And the award goes to.....

ME!!!

I placed second over all and won the People's Choice Award! The first place went to an amazing poem by a Kiwi studying poetry in New York, so I think I did pretty damn well to place second to her.  

My poem was voted the favourite of the night which is almost better than taking out first place. 

The competition's theme was "Generational".

The river within.

I was born to carve my way through the rocks of life,

at first rapidly, without thought nor care, towards the sea

I cut deep into the minds and bodies of those around me

wreaking havoc, breaking, eroding, 

yet, somehow, strengthening bonds.

I grew to understand my strength and widened my view

as I caressed new shores, at times prone to flooding my banks

I became sedate, almost sedentary, 

as I flowed onward through life,

riverlets flowed off into pastures greener, 

others joined me

I kept moving, even with moments of crystalline clarity,
I moved towards the end of my journey.

I widened my horizons,

dealt with the rapids and pollutants of life, 

learnt to balance them

within the confines of my experiences.

As I reach the end, the tang of salt in my life grows stronger

the need to carve my name deeply,

in the landscape of life, grows again.

One last breach of the banks, 

one last knuckle whitening fright

of life,

of passion. 

I am the river I grew up with.

I am changing.