Teen Poetry Contest 2008
Middle School Division
First Place
Sammi Myers
King Philip Middle School
A Winters’ Night
Icicles hang low over the frost-bitten ground
chilled winds graze the snow covered earth
black ice almost invisible
skeletal branches batter my window pane
roofs cloaked in powdery snow
a winters’ night is silent
soon the creatures of the night will rouse from their deep slumber
while unsuspecting families sleep
if they will only wake to see the wonders of this winters’ night
a bitter frost stings my window
crisp snow crunches under my feet
solitude winter nights are eerie,
but not to me
the crystalline ground is slick
frigid winds nip my nose
the barren trees sway
as the freezing wind blows
it does not bother me
I enjoy this time
Alone, with only the wind for company
If you wish to see all this,
you must walk silently
on a winters’ night
Second Place
Annie Stauffer
King Philip Middle School
Princess Patty
Princess Patty was not pleased
Her book shelf was bare
She shouted,
I wish, I want, I’ll wiggle and whine
I’ll cry, I’ll croak, I’ll crack in no time.
If billions of beautiful books are not there tomorrow,
I’m sure to shriek!
One day she woke up and dazed at the dazzling books.
A book in every nook,
In every place possible,
Every corner filled with fables, fairy tales and philosophies.
She wept for joy and said,
I feel grand, grateful and giddy.
She thanked her parents thoroughly.
She promised to never be more grateful than she was that day,
Because nothing can replace the space in your heart for books.
Third Place
Prima Gradante
Sedgwick Middle School
Pencils
With a sharp pencil
Everything is crisp and clean
Yet with a dull tip
I am striving to live up to others
To what they’ve done
Life is full of mistakes
I can’t completely erase them
But I can cover them up
By fixing what I’ve done
If I had an eraser
My errors could be fixed
Leaving my bad past behind
While keeping the great memories alive
Untouched by life’s mistakes
But so much of my life
Is still unwritten
With a blank page before me
And the best words I can find
My life will fill the page
High School Division
First Place
Rakhi Agrawal
Hall High School
Hold On Tight
Don’t quit because you’re sad
Don’t quit because you’re aching
As long as you’re here
My help is yours for the taking
Don’t quit because you’re lonely
Don’t quit because you’re scared
Hold on, because I love you
So I can show I really care
This morning I thought of you
Tonight I spoke to you
Little did I know at the time,
I’d never again see you.
You let go too soon
You let go way too soon
Now look at what you’ve done to me
My tears are drowning me like a monsoon
If you can see me now, watch me in my sorrow
If you can hear me now, listen to all I have to say
Remember the times we shared, good and bad, happy and sad
Remember that I miss you dearly, for everyday I pray
Dedicated to Norberto Jimenez and Sam Joseph
their families and friends
and to anyone who has ever lost a loved one
Second Place
Kaydria Pownall
Northwest Catholic High School
Snap!
Just like that
Everything can change.
The life you once live,
Now seems oh so strange.
Through my eyes I see sadness
A man who feels like it is his entire fault.
Through my eyes I see loneliness, A woman whose life is now at a halt.
The world changes,
Every second,
Every minute,
Every hour,
Every day
Bang!
Just like that everything can change,
So live life to your possibilities range.
Third Place
Gabby Marandino
Northwest Catholic High School
Summer
Summers coming up,
I really can not wait,
This one’s gonna be different,
It’s gonna be great!
Sitting back relaxing,
Or hanging with my friends,
It doesn’t really matter,
In the end.
This is my time for me,
Like a vacation of my own,
I need summer now,
I need to make it known!
Come to me soon,
The long summer nights
Or the big summer moon.
This poem’s quite silly,
I know this is true,
I’ll just wait till summer
Then I’ll feel better then new!