After reading thousands of nature poems spanning the murmuring breath of leaves, a baby platypus snuggled at its mother’s belly, muddy puddles, and the unseen world of a lone ant, we feel honoured to announce the 2025 Poem Forest Prize Shortlist.
"My Poem 'Renewal', written in the landscape of Maraylya, Australia, is an ode to nature, a simultaneous acknowledgement of the continuity of its living cycles and an attempt to heal humanities defamiliarisation from its environment."
~ Taylor Y, Year 11 - SCEGGS, Darlinghurst (NSW)
These outstanding nature poems come from young people and teachers from across Australia. Drawn from almost 4,000 entries, each of these poems has planted a tree on Dharawal and Wodi Wodi Country in the Wollongong LGA, growing a forest of poems for future generations.
Congratulations to all the shortlisted poets, and a huge thanks to every poet who has helped to grow the Poem Forest!
Shortlisted Poems
Lower Primary (F/K - Year 3)
The Platypus by Michelle N, year 1 at Glebe Public School, NSW
The Koori Knockout Goanna by Kyole L, year 2 at Glebe Public School, NSW
The Patient Thread by Charlie G, year 3 at Wollongong Public School, NSW
Spring by Daisy W, year 3 at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, NSW
Rain by Lina N, year 1 at Southern Cross Early Childhood School, ACT
Way Under by Savannah T, year 3 at Mentone Grammar School, VIC
Rising Moon by Avalon C, year 3 at Lansdowne Crescent Primary School, TAS
Pink Robin by Ishbel H, year 3, homeschool, TAS
An Understory Story by Maurice T, F/K at Blackmans Bay Primary School, TAS
Upper Primary (Year 4 - 6)
The Beach by Kendal M, year 6 at Ross Park Primary School, NT
Glow of Life by Julien L, year 4 at Sydney Church of England Grammar School North Sydney, NSW
World of Fungi by Huxley G, year 5 at John Colet School, NSW
What the eye forgot by Shenzin B, year 6 at Casula Public School, NSW
Nascence by Annabelle W, year 4 at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, NSW
Creek by Layla R, year 6 at Calrossy Anglican College - William Cowper Campus, NSW
Understory by Revel R, year 6 at St Joseph's Primary School, NSW
Biliirr by Adon P, year 5 at Stanwell Park Public School, NSW
Torment in Grief by Isabella C, year 6 at Mount Ousley Public School, NSW
Coveted Country by Zoe M, year 6 at St John's Primary School, NSW
dangerous by Aria M, year 6 at Giralang Primary School, ACT
My Sunflower Will Always Grow by Mila H, year 6 at St Mary's Anglican Girls' School (Inc), WA
Primary First Nations (F/K - Year 6)
The Koori Knockout Goanna by Kyole L, year 2 at Glebe Public School, NSW
The Beach by Kendal M, year 6 at Ross Park Primary School, NT
Creek by Layla R, year 6 at Calrossy Anglican College - William Cowper Campus, NSW
Biliirr by Adon P, year 5 at Stanwell Park Public School, NSW
My Sunflower Will Always Grow by Mila H, year 6 at St Mary's Anglican Girls' School (Inc), WA
Primary CaLD (F/K - Year 6)
The Platypus by Michelle N, year 1 at Glebe Public School, NSW
The Patient Thread by Charlie G, year 3 at Wollongong Public School, NSW
Rain by Lina N, year 1 at Southern Cross Early Childhood School, ACT
An Understory Story by Maurice T, F/K at Blackmans Bay Primary School, TAS
Understory by Revel R, year 6 at St Joseph's Primary School, NSW
Torment in Grief by Isabella C, year 6 at Mount Ousley Public School, NSW
Coveted Country by Zoe M, year 6 at St John's Primary School, NSW
Lutruwita Dreaming by Charlotte T, Year 5 at Abbotsleigh Junior School, NSW
Lower secondary (Years 7 – 9)
If a Tree Falls by Chelsie Y, year 8 at Abbotsleigh School, NSW
Quiet Stuff by Annalise I, year 7 at Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta, NSW
A Study in Phototrophism by Xylia Y, year 9 at Meridien School, NSW
Emerging Lepidoptera by Zara O, year 7 at Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta, NSW
Ant On a Park Bench by Rosalie V, year 7 at Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta, NSW
Ard by Zahra L, year 8 at Danebank School, NSW
The Secret Life of Roots by Indi H, year 7 at Macquarie College, NSW
Reaching for Life by Layla C, year 8 at St Mary's Catholic College, NSW
The green that breaks crowns by Manha A, year 8 at Blacktown Girls High School, NSW
Hidden by Emily M, year 9 at Cornish College, VIC
Birds by Nash, year 7 at Cornish College, VIC
the version i never became by Ellenore R, year 8 at Australian Christian College - distance education, QLD
I am Death; Master of Worlds by Shrihan K, year 8 at Glenunga International High School, SA
Upper secondary (Years 10–12)
Renewal by Taylor Y, year 11 at SCEGGS, Darlinghurst, NSW
There's a body in the woods (a likely place for one to be) by Dhaksha H, year 10 at Girraween High School, NSW
There's a bump in the road by Artemis N, year 10 at Burwood Girls High School, NSW
Growing up: Seeding Maturity by Emily C, year 11 at William Clarke College, NSW
the symphony and the silence by Katherine L, year 11 at Presbyterian Ladies' College Burwood, VIC
Ngarnga by Emily E, year 11 at Mckinnon Secondary College, VIC
capillary waves by Chloe L, year 10 at Wantirna College, VIC
Merge, coexist by Levitybe C, year 12 at Bendigo Senior Secondary College, VIC
Once Was Home by Tianna C, year 10 at Christmas Island District High School, WA
Ini salah kita- It’s our fault by Darwisyah S, year 10 at Christmas Island District High School, WA
Secondary First Nations (Years 7-12)
footy field by Ilukah W, year 7 at St Columba Anglican School, NSW
Sunlit Shores by Scarlett M, year 7 at St Columba Anglican School, NSW
Where the Urdlu Burns by Duke B, year 7 at St Catherine's Catholic College, NSW
Terra nullius by Eliza S, year 7 at Padua College, VIC
The Secret Life of Roots by Indi H, year 7 at Macquarie College, NSW
Willow by Charlotte J, year 8 at St Mary's Catholic College, NSW
Morning Sunlight by Maddison H, year 8 at St Mary's Catholic College, NSW
The Ultimate Tax by Shelby H, year 9 at Tumbarumba High School, NSW
Secondary CaLD (Years 7-12)
The Forest That Grew From a Lie by Tanishka K, year 7 at Mckinnon Secondary College, VIC
If a Tree Falls by Chelsie Y, year 8 at Abbotsleigh School, NSW
The green that breaks crowns by Manha A, year 8 at Blacktown Girls High School, NSW
I am Death; Master of Worlds by Shrihan K, year 8 at Glenunga International High School, SA
A Study in Phototrophism by Xylia Y, year 9 at Meridien School, NSW
There's a body in the woods (a likely place for one to be) by Dhaksha H, year 10 at Girraween High School, NSW
Once Was Home by Tianna C, year 10 at Christmas Island District High School, WA
Ini salah kita- It’s our fault by Darwisyah S, year 10 at Christmas Island District High School, WA
Forest by Mark L, year 7 at Mount Barker Waldorf School, SA
Accredited Teacher (All ages)
Mycena interrupta —after Sylvia Plath’s ‘Mushrooms’ by Jared P, teacher at Kolbe Catholic College, Greenvale, VIC
Touchstone by Anita L, teacher at Mckinnon Primary School, VIC
Wisdom by Siân L, teacher at St Scholastica's College, NSW
Wollongong Community Greening Local Prize (F–12)
The Patient Thread by Charlie G, year 3 at Wollongong Public School, NSW
Biliirr by Adon P, year 5 at Stanwell Park Public School, NSW
Spring by Daisy W, year 3 at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, NSW
Torment in Grief by Isabella C, year 6 at Mount Ousley Public School, NSW
Coveted Country by Zoe M, year 6 at St John's Primary School, NSW
Please note: We used to publish every poem. This year we made the tough decision to only publish the shortlist. Whilst we would love to be able to feature all the incredible poems that come through Poem Forest, the reality is that with thousands of submissions each year, and only a very small team, we simply don’t have the capacity. We still read every single poem and we love getting your entries. And, most importantly, every entry counts – planting a tree in the Poem Forest.