By Mohammad Nazif Islam | Posted: Wednesday October 22, 2025
Student Mohammad Nazif Islam's winning Poem
Mohammad Nazif Islam’s poem Whispering to the Braves was selected as one of the nine finalists in the 2025 National Schools Poetry Award. The shortlist of one winner and nine finalists was chosen by Wellington poet Ruby Solly from over 240 entries nationwide. The prize included a weekend in Wellington and Masterclasses in writing at Victoria University.
I would say I had a great time in Wellington. It was arguably the best weekend for me in New Zealand so far. Everything was quite well organised. We all had dinner together on Friday and a poetry masterclass at Victoria University. There were people from different parts of New Zealand, where some of us were even from other cultures outside New Zealand. It was quite diverse. It was like getting a full taste of New Zealand and beyond, to some extent.
We had a lot of discussions on poetry, different themes, exercises on how to write poems in a better way and a group poem at the end, which was one of the best parts of the masterclass. Some awkward silences were there, but I guess that's what happens when there are too many talents in one room, so those can be excused.
Food was great, transportation and accommodation were comfortable as well.
Competitions like this should be held constantly, as I think people say a lot of things unspoken through poetry and prose, and express themselves in a way they never did before. Competition in matters like this can be a bit confusing, since art is a matter of perspectives after all, so it is kind of hard to judge the arts and rank them.
However, the greatest prize in these competitions does not lie in materialistic stuff.
Of course, money matters, but the greatest prize lies in saying things that are often unspoken, expressing yourself, your thoughts and your perspective. That is a different kind of peace.
Overall, I met a wonderful bunch of people, different perspectives, different mindsets, and I must say I enjoyed it. Thanks to all those who organised the event and were involved with it positively, and of course, I also express my gratitude towards Ms Hardwick-Smith, who looked after all of us and ensured we had one of the best times of our lives. Lived it, loved it.
- Mohammad Nazif Islam
Whispering to the Braves.
They heard the story of Aladeen and Genie,
They saw them playing under Arabian lights,
A bit of mischief and lots of fun in the Arabian nights.
The Arabian nights however, now start with frights,
Wavy, sandy deserts blooming with gunpowder and might.
Millions of lies, under one big, bright, starry-spangled, dreadful midnight.
The world sounds asleep, careless about the people who bleed.
Millions were stranded over decades of strife, many lost their loved ones or their own lives.
Death comes from the sky, where iron rains and blood drains, through humanity’s cry.
Bullets thrown like confetti and crimson flows like Nile,
Mothers cry for children, corpses end up in piles.
Children cry for mother’s love and a piece of bread,
Lying under the rubble of masonry, all quiet and dead.
Fathers fight, brothers fight, fight the little girls,
Some fight with bullets beam and
Some with silent screams.
World watches, world cries, many wrapped up in hush,
Some care, some do not, no one’s in a rush.
Blood flows, land glows, but no regret or guilt,
Pyramids of Gaza continue to be built.
Corpses come in all sizes, no matter the age,
Families hold each other in dreadful mirage.
You should go look, we should go see,
How much they are shaken, from the river to the sea.
When the fateful day comes,
Before you leave, wipe their epitaphs,
Blow away the dust,
And whisper to their graves, “Freedom at last”.
