We are thrilled to announce that two of our exceptional students, Ava and Lucy, have both won prizes in the poetry section of the All Saints' College/The Studio School Creative Writing Competition. Their talent and creativity have earned them this remarkable achievement, and we couldn’t be more proud!
As part of their prize, Ava and Lucy will be attending an exclusive writing workshop on 9 September at the All Saints' College campus, where they will have the opportunity to work with the renowned WA author, Holly Craig. This workshop is a wonderful chance for them to further hone their writing skills and gain valuable insights from an experienced author. They have also received a collection of poetry books kindly donated by The Fremantle Press.
The competition was run by Chaplain Liz Flanigan (pictured) on behalf of the All Saints' English Department, and the poetry section was judged by Emily Bridget Taylor, a talented poet, artist, writer, and English teacher at All Saints' College. Emily was impressed by the depth of emotion and creativity in both Ava and Lucy’s poems. Her glowing feedback highlighted the unique voices and powerful imagery that set their work apart.
Read Emily's full feedback and the award-winning poems from Ava and Lucy below.
WINNER
Lucy for 'Interstellar Elegy' - This poem immediately had a strong sense of voice, and showcased attention to detail that characterises the ways in which a poet looks at the world. The scenes painted in each section were compelling and contrasted in an interesting way with each other as the poem built. From domestic scenes to the life of animals, to the interstellar realms - this poem stood out for its originality, observance and flair. Well done on crafting a unique, insightful portrayal of how ways of being interplay, creating the world we all experience. Nice work, and please keep writing!
Interstellar Elegy
A dog a few streets over howls,
a sound that cuts and bleeds.
A mutt, a mammal,
Laika, Laika,
she has faith in he who feeds.
A calf lies dormant in a paddock,
born to move but far from nomadic,
too young to know faith but faithful nonetheless.
He died like a sinner with no sins to confess.
Somewhere up North there’s a woman in the slums,
resisting temptation but forced to succumb.
Way up high, a mighty kingdom yields,
a collapse of an empire, the dark night conceals.
The death of a star, interstellar supernova, so close, so far.
A nebula, a fetus, to a minute vacuum of light,
interstellar supernova, a miracle of night.
Perpendicular shapes and souls combine at every breath.
A starving mutt, a life unjust, is all the same in death.
A fallen tree that no one heard: a dormancy so discreet.
Interstellar supernova: all death divinely meets.
RUNNER UP
Ava for 'MyMother the Ocean' - This poem had a sweetness to it that really made me feel something as I read it. The extended metaphor of the ocean being the persona's mother was gentle, connected and uplifting to read. Nice work, please keep writing!
My Mother: The Ocean
My mother is peaceful,
my mother is clear,
She recites sweet sounds, when know-one is here.
My mother is pretty,
My mother has depth,
My mother will be there,
When all my friends have left.
My mother is a mirror,
When the waves have divided.
She can be loud,
She can be cold,
Stings the wounds, I thought had subsided.
But the movements of her waves,
She does not mean to harm,
Upholding her responsibility,
Keeping the millions of critters from harm.
So, I know my mother loves me,
And so do I,
As there is not a moment which goes by,
Which she does not try.
Congratulations again to Ava and Lucy — we can't wait to hear the knowledge and insights they bring back from the writing workshop.
