Julia Makes Longlist of Tower Poetry Competition
Year 12 pupil Julia entered the Tower Poetry Competition run by Christ Church College at the University of Oxford. This year, the theme of the competition was 'Mirror'. Julia's poem 'Sword' was inspired by and written in the style of a medieval romance after studying Simon Armitage's translation of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' in her English lessons.
Julia's poem made it onto the longlist - the top 10% of the 1750 entries - which is an outstanding achievement! Here is Julia's poem:
Sword - Julia
He pulls his sacred sword out of the scabbard,
Shimmering in the Sunday light, he can see himself
Perfectly. A knight possessing a truly empty stare.
This fellow has fought many fights with no gripes,
But with virtuous valour which has given him victory.
Though cost comes with every championed triumph,
Which he knows all too well, as he willingly
Spends splinters of his soul for duty.
Lyres trill his legacy, longing for this hallowed hero;
Akin to King David or even kindhearted Boaz.
Warrior of the weak, protector of the poor, champion of the court.
So why did a lamb in lion’s clothing look up
At him?
A name that makes foes still,
A sword serving a throne,
A knight bereft of skill,
A man fully alone.
Only his repenting reflection accompanied him now, bound to the ritual
Of disguise in destitute chinks of the disciple’s helmet.
The Lord’s love once flooded him, but now was lost to the oceans,
As tears for his tender brother dried up - his heart a temple to a promise.
The vow of old was venerated at each vanquished foe,
But the tumbling temple walls could not retain
It much longer, as age lashed at the lord,
Like the serpent to the son’s heel amongst the sands.
Noises of his name, they came nearer to his ears,
The weight of their words pushing this little warrior down
Descending into darkness. Light dances on the blade
And he sheaths his sword, steering his focus to
The door.
A crowd beckons his name,
A vow demands a sword,
A baron full of shame,
A boy wholly ignored.
