Student's moving poem scores Buckingham Palace visit

Sunday 21 October 2018

A Jersey student has been invited to Buckingham Palace after her war poem of love and loss moved judges of a prestigious competition.

Olivia Jones, who is in Year 12 student at Jersey College for Girls, is among the prize winners of the ‘Never Such Innocence’ competition, which commemorates the centenary anniversary of the First World War.

JCG were one of a handful of Jersey schools to encourage entrance from their students into the competition which each year attracts thousands of entrants from across the UK.

Olivia has now been invited to attend a prize giving day in November at Buckingham Palace.

Pictured: Olivia will head to Buckhingham Palace this November

JCG Head of English Ms Lucy Batty commented: "We are delighted that one of our student’s work is being recognised nationally and celebrated at such a prestigious event."

Olivia's award-winning poem in full...

Here I Hold Your Child
Here I hold your child,
enclosed in a bump.
listening as we share endless possibilities for the future.
 
Here I hold your child,
still waiting to arrive
just as you are waiting to depart.
 
Here I hold your child,
tiny and precious,
her newly-opened eyes yearning
for a glimpse of her father. 

Here I hold your child,
attempting basic words into my ear.
It saddens me to hear her speak my name
and not yours. 

Here I hold your child,
peaceful and silent,
dreaming the nights away
until you get home.
 
Here I hold your child,
catching her mother’s tears,
not understanding that she has a loving father
that once longed to meet her.