Where Innocence Takes Us
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Jesse Webb-smith, Grade 8, Geraldton Grammar School
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Poetry
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2008
Finalist in the 'Empowered 2008' competition
Like waves undulating
Her hands flitter at random,
Exposing her secret.
She is the one we have been expecting, preparing for,
She is the only one of us who has a reason to be different.
Although they prepared us for her aggression,
No-one could prepare us for her magic smile
When we include her in our ball games.
With flailing arms she misses everything
But captures us with her giggles and seriously sparkling eyes.
We quietly watch our teachers as they accept her awkward hugs,
Often launched from quite afar,
Mostly unrequested but always generously accepted.
With callipered legs
She struggles to the front of the classroom to read aloud her poetry,
To share her dreams with those who sit in privileged seats,
Whose minds are closed; clouded by fear.
She boldly goes where we do not dare,
Teaching us that in life there are no boundaries,
Only those we care to make.