Kids, you are absolute superstars! We are so proud of you. LoveReading4Kids is delighted to announce the winners of the 2023 Poetry Prize in association with National Poetry Day, today during the UK’s biggest annual celebration of poetry.
What better time to celebrate the creativity of our young poets across the nation and bring people together to enjoy, discover and share words that matter.
Earlier this year, with the backing of National Poetry Day, LoveReading4Kids launched our fifth annual poetry competition for children aged 7- 11 from across the UK. The theme was a tough one this year, mirroring the National Poetry Day theme of refugees, and we were amazed by the talented bunch you are.
It was an immensely difficult task for the judging panel to pin the hundreds and hundreds of entries down to a long list of 24, and then decide on the final 10 for the shortlist. They then debated and battled for their Judges' Winner. And for the last few weeks you have been voting in your droves for your favourite poem, with the poet being awarded the People's Choice Award.
One of our Judges Joanne Owen commented: “In a word, wow! The standard of entries was incredible, with such varied styles and subjects showcasing the breadth and depth of young creative talent.”
Without further ado, let’s announce our three winning poets. And my, it was a joy reading the hundreds of wonderful poems, so thank you to every child who shared their poems with us. Bravo!
The winning poet, awarded by the Judges is Aneil O'Connor, age 11, of St Teresas RC Primary School in Morden with their poem Windrush Child. Aneil is awarded a trophy and a certificate, a visit to their school from National Poetry Day ambassador Nicola Davies, author of the fantastic poetry collection Choose Love, £250 of National Book Tokens for their school and £50 of National Book Tokens for themself.
Take a look at Aneil’s award-winning poem below. One of our Judges Jay Bhadricha, Head of Programmes for The Forward Arts Foundation which is responsible for National Poetry Day, commented: "I love the structure of this poem, it seems simple but the sound and rhythms build to the second half of the poem where the structure fades away. I love the two line stanza: ‘A new beginning awaits / In the land of tea and cakes’ – there’s something comforting but ever so slightly off with that half-rhyme.”
Well done, Aneil!
Windrush Child by Aneil O'Connor
Behind you
Windrush Child
Your family and friends shout goodbyeIn front of you
Windrush Child
Dull, gloomy London waves hiNext to you
Windrush Child
The giant ship feels so highAround you
Windrush Child
Glistening waters wash byForward
Windrush Child
A new life beginsMemories of home flash back
Of palm trees waving in the breeze
And the soft, large green leavesA new beginning awaits
In the land of tea and cakesThat last hug from grandmother
Made me cry
But now I'm in dark London
Where there is no place to freely flyGloomy and bustling London
Is full of busy cars
But now I’m finished work
I’ve been put behind barsThe Windrush Generation was a lie
And now my only goal is to try to fly
Back to the Caribbean sky
And tell London “Goodbye.”
And thank to you lovely voters we are also delighted to announce the People’s Choice winner, Ishani Halford aged 11 of North Chadderton School. Overwhelmingly the people made their voice heard and hundreds chose Ishani's amazing poem What If...? Thank you to everyone who took the time to appreciate the poems and vote for the one that really spoke to you!
Ishani wins £100 of National Book Tokens for her school, £20 of National Book Tokens for herself, a trophy, certificate and a selection of beautiful poetry books courtesy of Macmillan Children's Books.
What if …? by Ishani Halford
What was the question that made it all happen,
What two words make your life what it is,
What are the words that begin all new things,
What if makes the world go round.What if we made a story of wizards,
What if we made a little room that moves,
What if we could make people fly,
What if we put a man on the moon,
What if we made a machine that makes fire,
What if we made schools where children can learn.These are the questions that seem basic,
But are revolutionary.
What if is the foundation of life,
So forget the facts and ask yourself – what if?What if I made a difference by simply asking – what if?
We must also say a huge congratulations to our Runner Up Eliyah Osei-Bawuah of Old Heath Community Primary School for her wonderful poem If I Described Me. Eliyah wins a trophy and a batch of beautiful poetry books too.
If I described me by Eliyah Osei-Bawuah
If I described me
My hair is ash from the morning's fire
My skin is caramel infused chocolate
My face is a mask forced to hide inner emotionsIf I described me
I am a ray of sunshine
A rare rainbow
Bursting popping candyIf I described me
I am a master
A boss with her own set of rules
A new arrow pointing in a different directionIf I described me
I am a volcano
A bottle holding too much water and pain
I am the eruptionIf I described me
I am a breath of fresh air
The light breeze after the storm
The calming winds of serenityIf I described me
I am a rock
A standing pillar
The steady foundationIf I described me
I am a messy room with no idea of the future, the past or the present
I am the clash of colours
The mixture of dreams and hopes and fears that don't uniteIf I described me
I am the gushing waterfall
I am the violent river of sadness
I am the little girl in the cornerWondering when her dreams will be realised
Her hopes will come true
Her ambitions will be accomplished
Wondering when her contradictive complex nature will burst through
Wondering if she will ever truly shine like the diamond she is
Wondering when she will finally have the chance to be her
And let’s not forget a huge round of applause for all of our shortlisted poets.
Jay Bhadricha commented: "We’re always thrilled to read the poems submitted for the LoveReading4Kids competition. The theme of refuge for National Poetry Day this year really seems to have chimed with young people with poems about refugees, environmental refuge, about hope and shelter. I hope these young writers and all the young writers continue to write and hone their talent."
LoveReading Managing Director Deborah Maclaren shared: “We continue to be delighted with the response to this competition and want to thank every child for sharing their poems with us. It was an incredibly rewarding and inspiring journey of creativity reading the hundreds of entries. Bravo to all of our poets, we can't wait to see what you come up with next year."
Forward Arts Foundation is responsible for National Poetry Day on the first Thursday of October. This annual mass celebration, founded by William Sieghart CBE in 1994, brings the nation together around the performance, sharing and making of poems: it is the highpoint of our year-round campaign to raise awareness of poetry’s value.
National Poetry Day 2023 is today, Thursday 4th October.
@PoetryDayUK
#NationalPoetryDay
#ShareAPoem
Look out for the 2024 Prize which opens in February 2024.
And a big thank you to our partners National Poetry Day, National Book Tokens and Macmillan Children's Books for their support of this year's competition.
A cry for help by Elise Roberts
Bitter cold seeps spitefully into my bones,
Staring longingly at the people who all have homes.
As it winds through my body I shiver
My tears race down my face like a river.
Goosebumps erupt and pimple my skin,
The hope in my heart flickers and dims.Loneliness tugs at the veins of my heart,
Sadness aches at my soul, tearing me apart.
Watching wistfully as strangers pass me by.
I wonder if anyone will hear my cry?Death would be kinder than starvation,
My stomach growls in protest, against this nation.
Mouth desert-dry, I feel empty,
No food on a plate - there used to be plenty.Will I ever repair my life in tatters?
My loneliness gnaws at me and my dreams are in shatters….
A poem of refuge by Laura Henderson
A POEM OF REFUGE:
When you are happy and you feel safe
You’re sheltered and it’s refuge
Don’t worry you’re not a stray or a waif
Now you’re safe! Lighten up! Don’t be a Scrooge!Poor you, lots of hard stuff has past,
You’ve been through many dangers it’s true,
But don’t look back, you’re here at last!
We won’t at all make you shoo!I can’t believe what you’ve been through
It’s terrible ! The worst!
We will help everyone of you
I can’t believe the bad dispersed!At least we all know it will end
Don’t be afraid, be proud
If you need help, a hand we’ll lend!
Feel comfortable take a look around!
Harbouring Hope by Janice Destiny Chido Matanhire
In the depths of the jungle, tall and grand,
A vibrant life flourished, so full and vast.
An orangutan, with fur so bright and tanned,Danced among trees, free from any grasp.
Before deforestation's dark decree,
The canopy embraced, a verdant maze.
Swaying in harmony, a vibrant symphony,L
ife thrived, untouched by human ways.
Then came the echoes of chainsaw's cruel hum,
The forest trembled beneath the ruthless might.
Trees fell, like soldiers in darkness succumb,
And the orangutan's world shattered overnight.
Fleeing deforestation's relentless wrath,The orangutan scurried through the haze.
Desperate, searching for a hidden path,
Escaping the hands that set the forest ablaze.It found a sanctuary, a small haven of peace,
A refuge where trees stood, towering tall.
Here, the orangutan's soul finally found release,Away from the destruction, it witnessed in appall.
Within this haven, the orangutan broods,Thoughts weighed heavy, like burdens to bear.
Why? It wonders, as it mourns and eludes,
How could humans taint the earth so unfair?Yet, resilience seeps into its wise eyes,As it gazes upon the barren, scarred land.
With each breath, it fiercely vows and tries,
To restore the forest, hand in hand.As dawn breaks, new hope ignites,
Among the ashes, a seedling starts to grow.A testament to the orangutan's fight,And the power of nature's eternal flow.
Though the habitat lies in ruins, now,Deep in its heart, strength still prevails.
For the orangutan has found solace somehow,
And amidst the devastation, its spirit sails.
In this tale of tragedy and hope reborn,
May we learn to treasure this planet's worth.Let us protect, restore, and forage a new dawn,
For the orangutan, our brethren on this Earth.
I Am The Moon by Tana Scarpa
I am the glowing Moon
I wonder why so many clouds cover my view
So I cannot see the flowers of the Earth bloom
I hear the cries of Pluto
I am the MoonI feel the agony of the Sea and Earth
I understand death is natural but
I worry that you will disappear one day
I cry at being lost, stuck and forced to stay
I am the MoonI say you create your own destiny
I dream of the day when your spirit is set free
I prove that light can be found even in the dark
I hope I shall forever hear the song of the lark
I am the glowing Moon
If I described me by Eliyah Osei-Bawuah
If I described me
My hair is ash from the morning's fire
My skin is caramel infused chocolate
My face is a mask forced to hide inner emotionsIf I described me
I am a ray of sunshine
A rare rainbow
Bursting popping candyIf I described me
I am a master
A boss with her own set of rules
A new arrow pointing in a different directionIf I described me
I am a volcano
A bottle holding too much water and pain
I am the eruptionIf I described me
I am a breath of fresh air
The light breeze after the storm
The calming winds of serenityIf I described me
I am a rock
A standing pillar
The steady foundationIf I described me
I am a messy room with no idea of the future, the past or the present
I am the clash of colours
The mixture of dreams and hopes and fears that don't uniteIf I described me
I am the gushing waterfall
I am the violent river of sadness
I am the little girl in the cornerWondering when her dreams will be realised
Her hopes will come true
Her ambitions will be accomplished
Wondering when her contradictive complex nature will burst through
Wondering if she will ever truly shine like the diamond she is
Wondering when she will finally have the chance to be her
Refuge from the climate by Ziva Patel
People and animals don't need to seek refuge
Climate change is not real and
So don't tell me
Because of rapid rising sea levels,
Because of hulky hurricanes,
Because of difficult droughts,
Humans and wildlife are being displaced
Can't you see
Fossil fuel production,
Devastating deforestation,
Unpredicatable earthquakes,
These are just excuses
We are forced to share our food, homes and money with them
And it's a lie to say
Their lives are under threat
From environmental, social and economic impacts so
Climate refugees deserve our sympathy and sanctuary(now read from bottom to top - this is a reverse poem)
Refugee by Aariya Tirahan
Why is there so much
hate for refugees?
What have they ever done
to you and me?Imagine for a second
that the place you call home,
was taken away by war and
now you are left all alone.Constantly haunted by the deafening
sounds of bombs and gunshots.
The smell of burning flesh and memories
that cannot be forgot.You may have this hate because you think
they are going to take our jobs.
What you fail to understand is that after so many tears they've been sent by the gods.They won't get any justice
from any high court.
So until its safe to return home,
they just need our support.
Shelter by April Denton
By the land, a sea
By the sea, a boat
On the boat, helpless families in need of shelter
Seeking refuge
They run
They run from everything
Everything they’ve ever known
Once there, with everything different
Language different
Sights different
Even smells different
They must power onwards
Heaving through challenges
Daring hard times
Balancing on the line separating life and death
They must tread onward
Treading onward for the lives lost
The boats that have sailed
The bombs dropped
Innocent families gone just like that
In less than a second
Lives flipped upside down
Now those poor souls must find shelter
How?
How can they find shelter when we are not opening up our arms or inviting them in?
When at any point did your mother tell you to be rude, and obnoxious
And soul crushingly horrid to those who are different?
To those who will have worked harder in a single month than you will ever have in your entire life
Now when I ask you
What would you say if your mother and father and brother or sister were up there instead?
Breath shaking, clutching passports
Just for someone Like you to deny them refuge
how sorry would you be?
Single Tear by Faith Marie Roat
As It Trickles Down Your Face
As You Feel A Tickle
When You Fear To SmileTucked In
Hidden Away
A Smile Will LayFeel Unhappy But,
Fear To WailNext You feel,
You Feel AmazingAmazing You May Feel,
Darkness Tucked Inside
Deep Down,
You Feel it,
You Feel That You're Safe
Now Believe it
The Girl We Refuge by Megan
There’s a girl living in my home,
Not a relative as it seems,
She didn’t bring much with her,
Only a toothbrush and a comb.She doesn’t talk at all,
And she doesn’t understand,
The words we speak to her,
The words we speak firsthand.I’m told we are her refuge,
Her home away from war,
Away from the bloodshed,
And away from the gore.I struggle to believe,
What she left behind,
Her friends and her family,
Destinies not intertwined.She’s welcome to stay,
In our forever home,
But when the war’s over
She’ll be glad to go home.
What if...? by Ishani Halford
What if …?
By Ishani Halford, age 11What was the question that made it all happen,
What two words make your life what it is,
What are the words that begin all new things,
What if makes the world go round.What if we made a story of wizards,
What if we made a little room that moves,
What if we could make people fly,
What if we put a man on the moon,
What if we made a machine that makes fire,
What if we made schools where children can learn.These are the questions that seem basic,
But are revolutionary.
What if is the foundation of life,
So forget the facts and ask yourself – what if?What if I made a difference by simply asking – what if?
Windrush Child by Aneil O'Connor
Behind you
Windrush Child
Your family and friends shout goodbyeIn front of you
Windrush Child
Dull, gloomy London waves hiNext to you
Windrush Child
The giant ship feels so highAround you
Windrush Child
Glistening waters wash byForward
Windrush Child
A new life beginsMemories of home flash back
Of palm trees waving in the breeze
And the soft, large green leavesA new beginning awaits
In the land of tea and cakesThat last hug from grandmother
Made me cry
But now I'm in dark London
Where there is no place to freely flyGloomy and bustling London
Is full of busy cars
But now I’m finished work
I’ve been put behind barsThe Windrush Generation was a lie
And now my only goal is to try to fly
Back to the Caribbean sky
And tell London “Goodbye.”