Resident Writers

Term 1 Winners

Congrtulations to our Term 1 Resident Writers winners:

Student: Brianna Marks

Panda's Clan.

The she-cat’s breath came in short gasps, ragged and harsh. Panda could hardly feel her black and white paws touch the grass as she tore through the forest in pursuit of her prey.

The rabbit was fast. Too fast. However much Panda stretched her long legs, strained her muscles, she couldn’t catch it.

Panda’s legs were burning, and there was a tightness in her chest that wouldn’t go away. She was tiring far too quickly. The weight was too much… her kits were too heavy. She couldn’t feed herself like this.

Then she met the end of the forest. The end of the world as she knew it.

All Panda could see were lights. They were like miniature suns at night, glowing strong amongst towering stones that reached as high as the sky. Quick-moving animals sped on the solid black between the tall rocks, spitting smoke. Two-legged creatures roamed everywhere, making loud noises and filling the air with their putrid smell. This place was not like a forest at all.

The forest!

Panda slowly turned around, hope rising in her chest. Maybe, all along, the forest was still there. Maybe the loud noises, the too-bright colours, and the stench of what was behind her had just drowned out the scents and sounds of her home.

But her eyes were still dazzled by the bright lights, and her ears still rang from the noise. Her nose was still clogged with the stench of the swiftly-moving monsters.

Her home was nowhere to be found, and Panda was going to be stuck in this place forever.

Then her vibrant green eyes adjusted, and her ears stopped ringing.

Her forest, her home, was still there.

The familiarity of the forest called to her, and she started to run towards it. She glanced back only once, thinking, what will I call that place?

Then she stopped mid-step, considering. It had to be named after something, right?

The Twoleg place. That is what I’ll call it.

“Twoleg place,” She echoed her thoughts out loud as she continued to pad towards her home. Away from the unnaturally bright lights, from the towering rocks, the monsters, the two-legs. Her unborn kits wriggled in her stomach, as if they agreed with her. “I won’t ever go there again… it is a place of fear. The two-legs can take that territory, but I will not be a part of it… Never!”

Staff: Linda Stocks

The Knot

They tie the knot,

 so firm

 secure

 and full of strength.

Euphoria swims

 between kisses

 and roses.

Lovers

entwined in each other’s

arms like

a key in a

lock.

Work commitments

a road- block to the knot’s

security,

but a night-time embrace

heals and replenishes.

Time,

standards,

expectations and

the black cloud of a mortgage

hang ominously.

Hopes and dreams

seem out of reach.

They belong to the smiling

faces on social media.

The knot loosens, while a

tear falls to the floor.

She tries to tighten her grip,

but he’s too busy.

A baby arrives.

The knot dangles from a

change table,

swinging beyond reach.

The couple become

entangled in a web of

commitments

issues and uncertainties.

They forget that 

sun shining on a

raindrop sparkles like a

diamond.

Tension simmers,

boils and erupts

in a spray of words,

tossed aimlessly at

the heart.

Two pieces of string

 hang from a doorway,

separate

alone and confused.

Until a child sees beauty,

a spider in a web.

A ladybird on a shoulder.

Look! Look!

The child draws

two sad faces.

Eyes open.

A spark is ignited by the

power of simplicity.

Divided strands

move closer to repair 

two broken hearts.

Term 2 Resident Writers Now Open!

Resident Writers is a chance for all writers and poets out there to share their talents with the school community. It is held once a term, and there are three categories (Students, Staff, and Family & Friends) with a prize for the winning student entry (winners of the Staff and F&F categories get honour and glory). 

As a rough guide works should be between 250 - 350 words, shorter is ok but they can't be significantly longer. Send your entries with the subject line Resident Writers entry to: library@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au. 

If it is a Family & Friends submission, please mention which student or staff member you are connected to. Closing date for Term 2 is Week 7, Monday 5 June. 

By submitting, you agree to be published to the school community (on Teams, in the College Yearbook, etc). Please contact us if you want to submit but prefer to keep your work anonymous.

Get creative over the holidays and we'll see you back in Term 2!

Joanne Montgomery

Library Manager