The Maker The Charles Causley Literary Blog
2026 CHARLES CAUSLEY YOUNG PERSON’S POETRY COMPETITION – 5-1O CATEGORY
5-10 WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S YOUNG PERSON'S POETRY COMPETITION
Charles Causley’s legacy as an educator and his passion for teaching children the power of writing is at the core of what we do at the Causley Trust.
Our Young Person’s poetry competition is our attempt to carry on this legacy and do our part in assuring children in the UK keep writing and expressing their creativity.
This year’s theme was Family and our young poets did not fail to impress with their delightful responses to the prompt.
Here go the chosen poets in the 5-10 category.
1ST PLACE
Family Trees
by Lexi Guest
Oh family tree, family tree,
Trunks hold strong while bark remains stiff in the winds war,
Your roots so clearly I see,
Brothers, sisters, grandparents and more.
Wisdom-givers, blood-binders, legacy-keepers,
On every leaf and twig,
They may be squabblers, weepers and sleepers,
But the root-holders make the branches big.
Storm-shields stand when the clouds turn gray,
Peace-makers mend the broken wood,
While fridge-raiders hunt for snacks all day,
And heart-links do the things they should.
Screen-sharers glow in the digital night,
Memory-guardians hold the past,
With laughter-echoes burning bright,
The kin-loom weaves a love to last.
This is family. My family tree.
2ND PLACE
My garden
by Raziel Chung
When I peer outside,
In the garden,
I spot an apple tree.
And I wonder,
Of the many trees across the globe,
The beeches, the ashes, the pine evergreens,
Which of those was its family?
When I gaze outside,
In the garden,
I glimpse a grey squirrel,
And I ponder,
Of the many creatures across the globe,
The mice, the beavers, the small guinea pigs,
Which of those was its family?
And I also wondered,
Did the apple tree,
The grey squirrel,
Consider me its family?
Did the plants, the animals,
The critters in the garden,
Consider me its kin?
Science decrees,
That all life on Earth,
Is related.
From the tiniest of algae,
To the most gigantic of whales,
All living organisms are linked.
So the next time nature calls you,
Know this:
It is simply family waiting to spend time with you.
3RD PLACE
My Colourful Recipe
by Ember Murphy
Mix your rainbows
and your starts,
with explosions
to make it
bright.
Add some
embers glowing bright,
to make it.
Gently sprinkle
some fire
and love.
It’ll make it brighter
than ever
and the most
colourful.
Last, put it
outside and
let it explode!
It will look
good,
I promise.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Who is Who?
by Lily Reynolds
Whose the best? Whose the worst? Who is evil, who is cursed?
Who is this, who is that?
Who is thin, who is fat?
Who is wrong, who is right,
Who is a human parasite?
Who likes flying through the night?
Who is a pair of dice dice dice?
Where should we go, I don’t know, this is a paradise.
Whose the coolest of the cool, who thinks they can totally rule?
Whose the man on the moon, who is the big fat baboon?
Who can breathe fire of flames, who is filled with cash & fame?
Who wants to stay in the daylight, who likes to wait day to night?
Who is strong beyond the strong, who can sing a miracle song? – My Mum!