2024 Winning Poem

Year 7, St. Anne's Catholic High school for Girls 

In the heart of the neighbourhood, where voices unite,
A legacy of struggle turns darkness to light.
From the echoes of ancestors who dared to dream,
We reclaim our narrative, our truth, our theme.

In markets and barbershops, in schools filled with grace,
We share tales of courage, of triumphs we face.
From the warmth of our kitchens, where stories are told,
To the streets where our history and future unfold.

With every beat of the drum, every dance that we share,
We celebrate our culture, our pride laid bare.
In art and in music, our spirits take flight,
A rich tapestry woven in colours so bright.

Remember the voices, the poets and sages,
Who penned our existence through history's pages.
From Baldwin’s sharp insights to Angelou’s song,
Their words are our armour; they help us stand strong.

In the laughter of children, in the strength of our kin,
In community gardens where new lives begin,
We nurture our roots, while reaching for skies,
In the face of adversity, our resilience flies.

Together we rise, with our stories ablaze,
Reclaiming our narrative in countless ways.
For in every heartbeat, in every shared dream,
The power of our voices creates a new stream.

So let us march forward, united, and proud,
With love in our hearts, we will sing out loud.
In the beauty of togetherness, we find our way home,
Reclaiming our future, no longer alone.