WINNER
Secondary (Yrs 7-9) Poetry Section

Sahansa Udawatta (Year 9)
Inspiration: 'Givenchy' by Georgina Davy

Air still, the darkness surrounds,
Daunting,
My breathing shallow,
Minute by minute, the reality of life.

Clutching of iron, awakening memories,
Memories of the past,
Once cherished, now forgotten,
Distanced from my heart.

Now no family to love,
No lover to hold,
A father no more,
Reality crumbling around me.

Belittled, reprimanded and oppressed.
Silenced, trapped like a commoner behind bars,
My life, bleak,
My heart, broken.

Justice denied,
Bonds of society ripped apart,
A community no more,
Despair replaces hope.

Beating of whips,
Echo my future.
My every move monitored,
Mistakes aplenty.

Schools are political institutes.
Pearls of wisdom - the success of our leaders,
Praised, loved and feared.
Those we aspire to become, “good citizens”.

From clothes to relationships to ability; everything - identical,
People indistinguishable,
Individuality inexistent,
A coherent society of robots.

Rules regulate,
Regulate the remains of our lives,
Lives decorated with misery and labour,
Awaiting a saviour.

Sahansa is 14 years old and currently living in Hobart, Tasmania. She is a passionate swimmer who enjoys spending time with her friends and family. Her interests include writing, mathematics, science, debating and learning new things.

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