A huge congratulations to Mckayla L (Y12) who was chosen as one of 12 winners of this year’s prestigious Simon Powell Poetry Prize. The competition is open to all KS4 students who attend a ‘Poetry Live’ event with their school. We are delighted that she was chosen out of hundreds of entries – a huge achievement! You can read her very powerful poem below.

Feel You Cold

They say the hottest thing in the universe

is either the quark-glucon plasma

or Quasar 3C273

(The coldest would be the Boomerang Nebula

1 Kelvin

A degree above absolute zero)

I think your rage burns hotter.

I think it does, yes,

when you scream at me

fangs and claws flung out

slashing

Tiger.

I feel your ire.

Hotter than fire.

Hotter than a pyre.

My words become a twyer

as I feed your ire.

Sharp as a knife, you are,

biting and cruel and

I deserve all the words you throw

at me. You leave a wound

red on my heart, and I

know I won’t forget the blow

The blows you made as you

purpled my skin with your words.

The blows I made when I gouged

into you with my eyes.

The blows we shared as we fought ruthlessly

cursing and screaming and slashing

until all other noise was

surround sound.

But I’d rather fight you than feel you cold.

For at least when we fight, I know the fire of life

runs through your veins.

For at least when we fight, I feel your warm flesh

on my arm.

The embrace of your skin on mine.

The slaps become lovetaps

signs of life.

The bitemarks and scratches become snapshots

memories that remind me

that nothing is forever

that we won’t be here forever

that one day I’ll lose you

or you’ll lose me

Bodies older than space

1 Kelvin

only to fade away

into stardust or dirt.

So I’ll watch as the bites heal

and my scratches fade

I’ll glare at you angrily as 

I stroke them gently.

Because I’d rather fight you again

than feel you cold.