Final NWW Children's Competition Winners 2018 (Primary)

NORTH WEST WORDS
YOUNG WRITERS COMPETITONS 2018 WINNERS
Primary School Poetry
1st Place
Quiz Night by Sean McGettrick
2nd Place The Defeat of the Sewing Machine by Maria Foy
3rd Place
My family by Rebecca Gallagher
Judge's Notes
'My family poem' has one of the best similes in the whole competition -'every one of us is like a
different colour'. It is used as a refrain throughout a poem which celebrates the poet's family.
I loved the way this poet's ear knew when to repeat a word in order to hold the rhythm of the line.
A poet's willingness to play with words is rare. This writer too displays a natural ear for language in
the use of unusual adjectives and the feeling of movement in the poem is carried from the
beginning to the end. A particularly difficult theme to pull off, but this poet carries it above the
general norm.
I look forward to reading more from this poet.
'The Defeat of the Sewing Machine' is a fantastical ballad. This poet has a wonderfully vivid
imagination, and I particularly loved how she resolved the plot. The difficulty with a rhyming ballad
lies in the rhymes not being forced. She carries this off in the main every time. I will never look at a
sewing machine in the same light again. The length of this poem impressed as did the
characterisation. A poet to watch.
First place goes to 'Quiz Night'. This poem takes the shape of nine four lined verses with a rhyme
scheme of aabb. What is masterful here is that each rhyme seems completely natural and in
keeping with the meaning the poet is trying to convey. The poet doesn't restrict the lines to the
same metric count but varies it, allowing for a more natural register. There is also a great wealth of
learning displayed with references to Steinbeck, the use of difficult words like ' octogenarian' and
Greek and Roman gods. There is even the German for goodbye - Auf Wiedersehen in the last line
allowing the poet an ironic moment. Wonderful. I look forward to reading more of this poet's work.
There were some beautiful poems entered in this category that looked at issues such as
homelessness, averted suicide, and love. There were other poems too that celebrated a squirrel's
tale, a magic book, school, Halloween and kittens. They were all very good indeed. If I had any
advice it would be to play with your lines so that the shape of the poem is of your own crafting.
Make your own forms. Invent new words. Devise your own philosophies. Have fun. Keep writing.
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