Little poems to 8 lines in length, any style, any theme.

First prize: A$100
Second prize: A$50

and publication here.

This poetry competition is great to enter for those of you who are amateur writers or write more regularly. Although there is a monetary reward, it is the free stuff in life, like just writing poetry and submitting it to a competition that drives people. So if you enjoy writing poetry why not give this competition go?

Entry deadline, the end of February annually.
~~

February 2010

Judge's Comments:

I really enjoy reading these little poems, as often the brevity means much is said in few words, with no word wasted. They carry impact. Yet the best of these are not terse, but full of feeling and sonority. This is exemplified in the winning poems. I was torn between two very different poems, which now share first place

In The War Correspondent, the title leads well into the story this poem tells. There is originality in each turn of phrase used, and the echoing sound of W is not intrusive, but adds to the well built atmosphere. The opening and the closure are both excellent. The message is strong and effective - so much is said in few words with each one carrying full import.

In Au Revoir, the subject is one that readers can identify with, and feel the well created atmosphere. There is originality in the phrasing - eg. a sail kissing the sky. When read aloud the whispering S sounds, followed by the quieter TH, work well, and the assonance of or/shore/or/ear. I like the offset last line, and find the personification of nature very effective.

I have awarded second place to The Exile.The title informs, and the opening line is packed with information, but very poetically, with the cities being 'window-eyed'. The poem develops well, with a strong contrast between the first and second stanza, and there is a freshness of expression. Consonance is used subtly. I like the 'sky fierce-pinched with stars.'

Also of excellent quality are Laundry Day and Searotics.

Congratulations to all chosen. It was with regret that some other good work had to be laid aside.

Ruth Strachan

Results

Equal First Place

The War Correspondent - by Helen Meikle

The War Correspondent

She follows as we walk away,
chaos staring from unblinking eyes
that saw death flower
red in the dust beneath her feet;
unwitting warrior, nameless child

and we walked away...

with footage primed to say we’d won
and buried shame that said we lied.

Equal First Place

Au Revoir - by teri merlyn

Au Revoir

When you smell salt whispers on the wind

Or hear the echo of waves on a distant shore

If a shell sings shanties in your ear

Or you see a sail kissing the sky

Think of me,

Think of me!

Second Place

The Exile - by Helen Meikle

The Exile

I dream of home from the rain of window-eyed cities
flashing false colour into a blank sky,
the air rank with tar and resignation
and sour with the breath of decaying dreams..

Behind my eyes, the earth is gentle after rain,
misted grey-green and sweet-smelling
under a sky fierce-pinched with stars
and vast with the light of promise.

~~~

Very Highly Commended

Laundry Day - by Nola Passmore

Laundry Day

She aired her grievances

like gaudy sheets

pegged across his heart.

He ripped them down,

rolled them in a ball

and shoved them in the dryer

out of sight.

Searotics - by teri merlyn

Searotics

Hard curves moulding soft curving flesh

Smooth on rough sun drenched rock dreams

Sweet salt spittle on fickle green tongues

Flicking rocky orifices into stoic arousal

Hard waves pounding soft sounding rock

sea sperm spent in a rushing tide

Languid foam fingers gently linger

Combing streaming tendrils of rock hair lovingly

~~~

Highly Commended

Look at him - by Vicky Daddo

Look at him

Look at him in his too-tight shorts,

King of Winter on the footy field.

Strutting around in the name of sports,

look at him in his too-tight shorts.

He bends, oblivious to derisive snorts,

his chicken-skin tackle is revealed.

Look at him in his too-tight shorts,

King of Winter on the footy field.

Fairy Toes - by Mandy Lovell

Fairy Toes

Her silent wings silver white

A Flutter of fluid light

Her elongated eyes the shape of petals

A glittered face like frost on feathers

Her tiny body a treasure to hold

A whispered story of historical land

Her spider fingers sausage toes

A figure of nostalgia from where nobody knows

Red feather sunset -by Fiona McIlroy

Red feather sunset

From soft crimson pillow
ruffled, furrowed brow
a single feather dipped in
red ink poised over the hill

like Shakespeare’s quill

about to create the next

great play of our millennium
before sunset curtain close

sky - by Rosie Schriever

sky

silent and seamless the clouds are stirred
a thousand acres belonging to me
up to the sky where flies the bird
I look when I cannot see

all of my thoughts contained in its vastness
every emotion, frozen in time
when I am trapped by the world and its harshness
I remember the sky is mine

~~~

A process - by Vanessa Page

A Process

We wanted them more for their beauty
the perfection of the raspberries, jewel box red
and arranged for sale in white paper trays, bibelots
as lambent as our pairing – two Impressionist blurs
painted soft into the mouth of the Cours Saleya,
lost in arterial bloom, blue stripes and shadows
talking, fingertip stained, about vicissitude
and re-threading older words with garrison teeth

~~~

Freeze Frame - by Nola Passmore

Freeze Frame

The blind busker in my album

is still sitting in Guadalajara Centro

crooning the same song,

waiting for pesos to drop

into his upturned hat,

unaware I’ve trapped him

in a time warp of memories,

while I move on.

Commended

Haiku - by Margaret Young

HAIKU

Cold wet windy day
swallows swoop - yo-yoing
above grey water.

~~

Emotion - by Jonathan Tromane

Emotion

Hollow feelings creep inside the inner being,

And well upward, provoked by the mind’s eye.

The effect of what the mind is seeing,

Emotions stirred to crisis. To scream, or to cry?

Blurred vision, shortness of breath.

Movement limited, a chill, thoughts of death.

Illusions of all that is held dear,

Gathered under one umbrella – Fear!

~~~

Equilibrium - by Anne Hollier

Equilibrium

You were only away a month

yet our mantel clocks went on strike

hot water cooled its heels in pipes

the swimming pool’s heart faltered

tv programmes refused to record

I hadn’t realised how much

your presence powered

my everyday existence.

Another - by Keitha Keyes

Another

He was driving around

and he saw her

walking briskly.

They found her

face down on the footpath.

She had no identification,

just a silver bangle

engraved “the world’s greatest mum”.

Fire - by Joanne Mills

Fire

desolation left

an incurled photo
charred remnant
floating on tears

the only moisture

Red Centre - by Vanessa Page

Red centre

Stuart Highway cleaves through dreamland,
sews itself industrial hard into territorial spine
We are tiny in our crossing, but all too obvious
at the end of it, peeling fruit at the border
And when we go, simoom will breathe our foot
prints back, and cover over the bruised heart.

~~~

Gemini - by Margaret Young

GEMINI

She stalks, sees, and hears that
which she will use later.
How poised,
her lips smiling.

On outstretched hands
diamonds glitter twinkling lights,
little stars on earth
without reflection in
her eyes.

February 2009

Judge's Comments: Ruth Strachan

Just too many good poems, all deserving to get a place! Such has been the quality, we have five pems gaining a Very Highly Commended place. Note that not all three line poems are haiku, but achieve here on other merits.

Both the top placed poems are so well focused that the first and last lines are almost linked, but with much eventuating in the few lines between.

In The daughter, the portrayal of Winter as a wayward child is highly original .The echoing of "I will" is very effective. The sound effect of the Ws in the first line and the Ms in the last suits the instances. There is a natural rhythm evident. The rhyming is unforced. Every sentence contains action and imagery. And the whole forms an atmosphere.

Shards has a sense of immediacy about it, it is happening now, as the reader reads. The echo in I see / I watch / I weep is very effective. The cadences in the last line make a moving closure, along with the N sounds and echo of "know". Shards of grass bring to mind sharp cutting broken glass, and the echo of "green" reinforces the hurt jealousy.

Congratulations to all achievers, especially our winners.

Ruth Strachan

Results

Equal First: sharing the total prize money allotted to first and second places.

The daughter by Rosie Schriever

The daughter

I will not resist Winter. I will let her
fling her raindrops across the garden pond.
I will let her place her frost-eggs
in empty nests, when birds have gone.
I will let her sharpen icicles
till she turns and her eyes brim with disgrace...
then I will caress her snowflake cheek,
and in my arms her melting heart embrace.

Shards by Patricia Clark, Victoria

Shards

I see them walking side by side,
hands enclasped, eyes connected,
growing microcosms of intimacy.
I watch through green shards of tall grass.
They, merging with trees, kissing in shadows:
The cutting blades sting.
I weep green tears,
Now they see me, and know that I know.

Very Highly Commended

Memorial by David Terelinck

Memorial

Resolute granite orators script stories
near neighbours who never relocate
telling tales with muted breath
of years traversed from birth to death

The broken earth - will you cry?
place flowers once? weeds will flourish
never tending the memory,
let alone the borders of my grave.

Inside the Firebox by Jenny Pyatt

Inside the Firebox

Inside the fire-box embers glow.
A haunted house is licked by flames
with burning bricks and windows
framed in black.
Amidst the heat a ghost appears,
an ashen spectre Against the blaze.
Empty rooms and crumbling walls,
inside a fire-box.

Israeli Wall by Max Merckenschlager

ISRAELI WALL

The concrete snake
in a scale-less glide
clamps peace between its jaws.

Memory by Joanne Mills

Memory

stepping off the train
wind nips hard at my heels,
grey sky, grey pavement, white rain,
but I see only your face.

fingers flick through photos,
letters, left-over shadows?
memory colours the walls
lime-rimmed, eternal ghost of you.

Waves of her Childhood by Joan Fenney

Waves of her Childhood

Slowly they caress
touching her feet like a breath
almost a whisper.

Highly Commended

Abundance by libby goodsir

Abundance

She had low hopes no hopes
all life was a bonus
some say hope is the essence
to be without is lacking faith
she was comfortable in the sun
potted plant plastic chair
she hoped for nothing
everything was everywhere.

Five power lines by Rosie Schriever

five power lines
across the dark blue morning
stars, music notes

Trees by John Egan

Trees

Its three in the morning,
the blackness tangible
as sand. The dark window
shows no trees and yet

there are trees moving there,
huge and solid as the ocean,
restless as the moon
I cannot hear and cannot see.

Sometimes... by Annika Ohlsen-Smith

SOMETIMES...

a great poem comes running through your head
but your heart lets it go
as your pen would hurt someone

Sometimes...

your head is so full of self
you'll write the poem anyway
as regret comes gnawing through your heart

Old Age by Pat Fletcher

Old Age

After lunch
she dozes
indifferent to Days
of Our Lives babbling
inane comments
through teeth of
plastic people.

Roadside by David Terelin

Roadside

Plastic roses
taped to a tree trunk
ring-barked by your Beemer;

I wish my grief
could fade as quickly
in the harsh light of day

Commended

Shark Suit by Carolyn Eldridge-Alfonzetti

Not for publication.~

Bridal veil by Patrice Connelly

Bridal veil

Mist meets the spider's web
between two trees.
A veil of crystals awaits the bride,
her myriad of jewels a gift of the morning dew.

Restless Flycatcher by Simon Webster

Restless flycatcher

The yellow chest
Of the restless flycatcher
Rises into view like the sun.
I hold my breath as
He hovers at my window,
Plucks a bug from the flyscreen
And is gone.

Dusk by Laura Smith

Dusk

Nothing is quiet at dusk:
gulls, songs, and children swoop
to celebrate the energy of the day.
So why
did the dying man's words come out
like gulls quiet at dawn
scattered on a white-frosted
playing field?

Weather Report by Nola Passmore

Weather Report

Raindrops danced on me,
fell from clouded eyes
and loosed the barnacles
from my heart.

Sunlight sang over me,
swept away my shadows
and placed its melody
behind my smile.

The Valley by John Egan

The Valley

Above the valley
and the black fells of scarp
clouds in a sinuous sky.

They jostle
to paint the land below
with shadows.

Wind by Edel Wignell

Wind

A giant heaves loose iron -

the shed's wild cymbals;

hums in taut power lines,

whistles in eaves.

A witch loosens leaves -

autumn confetti;

A broom sweeps the courtyard

from east to west.

Family Reunion by May Zhang

Family Reunion

Traveling day and night
she arrives, startled to meet
her childhood self, furtive, anxious to
get away

Her mother smiles, sadness etched deep
See the silly clouds
keep messing up
the full moon

Catnap by Max Merckenschlager

CATNAP

Curled up ball, my blissful cat
sleeps; I'm envious of that.
But her toileting by lick
is a less-admired trick.

February 2008

Judge's Comments: Ruth Strachan

Judging the Gumnuts entries was again a pleasure I found many poems were pleasantly rich in simile. Three in particular stood out for me, but others also were of high quality.

Arrow, which gained first place, is a poem which allows the reader into the feelings of the main character. Something happens in the course of the poem - it progresses. When read aloud the sounds in 'shattered' and 'splintered' are very evocative. It is a poem to stir the emotions.

Bats is packed with delightful imagery. The atmosphere of light fantasy is enhanced by the light sounds of P and S. I found it thoroughly entertaining.

Passing Swans gives the reader a great deal in just the three lines plus title. In fact the title of each successful entry played an important part.

Congratulations to the winners.

Ruth Strachan

___________________________________________________________________________________

Results

First Place:- Arrow by Patricia Clark, Victoria.

Arrow

I saw a droplet
clear as a crystal bead
tremble in your eye
when I told you I was leaving.

It dropped like an arrow,
shattered my heart
like splintered glass -
how could I leave you now?

Second Place:- Bats by Marianne Musgrove - South Australia

Bats

Little black vests
pegged to the powerlines,
they hang like witches' laundry
against the sooty sky.

Very Highly Commended:

Passing Swans by Max Merkenschlagerl, South Australia

Passing Swans

Three drifting notes
on a liquid sheet
score music for my soul.

Highly Commended Poems:

Winter's Night by Mark Williams, Victoria

Winter's Night

Eternal star splendour waits
above the ocean's swell,
patient waters,
bathing dark rocks.

You are the winter night.
In your breath is unrest and
ultimate death.

Flores by Miles Trench, South Australia

Flores

I am but petals, fallen from this
red red rose, small. Dust, dust and
petals, blown in the wind: tomorrow
and alone, pierced through the shroud
and I remember . . . . . .

Without you, I am but petals. Small
red petals of dust, blown about by the wind;
like all things that linger.

Paparazzi by Patricia Clark, Victoria

Paparazzi

There are spelikins among us
who, for a quick buck
would veil the colour
that stands out in the fog.

Bright images trashed
in media of contempt;
one by one our heroes tumble
in the plain light of day.

Just Like Kids by Max Merckenschlager, S.A

Just Like Kids

With infuriating insolence,
next-door's leggy grapevine
scaled her fence,
shinned her drainpipe,
and stared rudely down on her
garden of gray pavers.

Commended Poems:-

What We Can Learn From Black Sheep by Marianne Musgrove - S. A.

What We Can Learn From Black Sheep

White sheep
know fences are there to protect them,
colour inside the lines
and only try out for the chorus.

Black sheep
know fences are there to be jumped,
have no time for Bo Peep
and always, always star in their own show.

Autumn Shades by Jan Foster, N.S.W.

Autumn Shades

Leaves turning, crisp cool mornings,
parklands draped with red and gold.
Foliage mantilla morphs to a carpet,
Koel is silent, the honeyeater gone
Autumn is gently drawing its curtain,
declaring an ending to summer once more.

Release by Mark Williams, Victoria

Release

From confinement to
incredible freedom
and delight.

This - this is life.

So new to this world,
too young to know a threat.

How quickly
death is calling you.

Unaware by Glenn Bray, Vic

Unaware

Leafless

trees weep

unaware of
coming
spring.

February 2007

Judge's Comments: Ruth Strachan

What a wonderful response to the inaugural Scribbli Gum competition! All entries held interest, and many had a natural rhythm and an echoing of sound, so it was painful to lay some aside. However, some entrants seemed to have tried to fit a longer poem into eight lines, which did not really work well. These pieces could be quite successful in a competition for longer poems. It was good too to see some seemingly simple little poems that were not simplistic, but well crafted.

Everything considered, the winner is Blue, in which the atmosphere and the silence are so well presented. It is a poem that calls the reader back to it - congratulations! Second place goes to an unusual and lovely offering, Moonshine, and Very Highly Commendeds go to Rosella and The Last Thing I Saw, two very effective poems.

All entries were of a very high standard - thank you for the pleasure of reading them.

Ruth Strachan

Results

First Place:- Blue by Pat Rosier, New Zealand.

Blue

Paint me in dull flat colours today
Grey, like the pre-rain sky.

Use a wide brush, and work
with long, torpid strokes.

Have the light fall outside
the frame, casting long shadows.

Hang me in a dark corner, and go,
quietly, leaving the door ajar.

Second Place:- Moon Shine by Em Hofstede - New Zealand

Moon Shine

Tonight I kissed the surface of the moon-
in the palm of my hand I held it.
Tonight, the craters were made
by my fingertips
and old footsteps
were whispered
away
with my
breath.

Very Highly Commended:

The Last Thing I Saw by Edel Wignell, Victoria, Australia

The Last Thing I Saw

The blue-ringed octopus
Rests in my palm:
A golf ball of poison...
So beautiful.

Rosella by Glennis Henning, NSW, Australia

Rosella

Swiftly it flashes, a palette of colour,
Softly alights on callistemon bough,
Carelessly sips of the bountiful nectar,
Beautiful rainbow beside a red flower.
Silently watching, a furry grey hunter,
Stealthily creeps to the blossoming bough,
Stretches its paw with a deadly intention
.. . .
Still, ruffled rainbow beneath a red flower.

Highly Commended Poems:

Art Deco by Helen Lowe, NZ

Art Deco

Acute angles of roofline
thrown against shadowed sky,
neon signs overlap
bare branches, rusted iron -
angle on arc on cube,
a ziggurat of cityscape
seen through mirror glass,
through a pane, lightly.

Crows by Edel Wignell, Victoria, Australia

Crows

Crows strut, in glossy black,
Proprietorial;
Retirement village undertakers:
Superior, satisfied -
Future carrion assured.

Comfort by Dorothy Swoope, NSW Australia

Comfort

Tossing and turning
thoughts stream in the chill of night,
until your warm dream filled breath
soothes and penetrates my sleepless back,
entering my heart,
reminding me of the start,
that blew so hot,
burning still, a slow soulful flame.

Crows & Haiku by Fred Curtis Victoria, Australia.

Crows & Haiku

crows caw in the wind
to interrupt my flawed dreams:

from the battle ground
a crow watches -- in one-eyed
anticipation
crows eye a gibbet
with its noose of hempen rope:
one down, two to go

quinta essentia by Julie Waugh NSW Australia

quinta essentia

mostly marching across the surface with
singular moments of being of it, in it
meagre encounters with magnanimity
when the soul stretches leisurely over skin
and consciously subsides
irredeemable by desire
never forgotten as markers of evolution

Commended poems:-

The Naked Heart by Kate Landsberry NSW

The Naked Heart

bare and unadorned

truth finds its place
within the heart
where secrets are not judged
and light abides

entwined with dark

Timeless by Kate Landsberry NSW

Timeless

Too soon, the childish laughter
and the simple tears have gone

Too soon, have I packed away in boxes
butcher paper drawings - yellowed and crisp

Too soon, has the tiny package I once held
become a woman - articulate, capable and loving

She is all that I hoped
and yet, sometimes, it seems too soon

Home by Jan Foster NSW

Home

Home
once more,
open door,
arms flung wide, smiles,
welcoming prodigal son back
with joy.

The Big OE by Sue Howard New Zealand

The Big OE

I cried when they left, I couldn't help it.
The tears just leaked out of my eyes and down my face,
just like the love I have for my son that seeps out of my voice
when I speak of him with pride and love.

They had to go of course, it was inevitable.
Although occasionally when I see a family
relating with unmeasured and with careless love
I feel sadness too deep to contemplate.

Little Icarus by Fred Curtis Victoria Australia

GEMINI

Waves of her Childhood

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