Poetic Justice

One of the unique things about Brentwood is our incredible tripartite system; academics, sports and arts are all an integral part of our education. From the classroom to the rugby fields to the pottery studio, students work hard and their efforts and results are showcased with great pride. However, a less well known facet of our creative programs are the literary arts: novels, essays, screen writing and of course poetry.  Recently two outstanding Brentwood students were recognised for their penmanship. Sarah T, Mackenzie ‘15 won the prestigious Beaverbrook Vimy Prize with a series of outstanding essays and Petra J, Mackenzie ‘16 crafted a poem, originally for her mother, which was received with critical acclaim within the online community. The Beaverbrook Vimy competition is the Vimy Foundation’s flagship program. It stringently vets students who have displayed an interest in history, selects the best, and rewards them with a chance to gain a very important historical perspective through interacting with fellow students from across Canada, the UK and France, visiting the Vimy War Memorial and other sites of historical importance across Northern Europe. An important part of the trip is that each student is given a casualty of war to research and then visits their grave. This enables them to create a sense of empathy that extends beyond textbooks or videos.  You might ask how Sarah managed to be awarded one of only 90 spots, beating out an increasingly high number of applicants. Apart from a sensational ability to write and explore the never-ending world of literature, Sarah is also an avid traveller whose experiences have helped her shaped her writing. She has struggled knee-deep through the oozing mud in Cambodia, wary of landmines left over from the Khmer Rouge, climbed the weather-worn steps of pyramids hidden deep in the lush jungles of Mexico, and braved the cold wind-swept fields of Northern Europe. All of these experiences helped add to her already remarkable character. Her essays, range from an analysis of House of Ypres by Alexander Jackson of Canada’s Group of Seven to a personal statement-esque piece of writing outlining her significant personal qualities.  Her fellow Mackenzie House sister, Petra has become the accidental - yet proud - owner of a poetic masterpiece. Originally written for her mother while Petra was on the ferry home to Whidbey Island, WA, “Ocean Stars” draws attention to humanity’s continuing isolation from the environment and, more specifically, the ocean. She highlights mankind’s ignorance of the effects our actions have on the environment with beautiful lines of flowing poetry. She achieves this by using personification and turning the ocean into a thinking, feeling character. The result is truly remarkable and touching. You can see her work at the link below: http://www.teenink.com/poetry/free_verse/article/658443/Ocean-Sorrows/ Jeen S, Whittall ‘14 and Tara B, Mackenzie ‘14