2013 Poetry Contest Winners

First Place Winner, Jamie Wright

"Sea Bound"

I'm cast out to sea with the lack of direction, with faith in whoever will listen.
A communion I used to take part in that's now exhausted, dies.
The remains of you will not benefit me, and I possess no power of resurrection

I cannot tell you, Mother, where I am or where I've been.
My map is drenched and its readings cannot be deciphered.
I'm cast out to sea with lack of direction, with faith in whoever will listen.

I've prayed a thousand times, and I've cried a million.
God's sailing my rugged ship, though I lack knowledge of His plan.
The remains of you will not benefit me, and I possess no power of resurrection

Evidence of your selfish addiction burns my skin, and it might have been my fault, but
you still created a monster of me, cheated me of my innocence and the beauty of bliss.
I'm cast out to sea with lack of direction, with faith in whoever will listen.

I pray by the grace of God that one day you'll change, to see that exhilarating smile,
the green  in your eyes which captivates me; I would willingly sink into their abyss.
The remains of you will not benefit me, and I possess no power of resurrection.

I could never harm you, but I am leaving. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world bline and
I love you far too much to ever wrong you. I hope my absence proves that I am hurt enough to escape, though I'm cast out to sea with lack of direction, with faith in whoever will listen.
The remains of you will not benefit me, and I possess no power of resurrection.


Second place winner, Joshua Panee

"The Ancient Wood That Teemed With Life"

Though moring rime,
Deep past the elder greens,
A serect spot for you and I.

Inside the wood,
Where only few trees
know little of.

A special place for
prentend,

For young, without an
            end.
    
           Now.
Barren of adventure,
No secret spots nor we.
Future generations will
            see,
In the forest nothing, no
            trees,
Not the magic, bare of
           seeds,
Only modern buildings and
infectious weeds.

This place, our old
childhood world,
Of this unique love and play.

Where leaves of autumn
          flew free.

The sky beach above,

Blue as the sea.

Now this place,

Stript of flower,

Plains of blight.

Reaped of leaves.

Faded starlight.

This world where,

NO real imagination,

No true love can be.

Throughout the years,

When life flares and fades.

Our lives long gone.

Through the infernal
     summer sun,

Deprived of familiar
      winter snow,

A little one will see,

After the wrath of the
           machine.

That very same place.

Where only few birds tune
             a song.

Witness to what has come,

And who has gone.

When all that remains,

Our artifacts from our
               time.

Craved hearts, whispers of
               mine.

Under the wood,

Beneath the nightly root.

Now only desecrated,

The young nature wasted.

From careless people,

To ruthless haste.

Don't forget,

Our sarced place.

Childhood now fast pace.

The ancient wood that
      teemed with life.

Mother Nature and Man
       twisted in strife.

The ancient wood that used
        to teem with life.


    


Third place winner, Stephen Cameron

"The Crook"

Once by the brook lived a wicked, old crook
His mind was filled with deceit
The crowd's wallets would dwindle at every swindle
He prided himslef on these feats.

As he would pass he would swipe everyone's brass
And anything else with worth
But his crimes were brief for they caught onto this thief
And gave him quite a wide berth.

His pick-pocketing was done, so the village throught they had won
They soon would find their mistake
For the scheming criminal whose crime was now minimal
Had become much more opaque.

His plans inscrutable, his scheme not deducible
The village began to worry
But then one day they had their way
And the felon left in a hurry.

The town thought he was gone; they were rid of the con
He was gone for a month or two
But his new home was indignant at this criminal maligant
So he came back turning the villagers a bright red hue.

The crook had a change of heart and decided he would try art
But none of his paintings would sell
This recent malefactor then tried to be a contractor
But like the arts it soon bid him farewell.

To him the only way to make a living was quite the opposite of giving
And he soon reverted to thievery
The townspeople were provoked and the criminal's residency they revoked
And he was soon disappearing into the scenery.

He had entered the village ready to pillage
But his plans were readily thwarted
The people disapproved and the crook was removed
But I hear tha the cutpurse profession he has aborted.


Fourth place winner, Noah Riddle

"The solution"

This young man, had been beaten down, stepped on, and abandoned
His heart was torn, ripped, and shredded
The pain of constantly being judged seemed perpetual
No one knew his name.

Today was the beginning of a new school year
He entered the building conspicuously nervous; it seemed as if all eyes were on him
Eyes of hate and envy, eyes of lust and desperation
Looks of disgust and question were shot at him like arrows

He walked through the crowd
Pushed to right, shoved to the left
His belongings were taken
He fell on the ground, and stayed there, one single tear dangled from his eye.

This was no different than last year
And the year before that
He was somewhat used to it
But sick of it.

Insecurity rapidly pulsed through his veins
The thought of leaving, leaving everyone and everything shrouded his head
He slowly made his way down the hall; it seemed as if he was walking opposite of everyone  else. Not a single gesture of kindness was thrown his way.

He entered a vast room filled with what seemed to be eyes just like the others
As he walked over to a seat he heard a whisper, followed by laughter
He tried to ignore it, but it was no use, assumptions of negativity raced through his mind
He took a seat, the chair was cold, and the coldness began to crawl up his spine.

That night he did not eat or drink
He simply laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling
Thinking about what to do and how to deal with all of this
He had had enough.

That morning before school, he went into his father's room and took what was under the bed
With it in his bag he made his way to school
This time, things are going to be different he said to himself
Whenever he arrived at school, he walked in the door with his head down.

He then lifted his head up, and stared a girl directly in the eyes
She started to laugh, but her smile quickly faded
She saw what had been withdrawn from the bag
It was pointed directly at her face...he squeezed.

A big bang echoed throughout the building, followed by screaming and crying
He pointed it at another child....and squeezed
Another....and squeezed
He then place it in his mouth...and squeezed.


Fith place winner, Frank Delpalazzo, Jr.

"Blessings"

It's all in God's plan.
Needles hooked up to an IV, chemotherapy every two weeky, yet
blessings all around; she knows this is just the beginning.

Some people have survived it;
I'm worried she won't.
It's all in God's plan.

She knows in her heart
somehow she's protected
Blessings all around.

I was too young to remember.
I just hoped she would live, but
It's all in God's plan

She survived ten years being free.
She'll never be able to thank God enough.
Blessings all around.

"Mom, I love you."
I said it then and say it now.
It's all in God's plan.
Blessings all around.


Honoraable mention 1, Yulissa Guzman-Lopez

"El Perdedor"

I will tell you something and it's true,
Claro que si
And this is only about you.

There's a saying
"You don't know what you fear until you lose it"

I've seen you cry
He was the one to understand why

And he stole the most precious treassure
Ahora entiendo

No regret
Just hate

Tell him I hate him for having what I once had,
Even though I am still responsible

I consider him an enemy
For losing the battle

No control
No regret
Just hate

So stupid for thinking,
I would be the only one you love
And now I'm just the loser
Standing right here after your shove

I saw him coming
I didn't think it was important
At the moment

Que siento?
No regret
Just hate.


Honorable mention 2, Katlyn Carter

"Your Eyes"

Gone are the eyes that watched me grow
The eyes that were able to see into my soul
Together we climbed mountains and made it through the pain
Only to find out that someday it would be forever changed

As you've gotten weaker, I've gotten stronger
Able to take care of myself even though I didn't want to

You'd be proud of my wit, my confidence and my charm
People say I'm just like you and I know all about your charms
The eyes are in my heart, the eyes that saw my soul
But gone are the beautiful eyes, the eyes that watched me grow.


Honorable mentions 3, Brendan Rhodes

"Looking Ahead"

Do not dwell on the past, thinking of what you lack.
Too many people waste their time focusing on what happened then.
Life is too short to be looking back.

I sit at home, wondering what could have been,
because of my hesitation toward somethng I felt I couldn't hack.
Do not dwell on the past, thinking of what you lack.

People regret missed opportunities,
sorry that they let them slip by.
Life is too short to be looking back.

I spend too much time wondering what things would have been like if I had done this or that.
Then it hits me, I've just wasted valuable time that I'll never get back.
Do not dwell on the past, thinking of what you lack

I need to change and get myself on track!
Focusing on the future is for the best.
Life is too short to be looking back.

I have come to my conclusion, and I know this for a fact.
I will never again waste my time.
Do not dwell on the past, thinking of what you lack.
Life is too short to be looking back.