's hail,
The glowing depth of light in early summer's morning,
The glistening sound of birds twittering.

In my box there is

A galloping horse, playfully striding along the water's edge,
Swaying trees, moving gracefully in the wind,
A transfixed poet, putting her life in the hand of paper.

In my box there is

A silver shard of water, trickling from the mouth of a waterfall,
A lovingly picked hand of roses, fresh from the garden,
A family gazing in absolute wonder upon their daughter's first steps.

In my box I would float on

The twinkle of a million stars, dancing in the moonlit sky,
The luscious blossoming flowers of the jacaranda tree,
The sweet gurgles of a newborn baby being cradled in protective arms.

Highly Commended

Shadow at the Gate
by Kristin Gray
Christian Outreach College Mansfield, Qld

There is Codger, at the gate
And there he will sit and whine and wait
Until we come home
He'll sit there and moan

He barks loudly all day
Just how much I cannot say
How he can do it, I am not sure
To bark as loudly as a roar

Then Codger's windpipe gets too sore
And he can whine no more, no more
When we come back to the house
Codger barks and Dad will rouse

There Codge stands
And Dad demands
"Codger, shush up!"
And Codger says, “nup"

Dad's arms are now folded
They look as if they're moulded
His fists are tightly shut
"Shush up, you annoying mutt!

Codger, you really must behave”
So he did and Dad forgave
Finally he's happy as before
After we had told him a very strict law

"Don't bark in front of Dad"
"Otherwise he'll get mad"
There is the shadow at the gate
That is Codger, our little mate