Jessamy Lloyd, in Year 10 at the Royal Hospital School, has won Greenpeace's National Poetry Competition, 'Poems for the Planet,' in the 11-18 years category.

With over 2,700 applicants writing about nature and protecting the planet, Jessamy's winning poem titled, 'The Owl' speaks about the beauty of the owl and its place in nature. The full poem can be seen below.

Mukahang Limbu, a Nepalese writer based in Oxford and judge for the 11-18 category, said: "I really enjoyed how this poem told a story, and how it takes the readers on a journey.

"It plays with themes of the unexpected — out of fear comes a beautiful and moving encounter that is very reassuring. In such seemingly perilous and terrifying moments, this poem gives us hope. When the speaker takes a moment and begins to look at the beauty of the 'owl' we are being taught that we must sometimes change our perspectives and face our fear to overcome such overwhelming emotions.

"The powerful arc of this poem is what makes the poem so striking, and to be able to evoke such feelings is a true gift! I commend the poet for such a great piece of poetry".

Jessamy, winner of the competition for the 11-18yrs category also commented, said: "I was honestly very surprised to win but I am proud it is on a poem that holds significance to me.

"I've always loved the mysterious but beautiful nocturnal wildlife and would sit outside listening to them at night but there are also a lot of people who are scared of these creatures which was my inspiration for the poem – finding the beauty in the unknown.

"I think a lot of the fear towards change to save the environment comes from a place of unknowing and anxiety so I wanted to convey the benefit of stepping outside your comfort zone."

Carl Gould, Jessamy's English teacher at Royal Hospital School added:

"I was thrilled, but not surprised, to see Jessamy's outstanding poem win the Greenpeace Poems for the Planet competition (Category 11-18).

"It is no exaggeration to say that it is a privilege to teach Jessamy, she is a gifted student whose work we are incredibly proud of."

The Owl 

By Jessamy L (Category 11-18) 

I didn't think there was anything there. 

Rolling fields on that bitter, icy, harsh 

Evening, smothering the last gentle rays 

Of a dozy, hazy midsummer day 

The lights in the city would come on now, 

Chasing away the unknown shadows of 

Monsters or strangers, paranoia infested, 

But here all there is is blinking stars 

And a sound 

What was that? A haunting noise, maybe a 

Monster or a stranger, no light comes down, 

Trapped in this moment of unknowing fear, 

Another noise now, closer, even louder! 

Heart racing, I wanted to disappear, 

Away from that place, that horrifying beast, 

Whose eyes gleam at me in the darkness, it's 

Eyes, soulless, snowy fluttering feathers… 

Wait. Feathers, speckled and soft like the grass that I clasped, 

Eyes wise and gentle, Sparkled in the starlight, 

A gentle cooing dissolved all my panic, 

A magnificent owl landed by my feet. 

Now on these bitter, hazy, autumn nights, 

I gaze at the sky at the blinking stars, 

Waiting for the familiar swooping sound, 

Of the gentle, natural friend I have found.