| Poetry Contest Winners |
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 Jawbreaker By Nicole Fluegel, 11 years Winner: 5-11 years Start with the outside, That’s what I’ll do. I got a long journey, For something new. On the outside I see, Sweetness and care. It carries candy, For everyone to share. Then here comes the next layer, Ready to be brave and strong. Protecting all people, Working all day long. Finally the center! Curiosity I see, Makes me who I am, And all I want to be. So crack your jawbreaker. Find your center, So you know the real you, To find what you may enter. Fire of the Heart By Emily Laiben, 10 years Winner: 5-11 years The heart ablaze with passionate flames Always longs for treasure, riches and fames But if you go deeper to your heart’s very core You find you’re looking for something more The thing you seek is worth all the above For what you seek, of course, is love. Reading Is Fun By Seif Elkashab, 11 years Winner: 5-11 years R eading is the best E ducational hobby A nd an enjoyable book D uring the night I n my bed and N o disruptions G oing on I s just what I like S uch a book F ills my interest, I U npack a discovery in every N umber of pages in every book. Perspective of Truth By Trevor Newman, 17 years Winner: 12-18 years Objectifying with bleak desperation, Their cursed words of piercing temptations Full of barked claims of perceived divination That announces my impeding damnation. They shout, with their giant voices booming. I shrink, fearing the dark light looming. They hush, with calm tales of unconditional love. I grow, with curious thoughts to speak of. Their truth they cling on to, ready to defend. But to my truth, jabbing questions they do send! My anger burning, could their persistence bend? Or must I stay tormented ‘til days end? Upon a lone moment of seclusion, I begin to ponder their delusion. But lo! Sudden insight lets my inner eye see The judgement I too threw maliciously. I resolve, with immediate resolute To find agreement within this wicked dispute; For alas, neither party can truly refute The truths which would result the others mute. Ocean Nightfall By Savanna Noskay, 15 years Winner: 12-18 years You can see miles into space. Look into the stars beautiful grace. The moon shining bright, There is no cloud in sight. The ocean breeze is fairly calm. The feeling of sand within my palm. The waves are rushing up to the sand. In the distance you hear a band. The ocean scent Is quite potent. I now sit on the dock Hearing a ticking clock. It’s 12 o’clock sharp. Within the distance I can see a shark. Now the dogs are beginning to howl As I throw down the towel. I suddenly jump into the blackness And I’m filled with happiness For I accomplished my greatest fear To jump in the ocean when dawn is near. A Broken Promise By Richard Blum, 18 years Winner: 12-18 years She always came back Until she didn’t So beautiful, adventurous, alive Until she wasn’t The highway moans As if in regret over the life it has claimed My father bids me close me eyes I peek I see my friend, twisted and broken A twisted joke, a broken promise That fate has played upon me I avert my gaze But the image remains Burning behind the lids of my eyes She now lies buried A twisted joke, a broken promise In a plastic cocoon A halo of bricks Surrounds a tattered Frisbee A sentimental marker: ‘Here lies my dog, My first and my last’ “She’ll be back,” I think to myself, “She always comes back.” But she didn’t. All Grown Up (for my sister, on her wedding day) By Sara Schmidt Winner: 12-18 years A wood sprite with silky curls Festooned with soft white buds, You wore a gold circlet of promise Newly purchased delights, A lovingly borrowed treasure, And an old heirloom on your beautiful day And as you giggled and pinked – Just enough to make your eyes sparkle In that twinkling way they always do When you’re grinning and giddy – Before the congress of loved ones, I could see you, gap-toothed again at six, Tousled hair sticking to your cheek as You swung my hand, asking for another story – Now that hand is perched on another – A deserving fellow, I must admit – And I wonder at the passing of time, Of how quickly you went from diapers to diamonds, And though it’s one of joy, I feel a streak of clammy dew Drop beneath an eye, As I marvel with pride at my wondrous sister, So lovely and quickly grown, As you step onto a new light-filled path. Beauty in the Hallway (A True Story) By Loretta Clayton Winner: 12-18 years While awaiting a loved ones’ hospital surgery, I decided to traverse the halls . . . I decided to keep walking until someone calls . . . Nearing one mile, and getting spent . . . I noticed the janitor passed me every time, to his chore he was bent . . . Each succeeding passage brought us more and more smiles . . . And by now I was nearing two miles . . . It soon became a game, and I said with a stance . . . You know it looks like we need to take lessons in dance . . . The kindly man, he stopped and said with a flutter . . . And then I noticed that he spoke with a stutter . . . But in a shy red-faced halting voice he did impart . . . A statement that softened and melted my heart . . . He said, “My dear, it is my great pleasure and my shot to call . . . I always step back when I encounter BEAUTY IN THE HALL.” I said thank you, thank you, and smiled and touched his hand . . . In that instant a bond was formed, no fanfare, no band . . .
Poetry Reading & Awards Ceremony |
