Poem Forest

Positive climate action through poetry

Students in Year 7 have created some beautiful poems inspired by the natural world as entries to the Poem Forest writing prize. 

Created by Red Room Poetry, in partnership with Wollongong City Council, POEM FOREST invites students and teachers to use their words to make positive climate action and breathe life back into the natural world that sustains us. For every nature poem received a tree is planted to help heal habitats and create a POEM FOREST for future generations. Since 2021, over 10,700 poem trees have been planted. 

the waterfall 

By Eljah B

 the sound of a swirling crashing cascading mess 

that large body of water is never less 

never small 

going over a waterfall 

despite the danger some jump in nevertheless  

Zooming out 

By Alexi S

 As I zoom out, a green pool floods my brain.  

Infinitely spreading vein-like structures pulsate with energy.  

They seem to be alive, but not in a way that I have ever seen before.  

As I’m still zooming, a jagged corner comes into view.  

As I zoom out further still, the green pool slowly takes shape.  

A teardrop-like structure it seems to be.  

Further still, there are more; infinitely spreading on a rough brown surface. Still there are more; spreading out on a carpet of red and orange. Everything seems blurry, with all of it turning into a green fuzz.  

I am short for breath, as wisps of white swallow my body.  

A digging feeling in my shoulders disturbs me, but this just, just so peaceful.  

A feeling of tiredness overcomes me, and as I close my eyes, I nod off, to a deep, deep sleep. 

The Cherry Blossom 

By Magnus J

The cherry blossom swirls and twirls in the wind 

I watch as the flowers shift and turn 

Then they tumble and twist, down to the ground 

Down, Down, Down 

The flowers make their descent toward the ground 

They dance around in the air 

The air that plucks them off the tree 

The air that carries them through their life toward the end 

The ground 

The tree shakes even more 

Something else falls 

Not a flower, but something heavier, 

Something that plummets to the ground instead of moving gracefully in the wind 

A cherry 

I pick it off the ground 

I sink my teeth into the juicy cherry 

I am overcome with sweet flavour 

As I am finishing the fruit, I find something big and hard in the centre 

A seed 

Waterfall 

By Kathleen O

 The waterfall falls 

Ever flowing 

Down 

Down 

Down 

Granny says that it has been running since the dawn of time 

Since before the dingos ran across the earth 

Since before the kookaburras flew across the sky 

The waterfall has fallen 

Down 

Down 

Into the earth 

reflected tree 

By Murray G

Majestic, standing tall 

Trunk, the strong foundation 

A bridge between two worlds 

Stems branching out and up 

Reflected by the soil 

Roots branching out and down  

Stems brush the deep blue sky  

Winds may blow but really the sky is dead a deep blue complexion  

Clouds may billow but really sky is an empty jar below the leaf litter there is a beating heart  

The soil is alive a magnitude of creatures held in its warm embrace a universe unknown 

The Life of Nature 

By Kashika S

  Autumn leaves gracefully waltzed across the grassy forest floor. 

Intimidating oak trees ominously whispered to a withering sunflower. 

The tranquil zephyr gradually became a chill wind waiting to roar. 

The frightened creatures, who hid in the trees’ silhouettes, above whom the majestic creatures wish to tower. 

A myriad of colours exuberantly painted the sky ignoring the forest’s hidden gore. 

The dazzling sun pretentiously clambered up the sky, showing the moon its unconquerable power.