2021 #UCQpoetrycontest

When: March 7, 2021 to May 1, 2021

Who: All UCQ students can submit a maximum of two poems between March 7 and May 1

What: Let us know what inspires you!

Please include an image that represents each poem

The image can be your own art work or it can be an image from Colourbox or Pixabay (students must provide a link to

the image @ Colourbox or Pixabay in their email to Daniel)

Why: Hears what your fellow students say

The top three poems will receive a prize.

Poems and images will be anonymously judged

by a panel of three staff and faculty members.

Where: email poems and images to daniel.forgrave@ucalgary.edu.qa with

#UCQpoetrycontest in the subject line

Poems and images will be posted anonymously below as they are received.

Click on any image to open a slide show of our poets' creations.

A man's best friend

Your brown eyes watch my every move
Tail wagging as soon as I come near
The joy on your little face is infectious
You never fail to brighten my day.

I remember when you were just a puppy
A little teddy bear I used to hug
Grew up to be 10.5 kilograms of pure excitement and loyalty.

The most lovable thing I've ever met
So precious and so gentle
Always ready to protect me,
But that's the one thing I couldn't do.

I should've held your leash tighter.
I should've seen that car coming.

You crossed the rainbow bridge that day, and you cross my mind every day.

Fly high my furry little angel, my best friend of 6 years
I hope they have tennis balls in heaven
And butterflies for you to chase as you please.
- Hind Itani

Long Slow Distance

All alone she watched a movie.
Playing on the big screen is the opening scene.
The theater silent with echoing whispers;
and yet, these things seem to distract her.

While the main characters play their part,
her eyes focused on the blue sky before them.
How does one picture such perfection?
A picturesque scenario under a filter.

As the credits roll,
She thinks about the characters and
how films seem to progress so fast.
She wonders why hers goes by slowly.
Will she eventually find her purpose?

She got up from her seat, slowly, as though
she was a phoenix from the ashes.
Painfully, she smiles, as if she wasn't alone.
She believes she's enough to get through it all.

She tells herself: "the distance
is long and slow."
Hold your head up, move forward,
and believe in better days.
- Rafaela Cortez

Feels

The sun rose, I felt the ray of
light fall on me.
I felt a gush of wind, I stood
strong unbothered by it.
The flowers bloomed, that pretty
sight amazed me.
I watched the moon gather and
gleam my memories.
I looked up every night to see
past it.
I saw the moon shine bright
every night.
And then one day I stopped
looking up.
- Sharon Benjy

Phases

My mother always told me
the only certainty in life is change;
that our lives are a recurring pattern
of being and becoming each day.

This reminded me of the moon's phases;
how it grows and regresses each time
and how its own utter beauty is evident.
When it rises, every phase flickers a spectral light.

It is a reminder to myself that life is fleeting.
May be a new moon, engulfed in darkness for a while
or waxing and waning, missing a part of oneself for a time.
However, full moon will always come, whole and bright in its prime.

It is a reminder to myself that i am worthy,
no matter how much of myself I choose to bare;
and that my mere existence is a beauty,
whether whole or in despair.

It is a reminder to myself that i am not perfect,
that i am bound by nature's ebb and flow;
in a constant flux of growth,
with each phase equally stunning as before.

The moon rises like a warrior each night,
still emitting light in the darkest of times.
Like the way the moon pulls the tide,
I am drawn closer to who I am inside.
- Dawn.
- Andrianna Merced

COLORS OF GROWTH

Lay set, painted
are colors on a blank canvas.
Strokes of red, wherein ignited
are dreams and passion.
A little bit of yellow,
adding warmth and compassion.
Dashes of green,
prosperity and harmony.
Touches of blue,
display grace and serenity.
What was once an empty canvas,
So monochrome and mute,
become replaced by colors of new.
- Rafaela Cortez

Delicate

There once was a girl named Trust
She gave it her all to those who are just
But with all she gave she lost so much

Trust so beautiful it can make you weep
But in the end only some can keep
Trust, so pure and naive
Turned to something no one would ever achieve

Trust so luxurious is now a treat
Only to those that don't mistreat
Trust so picky only needs
Those of who won't be a snitch

Trust so demanding only want a few
Of those who can keep secrets for sure
Trust so small is now almost gone
For no one believes in it anymore

Self-belief

Belief in your God
Belief in your destiny
Belief in your self
Belief in your ability
The storm that is in your life will impact you negatively as they said
The storm it is just a challenge to strengthen the individual
No matter what kind of storm it is
If it is a struggle, failing in a study, or even losing hope in the life
Being sad is not the end of life
Tomorrow is a new day
Sun will rise with New start and new hope
Believing in God and destiny is a way to be more stronger
Opening a new chapter of the story will encourage you more
To be stronger to face these kinds of storms
With every hope, there is a new story that culminates in a medal, which is self-belief
- Amna Mohammed

A friend of mine

It is not enough to say, friend
It is more than a friend
She was with me in the joyful events
she was with me in the sad events
Even though if I fall my friend taking my hand and bring me back
but the bad reality
My friend that I see with her the beauty of life is not with me
bad fact but this is life
if i want or not, I must accommodate the fact
I must accept the absence of my friend
even if I am unable to face the reality
I must be strong with life challenges
being able to accommodate the new changes
And remembering my friend in happy events
from my life, I learn lessons
If I fall once I must stand up again
If I cry once, I must forget what I went through, and be happy again
Even if I accustomed to see my friend,
I still have a place in my heart and mind to always remember my friend
- Amna Mohammed

untitled 5

Yet another deceitful face met by judgement.
Long to come should they know of its truth.
Thus, the wearer must bear her own mask.
But then wear proudly or not,
Of what has been, and what will be.
Hiding behind such frailty.
Therefore will come time,
She shall realize it as strength.
Change.
Such a pity.