Competition

Highly Commended

Ocean’s Fair
by Teagan Baldwin Core
Yarramundi, NSW

The carnival habitat is a natural attraction, 
Darting, swirling, coloured action.
Yellow, orange, pink and red,
Platforms rise from sandy bed.

Performing polyps need sunlight to survive,
They share with an algae to stay alive.
It is home to many fish,
Some which fall upon my dish.

Different colours, size, and shapes,
Out of the ordinary, like flowers with capes.
Built up over the ages,
Creative performers on alternative stages.

The reef itself seems sound and long,
Sculptured seascape, ever strong.
But tainted waters, warming air,
Sad goodbye to ocean’s fair.

Highly Commended

Patience
by Harry Che
Darra State School, Darra, Qld

The vultures
gliding silently
under the burning sun
circling weakness and fear
patiently waiting for death to consume

Highly Commended

The Outback
by Claire Moman
Sheldon College, Sheldon, Qld

When the dust comes in it is like a midday eclipse
A pepper pot, the desert is at times
If you get lost you are a vanished spirit
The dust whirls like nymphs as they skirt the eerie glow
Whirling wind roars in your ears
Snakes slithering like glass barred with red hot coals
Sand stings like a wasp on your bare legs
The smell so musty and harsh
Sun sets in the dunes like butter melting into toast
At night stars are drifting into nothingness
This is the outback

Highly Commended

An Image of Morning Grass
by Nicola Frassetto
Middle Park, Qld

As the sun dawns and shines upon the grass the morning dew glitters like diamonds and tiny tiaras.
When the sun peeps over the edge of the earth the grass shines an emerald green, welcoming the new day.
As the first ray of light hits the grass like a spotlight, the grass shimmers and shines, heavy with dew.  In the homecoming procession of the Sun, a tiny splinter of light sets the whole sky alight with a gorgeous shade of blue.
As the grass sees this, she smiles up at the bright blue banner above.
You see, we are not the ones who view the morning scene, the great artwork of Mother Nature, for nature itself, has earned the five star seat.
As in this world, you have to earn what you get, and Mother Nature is a little cranky at the moment.