Angelina A, Year 7 recently won first prize in the 10 to 12 years category of the Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition. The competition asked young people to write a short poem inspired by the world of chalk steams. These globally rare habitats have enormous value for people and wildlife alike. The competition was a collaboration between the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme and Hampshire Library Service and was open to 7-18 year olds living in communities like Alresford, Andover, Overton, and Whitchurch.
The poems were turned into an anthology, ‘Chalk Stream Poems by Young Writers’, which includes beautiful illustrations by acclaimed artist Rachel Hudson, and a heartfelt foreword by celebrated author Amy-Jane Beer. Copies were presented to the winners at a prize giving ceremony at the Arc in Winchester, along with a certificate and National Book Tokens, as well as storyteller Amanda Kane-Smith reading the winning poems.
By The Stream, I Dream – by Angelina Ayres
The ripples of the stream, blur green shadows of trees
The clear river grass sway and dream, bending to where the water leads
The damp soil after rain, the aroma of wood and flowers
Soft leaves dance on the branches, tall oaks standing like towers
The quiet disturbed, splash, as a duck dives down for snacks
Now trout strike in a flash, like an army ready to attack
Pitter patter goes the stones, I reach in the water to feel
Icy water calls in soft tone, urging me to lift my heels
I imagine I’m one of the fish, to swim in waters that glow
I imagine I`m one of the ducks, I can follow the stream’s flow
The green branches protect their home, all the way to the paths new
The water can venture to places unknown, I believe we can do so too
