Congratulations to our talented TLA student Graham Ritchie on winning 1st prize in the poetry category of the SCC Creative Writing competition.  Please enjoy the award winning poem.

I saw last night in my dream

I saw last night in my dream, you

By the sand dunes on that day, I savour

In exaltation and remorse

You were a gift to memory on such a day




I saw last night in my dream, him

Amongst the marram grass of those same dunes

Watching us strum your guitar wild

Wearing oversized shirts aflame, a bravado untamed



I saw last night in my dream, a father

Capturing a moment of a day of a life

To chain past’s everlasting to present

A token of fleeting gratitude


I saw last night in my dream, a sun

With radiant beams unceasing

Running kites at heights untouched by Icarus

Unflappable of the unbeknown foreboding



I saw last night in my dream, a love

Bound by blood

Between all that was thick and thin

And beyond the parameters of time’s fixed position



But then I lost sight as the mists of night unrolled

And the moon appeared to appease the waves

I stood alone waiting, wanting

Urging myself to hang desire’s fire




Until the sea came crashing in its stride

Submerging me in bountiful affliction



And then I woke up

And morning’s respite felt my accustomed fright

But as painful as it was to remember, I reminded myself

That a phantom’s risk should not be measured against rapture’s reward


So, dream on, affection

I will see you at night once more.