Literature – Poem
Introducing the Literature – Poem category winners of our first ever Sydney Catholic Schools’ Lockdown Arts Festival.
The poetry of our category winners and highly commended artists – including the creators’ descriptions of their own work – are sure to capture your imagination and stir your emotions.
Early Primary (K-2)
School: St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School, Prestons
Poem: Together
Together is a poem written by 7-year-old Sarah Attokkaran about “Looking outwards from a life in lockdown”. The theme is about a beautiful day spent with loved ones after lockdown.
School: St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Rockdale
Poem: Rainbow Tree
I wrote this poem during lockdown because it is nice and peaceful. The tree in this poem makes me feel happy. The colours make me smile.
Middle Primary (3-4)
School: St Francis Xavier Catholic School Ashbury, Croydon Park
Poem: Hope and Strength
My submission is about all that has happened to me in the past two years and my mum saying “Be strong, it won’t always be like this.”
School: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Carnes Hill
Poem: I wonder…
My submission is about waiting to get out of lockdown.
School: Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Primary School, Mount Pritchard
Poem: Freedom and Lockdown
During remote learning we have been taught how to create a Diamante poem. I have enjoyed this, so I decided that I construct one using the words Freedom and Lockdown. It is my way of looking outwards from a life in lockdown. Looking forward to the freedom we all once had when we are out of this lockdown.
Upper Primary (5-6)
School: St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Concord West
Poem: Back, at the Seas: A Glimpse into the Future
My poem is about how I feel in a life in lockdown!
School: Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School, Beverly Hills
Poem: Untitled
School: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Kensington
Poem: Overcoming Your Life in Lockdown
My feelings now.
Lower Secondary (7-9)
School: Domremy Catholic College, Five Dock
Poem: The Little Things
The Little Things is a poem about life in lockdown and how when we are restricted to our homes, it is the little things that count.
School: De La Salle College, Revesby Heights
Poem: Optimism in The Shadows of Lockdown
I am a 14-year-old boy in Year 8. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, I started my high school years in lockdown which has altered the way I communicate with teachers, family and friends. Lockdown has been like a dark cloud hanging over our heads. It has been challenging. With struggle comes perseverance and ultimately a sense of hope.
School: Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College Burraneer, Cronulla
Poem: One Planet, Two Different Worlds – Overcoming Your Life in Lockdown
My poem encompasses the beauty of nature and how throughout lockdown I was able to appreciate my surroundings even more. I was not aware of how much adventure I could find so close to my house. I explored a whole new world throughout lockdown and was able to experience a serenity and calmness I had never felt before.
Upper Secondary (10-12)
School: Bethlehem College, Ashfield
Poem: I Am Fear
The true meaning and purpose of Fear.
School: Eileen O’Connor Catholic College, Lewisham
Poem: Awoot’s Lockdown Poem
Lockdown poem.
School: All Saints Catholic College, Liverpool – Casula
Poem: Locked-Down Reflections
My poem explores my stream of consciousness during lockdown. As my poem cycles through the day, my ‘present tense’ perception of my environments cause ‘flashbacks’ to my memories of life before lockdown. I associate my flashbacks with ‘freedom’, to communicate a longing for the past, while in the ‘captive’ present. My poem thus intends to explore the fluidity of time, and the sense of ‘blurriness’ associated with lost time under lockdown. I also utilised pathetic fallacy as a motif throughout my work, to reveal how the natural world holds a personal connection to my memories, childhood, and sense of freedom.
The poem features intertextuality, mostly from Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’, as I found the ideas of ‘captivity’ resonant with the idea of lockdown. My poem overall intends to be a socially aware piece, which simultaneously reflects on my introspective perceptions of life, and memories of childhood.
I hope you enjoy!
Primary Class
School: St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School, Clovelly
Poem: Year 1 Nature Poems
During remote learning, my Year 1 class learnt about poetry writing. Our submission is a class submission based on the theme ‘Looking outwards from a life in lockdown’.
As a class, we decided on a central theme to base our poetry on. Students enjoyed the idea of looking out the window from inside their house and finding things that made them smile. Every answer had something to do with nature and God’s creation, which is why we decided to write nature poems.
Students chose whether to follow the structure of an acrostic poem, colour poem or cinquain. The collage of literature is a positive reminder of the things in our lives which we can always remain grateful for.
Staff member or group
School: All Saints Catholic College, Liverpool – Casula
Poem: Lockdown Gaze Ascendant
LGA is a small reflection on a little family practice that made the days of lockdown working somewhat bearable – our family’s evening goodnight to the moon, during which we’d try to teach our two young girls (aged 4 and 2, who are directly quoted here) about the stars and encourage the eldest to attempt to write her own poetry. The impetus behind the writing of it, however, also comes down to a Year 12 student, Jayden, who was quite adamant to have myself write something when this opportunity arose after a year of my pestering him around his own English Extension 2 work. As such all credit for the work goes to the two groups of ‘kids’ in my life; both student and child.
School: St Patrick’s College, Sutherland
Title of Poem: Tarry
I wrote this poem during lockdown this year. It explores ideas about endings and new beginnings, through the lens of nature.