Thank you to everyone who submitted their writing on nature and climate change to the Creative Writing Contest for Bridge to a Cool Planet. The contest is now closed. Our judges have declared the winners of the contest and we are happy to announce their names here!
We encourage writers to continue to submit creative writing pieces on climate change and nature to this blog and to continue to spread the word of the blog’s existence.
Congratulations go to the following Winners of our Contest!
Children’s Poetry Winner: Turtle and the Water, by Azlen Elza, written at age 7 (now age 9). Azlen wins a horseback riding lesson from Laughing Stock Ranches.
Children’s Short Fiction/Non-Fiction Winner: A Promise of Gardens, by Diego Corry, age 10. Diego wins a book club membership to Christianne’s Lyceum for Art and Literature.
Best Adult Poetry Submission Winner: Gretel Survives the Witch, Only to Encounter Climate Change, by Zoë Landale. Zoe wins a 2-hour spa treatment for her Mac Computer from Macinhome Consulting.
Runner-up: The Weather Makers, by Matt Rader.
Best Overall Adult Entry (Short Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, or One-Act Play) Winner: Kayak, by Jordan Hall. Jordan wins $100 in the name of Room to Read.
Runner-up: Sweet Airs of Summers Past, by Ann Ross.
Many thanks go to our Judges, Dr. Christianne Hayward and Laura Farina for going through the submissions and selecting the winners!
Dr. Christianne Hayward founded the Lyceum of Literature and Art as part of her dream to contribute to the rich literary and arts community in Vancouver. She has been educating children and adults for over thirty years. She is a local storyteller and popular reviewer of children’s literature. Her Ph.D studies in education (UBC, 2000) focused on using select children’s literature to develop socially relevant curriculum in early childhood settings through to high school.
Laura Farina:
Laura’s first book of poetry, This Woman Alphabetical, was published in 2005 by Pedlar Press and won the Archibald Lampman Prize. She has taught creative writing in schools and communities across Canada.
One Step Forward Two Steps Back, by Angelica Poversky, Age 11
As my pencil touches the paper,
My hopes that my thoughts won’t go to waste,
The paper that I am holding
Has lived in that disgrace.
Not being given the highest hope,
Not being used in every way,
Living-care free,
Should not see another day.
Everything that others want,
It will never be true,
If what’s said isn’t done,
If what the earth wants you don’t do.
The grass will be green,
As the winds continue to sing,
The ongoing nature repeats,
Considered on what we bring.
A life full of adventures,
May be turned into a troubled place,
If every move that is placed forward we take a step back,
If each time you higher your speed you lower your pace.
One chance,
One way,
Start this,
Make this your first day.
A Moment After, by Kathleen Downie
The rain pressed upon me gently
Drops like fingertips embracing my face
I met their touch with joy
That cool, late spring rain
Arrived as if to satisfy some deep longing
To be bathed in the sweetness of not knowing
Gently the embrace encircled my toes
The delicate swirls of water inviting me to dance
Spiraled and flowed into the depths
The spirits come and go bestowing their blessings
Pouring a libation for the invisible queen
That I should have walked in that moment was a gift
originally published in Surface and Symbol, November 2003, Vol.15, No. 9
