Jack Hughes (Year 10) 
Inspiration artwork: Yaadon Ka Dher (Bundle of Memories), Alia Haider (2021) 

Around me, I see family, friends, teachers and pets

I see thin walls covered with musty old wallpapers that make up my home

I see us all in prayer for peace, love and happiness around the earth

I feel my metallic pocketwatch with its sharp edges, making holes in my pockets

I feel the warm embrace of my brother after we hear the upsetting news

I feel the sadness in my heart as I see the reality of this world unfolding

Around me, I see family, pets and the last of my very best friends

I see the thin walls that are spotted with holes that smell of lead

I see us all in prayer for ending, of these trials and tribulations

I feel metal in my pocket but lost my pocket watch a while ago

I feel the warm embrace of my brother, as tight as he can do

I feel fear enter my mind as I see the truth of humans reveal

Around me, I see my family and I wish I could see my pets

I no longer see the thin walls that had made up my thin house

I no longer see us pray, we only look down to not make trouble

I felt the metal in my pocket my pocketwatch, nowhere to be found

I longed to feel a warm embrace but the only cold came from my brother

I feel comfort in my suitcase as I see the truth of what the past used to have for me

---

The Art2Words Writing Prize is an annual writing competition at The Friends’ School. Read the full list of short-listed and winning entries here.