POEM FOREST has announced its shortlist of 84 young poets from across Australia, selected from more than 6,400 entries in this year’s youth nature writing prize.
Created by Red Room Poetry in partnership with Wollongong City Council, POEM FOREST is a nature writing prize for young poets and teachers.
POEM FOREST plants a tree for every poem entered, creating positive climate action and amplifying the voices of young people across Australia. Now in its third year, this – competition has recieved a record amount of entries – more than 6,400 poems, planting more than 6,400 new seedlings.
Shortlisted poems span eight prize categories for students from years K-12 as well as teachers from every state and territory across Australia.
The winning poem in each category will receive $500, a book pack from Magabala Books, Pantera Press, Wonderground Journal, Pan Macmillan Australia and Murdoch Books (worth $100), a ‘Wild Things’ poster from Wollongong City Council, a poetry journal from Corban & Blair, as well as judging notes and a winner’s certificate. Winning entries will be announced on 16 November 2023.
Check out one of the Upper Secondary shortlisted poems below.
The jaw of a brother
Caitlin W, Year 12
Erindale College
The jaw of a brother hangs over your doorway
like a sinner.
Tantalising adrenaline,
the bliss of the risk
keeps you coming back into the cage
sleek as a seal,
still impassioned when
this churning womb claims payment.
A well-known fact: my whole life, I must swim.
A never-ending pilgrimage
keeps me breathing.
So then, what is the cruelest crime you
can commit against me? Saltwater thumps
at the boat, rhythmic as a heartbeat.
You pick up a knife, carve off my sand-paper limbs and let
them boil alongside garlic and herbs while you toss
my dusky remains overboard and
I start to sink deeper,
deeper,
drowned.