Belonging
by Caitlin Wood, Brentwood Secondary College
Finalist, Years 7 – 8, written poetry
Hesitant steps
Slowly plodding down the path
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Footsteps and Heartbeat alike
Painfully pounding against the walls of your brain
A new World-
What will happen?
Students chatting-
Laughing
Running across the courtyard
A storm inside your heart
Fog and Thunder.
Lightning and Rain.
Dashing Crashing Banging Throbbing.
But then – a ray of brightness
Slices cleanly through the churning chaos
Like a sharp knife through soft butter
An earnest, outstretched hand
Beckoning you to come
A gentle, yet strong smile
Willing you to join
Like a moth to a flame
You want it
You crave it
More hands reach towards you
A warm embrace
The storm dissipates
As quickly as it arrived
And a sunny day rolls in
Now you are part of it
The happy hustle
the busy bustle
Chatting
Laughing
Running across the courtyard
Swapping secrets
Sharing snacks
Singing a song of love and acceptance
Voices coming as one to make a beautiful, powerful tune to blow the dark storm away
And a cloud of Kindness and Empathy and Love sails gently through the sky on a cool summer breeze.
Want to read more poems? Explore the other Years 7 – 8 finalists.