SomersetYoungPoetsCompetition2017–ClimateResultsAsever,thisyear’sSomersetYoungPoetscompetitionwasdifficulttojudgeduetothehighnumberofstrongentries.223poemswerereceivedfrom8differentschools.Asisthecurrenttrend,themajorityoftheseentriescamefromtheyoungerstudents.Intheworkshopstosupportthiscompetition,wepractisedwritingnotjustaboutclimate,butaboutemotionalclimate.Asaresult,manyofthesepoemstouchonpersonaldetail.Withafewnotableexceptions,manyofthepoemswhichaddressedClimateChangeprovedtobeover-general,andlackedspecificdetailswhichcompelledtheattention.Withtheolderclasses,poemssuchasSylviaPlath’sSheepinFogandSimonArmitage’sShroveTuesdaydemonstratedwaysinwhichweathercansuggest,orevenembody,anarrator’sstateofmind.7–9CategoryAsever,thisagecategorywashard-fought,witharecord173entries.Forthisreason,aswellasthewinnersandthehighlycommendedandcommendedentrieswhichstoodoutfromthecrowd,thereareanumberofhonourablementions.Thepoemswhichmostimpressedmehadanindividualperspective,anddidnotfalter.Often,astrongpoemwouldpeteroutlikeadampfirework.Thiswasthedifferencebetweenaprize-winnerandanalso-ran.PrizeWinners1stPrize Ialwaysandalways! RubyHanson,MineheadFirstJoint2ndPrizeRunningThroughtheSeasons RyanReed,ParkfieldSchoolColoursandhappiness SophieHough,MineheadFirstJoint3rdPrizeTipaTapa JemimaAndersonWhatisCloudy? LucieMcLannon,MineheadFirstHighlyCommendedWetEasterEggs MarthaJoanneMilton-Jenkins,MineheadFirst

Unusualthingscanchangetohappiness MaisieKendall,MineheadFirstCommendedTheGreatBarrierReef KeertanNatakala,Parkfield TheOcean ImogenAhmet,ParkfieldLotteryWin ZoeLloyd,StPeter’sByeDad,HelloDad EbonySavage,StPeter’sUntitled WilliamPorter,ParkfieldSchoolHeartbreaker RachelMackie,MineheadFirstHonourablementionsalsogoto:Mydogfeelssad Aaron-leeColinHobbs,MineheadFirstWhyI’mHappy LennonSinclaire,MineheadFirstFootball ZayedAlhusni,StPeter’sFirstPuppies LaceyGibbons,MineheadFirstStormFright HenryPatterson,ParkfieldWeatherweather CharlesGoodridgeBulliestoFriends ArabellaRossiter,CombeStNicholasWhereismyCat? GracePickering,StPeter’sLost AmberFoley,MineheadFirstThegreatbutbadday ChaseClausen,StPeter’sSadnesstoHappiness RhaeyaFouracre,StPeter’sFirstOneday… LouisFoster,StPeter’sFirstWhenIwenttoCharterhouse… SamDoverChanges CharlotteHumphries,StPeter’sFirstLikeaLion RyanLobley,StPeter’sFirstSingingBird MadidahHussain,StPeter’sFirst

FirstPrizeIalwaysandalways! RubyHansonIalwaysrisetotheshiverofhands.Notalarms,whispers,silenceorbreakfastorfootstepsordogsorcatsorlightsbuthandsonspines!Mydadalwaysshiversmyspinewithhishands!Ialwayswaketothesmelloftoast.Notfruit,juice,yoghurtorjamorfloorboardsoreggsorbaconorteabuttoast!Myfatheralwaysgivesmetoast!Ialwaysputthedoginherbedtogrowls!Notthank-yous,whimpersorsilenceorhugsorbyesorloudsofthumsbutgrowls!Mynan’sdogalwaysgrowls!Ialwaysspeedtoschooltohugs!Notgifts,wordsorpeaceorwelcomesordancesorfunbuthugs!Ialwaysgotoschooltohugs!

(Joint)SecondPrizeRunningThroughtheSeasons RyanReedRunninginSpringIhavetododgetheshowers.Theycanappearfromnowhereandseemtolastforhours!DaffodilsarebloomingintheparkwhereIrunandthewindscanbestrongbutitmakesitmorefun.Runninginsummergreengrassblueskiesandme.Latenightrunsmakemefeelsofree.Pouringwateronmyheadtocoolmedown.Thegentlesummerbreezeblowsthroughmytown.RunninginAutumncrunchyleavescarpetthefloor.Red,orange,green,brown,goldandmanymore.It’snearlyfireworknightandsmokybonfiresfilltheairrunningthroughmuddypuddlesslippingeverywhere.RunninginwinterbreathingicycoldairfrozengroundandfrozenfingersIcanhardlybareRunninginthedarkthroughhail,rainandsnow.Thewindfreezesmyfaceasitstartstoblow.(Joint)SecondPrizeColoursandhappiness SophieHoughMylifeisswirlsofcolourlightingmylifelikethesummersun,ColoursgivemeConfidence.Blue,red,greenandyellowareallwondersofmyworldinsideme.Happinesscreatedmylifeandmysmilefrommyfacetomytoesticklingfrominsideme.Happinessismyonesunshine.Burningasmileonmyface.Coloursandsmilesthejoyofmyworld.WhereIdaydreamaboutcoloursandsmilestellingmetobehappyandsmile.

(Joint)ThirdPrizeTipaTapa JemimaAndersonIwasfastasleepwhenIheardtipatapa.“Whatwasthat?”Ilookedoutofmywindow.Thewatertroughhadoverflown.Iputmycoatonandranoutside.Ididn’task.IwenttoknockforEva.Iwasverysad.“Wecan’thaveawaterfight,comeovermine.”Mydogcameupstairs.Hejumpedonmybed.Tipatapa.Iheardbirdscomingmyway“Whyarebirdscomingintherain?”Whenthelastbirdcamethesuncameout.MeandEvaputourshoeson.Weranoutside.Wehadawaterfight.(Joint)ThirdPrizeWhatisCloudy? LucieMcLannonWhatiscloudy?SadnessiscloudyLikewhenmy3ratspassedawayslowlyOrwhenIwasfollowingmygrandad’scoffin.Whatissunny?HappinessissunnyMy3ratsclimbingupthecageinthepastOrwhenmygranddadletusthrowknivesattheground.

HighlyCommendedPoemsWetEasterEggs MarthaJoanneMilton-JenkinsInFranceonEastermorning,therainwaspouringdown,Dripdropdripdrop!Mysuddenthoughtwas,“OhnotheEastereggs.Theywillallbewet.”WithoutputtingonmyshoesorcoatIranoutofmybedroomandontothelanding.Asquickasaflash,Idasheddownstairstothebackyard.OfcourseIwasright…Theirchocolatesurfacewasmeltingintherain.Thecoldnessonmybarefeet,shotuptomybrainandmademeshiverlikeIwasapersoninAntarcticawearingshortsleeves.Isatonthestairscryingsaltylittletears.Suddenly,Isawateenygoldenbunny,hiddeninbetweenmyshoes.Althoughitwasn’tchocolateitwasthebestpresentIeverhadbecauseitwasoneoftheeasterbunny’slittletinybabybunnies.Itslittletinyearlookedlikeachocolatecoin.SoInameditchocolate.(HighlyCommended)

Unusualthingscanchangetohappiness MaisieKendallTheunusualfigurewasoutsideinthefield.IthoughtitwasmymumButItookanotherlookShehadchangedinsomewayShewaswithhermumanddadTheyhadadogandwerestaringMymumrantowardsmeIhuggedherbutshedisappearedShethenreappearedwhenIgothomeIkissedheronthecheekSuddenly,shecamealiveWestartedanewlifeIhadahappyfeelinginmysoulSheboughtmesweetsIdidn’thavetogotoschoolLikebeforewhenshewasillWewerehappyandjollytogetherShewasverykindtomeThatiswhyIloveherSheisspecialtome(HighlyCommended)

10–12CategoryTheysaythathappiness‘writeswhite’,whichmightexplainwhythewinnersofthe10–12categorycontainquitesomuchanxiety.We’renotquitesurewhatchangehascometolaywastetoGeorgeOwen’ssuretyofpurpose.However,oncewereachthefifthstanza,anyformerenergyhasgone,andthereisonlyoneactiveverb–andthataparticiple–infivelines.Twonicetouchesarehowtheline‘nomorestraightanswers’followsthemoreliteral‘nomorestraightroads’,andthewaythattheword‘car’canbefoundre-arrangedintheword‘scrap.’Metaphorsarecontrolleddeftlythroughout.LylaPike’sauthentic,believablevoice–‘that’snotit’–convincinglycarriesusthroughasituationinwhichweknowsomethingiswrongbutcan’tquitelocateit.SarahCawley’s‘AnotherNewSchool’unfoldsatitsownpaceandconcludeswithanicelyunderstatedpositivenote,whileCharlieKellett’s‘Wind’hasitsowninternalpullsandpressuresoflanguage,rhymingwhenonedoesn’texpectit,andcomingtotheendofasentence–andathought–beforestirringintolifeagain.1stPrize NoPurpose GeorgeOwen,CombeStNicholas2ndPrize ApoemaboutEmotionalClimate LylaPike,StAndrew’sCofE3rdPrize AnothernewSchool SarahCawley,Queen’sCollegeWind CharlieKellettHighlyCommended Theteamswereraringtogo… LouisaNelson,ParkfieldMovingSchool KeeganHounsell,CombeStNicholasWhenImovedHouse WarrenGeorgeThorne,CombeStNicholasBulliedtoRespected IsaacHenley,CombeStNicholasCommended TheSurpriseofaLifetime GeorgeChapple,CombeStNicholasStormySeas BenMcCallum,ParkfieldFriendshipFrenzy CharlieParkes,ParkfieldTheBattleScene IsaacSparks,Parkfield

FirstPrizeNoPurpose GeorgeOwenMybedusedtobeamotorcarCruisingalongstraightroadsTheenginehummingsoftlyUnderthesmoothbonnetDrivingtoalandofmyown.ApieceofropewasmyanchorHoldingmyplaceintheworldMadeofstrongmaterialAlmostunbreakableFullofjoyousthoughts.MybookwasmysalvationEachmorningIopeneditReadapageSoonlosttothewondersShiningwithlight,neverforgotten.Onecoldevening,IwalkslowlytomyroomStormbrewingoutsideIlookinEyesfullofworry.ThemotorcarscrapTheenginegivingitslastbreathsNomorestraightroadsNomorestraightanswersNomoretranquildreams.ThepieceofropesnappedLosttostrongseasIthasnoplaceDriftingawaytowardsdistantlandsIt’sgotnopurpose.MyoldbookcoveredincreasesTeastainsallovertherippedpagesNeverreadLostonadustybookshelfIthasnopurpose.

SecondPrizeApoemaboutEmotionalClimate Onthephone,Allalone.Youknowshe’snotok.“What’sup?”youask,Gettinghertosayisatask,Butstillshe’snotok.Eventuallyshetellsyou,She’shavingfamilyissues.Youknowthat’snotit.Thenshetellsyoufully,Thatsheisbeingbullied.Youtrytocomforther,Shesaidshetoldsir.Hesaidforgetthem,You’realittlegem.Don’tletthemgettoyou,Justsayboo.Andgetonwithyourlife,Don’tletthemgiveyoustrife.LylaPike

(Joint)ThirdPrizeAnothernewschool SarahCawleyIstandinthebustlingcorridor,Asmallbaretree,balancedontheconcrete.Harshwordsbitingflesh,Resonatinginmyhead.Rustymarksstainmysoul,Peoplerushing,stampedingtheschoolhall.ThestrongropeswhichoncesteadiedmeAreflappinginthesurgingstorm,Blownoffcourseonanunstableraft,Likesailingintouncharteredmist.Theclassroomsholdonlyfearanddread.Pupils’wordspinchandpunchatme.Emotionalscarssoreliketrappedfingersinadoor,Noescapeasthestormclosesin,Thesafetyharnessunclippedandslipping.Teachers,carers,parentsTellmeIwillgetusedtoit!Dotheynotseewhatliesahead?Senttoyetanothernewschool.Willmyropesholdandmychainsregaintheirgleam?Aretheharshseascalming?Anewseasonbringinggrowth,Ifeelthewarmsuntouchmybarebranches,Hopetwinklesfromtheshinycleanwalls.Standingtall,bloominginthemeadow,Myrootsdiggingdeepinthefertilesoil.Strong,secure,safe.Thekindwordssurroundme,Birdssingingtheirwelcomingtunes.Thenotesdrawmeintothesoft,comfortblanket.IthinkI’mgoingtolikethisschool.

(Joint)ThirdPrizeWind CharlieKellettThewindisadangerousfoe.Itliesamongthesilentleaves,Waitingforitsinnocentprey,Andwhenitcomesandsitsbelow,Thepriceoffreedomisnotcheap.Thewindisadangerousfoe.Itcanhowlforyearsamongrockortree,Andsomewillneverleaveitsgrasp,Saveexpelledoveradiredrop,Tofalltoone’sdoomathousandfeetbelow.Thewindisadangerousfoe.Somehavefoughtit,usedit,riddenit,Onwingsofsilenteeriedeath,Butnevershalltheyconquerthewind,Whofliesthehighestofthemall.Thewindisadangerousfoe.

HighlyCommendedPoemsTheteamswereraringtogo… LouisaNelsonTheteamswereraringtogoTeamThunderinyellow,TeamStorminBlue.ItwasatopofthetableclashThiswasamustwincricketgame.Theweatherwasperfect,Skyasblueastheoceanonatropicalisland.ThesmelloffreshlycutgrassintheairandThenewimprovedwickethadbeenreadyallweek.TheimportantgamestartedThunderwerebattingandStormwerefielding.Bothsidesshowedimpressivecricketskills.ThefirstinningsfinishedwithTeamThunderallout.AstheteamsenjoyedarefreshingteaGreystormcloudsformedinthebluesky.AheavyrainshowerdroppedfromthecloudsThelushgreengrasswasfloodedinminutes.BothteamsweredesperatetoplayButtheumpiresrefusedtofollowtheirrequestUnfortunatelythegameendedasadrawThecrowdsweredisappointedandthestandswerecleared.(HighlyCommended)

MovingSchool KeeganHounsellMydiary’spagesrippedscatteredonthefloor,Lostinthesealikeababyshark.Theweatherthunderinginthebackground.Mygoalsmashed.Pieceseverywhere,Sharppiecesinmyfeet.Mycricketbathascracksinlikeabrokenheart,Cornersrippedoff.LostlikeababyLioninthewoods.Nowmydiaryisshinyredandtidy,Mygoalisnowshinyred,everythingreflectingoffofit,Allpiecesputtogether.Mycricketbatallneatandtidy,Cornersallfixed,Nowthesunisreflectingoffmyshinydiary.(HighlyCommended)

WhenIMovedHouse WarrenGeorgeThorneIhadabluepenMypenworked.ItwasusedalotItstillhadalidItwasapenthatmadeMehappy.Ihadagleamingshinyphotoalbum,AllsunnydayswithmyfamilyTheywerenotripped.MybedwasveryComfy,WhenIjumpedOnit,AnditwasVerycomfy,itwasnotripped.Thepenwasnotusedasmuch,Thelidwassnapped,Ormissing,Thependidn’tworkAnymore.AllofthephotoswererippedTheyfelloutOfthephotoalbum.MybedwasallRippedmymattresswasNotcomfyanymoreThebedspringssnapped.(HighlyCommended)

BulliedtoRespected IsaacHenleyGoingtoschoolstormbrewing,Excited,I’mmetBysadnessandhatred,thesunturnsintorain.Sittingintheclassroom,Cryingatmydesk,Notabletodomywork.Goingouttobreak,Pusheddownbyboys,Wantingtorunaway.Changingschoolexcitedandnervous,I’mmetbysmilingfaces,Kindchildrenallaroundme.Sittingdownonceagain,Caring,helpfulpeoplearoundme,I’mgoodatmyworkgettingbetter,better.Runningintheplayground,Playingwithmyfriends,Mycutshealed.Hatredturnedintolove,Goinghomehappyforonce,Sleepingsoundlesslyinmybed.(HighlyCommended)

14–17CategoryHannahHayusessnowtorepresenttheoppressiveconformityofcertaintypesoffaithandhowitmightdrownoutanindividual’scharacterandvoice.Sheusesthewhiteofthepageasasilentforcewhichmightsmotherherthoughts,whileeachlinebravelystakesitsclaim.IzzyJohn’s‘TheSilentBreakfast’successfullyusessyntaxinadifferentway,thistimetorestrictthenaturalflowofconversationandaffection.‘Nospeech,laughter./Nothing.’Theimageofpastrieswaitinglikevirginbanksofsnowisvividandoriginal.JacobHarrishasawildlyoriginalvoice,andhisworkrewardsre-reading,whileHarryPaynter’s‘INK’(anacronymfor‘INowKnow’)describeswhatmusicmeanstohim.FirstPrizeSnowfall HannahHay,HeathfieldSecondPrizeTheSilentBreakfast IzzyJohn,HeathfieldJointThirdPrizeAShipintheStorm JacobHarris,HeathfieldINK HarryPaynter,HeathfieldCommendedRain JordonNelson,HeathfieldLefttoBondwithSorrow ElliePorter,Heathfield

FirstPrizeSnowfall HannahHayAwholelifeencompassedbywhiteThepureblindingwhiteofbeliefSurroundingme,suffocatingmewithfalsehopeChillingmetotheboneTheblossomingflowersofmytrueselfWiltingunderanicyblanketofliesChangingmyviewsofallIfindgoodintomisguidedperceptionsofrealityHarshhowlsofpreachingsDriftintomyimpressionablebrainInfluencingmetodedicatemyselftosomethingThatwillonlymeltawayTheconstantremindertodobetter,bebetterWovenintomysubconsciousHowdoIbreakoutofthiscold,brainwashedbattleAndfinallystepintothesun

SecondPrizeTheSilentBreakfast IzzyJohnThetable.Fullandemptyatthesametime.Nospeech,laughter.Nothing.Warmcoffeepouredintolargemugs.Keepingusawakeintheearlymorning.Themostwecouldmanage.Elsewe’dfalldeep.Shebitesintodrippingbaconsandwiches.Hecrunchesonthetoast.Noeyecontact.Stillnothing.Nowarmthbehindtheglassyeyesofpeopleonceloved.Nosmilesuponthefacesofabsentbeings.Fluffywhitepastrieslaidoutinheapedpiles.Untouchedandwhole.Likefallensnowflakeswaitingtobejumpedin.Anabyssofnothing.

(Joint)ThirdPrizeAShipintheStorm JacobHarrisThewindshouted,shoutedtowardsme,calledmetoaplacewhereallisabsent.Allbutsinnedstars,forcedtoobeytheirdevils.Theydroppedtearsuponthee.Figureschainedtomasts,sothattheymightfloat.Seenwhiningathorses,brushingpastsouls.Theworld’sevilconjuredaroundme,toformapresence.Itspawsflexedtocreateasubversionagainstall.Fineanddugin,likebarbedwire,willingtodomoreharmthangood.Itseesmeasalesser,itslesser.YetIfeelpartneredwiththee,likeIalwayshavebeen.Itcalmsme,sothere’sonlyroomfordissentandadherence.However,withinthee’sdarkness,itschildrenworshiplight.Theythrowlight,scatterlight,shadowedlight.Abeamheldupbyhorrorandforcedintoanundeniablestateofbeing.Theyclawanddragawaymysails.Ontopathsfuelledbythestoriesofseenlesser.Myshipisgiftedatasteoftheinescapableend.Andmystorysinkstobeasinnedstar.

(Joint)ThirdPrizeINK

I’vewrittenthemelody.Awriterintheclouds.

Thespectrumwillbethesoftsounds

thatcolourmefree.

Theweightedkeys,theweightinme.Gone–withinsubtlevelocity.

Themodulationwithinasinglebeat.

Themodulationofcolour;themodulationofdebris.

Alltheanger;thebloodthatwon’tflowsoproudly.

Therush,theadrenaline

thatmakesmefeelalive–burningly.

Thepiercingcold,thebluethewilted,fadedflowers.

Frostedandencrustedinme

everythingthatinternallysurrounds.

ThemyriadsofcolourcollectandcondensewithintheINK–

*

INowKnow,thisiswhathelpsmeescapethevultureofjealousyinourungratefulculture.

Thesearethecoloursthat

onceswaminmysubconscious.

Thecoloursthatraspandhowl,andscream–unzippedattheseams,

foreverwhisperinghoarsely,themusicthatsetsme

free.

HarryPaynter