In January, The English International College was thrilled to learn of Vera Lukash's outstanding achievement as the winner of the KS4-KS5 COBIS poetry competition. There were hundreds of entries from schools around the world. Her poetic contribution on the theme 'A Future to be Proud of' truly stood out, and we couldn't be prouder of Vera's talent. In recognition of her achievement, Vera was presented with a certificate, a £75 Amazon voucher, and a heartfelt congratulations letter from COBIS. Congratulations, Vera, on this well-deserved honour!
The letter stated that ‘The competition guest judge, Daniel Thompson, was very complimentary about your poem and left you the following comment:
Impressed by the rhythm and pace, this poem skilfully utilises the carriage of life metaphor to convey a profound message. The idea of picking up and leaving things behind while continuing towards unknown roads is beautifully expressed through captivating language. I found it to be a well-crafted piece that vividly illustrated the journey of life we all undertake, encompassing both its moments of growth and its challenges.’
The poem:
A Future To Be Proud Of
Harnessed to a gilt-edged carriage,
The gracious, white horse trots compliantly,
Despite its lameness, its cargo steering,
Persevering, self-reliantly.
A beast of burden, with purpose replete,
Hauling its passengers along wet, cobbled streets,
Weighed down by the heavy load of Painful Past,
Buckling under bundles of memories amassed.
In its rich, plush-velvet interior,
The carriage holds the Present too,
With his mind of curiosity and countenance of youth,
And I, his loyal, trusty steed, clip-clop along life’s road,
Bearing his jewels of aspirations, to a future treasure trove.
We cross paths with others along the way,
Some carriages, worn-out, rusty,
As we weave around blockages, twists and bends,
On thoroughfares, unmarked, dusty.
We pick up Drive and Self-Belief,
And with Diligence form quite a crowd,
And assure Painful Past when he offers to leave,
That to know him we are proud.
Over a steep hill, we reach a gate,
It reads, “the future lies ahead”,
Over marshy moors and mountain peaks,
And sunken valleys, red.
For a future to be proud of, is a never-ending striving,
Trotting, sprinting, galloping to where I am arriving,
In my carriage, pristine pearls of love, family, friends,
And departed souls, heaven-sent,
Guiding round each bend.
A firm intent to shape my life with decisions that I make,
Rather than be saddled by those I failed to take,
Taking a firm rein of my perfect imperfections,
Face-forward, cantering proudly to my future directions.
