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Dunedin Secondary School Poetry Competition

Ruby Glade

Draw the curtains, pull the drapes, drape the pillows, hide the hate
Bring the sweet and taste the bile, concussion baby for a while
Yellow reflux porcelain stain, another day gone down the drain
Peace did throttle the ballet child, to lose control was not her style
A panicked foxtrot, a tripping waltz, her swollen stomach a rotten pulp
The day by day internal fight, and yet to others she seemed all right
It’s an abusive lover but it’s her best friend, a young glass dancer knocked down again
Blackout bathrooms and midnight drives, her body shut down at twenty five
Her back bent in and her lungs gave out, a quiet disease, a muffled shout

2:01 am       it’ll be all right

2:02           you’re smart and bright

5:06     come rescue me

5:07           I can’t I’m home

5:09     just leave me be

5:10          are you okay?

5:11          This is not a game!

She wasted away in front of us
And never had a fighting chance
Ruby Glade aged twenty five
Died in her home at quarter to nine.


Commended

Ella Bendall
Year 13, Logan Park High School

2018 dates

  • Closes 5pm, Friday 27 July 2018
  • Results released 20 August 2018 (on this website)
  • Poetry Day event 24 August 2018 (placegetters invited to read)

Generously sponsored by:

University of Otago

University of Otago: Dept of English & Linquistics

Otago University Press

Otago University Press

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