The Living Land

• Katarina Lester, Grade 6, Queenwood School for Girls - Junior School
• Poetry
• 2016

Excellence Award in the 'Word Zone 2016' competition

Across the living land, wrapped in a coarse rough leather,
Is a world that no normal being could ever weather.
Lean winged monstrosities hum overhead,
Landing to feed while the living land bled.
Wherever you look the land is bruised,
With blisters and scabs, that weep and ooze.
The pits and scars, each is a memory,
Frozen in time, recalled in clarity.
A history of conflict and survival,
Of ignorance, sorrow and denial.
A memory of an icy winter night,
Gazing into a window’s distant light.
Draped in rough rags and hand me downs, feeding but not fed,
The living land, the homeless man, the park bench his bed.