Thursday, September 25, 2008

Fran Inkster of Manly Library hosted the Manly-Manado Poetry Competition awards as part of the Manly Arts Festival on 13th September. The theme of the competition was "community" to reflect the Manly-Manado community partnership and emphasise the purpose of the competition - to celebrate community.

Close to 100 poets had entered their poems during the previous month and a small group of judges had made their choices of winners and highly commended in each category.  "It was wonderful to receive so many entrants," said Fran. "And the Manly-Manado partnership has definitely enhanced our sense of community in Manly - uniting people of all ages. It's wonderful to see the people of Manly continue to unite around a common purpose for the people of Manado."


The winner of the Primary School Division was Courtney Sloan from Manly West Primary School with her poem:

Fireworks

Hoisted up on shoulders so I could see
We’re out late just, our community
A sparkling light goes through the summer night
Trailing their trail of glittering light
And colourful fountains pour out showers
Of shimmering sparks like warm coloured flowers
As I block my ears I see the harbour I just had to gaze
An ocean on fire and a sky ablaze


Participation Certificates are also awarded to 17 students from Manly West Primary School - what a great contribution!  The winner of the High School Division was Lauren Perry from Mosman High with her poem:

Garden

I lay down in a field of meadow grass
To ponder, wonder, contemplate our way
And stop.  To witness quiet life just pass-
So different from the bustling world today.

Feeling for the heartbeat of the field,
To savour sight and sing with every sound;
To understand what our life, too, could yield
If flowers unravalled from soft and fertile ground.

Our world, where trees grow solitarily
Does not produce a forest strong and dense.
With no support or binding unity
Each plant is grown behind an iron fence.

I hear the call of joy and look above
As birds of every colour, hue and shade
Soar circles, rings around a single dove:
Halo a harmony above the glade.

If only division in our world would ease
And sky burn bright. Embrace our world as whole !
Community, togetherness and peace
Grow flowers in the garden of our soul.


The winner of the Open Division was Margaret Grace from Bilgola with her poem:

Our Manly

Pounding the iPod path - joggers
slow, to stretch...sniff the salt spray
and watch green class waves
carry surfers towards the shore.

Surging up the Corso a tide
of tourists lap at shopfront doors
and in the ebb of noon clamour
for ferries...back to the city.
Toy boats in the cove seas-saw their
moorings, pinned on a silky blue sea

Now the evening pines
lengthen their shadows - people,
penguins and tales of whales
stitched to the fabric of Manly.
Folded away in the depth of night
to be shaken out next day.

Know that you share the same
sun, sea, sky and stars as Manado
in Sulawesi, the same hopes,
pain, and the same love.
 
Congratulations to everyone involved - a wonderful community event, celebrating community !