Congratulations to Ceren, Kara, Tom and Ellie at Stratton Upper School, who have had their entries for the Empowered Poetry Competition selected for publication from over 12,000 entries.
The competition was run by Young Writers, who have been encouraging young people to engage in creative writing since 1991. The ‘Empowered’ Poetry Competition asked students to ignite their imaginations and write passionately.
KS3 co-ordinator, Jade Stratton, said: “We are so incredibly proud of all our students for their entries. They read a range of poetry about people who all explored the importance of feeling empowered and used this to write their own poem exploring what being empowered means to them.
“Ceren, chose to write about the way we can use creative outlets to manage our emotions; Kara wrote about the importance of being able to be and express yourself; Tom looked at the power we have to overcome climate change and Ellie discussed how acting empowers her and builds her confidence.
“These four students have been selected from over 12,000 entries to be included in a book of poetry (Empowered – Poetic Verse) and their work has been described as imaginative, creative and original with an interesting interpretation of the theme.”
You can read Ceren and Ellie’s poems below:
Moth in the Vines by Ceren Yediayli
In the thick
Of lush red wrath
There lived a little moth.
It was the heart
of glowing hope
that I thought I’d lost.
Every noon
It flapped its wings
To get out of this trap
But the vines of fury
And anger and sorrow
Would leave the poor thing wrapped.
It’s only desire
Was to leave this fire
And finally go rest
But it could never leave
This prison of rage
Even if it tried its best.
Sometimes the vines
Would wake up with violence
That could be spot by thorns
These thorns would bulge
And bloat with ire
To attack the already scorned.
To protect its wings
and listening hope
the moth would cover up
Away from its limbo
It would weave silk
And sleep to collect dust
It loved the silk
that it had weaved
into patterns of elegance
And from its hope
And my ways to cope
It never fell to decadence.
I’m so proud
Of my own hope
For trying it’s best to stay
Because of it
My vines never speak through hands and mouth
But rather through pen and clay.
Stage by Ellie Carles
It’s empowering in a way,
The blinding stage lights
That illuminate a path for my feet
To float across
Even if the role I adorn
Isn’t beneath the spotlight
Or isn’t a spectacle to behold,
I can still feel with certainty,
The weight of a jewel-crusted cloak
And the wind of a billowing cloak
That sweeps away the clinging dust
Of nervousness I might have felt before,
That gives me this empowerment.
To stand and wear a mask
And become somebody new each time
It’s what gives my feet the strength
To stand beneath those
That cause burning blotches to flash
Beneath my eyelids,
The strength to face a crowd that awaits,
Breath bated and eyes wide,
Waiting for my moment.
Waiting for my act.
Waiting for my time.
Waiting for me.
And it’s empowering.