Teen Poetry Winners! Congratulations to the top winners of Wood Library's 14th Annual Teen Poetry Contest. Wood Library received over eighty poems and all of them were of very high caliber. A special thank you to all those who entered. Unfortunately, the peer judges could only choose eight that they felt were top quality, so continue on to find out who this year's winners are!
High Schoool Category:
Emotions
1st Place
David Derby, 9th Grade
1st Place
David Derby, 9th Grade
Bloomfield Central
Into the arms of sorrow
I sit and wallow
Thinking of all my fears
And with what tears
I must face another day
Telling myself there is another way
Listening to what is said
I simply lay my head
Looking at what I’ve done
Knowing I am the only one
To change my actions
And to follow my passion
Poems help me vent
Where all my thinking is spent
So to sit and cry
Thinking I want to die
To just feel pity among myself
It’s not good for my health
To help someone out
Rather than pout
May your feelings show in certainty?
To not show your feelings aggressively
With some happiness inside
We all go on a reality ride
Into the arms of sorrow
I sit and wallow
Thinking of all my fears
And with what tears
I must face another day
Telling myself there is another way
Listening to what is said
I simply lay my head
Looking at what I’ve done
Knowing I am the only one
To change my actions
And to follow my passion
Poems help me vent
Where all my thinking is spent
So to sit and cry
Thinking I want to die
To just feel pity among myself
It’s not good for my health
To help someone out
Rather than pout
May your feelings show in certainty?
To not show your feelings aggressively
With some happiness inside
We all go on a reality ride
This is a ballad portraying the novel The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway. There is no punctuation used in this poem, to help the reader develop their own rhythm and to provoke differing and unique emotions in each person.
2nd Place
2nd Place
Nikole Blowers, 9th Grade
Canandaigua Academy
Once there was a stark old man
Who lived in a mite city
He thrived alone out in his home
And received human pity
Also in Havana was
A helpless village boy
The man taught him to live and fish
But in it he found no joy
The man was old the luck was gone
There had been no fish
At eighty four days the boy turned away
He left against his wish
Life life you give them strife
Oh why are you so mean
Can’t you give this poor boy food
He’s looking oh so lean
The little child was forced to leave
The old man to himself
He had to feed his family
And put food on the shelf
So all alone the man set sail
Out on his wooden skiff
He moved into unbending danger
And knew he would not live
Sea sea oh bountiful sea
Strong is your water’s roar
But high above the crashing waves
Delicate birds soar
By high noon the sun was out
A fish had bit the line
The war was on the stakes were high
But the sky provided no time
Three days after the fish was hooked
The team was growing weak
The man was injured his hands were raw
And land he needed to seek
The journey however gave no relief
Sharks stole the fish as their plunder
And when the shore in nigh sight
The marlin had been pulled under
So in the end this story tells
That pride makes us insane
When you take on way too muchLife becomes inane
Canandaigua Academy
Once there was a stark old man
Who lived in a mite city
He thrived alone out in his home
And received human pity
Also in Havana was
A helpless village boy
The man taught him to live and fish
But in it he found no joy
The man was old the luck was gone
There had been no fish
At eighty four days the boy turned away
He left against his wish
Life life you give them strife
Oh why are you so mean
Can’t you give this poor boy food
He’s looking oh so lean
The little child was forced to leave
The old man to himself
He had to feed his family
And put food on the shelf
So all alone the man set sail
Out on his wooden skiff
He moved into unbending danger
And knew he would not live
Sea sea oh bountiful sea
Strong is your water’s roar
But high above the crashing waves
Delicate birds soar
By high noon the sun was out
A fish had bit the line
The war was on the stakes were high
But the sky provided no time
Three days after the fish was hooked
The team was growing weak
The man was injured his hands were raw
And land he needed to seek
The journey however gave no relief
Sharks stole the fish as their plunder
And when the shore in nigh sight
The marlin had been pulled under
So in the end this story tells
That pride makes us insane
When you take on way too muchLife becomes inane
Fear
3rd Place
Jackie Corbett, 9th Grade
Canandaigua Academy
Fear:
Heart Racing
The way you feel when you’re down to one, two seconds left in the game.
If I miss this shot, will I be to blame?
Stomach Churning
Presentation today
Am I the only one that feels this way?
Knees Shaking
The power goes out when I’m home alone.
My eyes widen, where do I go?
Palms Sweating
Up in the air, flying over the ground 30,000 feet.
I look out the window and my heart skips a beat.
Hands Trembling
First day at a new school.
Will people talk to me or think I’m cool?
Teeth Chattering
The roads are icy and the snow is falling.
I am holding on as the car keeps stalling.
Heart Pumping
I walk into the dark basement and see the curtains rustle.
Then I run up the stairs in a quick panicked hustle.
Fear is something that we all go through.
But how we react to it shows something about us too.
3rd Place
Jackie Corbett, 9th Grade
Canandaigua Academy
Fear:
Heart Racing
The way you feel when you’re down to one, two seconds left in the game.
If I miss this shot, will I be to blame?
Stomach Churning
Presentation today
Am I the only one that feels this way?
Knees Shaking
The power goes out when I’m home alone.
My eyes widen, where do I go?
Palms Sweating
Up in the air, flying over the ground 30,000 feet.
I look out the window and my heart skips a beat.
Hands Trembling
First day at a new school.
Will people talk to me or think I’m cool?
Teeth Chattering
The roads are icy and the snow is falling.
I am holding on as the car keeps stalling.
Heart Pumping
I walk into the dark basement and see the curtains rustle.
Then I run up the stairs in a quick panicked hustle.
Fear is something that we all go through.
But how we react to it shows something about us too.
Honorable Mention
Meaghan McCarthy, 9th Grade
Canandaigua Academy
Sam was only twelve years of age,
And Charlie was fifteen.
Life was just a game of baseball,
Till then that’s how it seemed.
Charlie thought it was a good idea,
He wanted to have some fun.
On the ride home they raced the moon,
Not knowing Sam’s life would be done.
Charlie didn’t want Sam to die,
He made a big mistake.
By taking Mrs. Pung’s car that night,
It was Sam’s life he’d take.
Charlie had kept his word to Sam,
Through all these thirteen years.
To come and play ball in the woods,
Keeping himself from his peers.
Charlie and Sam stayed best of friends,
Until Tess came along.
He couldn’t help but fall for her,
Their love was just like a song.
The sea was angry and Tess was stranded,
She needed Charlie’s aid.
She was lost at sea broken and hurt,
And then she started to fade.
Charlie found out that Tess became weak,
He needed to save her life.
“Come find me Charlie” Tess had said,
But Sam was his price.
Charlie didn’t want Sam to die,
He made a big mistake.
By taking Mrs. Pung’s car that night,
It was Sam’s life he’d take.
Meaghan McCarthy, 9th Grade
Canandaigua Academy
Sam was only twelve years of age,
And Charlie was fifteen.
Life was just a game of baseball,
Till then that’s how it seemed.
Charlie thought it was a good idea,
He wanted to have some fun.
On the ride home they raced the moon,
Not knowing Sam’s life would be done.
Charlie didn’t want Sam to die,
He made a big mistake.
By taking Mrs. Pung’s car that night,
It was Sam’s life he’d take.
Charlie had kept his word to Sam,
Through all these thirteen years.
To come and play ball in the woods,
Keeping himself from his peers.
Charlie and Sam stayed best of friends,
Until Tess came along.
He couldn’t help but fall for her,
Their love was just like a song.
The sea was angry and Tess was stranded,
She needed Charlie’s aid.
She was lost at sea broken and hurt,
And then she started to fade.
Charlie found out that Tess became weak,
He needed to save her life.
“Come find me Charlie” Tess had said,
But Sam was his price.
Charlie didn’t want Sam to die,
He made a big mistake.
By taking Mrs. Pung’s car that night,
It was Sam’s life he’d take.
Middle School Category
Majestic Stars in a Dark Night
1st Place
Brittany Turner, 6th Grade
1st Place
Brittany Turner, 6th Grade
Victor Intermediate School
A dark night
Trees whispering long ago tales
Frogs croaking
Grass softly rustling
Wind gently, gracefully blows
Leaves twirling and whirling
Dancing elegantly across the black starless night
Trees calmly swaying
Blissfully, knowingly, wondering
Suddenly, bright, blazing stars appear
‘Till twilight when they disappear
Glistening, twinkling, whispering, wondering
Bright beautiful wonders of heaven
Majestic stars in a dark night
Casting shadows and brilliant light
Exquisitely streaming across the dark quiet sky
Amazing colors to the eye
Leaves daintily falling to the ground
Peaceful calmness all around
Glorious silence awaits
A dark night
Trees whispering long ago tales
Frogs croaking
Grass softly rustling
Wind gently, gracefully blows
Leaves twirling and whirling
Dancing elegantly across the black starless night
Trees calmly swaying
Blissfully, knowingly, wondering
Suddenly, bright, blazing stars appear
‘Till twilight when they disappear
Glistening, twinkling, whispering, wondering
Bright beautiful wonders of heaven
Majestic stars in a dark night
Casting shadows and brilliant light
Exquisitely streaming across the dark quiet sky
Amazing colors to the eye
Leaves daintily falling to the ground
Peaceful calmness all around
Glorious silence awaits
Believe & Forgive
2nd Place
Sadie Burgess, 8th Grade
I forgive you for never believing in perseverance.
I forgive you for not believing in me and what I am able to accomplish.
I forgive because I am not a person until I forgive another.
I believe in myself.
I’m the one who has put stride into myself and pushed to a new level that has made me the person I am today.
I created my one destiny, my own future.
2nd Place
Sadie Burgess, 8th Grade
I forgive you for never believing in perseverance.
I forgive you for not believing in me and what I am able to accomplish.
I forgive because I am not a person until I forgive another.
I believe in myself.
I’m the one who has put stride into myself and pushed to a new level that has made me the person I am today.
I created my one destiny, my own future.
I Love...
3rd Place
3rd Place
Anthony Robarge, 8th Grade
Marcus Whitman Middle School
Wrestling,
the second the whistle shatters my ear
The adrenaline rushes,
I go for a shot,
he rebels counters my move
I get back up
with confidence
and take a better shot
this time, I succeed and take him right to his back,
the minute the whistle screeches,
and a slam on the mat.
I am relieved
The adrenaline surges stronger
as the crowd cheers with excitement
the referee raises
my hand.
I knew it was my sport
from the beginning
Wrestling is
not just a hobby,
it’s my life!!!!!
Marcus Whitman Middle School
Wrestling,
the second the whistle shatters my ear
The adrenaline rushes,
I go for a shot,
he rebels counters my move
I get back up
with confidence
and take a better shot
this time, I succeed and take him right to his back,
the minute the whistle screeches,
and a slam on the mat.
I am relieved
The adrenaline surges stronger
as the crowd cheers with excitement
the referee raises
my hand.
I knew it was my sport
from the beginning
Wrestling is
not just a hobby,
it’s my life!!!!!
Bitter Sweet Soul
Honorable Mention
Mallory Lafler, 8th Grade
Marcus Whitman Middle School
A bitter sweet soul singing from the heart
Such a sour song being sung
Clearly not being heard from a heavenly harp
She’s ready to slip right out of there
She’s got one eye on the door
one hand on the railing
and one foot on the floor
Just to hide away somewhere, anywhere
She is depressed and she is dying
She’s crying
The walls are closing in
on her intensely depleting vim
Her soul is bitter sweet
she’s down and she’s beat
The gleam in her eyes has gone
and it has left her
She is all alone singing her song
Beneath the falling snow
she wants to hide away
but has no where to go
She sneaks in through the front door
Creeps her way up the stairs
and across the creaky floor
Into the bathroom she goes
and what she found staring back from the mirror
scared her till she froze
Reflected in the mirror she saw
A sickly looking angel
With too many flaws
Smash!
The shards shattered into a million pieces
And she threw away the memories into the trash.
She lay down on the bed and cried herself to sleep
Honorable Mention
Mallory Lafler, 8th Grade
Marcus Whitman Middle School
A bitter sweet soul singing from the heart
Such a sour song being sung
Clearly not being heard from a heavenly harp
She’s ready to slip right out of there
She’s got one eye on the door
one hand on the railing
and one foot on the floor
Just to hide away somewhere, anywhere
She is depressed and she is dying
She’s crying
The walls are closing in
on her intensely depleting vim
Her soul is bitter sweet
she’s down and she’s beat
The gleam in her eyes has gone
and it has left her
She is all alone singing her song
Beneath the falling snow
she wants to hide away
but has no where to go
She sneaks in through the front door
Creeps her way up the stairs
and across the creaky floor
Into the bathroom she goes
and what she found staring back from the mirror
scared her till she froze
Reflected in the mirror she saw
A sickly looking angel
With too many flaws
Smash!
The shards shattered into a million pieces
And she threw away the memories into the trash.
She lay down on the bed and cried herself to sleep
Don't forget, if you want to meet the poets and hear their poems live, stop by Phoenix Coffee in Canandaigua on Wednesday, April 30 at 7 PM for the Teen Poetry Award Ceremony and Open Mike Night. Contact Jenny Goodemote at 394-1381 or jgoodemote@pls-net.org for more information.
