Dear Poets & Guests, Congratulations! We gather today to celebrate writing excellence. Your winning efforts reflect outstanding poetry writing from over 3,000 entries. The Board and I salute you, and we applaud your parents, teachers, family and friends who guide and support your poetic endeavors. Whitman wrote, “Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of all poems.” We are delighted you have “stopped this day” and we invite you to return for our family events, educational programs, Scout badge opportunities, and literary events. We strive to maintain the highest standards as a community asset, a literary crossroads, a national attraction, and a world renowned Historic Site. Therefore, your contributions are vital. In order to continue offering programs at the lowest cost to the widest possible public, we must rely on all of you to support our activities. So stop by, walk in Walt’s footsteps, and contribute in a way that suits you best – join, re-join, volunteer, donate. You will receive rewards far beyond your expectations! Congratulations and keep writing! Sincerely, |
Grand Champions
Category A – Grades 3 & 4
Alanna Wu / “Dear Mother Cloud”
The Laurel Hill School
Category B – Grades 5 & 6
Colin Muessig / “The Elegant Earth”
Wisdom Lane Middle School
Category C – Grades 7 & 8
Sarah Morgenthal / “I Run – A Fire Poem”
Plainview – Old Bethpage Middle School
Category D – Grades 9 & 10
Isabelle Scott / “A Tes Souhaites”
Ward Melville High School
Category E – Grades 11 & 12
Eleni Aneziris / “The Spark of the Sun”
Ward Melville High School
Category F – Grades 3 & 4
Mrs. Shari Zindman / “The Voice of Elements”
Locust Valley Intermediate School
Category G – Grades 5 & 6
Mrs. Rand & Miss Casey / “Behold the Elements”
JFK Middle School
Category H – Grades 7 & 8
Mr. Karl O’Leary / “Nature is Always With Me”
Mt. Sinai Middle School - Period 3
Category I – Grades 9 & 10
Mr. Mark Kenny / “Aspects of Power”
W.T. Clarke High School - Period 6
Category J – Grades 11 & 12
Mrs. Sullivan / “Elemental Voices”
Patchogue Medford High School - Period 2
Category K – Multi-Media
Lindsay Stancampiano / “Alive”
Mt. Sinai Middle School
Category L – Individual Anthology
Amani Hafeez / “Song of the Elements”
JFK Middle School
Lindsay Stancampiano “Alive” I dance, unwillingly, around the battered brick fireplace that contains me; how I long to escape this calamitous cage that confines me every night. My actions are determined, not by myself, but by my merciless masters, who watch me, intently, as I slowly die out, like a small child drifting off to sleep. “Will I ever be free from this everlasting task of warming my masters on a chilly winter’s day?” I think to myself, “Will I finally be able to explore a different part of this wonderful world that I have not yet seen myself?”
I am ignited, once again, and repeat the monotonous task I am assigned to perform. I see my masters glide over to the hearth, their mesmerized faces slowly creeping closer to me, focusing on the wisps of smoke that are emitted from my body. The swirling smoke surrounds their surprised faces, as distinctly I hear them start to gasp and cough up the thick smoke. This event, while utterly unfortunate for my masters, seems to amuse me; all I could think is that I wanted more… more.. more.
I feel ferocious flames spreading rapidly across my masters’ floor; I hear their helpless cries piercing through the sounds of the crackling fire. The smell of something burning is in the air, and I feel a surge of power rush through every part of me, reaching to the very edges of my body. “I am finally free from the terrible cage of the fireplace, and my masters!” I think to myself, as a wide wicked smile stretches across my face. I have never felt so alive.
Lindsay Stancampiano Mt. Sinai Middle School, Grade 8, Karl O’Leary |
Amani Hafeez “The Age of Concordia”
An unimaginable world of harmony and peace, Before might was right, Before Earth was cruel. When innocence was not ignorance, When fear ceased to exist. A world of peace, of love, of verity, of amity. When Terra was the mother of all, and lover of all. When the sun would rise through Elysian fields, people would dance and shout in joy to see their beloved Helios put on a show. Not yet had human blood tainted Mother Earth and changed this paradise forever. The needle of envy had not yet pierced the innocent thoughts. Concordia, wandering here and there, would watch. To see a world in ceaseless-joy which now harbors avarice and greed, To find hope, faith and harmony, then find greed, treason and lies. The concept of Concordia, now locked in endless sleep, Gone forever, disappeared and dissipated into thin air. In roots of trees you’ll find it. Concordia lost her silent battle. . . . It seems it evanesced into particles unknown to man. Blood of man has blemished to perfection of Elysium, And though this world has lost all hope, Maybe you will find some. Open the jar Pandora left and find that Elpis stayed put. If you open the jar, And let her out of the confined space which has been her own for millenium. Let the world know that Elpis is here. And may they know that there is always hope for Elysium.
Amani Hafeez JFK Middle School, Grade 6, Mrs. Rand/Miss Casey |
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