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News > School News > A Love for Classics Competition

A Love for Classics Competition

29 Feb 2024
United Kingdom
School News

Congratulations to Elika D (10DK) who entered the Bloomsbury ‘A Love for Classics Competition’ and won in the GCSE category with her poem ‘A Love for Classics’:


Salvē amicus,
 
To learn an ancient language or its background
Is something buried so deep underground
That sometimes I wonder what would happen if I were born in that time.
The closest I can get is the ropes of the ancient language, and climb.
 
Classics has taught me of a time before you and I;
Latin’s cases, declensions, noun tables, verb endings,
Ancient Greek philosophers, artists, poets,
Classical Civilisation’s stories of Hercules and the Cyclops.
I get teleported back to a time of such talent and culture -
I would soak up these texts, like blood is soaked by a vulture.
 
Books like The Secret History or Maurice by E.M.Forster,
Movies like The Dead Poets’ Society or Good Will Hunting
Have given me such motivation to pursue the Classics,
For only the bright ones know how much power they hold.
Carpe Diem will forever be my favourite Latin phrase.
 
My love for the Classics will be unchanging,
The pure, raw emotion on these texts remaining.
How lucky I am to study the Classics,
To study what came before you and I.
Surely that’s a marvellous thing by itself?
 
itaque, carpe diem et valē!
 

The judges loved Elika’s originality, creativity and evident enthusiasm for all things Classics. Elika beat off fierce competition from students at schools all across the country - a remarkable achievement! In particular, the judges commented:

"Love for Classics shines through and demonstrates engagement with all the aspects of the subject. Infectious enthusiasm and lovely use of verse as creative medium. Vivid imagery and an engaging, personal style."

Elika's poem will be published as a winner on the Bloomsbury A Love for Classics website. Well done, Elika!

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