Elizabeth-Anne Talo

The Guerrilla Collection ran a Poetry/Spoken Word Competition in June calling all young creatives to use one of the prompts
1. 5 years from now...
2. If I knew then what I know now...
3. Here I am and this is where I'm going...
to write/record a 1-2 minute long poem/spoken word piece based on the theme - "Looking Towards the Future".

The Poetry/Spoken Word Competition Director's Choice Award went to Elizabeth-Anne Talo.

Talofa Lava and Kia Ora,

My name is Elizabeth-Anne Talo, I am 17 years old and attend McAuley High School. Born and raised in South Auckland, I am of Samoan and Māori decent. My Father’s family originate from the villages of Faleasi’u and Vaiusu in Upolu. My mother is Māori and reps Ngāti Whātua & Raukawa.
Poetry for me has always allowed me to express myself freely. Receiving the Director’s choice award means a lot. I’ve always had a thing for writing but have never been confident and winning this award has given me affirmation to continue writing.

Film Credits

Dancers:
Demi-Jo Manalo
Rodney Tyrell
Aisea Latu
Aki Manson
Faith Schuster
Tai Hemana

Editor:
Rodney Tyrell

If I knew then what I know now
By Elizabeth-Anne Talo

A true product of perfection
At least that’s what I’m meant to be
Crumbling from the inside out, I call for help
but the more I scream the more my voice floats
into the abyss
Silence
A true product of perfection
Shipwrecked. Abandoned.
As much as you say you love me, your love will
be the death of me I’m sure
A true product of perfection
Unrealistic Expectations
As I listen to the voices, my soul starts to disintegrate
Leaving me dry
A true product of perfection
Daydreaming of the good ol’ days
When life didn’t give one fuck about who you were
A true product of perfection
Before shade was thrown at you like rice on a wedding day
So carelessly done, effortlessly painful, tears
falling gushing down like it were Hunua Falls
A true product of perfection
If only someone had prepared me for the shit I
had learnt today but I guess when life throws you lemons
Fuck it, fuck you.
Fuck the lemonade.

For winning the Poetry/Spoken Word Competition Director's Choice Award Elizabeth-Anne received:
- $500 Prezzy card
- Online mentoring session to develop poem
- A limited edition The Guerrilla Collection T-Shirt
- Certificate of achievement
- Dance film created to her spoken word poem by Black Grace dancers