Competition Entry

WINNER

Remember when I had friends
And saw them everyday
We met at school
Then went to work, then went outside to play

My friends are just some people,
that make me laugh and smile
They keep me entertained
and I’ll stay for a while.

My friends are both boys and girls
we look out for each other and play,
And after work and lunch and breaks
it’s the end of the day

I call them sometimes
and I have a phone
sometimes they don’t pick up
and I wait for the tone

Then Covid 19 came along
and stabbed me with a knife,
now I’m alone and sad
depressed in my life

Remember when I had friends
girls and boys too,
then quarantine locked me up
leaving me sad and blue

Sunshine and daisies.
I miss the most.
I don’t make sense to myself either…
But just take a breather.
To realise what means the most to you.
Was it the little things like your grandma’s beef stew?
But for me it’s also you.
Where are you?
I understand it’s hard.
But I’m always here.
I won’t disappear.
But…
Where are you?

I miss my family,
In this dark house.
No one to say hello,
In this dark house.
There is a small light,
In this dark house.
A newsflash,
In this dark house.
I can see my family now,
In this dark house.

This house will be forever happy,
No more dark house.

WINNER

“What is friendship, Daddy?
Please give me a definition!”
“Friendship is a bond between you and another person.
It can be broken,
But, if truly spoken,
A real friendship will resume,
After this slight dispute.”

“What is important in friendship, Daddy?”
“Kindness comes first.
If your friend is not kind,
Then you know that the friendship is not real!
Second is honesty,
For example, you rip your friend’s dress:
You need to tell them,
No matter how hard it is,
A friendship shouldn’t have any lies.”

“What is the best friendship, Daddy?”
“Well, a good one shouldn’t break up,
And if it does,
It should be made up,
You will still be friends.
But, my child,
If you are without friends,
Family is the best.
They are always there for you,
No matter what you’re going through.
Now, remember this talk, my child,
And you will be a great friend!”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Good. Now let’s go and have our tea.”

It’s different these days,
so dull, so boring,
sometimes I even find myself yawning!
But when my nana comes to visit,
I feel so excited, so happy,
I can’t wait to give her my trademark slappy!
“We can’t,” my nana said.
“If you get germs, you’ll be strapped to the bed!”
I don’t believe it’s true,
“I’m definitely feeling better, better than you!”
Nana chuckles, she laughs galore,
I laugh along with her, till my sides become sore,
“You funny thing!” she giggles, she grins,
I love when she laughs, so I give her some spins.
When it’s all over I’ll give her a hug,
And then I will give treats to her little pet pug!
“We will have to wait until it’s over,” she says.
I agree, we shall wait until then…

WINNER

I miss my friends a lot,

My friends,

And me were partners,

But now it’s like a wall named covid-19,

Between us,

I’ve not seen them for a long time,

It’s like my friends are now a stolen gem,

I do not know where my friends are,

It’s like tears falling and creating an ocean,

But how long will it last?

Two years,

Three years?

Life with friends will change the friendship will end,

It’s like my friends are now a wrecked ship,

Sunk in the ocean!

My biggest support is my family,

They are not forever,

Only for a short time,

However they are the best,

I cannot live without my family,

My family is my fear sometimes,

Mostly it is my happiness,

But when it becomes a fear,

It’s more than a tear,

When it becomes my happiness,

It also becomes my heaviness,

They need my happiness,

I need theirs,

But my happiness is a kind of a heaviness,

We are a family of seven,

With my family it feels like I am in heaven

Winner

We told each other,
a month’s passing
would do no harm.

That the flipping
of each calendar page
would equate to no distance.

Rifted by the gap between
double blue ticks and green bubbles,
the lies of a glowing screen.

We are a car
With increasing mileage,
yet dwindling speed.

Time without momentum.
a grandfather clock,
a pendulum, never ceasing to sway.

Crease-less bed-sheets,
yet a stale stench,
of underused affection.

The ‘Welcome’ mat
left untouched,
to its soggy aftermath.

It is coincidental how,
two metres is the same
as six feet.

The distance
our hearts
lie sunken beneath.

We used to play together having lots of fun,
But now I’m alone in the garden staring at the hot hot sun,
I guess I can Facetime, but it’s not the same,
And sadly now are lives our grey and lame,
Let’s look at the positives now,
I’ve baked a cake and my Dad said WOW,
There is one thing that I’ve practised a lot,
Outside gymnastics, boy is it hot!
The old times will come back soon,
But right now we’re stuck with this virus,
So why not practise a tune.

Mum was in the kitchen,
Dad was in the garden,
Nan was in the pantry,
Letting the chocolate harden.

Sis was in the bedroom,
Bro was in the car,
Grandad was in the garage,
Yelling at bro “You’ve gone to far!”

That was in the happy times,
Where we could play all day,
Now our lives are being crushed,
Our days are sad and grey.

You can’t see friends or family,
Like Grandad or Nan,
The only way to communicate,
Is on FaceTime so thank goodness we can,

But let’s think of the happy things,
Like you don’t have to go to school,
You can do some baking too,
You’ll make a cake that’s cool,

So think of all the people,
In hospital without their mum and dad,
Moaning and groaning in so much pain,
Your life is not too bad!