Using nature as his inspiration, Barnabus Ney has earned himself a third place in a national poetry contest with his poem titled Wind.

B次元官网网址淭he wind is diverse, itB次元官网网址檚 powerful at times and weak at times. ItB次元官网网址檚 diverse, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what inspired me,B次元官网网址� said Ney, a 14-year-old Lighthouse Christian Academy student in Langford.

This is the second time Ney has taken third place in the annual Poetry Institute of Canada contest. The first time was in 2008 with a poem titled Victoria Winter.

With both wins, NeyB次元官网网址檚 work has been published in anthologies from the institute.

B次元官网网址淚 really appreciate what the institute has done. They have opened the door for me,B次元官网网址� Ney said. B次元官网网址淭his has inspired me to keep writing.B次元官网网址�

With two third place wins, Ney said taking first place would be nice, but thatB次元官网网址檚 not his goal.

B次元官网网址淭here is always a hope (to place first), but there are extremely good poets in Canada,B次元官网网址� Ney said. B次元官网网址淭he prize is a boost for sure but not the reason.B次元官网网址�

Ney writes whenever he feels inspired. Sometimes that could be two poems in one day or as little as one a month, he said.

B次元官网网址淧oetry is a way of expressing a lot of emotions and feelings with few words,B次元官网网址� Ney said.

To help hone his skill, Ney tries to learn new words and expand his vocabulary at home and school.

For his craft, NeyB次元官网网址檚 biggest inspiration is nature.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e grown up next to nature and in tune with nature,B次元官网网址� Ney said. B次元官网网址淎ll my life IB次元官网网址檝e lived in the woods or on the ocean. The power and beauty have inspired me.B次元官网网址�

Ney lives in Sooke near the Metchosin border. He first stated writing poetry in the Grade 3 and has been hooked ever since.

While he has a passion for poetry, Ney is still not sure about what he wants to do in the future.

B次元官网网址淚n a way poetry has opened more doors and now itB次元官网网址檚 more difficult to choose,B次元官网网址� Ney said. reporter@goldstreamgazette.com