Over 150 poems were entered in the Canterbury/ Waitaha Seaweek 2023 Poetry Competition and most of them were from the year 7&8 category with a very high standard. We have decided to publish both the Winners and the Highly Commended poems in this category.
The judges, Jenna Heller and James Norcliffe, are both renowned poets. In fact James is so renowned he won the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry this year! Here are their picks for the Intermediate winners:
1st : You stole my goggles Juniper M-K, Heathcote Valley School
2nd: Emerald sea, Ritika J, Write On School for Young Writers
HC: Senses of the Sea, Veronica A, Middleton Grange
HC: How you boil the ocean, Billie R, Heathcote Valley School
HC: White Horses, Keira L, Homeschool
HC: Tangaroa's Reign, Jasmine S, Cobham Intermediate
You stole my goggles
by Juniper M-K
Dear current holder,
I am disappointed that you stole my goggles
but I am thankful for the sea-weed
you provided for my sushi for lunch.
You gave me driftwood and I made a dreamcatcher.
I love your little orange fish.
You wash away my foot prints
with your incoming waves
But you took my goggles and I really need them back.
Emerald Sea
by Ritika J
Emerald sea,
reaching for the pebbled sand
a gently pulsing heartbeat.
Amber paint
scattered drops of scarlet
spilling below the horizon.
Violet glass
shards nestled between midnight stones
kept company by chocolate wrappers
and old, faded sunglasses.
Cobalt periwinkles
peeking out from cracks in driftwood
unfurling to the symphony
of gulls cries overhead.
Silver coins
tarnished and discarded
buried under strands of plastic.
Copper sand
falling through my fingers
slipping back into the
Emerald sea.
Senses of the Sea
by Veronica A
A clear, blue, water land
A dotted sea of sand
A damp, refreshing drench
A bitter, sulphury stench
A wet, cool sense
A soft, hot substance
A salty, strong taste
A gritty, rough trace
Crashing, chirping sounds
Ruffling, roaring surround
How you boil the ocean
by Billie R
I was dreaming one night, coincidentally about the sea
Fumes pump out the car as I drive to school
Fumes the life licker, the world heater
Fumes
Fumes dance past the bakery
Fumes lick the breath of the soaring kahu
Fumes
Fumes up, up past the clouds
Fumes up, up in the air
Fumes slurp the blanket of atmosphere
Fumes
Fumes boil the atmosphere
Fumes cook the air
Fumes the heat
Heat
Heat reaches the clouds the rain pours down
Heat cooks the breath of the soaring kahu
Heat springs past the bakery
Heat
Heat pumps out the car as I go to school
Heat melts the icebergs
Heat watches them turn to dust
Heat
Heat watches you boil the ocean
White Horses
by Keira L
Deep green water with white horses rolling,
Mussel farms glowing.
With the light cast from the moon I can see all of a blur, all of a whirl;
Those white horses romping in the cool autumn air.
Congratulations to each of their writers
and their wonderful poetry teachers!
A huge thanks to the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education, Selwyn Libraries, Christchurch Libraries and Creative Communities Christchurch for helping bring FREE workshops to many young writers in the lead up to Seaweek 2023.
(c) Write On 2023
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