Forres Rotary Club Young Writer competition winner from Applegrove Primary School to compete in national finals

A primary school pupil from Forres is in the district finals of a national writing competition.

Applegrove scholar, Harris Hepburn, 10, won the Rotary Club Young Writer competition with his poem ‘Journey of a Water Droplet’ that was inspired by his natural surroundings.

He explained: “We’ve been learning poetry at school and Robert Burns’ poems inspired me to write for the competition.

“I looked at the water cycle and imagined droplets as little people. I wrote about one droplet’s journey.

“I’m also interested in animals and how they need water. I based the poem on the River Findhorn because it leads to the beach - both places I like to go.”

Each year, Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland offers competitions for young people. Forres Rotary Youth Team notifies local schools and youth organisations in August once themes for the contests have been chosen.

This year’s Young Writer theme is ‘Wonderful Water’.

Local, district and national stages encourage the development of writing skills.

The Rotary District 1010 includes over 90 clubs including Forres, from Shetland to Perth, Fraserburgh to the Western Isles. The winners in the district finals are entered into the national final.

Harris’ entry was the winner in the junior category in late January, qualifying for the District 1010 final where he was also chosen as category winner.

The judges’ comments included: ‘Each word is carefully chosen and very effective, creating a regular poem written in rhyming couplets. It is an excellent response to the theme.”

A presentation of £95 was made by Forres Rotary at Harris’s home. He said: “I feel proud of myself for all the effort and time I put into writing my poem. I might spend my winnings on a Lego set but I’m also saving up for a dog.”

His mum Fiona is also delighted for him. She said: “He spent a lot of time researching and making changes until he was happy with it!”

Harris’ entry has now been submitted to the final stage of the competition - the results will be announced towards the end of June.

Journey of a Water Droplet

I start in the mountains with all of my friends

The cycle of life, on me it depends

From this great height, I have such a view

Mountain hares cross me and red deer too

Passed forests, farms and through rapids I flow

To the glistening rocks and pebbles below

Salmon leaping, using their fins

Creating, spawning, new life begins

Through the estuary, to the beach I go

Birds fly by and swoop very low

Since the start in the mountains I’ve gained lots of friends

When I get to the ocean, my story ends

Waves crashing and churning, vast and clear

When I see these and hear these, I know I am near

At last, I reach my home once more

To start the journey that I’ve done before.”