Winning Poems

First Prize $300

THE SPRING FLOODS

The spring floods are finally over
at least for now, apparently,
and the birds have started up again,

and not just because it’s sunrise,
but we’re finally talking to each other,
now that the spring floods are finally over

past the uprooted trees and washed-up rocks
and all the strange new mudflats –
but the birds have started up again,

picking at whatever they can find,
like old memories of babbling winds,
now the spring floods are finally over

and the river-banks are all carved new now
clear and strange without any more questions:
the spring floods are finally over now
and those glorious birds, they’ve started up again.


Ivan Rehorek


Second Prize $200

Archipelago
 
He makes a sea
the colour of plums,

the colour of my grandmother’s skirt
and there’s us, like islets adrift,
odd-matched as the cat, the starfish,
the fledgling with its blue eye still clamped,
atolls, barely remembering how our edges fit
swallowers of gems that fell
from her pockets,
our history in amber and amethyst,
we call at Christmas,
collide, meander politely away
keep borders intact,
leave reefs unexplored.

He makes an ocean
the colour of ghosts.

Suzi Mezei


Third Prize $100


Speaking of Language


Helene Castles

2018 Ruqayyah Ibourki Ekphrasis 

Poetry Competition

Created and sponsored by Abdul Ibourki and administered by the Goulburn Valley Writers Group Inc. 

Featuring the work ‘Connecting Waters’ by Yorta Yorta artist Troy Firebrace

This competition will be judged by selected members of the Goulburn Valley Writers Group Inc.

and the Dungala Kaiela Writing Awards.

First Prize:          $300

Second Prize:    $200

Third Prize:        $100

Using the image of ‘Connecting Waters’ by Troy Firebrace,

produce a poem or literary description of the work

to a maximum of 16 lines.


About Troy

The art work will be on display at Kaiela Arts for the month of July.

Painting Image

                    Title: Connecting Waters

                    Artist: Troy Firebrace

                    Medium: Acrylic on canvas - Measurements: L 160cm x H 120cm

                    Artist statement:
                    The waters of the land all connect together, all related, all following the same path.
                    Even though the rivers, creeks and waterholes have their own story and their own character they share
                    the same journey, bear the same responsibility. This is the same for us as humans, as people. Sharing
                    the same roads and pathways, seemingly going about our business that is unique to the individual but
                    as you take a step back to widen your view you realize we are all aiming for the same goal regardless of
                    colour, religion, culture or status.

                    This artwork reflects this way of life. With the ability to see the work up close to admire the individuality
                    in the brushstrokes, the imperfections and the unique linework that takes on a journey of its own. Staring
                    into the circles which we meet to share stories that twist, turn and melt. Watching the branches of the river
                    banks stretch out from those circles to reach to the next generations, to their neighbour, regardless of colour
                    only seen as gold of value, of worth, in hopes they too can hear the stories, finally flowing into the river and
                    soil creating layers and layers in history.

                    Upon taking a step back you see a neighbouring section of the artwork that shares almost the same
                    characteristics but has its own imperfections that tells its own story. Another step, another and another you
                    start to see the artwork coming together, with each individual section joining together forming into the
                    visual meaning of co-existence.


Conditions


Untitled form