Competition

Highly Commended

Girl in Winter/Driftwood
by Michael Crane
South Melbourne, Vic

Not for the first time
did she find herself standing alone,
the wet wind curling over the breakwater,
black dreadlocked hair clinging
to her face like seaweed-

how easy to take one step
to float effortlessly away-
But she did not understand
the subtle variations of the waves.
The boats moored at the jetty
revealed no secrets to her.
The art of weightlessness
remained unknown

Not for the first time
did she wonder how many others
had stood above these rocks
then leapt into the water
to be carried softly, slowly away
by the tide over the horizon.

Walking away from the breakwater
she found herself looking for someone
in the parks, the streets, among strangers
watching carefully for waves
curling over their shoulders,
for a single strand of seaweed in their hair.

Highly Commended

Kindergarten-Sized-Shoes
by Nicholas Eldridge
Glen Waverley, Vic

kindergarten-sized-shoes
blue-grey with thick laces

all the other kids had sneakers
I had proper shoes

when I walked along
I would scuff them up
on purpose

they were ugly and hard
no good for jumping
or climbing

I hated them

the only reason I
haven't forgotten them
is because

I would un-tie the laces
so Mrs. Bailey
would tie them up again