Award Winning Poetry

Congratulations to Sriya G (Y11) who won first place in the Independent Schools Association’s 2025 poetry competition. The theme this year was ‘My Life As …’ and Sriya wrote an inspiring piece entitled ‘My Life As An Aurora’. Her poem, amongst hundreds of other entries read by the judges, including renowned poet Brian Moses, was hailed as ‘a captivating progression of thoughts and choices that make this a wonderful, but simple piece of creative expression.’ This is an exceptional achievement, especially as Sriya’s poem was in the category of entries with pupils from Years 10-13. Congratulations to Sriya and well done to all of our other pupils who also took part – the standard was phenomenal and we enjoyed reading so many wonderful, powerfully emotive and personal poems from all of the girls who entered the competition.

You can read Sriya’s poem below:

My Life as an Aurora
Do not touch. But admire,
for it is not of intent but of desire.
Let the light glisten as it shines on strong.
But just know, this is where I belong.
Do not interact. But smile,
for you have no reason to be hostile.
You may judge or you may defy.
But just know, even the brightest of stars die.
Do not shed emotion. But express,
for their ease could be your distress.
They may unite. They may divide.
But just know, they cannot run and cannot hide.
Do not speak of such. But hear out,
for her life has a free-flowing route.
She can follow ahead and always trace.
But just know, there is more beyond her space.
Do not curse. But condemn,
for you show all but your stem.
You bury your pain within the unknown,
But just know, do not set your heart in stone.
Do not talk. But listen,
for you awe at the aurora that can glisten.
If they can paint the dark with their light.
Take my advice, before approaching the night