The Beggar and the Businessman
by Evie Halliday, Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC)
Years 5 – 6 Written Poetry Finalist
Hope is the spark that keeps me going,
A beacon in my dark life.
I march through the storm knowing,
That hope will keep me warm.’
The beggar grinned and watched the shadows fade;
His life was hard, but with hope it shone,
But a businessman who was highly paid,
Sighed and grumbled out these lines:
‘I don’t need hope to get through the day,
All I need is a coffee from the mall.
I wish this aching would go away,
Each rise just ends in a fall.
How did writing this poem make you feel?
When I wrote this poem started to feel more curious about people’s ideas of hope. I wondered how powerful hope really can be.
Which single line in your poem are you the absolute proudest of?
The line in my poem that I am most proud of is ‘I march through the storm knowing that hope will keep me warm’, because it uses imagery that I am proud of.
Describe your poem in three words
Dualistic, resilient, melancholic.
Where is your absolute favourite place to sit when you are brainstorming ideas?
I don’t really have a favourite place to sit when I brainstorm.
Why do you think people write poetry?
I think people write poetry to express their ideas of beliefs. Some people love writing poetry because they find it fun or love being creative.