Poetry Contest

Winners Year 2 | Winners Year 3 | Winners Year 4  | Back to Home Page Some of our many contest winners! From time to time we run a free poetry contest with the subject matter being specified and the prizes being books by our Poet Laureates. Indeed, the responses have been numerous and the quality of work outstanding. Please spend a moment or two reading the winning entries below and those on the previous years' links. They are truly wonderful pieces of writing. We wish all our poets the best of luck with their work and thank them for gracing our site. Any future contests will be announced here. -- Editor, Nan Nichols Crussell    The winner for December Category: "Being Alone for the Holidays" HOLIDAY DREAMING Remembering seasons times and treasures a thought of youth and holiday pleasures simple things a family sharing love and peace and soulful caring A song for the soul the night stands still with the blanketed earth cold winter chill holiday dreams in the spirit of love a gift to us all the child from above In longing my heart has the time of friends near for my mother and father a brother so dear away into heaven eternity rest times of my youth were all of the best Memories many a family blessed kept us together hearts in our quest angels of Christmas are some that we know let peace and love be the treasures to show A search through the stars on this heavenly night the meaning is there in the wonderful light take to his arms with loved ones near have peace in your life all through the year -- Submitted by Brownie Vaught from Martinsville, Indiana EMAIL: bv9225@netzero.net    The winner for November Category: "Stars, Comets or the Moon" MESSAGE FROM THE MOON I would like to write a poem, And place it gently on the moon... Beside the flag, left all alone, Atop that crest of shadowed dune There it would stand, without a blemish Not a fold, or wrinkled edge And it would leave a simple message Of deepest love, I'd wish to pledge Its calm would overlook Earth's toil, But never change its pleasant smile... Upon that face, within its soil, That we have viewed from many miles And for whomever cares to read, It would become their welcome home... To say, "Hello, come rest in peace, Your heart will never be alone" For I have left a part of life, Within a silent lover's tomb... To share with travelers of the night, Upon their journeys to the moon -- Submitted by Michael Timothy Salazar from Virginia Beach, VA EMAIL: mspoet@aol.com     The winner for October Category: "When Love Is Done" The spring, no longer in my step-- I cringe to greet each day. My taste for food--no longer there-- Gloom encamps to stay. I toss and turn throughout the night, As sleep escapes my try-- Dreaming haunts the naps I get-- And time is loth to fly. So much is changed from what I felt-- The world-- a different place-- Am I the person that I was? Is this a different face? But that was when we were a pair-- And now, I'm only one. Your presence caused reflected glow-- But gone now is my sun. Somehow I coped--before we met-- And I may--another day-- How I long for the way I felt-- When SURE your love would stay! -- Submitted by William R. Woodall from Akron, Ohio EMAIL: wrw.tripe@prodigy.net   The winner for September Category: "Back to School"  I stood and reminisced today about learning the "golden rule" as I dropped my daughter off for her very first day of school. I watched a little boy crying with his head tucked in his hands and I heard him mutter through his tears, "…nobody understands." I asked my daughter if she knew the boy and she said, "His name is Tommy and he's been standing there all by himself just crying for his mommy." I thought to myself what a big step it was considering his age and size and it broke my heart when I looked into his frightened, tear-filled eyes. I wanted to reach out my arms to him and hold him oh so tight and tell him, "Please don't worry; everything will be alright." Then I saw my daughter point at me as his tears ceased to fall. My curiosity got the best of me, so I inched closer along the wall. I heard her answer him with a grin. She was speaking straight to Tommy, when she said, "Oh, that lady crying there? Don't worry, that's just my mommy!" -- Submitted by Linda Ellis from Marietta, GA EMAIL: lellis@bellsouth.net     The winner for August Category: "Greed" This lesson was learned by Miss Greedy Who wore her shoplifted bikini. She heard a loud pop, and off came her top And had nothing on in betweenie! -- Submitted by Ulrike Thompson from Pittsburgh, PA EMAIL: ulr@libcom.com       (Editor's Note: We had a couple of runners-up in this month's contest by poets who approached the subject well. But it is unusual for us to receive short, concise writing that is well done, so we selected this one for its uniqueness!)   The winner for July Category: "Car Phones" Since childhood I'd pooh-pooed this 'saw', 'Bout those who are not able, To munch on gum while they walk'-- Like Aesop---just a fable. But then I met some living proof, That maybe this is TRUE! Seen several souls who struggled so-- Juggling tasks they do. Now it seems all doubt is gone, I have the proof I need-- Technology has come of age-- Produced a nit-wit breed. Of all the idiotic stunts, That driving safety's seen-- Few are worse than those who phone-- While driving their machine! Right up there with those who drink-- Are those who talk and drive, Their brains so badly over-taxed-- Need LUCK to stay alive! So PARK and phone--(if phone you must)-- Get out and take a WALK-- I'll even buy a pack of GUM-- Try Chewing, while you TALK. -- Submitted by William R. Woodall from Akron, Ohio EMAIL: wrw.tripe@prodigy.net     The winner for May Category: "Insomnia" Sleepless nights are not so bad The world is still going 'round, And if you stop to listen Then you will hear all its magical sounds. The sound of a baby breathing The surf upon the shore, The grandfather clock chiming Your loved one as he walks in the door. Peacefulness, the quiet, Time to think or feel, Nighttime is the best time Quiet moments that you can steal. So you see, insomnia's not so bad I can sit and write a poem, In the peacefulness of the night At long last alone. -- Submitted by Gladys Cairo EMAIL: cookiecrumble67@aol.com       The winner for June Category: "Telemarketers" No, Mr. Aikens is not at home, You can call him later. That's when he'll be back at home. Who me? I'm just his neighbor. Nothing in this world is free. Everything has its own little fee. And no I don't want a set of knives, I've already got twenty-three! Calling everyday has got to be a crime For this you should go to jail. Oh, you're selling blocks from telemarketer calls, Send mine in the mail! -- Submitted by Jaron Aikens from Silver Spring, Maryland EMAIL: Jaron119@cs.com   The winner for March Category: "St. Patrick's Day" Now St. Patrick, he sat down and wrote, With his quill and his ink he made note That each subsequent year, On that date he held dear, The Black Stuff would flow down his throat. As each anniversary passed, His neighbours were joining him fast, And by year number ten A hundred young men Got sloshed from a vat that was vast. By the time that St. Pat passed away Which was thirty years on to the day, I swear it's no joke -- There were thousands of folk Who got wrecked by the grave where he lay. The tradition has grown all the while, And in March every year, with some style, The flags are unfurled All over the world, Not just in the Emerald Isle. -- Submitted by Michael Bell-Scott from Isle of Man, British Isles EMAIL: mhbs@manx.net     The winner for April Category: "Demon Rum, Hootch, and Booze!" Granddad is my favourite chum, Cheers me up when I am glum, Lets me help him make a stew, He says it is a special brew, And calls it Demon Rum! Granddad says his hootch is best, Stands out miles from all the rest, He says it has a secret factor, Being brewed in a reactor, And puts it to the test! Granddad really likes his booze, But I don't really share his views, Once he made me have a sip, My poor stomach did a flip, Oh dear, poor Granddad's shoes! --Submitted by Kerri Fordham from Pagham, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK EMAIL: kerrifordham2000@yahoo.co.uk   The winner for January Category: "Hiccups" HOW TO CURE THE HICCUPS Hold your nose and pat your head. Count your toes and paint them red. Stretch and yawn the alphabet. Are they gone? Hic! Not yet. Fill your pants with chicken soup. Tap dance in a Hula Hoop. Stuff a sleeve with cantaloupe. Did they leave? Hic! Nope. Fill your bed with cottage cheese. Place your head between your knees. Twist your ear and bite your shoe. Did they disappear? Ah-choo! -- Submitted by Eric Ode from Bonney Lake, WA EMAIL: eandkode@peoplepc.com   The winner for February Category: "Computers" Up til now, my life was simple Nothing that I couldn't handle But technology beckoned, it was all over town So I bought a computer with no money down They said I'd be up and running in no time flat Just plug it in, it's as easy as that You'll be on the web, and you could send e-mail It's really so easy, you just can't fail It was easy at first, no time did I waste and I learned in an hour how to cut and paste But over the year, I wanted to do more Little did I know what was really in store Now I'm confused, the darn thing always crashes It doesn't do what I want, I'm ready to smash it I've loaded so many programs, probably close to seventy-five And now there's no more room left on my hard drive Ethernets, USB, routers, Burners, DVD's I've spent thousand of dollars, someone help me, please! Networks, memory, modems, firewalls to be safer Forget it!! I'm going back to pencil and paper -- Submitted by Daniel Ciccarelli from Euclid, Ohio EMAIL: DanC1230@aol.com    Top | Winners Year 2 | Winners Year 3 | Winners Year 4 | Back to Home Page