The Royal Hospital School (RHS) in Holbrook, Suffolk, is proud to announce that Daniel Otsapa, one of its talented pupils in year 9, has won 2nd place in the 12-18-year-old category of the Oxford Canal Festival Poetry Competition with his remarkable poem titled ‘The Way of the Water’. Daniel’s achievement was celebrated during the festival, which took place on 21st September, where his work was recognised for its creativity, depth, and originality.
The Oxford Canal Festival Poetry Competition is an annual event that encourages young people to express their connection to the natural world through poetry.
Daniel, who entered the competition during the summer holidays in July, was shortlisted among an impressive array of young poets. His poem captivated judges and the audience alike with its evocative exploration of water and its significance in nature and human life. The award ceremony was a highlight of the festival, with renowned authors Sir Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials, and Roy McFarlane, the Canal Laureate, in attendance to present the prizes. The competition was hosted by Mrs. Kate Oldfield, founder of The Writing Well.
As part of his award, Daniel received book tokens, a fitting reward for a young writer with a bright future ahead.
Commenting on Daniel’s success, Irfan Latif, Headmaster of the Royal Hospital School, said:
“We are incredibly proud of Daniel’s achievement in this highly regarded competition. His dedication to his craft, and the recognition of his talent by such prominent figures in the literary world, is an inspiration to all of us at RHS. We look forward to seeing how Daniel’s creative journey will continue to flourish.”
Oxford Canal Festival Judge, Roy McFarlane FRSL, Canal Laureate of England and Wales, also commented:
“Judging this competition has been a pleasure and a joy. Thank you for entrusting your beloved poems to me, from the personal to the observational, from the magical to those that speak of the reality of living or spending leisure time by our waterways.
I chose the title The Ways of Water to encourage people to write about canals and any other form of water that they feel drawn to, celebrating both the wonders and the importance of our waters. And we have received so many fantastic poems, from close by in Oxford and from far away in other countries. We have had over 500 entries across the three categories and I loved the whole process of reading them.
Hearing so many of shortlisted poets perform in the Spoken Word Tent at the Oxford Canal Festival on Saturday 21st September was very special.
It has been so difficult to make a choice. Everyone who was shortlisted was a winner in my heart.
Congratulations to the winners and shortlisters alike and good luck with your poetry. I look forward to hearing about your future prizes!”
Daniel’s Poem:
THE WAY OF THE WATER
I am the river, a liquid thread,
Winding through earth’s tangled spread,
Whispers of life in every bend,
A tale that neither starts nor ends.
I dance with stones and kiss the reeds,
Carry secrets, ancient creeds,
Through canyon’s edge and forest’s shade,
I carve the paths the earth has laid.
The fish know well my silver flow,
In my depths, their stories grow,
They swim in dreams, in currents glide,
A world within where they abide.
The otter laughs in bubbling glee,
Rolling, tumbling, wild and free,
In my embrace, it finds its play,
A joyful dance that never sways.
The heron stands on slender legs,
Patient, poised above my dregs,
Its gaze, a spear, its strike, a flash,
We share a moment in the splash.
The beaver builds, its teeth of might,
Its dams redirect my flight,
But I am water, soft and strong,
I find new ways to move along.
The moon pulls me in tidal sways,
I rise and fall in nightly praise,
Reflecting stars upon my skin,
A mirror of the worlds within.
The rain returns me to the sky,
In misty trails, I learn to fly,
I gather clouds in soft embrace,
Then fall again to find my place.
I feed the roots, the thirsty land,
A nurturing and gentle hand,
I am the blood that cycles through,
The veins of earth in shades of blue.
And so I flow, with life in tow,
Through every peak and every low,
An endless journey, evermore,
For I am water, river, lore.
