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Housman Verse Prize 2026

Darcy M read her winning entry for the Housman Verse Prize 2026 during Routh assembly to the Senior ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ pupils and Common Room. You can listen to the recording . 

Darcy explains, "This poem centres on the transition from childhood to adulthood, using the idea of "play" as a metaphor for freedom, identity, and growth. It reflects on how play was once instinctive and effortless, something that shaped everyday life, before gradually being replaced by structure. The chessboard acts as a central symbol throughout, representing both the simplicity of each ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ life and the increasing sense of strategy and pressure as time goes on."

"I was inspired by the chessboard at Prep ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ and my own experience of leaving ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, particularly the routine of gathering around the chessboard in the early years. As I approach the end of this chapter and look towards university, I wanted to capture the feeling of stepping into something unknown, where the rules are less clear."