I Refuse To Dream
1st Prize Key Stage 3

I rebel, refuse…
I don’t care!
I have none, you see
Should I have?

Do dreams come true
Or fail you in later life,
Tearing at your thoughts
And never leaving you alone?

Are dreams always there,
Creeping and crawling from within
Like something unclean –
Animal-like,

Clawing you with scars,
Unseen but always there,
Seen, explored, imagined
But not always heard or listened to…

The earthly stars you just can’t reach.

Jade Healy
C56 Year 10, St. Mary’s College, Derry.

Dead Cool
2nd Prize Key Stage 3

Mourners lured by his graveside,
Weeping winding rivers of worthy tears,
For a boy who never lived,
A soul shadowed by his fears.

Who hid behind a mask,
Who longed to be cool,
Who’s persona as the rebel boy,
Got him kicked out of school.

Who sold his smile to the highest bidder,
Doing whatever he could,
Who followed all the false leaders,
Doing anything they would.

In his quest to be noticed,
He lost himself to cool,
That left nothing but an empty shell.
A broken shattered fool.

No one really knew him,
No one really cared,
Whatever they would request,
He’d be cool as long as he dared.

They walked past his mourners,
Saw nobody cool they knew,
Kevin Campbell they were told was his name,
But they simply replied ‘Who?’

Mairead Carten
Age: 13
Class 10c, Thornhill College

Dreams
3rd Prize Key Stage 3

What drives Those who seek?
What made Jason find the golden fleece?
Mere mortal need not look far and wide
For the secret does not hide
It lies within your head
Unlock the door as you lay in bed
Mortals although they were humble
Have made cities crumble
Their descendants can now look back and beam
Because they dreamed to dare and dared to dream

Laura Dunn
C34
Year 10, St Mary’s College, Derry.