Competition Entry

On Halloween night, the veil is thin,
Between the worlds, where spirits spin.
Jack-o’-lanterns glow with eerie light
As ghosts and goblins take their flight.

Witches fly on broomsticks high,
While bats and owls flutter through the sky.
Black cats prowl with stealth and grace,
As the moon casts a haunting embrace.

Children dressed in costumes bright,
Trick-or-treat through the moonlit night.
They gather candy and treats galore
As the Halloween magic fills the air.

So on this night, let your spirit soar,
Embrace the mystery, forevermore.
For Halloween is a time to play,
And let your imagination run wild today.

Happy Halloween!

RUNNER UP

It’s like it comes every day
Starting school
Jackets on
That feeling of dressing funky, funny or just fabulous
And getting those sweets
And all those birthdays coming up
Maybe family time
But you know what I think is the best part
The leaves change colour and then I know I get to feel it again

RUNNER UP

The first marigold leaves frolic along wooden arms
From the shimmering warm puddle your eyes stare into mine
The soft breeze whispers your every breath
Every mud-soaked step a weight on my chest

The soft light above so clear it pierces my eyes
For eternity my beating heart is trapped in your smile
From across the globe through all the frontiers
Your melodic voice sings in my ears

Like the chestnut-colored squirrels scurrying through the land
You stole my delicate heart and away you ran
The clouds have sensed your absence and scampered to find you
Leaving the sky alone, so pure and blue

I hope to gaze into your eyes, sparkling like the dew
I hope the mighty emerald river will lead me to you
I hope that our bond will be evergreen and true
Oh, how my heart is still waiting for you

WINNER

If I were to paint a picture of autumn
No palette would do any good
I could use the colours from nature
I’d use crimsons and azures, I would.

If I were to paint a picture of autumn
I’d start from the top of the sky
I’d use the cerulean from the wings of a bluebird
That in the autumn, swiftly flies.

If I were to paint a picture of autumn
I wouldn’t forget the leaves
I’d use the lava from the depths of the earth
That every volcano receives.

If I were to paint a picture of autumn
I would paint a bubbling spring
I’d use the wildest flowers to adorn it
And the emerald moss that clings.

If I were to paint a picture of autumn
I’d paint it to spread joy all around!

When will winter start?
The way winter calls my name,
But greets me instead with an icy blow.
It puts on a great big show
As the snow gently falls below.
It’s an absolute wonder to my eyes,
However my nose turns red in disagreement,
The harsh, blustery wind fights past my warm winter gloves
And stains my fingers
The same colour as my nose.
Yet on and on the winter lingers,
Snowing enough to give me a cold,
But not enough to make a snowball.
This winter is so long
And this winter is just lingering,
So all I’m asking now is,
When will this winter end?

A

Tiny Tree

waiting to be

decorated and

after a while amputated

while that being unknown to

him the hopes were becoming dim

on the 24 of December trees around

him were disappearing and getting hard to

remember but along came a boy jumping with joy

as he saw the lonesome pine and he shouted ‘can it be

mine can it be mine’ so he went with him, and he called him

grim but he put lights to make him bright and tinsel that made him jiggle but

soon after on

the 6th January

he put me in

captivity and left

RUNNER UP

I’ve been waiting for you for a century.
How many times have I said this?
October, enchanted month,
How many gifts have you brought us,
With amazing colors,
Which inspired famous artists,
The wind blows in the city
And Winter will come again.

November, I see the trees getting old,
And me with them.
I walk and walk, the creaking of the leaves
Doesn’t cheer me up
And suddenly I’m jumping in one of
Those pools of water in front of the door,
Knowing that the cold winter is coming.

November is an explosion
Of smells and colors,
The wine down in the cellar,
The leaves on the paths,
We remember the Saints
And our dear departed.

RUNNER UP

In the thick darkness a spell is cast,
Black night, the mantle shines.
Shadows play, whispers fly,
Halloween, the heart beats of cheating.
Witches laugh, ghosts play;
Full moon, the stars dance.
Pumpkins carved like bright candles,
Magic and mystery will soon be awake.
In the cold wind a shiver runs,
Mysteries and legends, the night flows.
Laughter and screams,
Sweets and jokes,
Halloween, festival of secrets and spells .