CISC Inaugural Poetry Competition Winners
Over 150 individual entries were received from pupils in CISC schools for the inaugural poetry competition. The impact in many schools was considerable. One teacher commented, “Our pupils have loved this challenge and have displayed a pleasingly Christian and informed world view. We look forward to doing this again.”
The quality of entries was very high and it was no easy task to decide on the winning entries but in the end the decision was as follows. In the Senior Category, James Wilson from Our Lady’s Abingdon was the winner, with Juliette Lea from St. Mary’s School Cambridge the runner-up. Special Merits go to Myah-Gordon Campbell from St. Bede’s College, Manchester and the Year 8 class project from St. Dominic’s Priory School, Stone. James’ winning poem (below) showed a mature depth of understanding of the human reality of resurrection and his command of rhythm and repeating pattern made for a memorable poem.
In the Junior category, the winner was Beatrice Carrell, Aged 9, from St. Mary’s Shaftesbury. The runner-up was Millie Barker from Bishop Challoner School. Special Merits go to Sophie C from Saint Christina’s School and Freddie Van Every from Cranmore School. Beatrice’s winning poem (below) approached the theme of resurrection through the affecting memory of an old family photograph in which the memory of a great grandmother is re-born, with strong descriptive detail and an assured command of the line.
Senior Category
Winner
Resurrection
Out of darkness, light
When they walk back into your life.
Out of sadness, the joy
When you can see them again.
Out of pain, the comfort
They will bring back to you.
Out of mourning, hope
When the doorbell rings to let them in.
Out of tears, laughter
When they walk in the front door.
Out of screams, giggles
When they trip over the mantelpiece again.
Out of sickness, well again
When they are healed for you.
Out of longing, satisfaction
When they tell you just how much they still love you.
Out of mourning, hope
When the doorbell rings to let them in.
Now you know what it feels like.
James Wilson, Aged 14, Our Lady’s Abingdon
Runner-Up
Green Lazarus
Resurrecting the world from its deathly quiet slumber,
Nurturing the seeds, caring for the trees.
Casting off the winter from its attempts to encumber
The entwining stalks and the humming of the bees.
The song of the birds soaring through the air,
Reminding the world of what it used to be,
Awakening the dead land with Mother Nature’s care.
The sharp, stabbing cold of winter starts to flee.
Spring skips onto the stage and curtsies to the crowd,
While winter stomps away and prepares a later entrance.
Spring dances to a music that is silently loud,
A symphony of happiness and joy and romance.
A red-breast swoops in and trills its morning song,
Spring awakens the bears and the rabbits with its unheard gong.
The Snowdrops push up through the melting snow,
And pale gold sunlight dapples on the tree
New life stretches from the ground below
The animals and plants are finally free.
And wake themselves to see what the dawning day will bring
All thanks to the rebirth of spring.
Juliette Lea, Aged 12, St Mary’s School, Cambridge
Special Merit
The Air is Wintry and Cold
The air is wintry and cold,
Not a flower in sight not even a soul,
Our Lord’s corpse lies lifelessly on a tree.
He died by his people’s plea,
A blanket of grey covers the sky
As all the land withers and dies.
But when spring comes it brings such joy,
The rules of death Jesus defies as he finally rises into the sky.
Chicks start new life as they break out from their brittle shells.
In heaven our Lord will happily dwell.
Daffodils rise from their earthly grave,
A sea of yellow to amaze.
Myah Gordon-Campbell, Age 12, St. Bede’s College, Manchester
Special Merit
The Journey
The mourning Mary before the tomb.
Undecided disciples filled with gloom.
The story unfolds, could it be true?
Jesus has died for me and you.
Broken bread
Doubt removed
Peter, his allegiance proved.
The sun shone behind his majestic head
‘Rabboni, Lord, you are risen from the dead.’
Eternal life, ourselves redeemed
“Blessed are those who have not seen”.
Year 8 St Dominic’s Priory School, Stone
(Mary Ellis, Georgia Glassey, Olivia Glen, Sophie Hughes, Ebonnie Long, Zoe Mukwena, Amy Roberts, Rose Stephenson)
Junior Category
Winner
For She, Is Me
Her innocence shines through the sepia,
A strong glint of disobedience in her gaze.
Dark eyes flashing with mischief,
A porcelain doll, newly made.
Cloaked in an envelope of card,
Slipped in to a wooden drawer.
This little girl was pushed to the back and forgotten,
Hidden away for almost an eternity.
Then, the day of her funeral, it’s resurrected again.
Released from its haven, 83 years since.
Handed to me, that fearsome girl.
I am looking back at me from a time now forgotten.
Remembering her no longer as a frail old lady,
I realised that once, here, on this day, she was nine, like me.
Proud of her soldier grandson, laughing at my antics.
My great grandmother, for she is me.
Beatrice Carrell, Aged 9, St. Mary’s School, Shaftesbury
Runner-Up
Winter We Must Mourn
The sun rises on the horizon, a bright ball of fire,
It’s the first day of spring, a new start to inspire,
Floating through air are the blossoms of trees,
And the flowers lose their pollen to honey bees,
White roses like stars begin to bloom in the green,
Then come buttery daffodils, the biggest you’ve seen,
It arrives, it awakes, the winter we must mourn,
But spring is alive, resurrected, reborn.
We breathe in sweet air, as the birds begin to sing,
Everything is revived which is life’s joyous thing,
Goodbye to winter, once again it must sleep,
The slumber is long, the slumber is deep.
Spring is awake here, its time is right now,
And the farmers on their fields prepare to go plough,
We wonder, we stare, our hearts full of affection,
For a world that is beautiful in its true resurrection.
By Millie Barker Yr 7, Bishop Challoner School
Special Merit
The Resurrection
A child was hiding in the eerie shadows,
When a woman walked by.
Who is she?
Mary Magdalene.
What is she doing?
Weeping in sorrow for her lost love and friend.
When the child heard
A gasp?
A scream?
A cry?
Of joy?
Of sorrow?
The child looked.
The tombstone of Jesus’ tomb was rolled away.
The tomb was empty.
A gardener emerged.
But then Mary fell to her knees,
Could it be?
No?!
Jesus!
The child let out a gasp of joy,
And fled to her mother.
Only Jesus noticed her leave.
He smiled.
Sophie C, Age 11, Saint Christina’s School
Special Merit
Life after Life
The wind rushing against his face
Not looking left or right
Sweating with fear
Raising his arms in terror
Not being able to stand
Being rushed off to hospital
Asking if he is ok
Crying
Amputation – disability
Changing his life
The wind rushing against his face
Not looking left or right
Sweating in determination
Raising his arms in triumph
Standing on the podium
Being rushed off his feet
Knowing he is fine
Crying
Amputation – Ability
Changing his life
Freddie Van Every, Age 12, Cranmore School
