Angele Toomey Poetry

First established in 1997, National Poetry Day is a one-day countrywide poetry event extravaganza held on a Friday in late August each year. It is an initiative of the New Zealand Book Awards Trust | Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa, and supported by Phantom Billstickers.

In my locality, the Upper Hutt City Council Library conducts a poetry competition to celebrate National Poetry Day. The theme for 2023 was ‘friendship’.

I was in two minds about entering, I wasn’t really writing much and I wasn’t convinced that I could an ever-looming threat of “tweeness”. The idea of “unleashing the power of poetry” felt a little beyond me. And then I found myself awake at 2am, three days before entries closed. I decided to get up and squiggle ink on paper. In doing so I started to think about the saying “it takes a long time to grow an old friend”, and the imaginary of a forest same to me.

Below is the resulting poem…which went on to win first place. My first ever competition win!

The forest
In a forest deep, where shadows play,
Two souls embarked in a wondrous way.
Bound by threads of fate and grace,
A friendship bloomed in that sacred space.

Through ancient trees and whispering leaves,
They walked together, hearts at ease.
Side by side, they faced the unknown,
In the realm where the wild seeds are sown.

One was a spirit of vibrant light,
The other, steady as starlit night.
Yet differences blended like colours rare,
Creating a bond beyond compare.

In the heart of the woods, secrets confided,
Dreams were shared and fears subsided.
Each step they took, the forest grew,
A living testament to friendships true.

In storms they stood, unwavering, strong,
Their trust like roots that ran deep and long.
When darkness loomed with shadows cold,
They kindled a fire of stories untold.

But time, like a river, flows unbound,
And destiny calls with a distant sound.
The day arrived when they had to part,
Leaving a void in each other's heart.

Yet the forest still stands, a symbol of old,
Where, once made, true friendship ever holds.
For even if paths diverge and drift,
True friendship’s bond is a timeless gift.

And just as the forest stands true,
So does my friendship with you.
In quiet moments I can recall every story
Reliving each moment in all its glory.

Let not future uncertainties
Bring on fears or anxieties.
For we are of the forest
And the forest is of us.

Winning the Poetry Day competition is a kind of validation I didn’t know I needed! I am never sure if what I’m writing will make sense to others or resonate with them.

I am super motivate to keep going! Thank you to Upper Hutt City Council Library.