The Grand-Prize Poems:

First – Justin Campbell, Grade 11

 
The Locked Box
 

peace is a locked box, with the key thrown away
without it, our minds, our hearts left astray.
 
we must find it together, not on our own
connected together, the map will be shown
 
this map is your heart, your soul and emotion
stay focused and calm, and keep your devotion
 
soon it will be found, once you becomes we
stay true and hold strong, my friend, you will see
 
no more of this violence, these shadows, this shame
don’t point a finger—we are all to acknowledge the blame
 
once we have found it, together, as one
we will be a family, as bright as the sun
 
hold the key high, hand and hand
to find the box empty, nothing but sand
 
confusion arises but soon fades away
and then it’s established, and together we’ll stay
 
peace was found on the journey to discover the key
we have omitted the me and have discovered the we.

Second – Caleb Parkhouse, Grade 3
 
Peace Is…
Peace is a leaf
Gliding through the sky,
As the birds sing a song
In the forest trees.
 
Peace is the wind,
Blowing in my face.
I take a deep breath,
And my body fills with joy.
 
Peace is a sunny day.
When a dark day comes and then the sun shines on
My head.

Third – Jasper Solo Mohan, Grade Seven
 
The Game
 
The reaching evergreenness found in places of respite
Is quickly being paralysed in slowly growing spite
All the simple kindnesses performed from day to day
Are slowly being nullified by people who don’t stay
To stop and think about their life
To make small pleasures last
To realise—to stop the strife—
We must start moving fast
 
Finding that she’s losing, Mother Nature would give up
But she stays here, haggardly—doesn’t stop to drink or sup
Always raising, never folding, she is losing game-chips fast,
Waiting onus game-counters for rescue from the past
The planet she controls has become “herself” at last

The following poem by Braea Mayenburg (winner of Group 2) was made into a song by local musician Randy Pinchbeck, producer of the Poem–to–song workshop. It was performed during the Awards Night celebration on April 8, 2010, sung by the lyricist herself.

Tears

They were brave; they were loyal,
They were willing to die,
To die for their country,
For their spirits to fly.

The tears of the faces
Of the people who lost
A brother, a husband,
They all paid the cost.

They dreamed in the trenches,
They wished for the sound,
The sound of the guns being dropped to the ground.

The war has continued.
When will it stop?
When will these tears cease to drop?