Die tientalle inskrywings vir vanjaar se Towerwoorde/Word Wizard-poësiekompetisie het lig gewerp op die leefwêreld van ons skoolkinders vandag.
Die kompetisie, aangebied deur Bloemfontein Courant ter viering van Wêreldmoedertaaldag op 21 Februarie, het gewys hoeveel waardering en liefde die jeug vir hul moedertaal koester. Twee van die wenners se gedigte is dan ook huldeblyke aan die skrywers se huistaal.
It was striking how many of the poems dealt with the pain children struggle with, and the anxiety that many live with every day.
What was also notable to the judges is that artificial intelligence had slipped in here too. Some of the poems were simply too perfect to have been written by, for example, an 11‑year‑old or even a 14-year-old.
Die wenners vir die hoërskool-afdeling is Mia Jacobs, gr. 8-leerling aan die Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, en van die laerskoolafdeling Ntsoaki Matekane, gr. 7-leerling aan Curro, Bloemfontein.
In second place were, respectively, Tatum Lawrence, a Grade 11 learner at St Michael’s School for Girls, and Liewan Claassens (11) of Grey College Primary.
High School runner-up:
Self-harm
I don’t cut myself
But I cut up my heart with my own words.
I don’t burn myself
But I burn every connection I make.
I don’t starve myself
But I starve myself of people.
I don’t poison myself.
But I poison myself with the thoughts in my head.
I don’t hurt myself
But I hurt myself
I do the harm people don’t see.
Since they can’t see it, it isn’t as important. – Tatum Lawrence
Read page 5 to see the other poems https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/epapers/bloemfontein-courant-19-february-2026/
