Open Poetry Competition

All ages are invited to send your poetry entries to:
richieallanmbe@talktalk.net
​no later than 10th July.

Here are last years top entries

A Long Time Ago
Watching from a wheelchair
With a blanket on his knees
As his grandson pushes him into the Square
He feels his heart soar free

As the cavalcade thunders past
He's twenty one again
He's strong and young and on his horse
"Three Cheers" he hears them cry

Each tear the same memories flood back
Civic Week is here
And the pride of a Laddie who's no longer young
Would make you shed a tear

But the memories are strong
and his chest it bursts with pride
For a time so long ago
As the baton is passed to another young man
With him past Laddies ride
By Ruari Hislop   (KHS Winner)

2020
Well here we are its 2020
We all had dreams and goals a plenty
But things just didn't go to plan
And so we try the best we can

Corona Virus is her name
She was not welcome but still she came
Our community we came together
Shouting across the street or virtual blether

Our schools got closed our shops shut down
An eerie silence through our town
Home schooling and zoom calls and trying to work Teams
On the bright side we still had our saviour, Granny Jeans

Our events they got cancelled, no sevens or show
This is rubbish we said, there's just nowhere to go
Civic Week 2020 would not be the same
Lady Bussers disappointed, such a shame

But our wee town is wakening from its long sleep
And our shops and cafes that we long to keep
Are starting to open, a glimmer of hope
That we are entering our new world and we can cope

A virtual Civic Week, who would have thought
But Corona Virus, I think she has taught
That no matter the test
Kelsae folk come together and bring out the best

Here's to 2021

When we can once again be free
to celebrate our town with glee
And hear the sound of horses feet
Trotting through our cobbled street
By Michelle Patterson  (Peter Halley Cup winner)

Saturday Night
Bonnie bonnie Kelso, glorious indeed,
Down in the valley flows the silvery Tweed.

Shimmering salmon leap in the air,
Crowds crossing the old bridge as they head to the Square.

The laddie and his followers return from the ride,
Worn and tired out, with a huge sense of pride.

Up onto the stand with the flag in hand,
then into the parade he follows the band.

Around the town is filled with cheers,
lots of laughter and some tears.

Civic Week has come to an end,
But there is still time to commend.

The awards they sit so shiny an tall,
Waiting to see who has won them all.

He returns the flag safe and sound,
Next year a new Laddie will be crowned.
By Sarah Middlemiss   ​(KHS Runner up)

The Horse Ride
On the Saturday of Civic week
Horses ride at the peak
Brown, black, fawn or white
They all look quite so bright

Walk, trot, canter and gallop
No matter how fast, they're all developed
And when they return to Kelsae
The get treated to some hay.
By Luke Jackson, Age 10   ​(Children's Winner)

Peter Halley Cup Winner:
Michelle Patterson

Children's Winner
Luke Jackson

KHS Competition
1st  Ruari Hislop
2nd Sarah Middlemas
​
​The committee appreciate all of your entries even if they are not printed here.   Thanks for your support.