2018 Anthology Book

PUBLISHED BY

YOUNG AUDIENCES OF NORTHEAST TEXAS
TYLER, TX

© 2018, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This book, or parts thereof, may not be used without
the permission of the authors.

For more information on the
Northeast Texas Poetry in Schools Contest, contact:

Young Audiences of Northeast Texas
200 E. Amherst
Tyler, TX 75701
903.561.2787

Visit our website at: yanetexas.org

About Northeast Texas Poetry in Schools

Young Audiences of Northeast Texas is honored to continue a
tradition begun by the Rusk County Poetry Society four decades
ago by presenting the 2018 Northeast Texas Poetry in Schools
Contest. Each year, this contest provides an opportunity for
students currently enrolled in grades 1-12 to nurture academic
growth through the literary arts.

Classroom and language arts teachers are encouraged to submit
original poems from their students to be judged by local poets
and writers. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each grade
level receive a certificate, and are invited to read their poems
to an audience of family, teachers, and administrators at the
Northeast Texas Poetry in Schools Awards Ceremony.

All winning entries are published in this Northeast Texas Poetry
in Schools Student Anthology. For more information on next
year’s contest, please visit yanetexas.org in the fall of 2018.

2018 Poetry in Schools Foreword

Poetry in Schools began over forty years ago when a small group of East Texas
poets wanted to encourage young writers to celebrate National Poetry Month in April.
Today, it has grown to include hundreds of student submissions from teachers in
dozens of schools across East Texas. Gathered here are the winning poems from the
2018 Poetry in Schools Contest.

On page after page, students remind us of what poets know: that every moment is
poetic! There are poems about animals and nature, about families and friendships,
about emotions and experiences and, of course, about the struggle of young people,
despite the pressures of school and society, to be true to who they really are. In
selecting the winners, our judges were asked to consider interesting word choices,
unique perspectives, surprising ideas and entertaining use of sound and imagery.
As always, it has been delightful to read the entries, and exciting to celebrate the
winners.

I want to personally recognize the dedicated teachers who are encouraging their
students to explore poetry and who took the time to submit their writing. I also want
to send my appreciation to all the students whose heart-felt poems we enjoyed.
Please continue writing! I want to express special thanks to the judges who spent
hours reading each entry with insight and care: Tricia Billington, Joyce McGee,
Adrianne Pamplin, Aaron Dunn, Melissa DeCarlo, Kate Hart, Justin Robinson, Ed
Garcia, and Anett Jessop. Finally, my thanks to Young Audiences of Northeast
Texas, Region 7 Education Service Center, and Rusk County Poetry Society for the
wonderful synergy that makes it possible to continue the legacy of Poetry in Schools!

Anne McCrady
Inspiritry

FIRST GRADE Page 9 3rd Place
Page 10 2nd Place
Lillian Johnson Curiosity Page 11 1st Place

Wyatt Mosley Dinosaurs

Axel Merino The Football Field

SECOND GRADE

Cambria Harman Bracelets Page 12 3rd Place
Hudsyn Bell
Books !!!! Page 13 2nd Place
Arely Gonzales
The Garden Page 14 1st Place

THIRD GRADE

Aiden Akin I’m Worn Out Page 15 3rd Place
Madison Stem
Hattie Howard Spring Page 16 2nd Place

Fashion Makes Me Feel Page 17 1st Place

FOURTH GRADE

Aiden Cross An Act of Kindness Page 18 3rd Place
Page 19 3rd Place
Steven Livingston At the End of the Road Page 20 2nd Place

Olivia Lipsey My Favorite Sport Page 21 1st Place

Jess Pool Have You Heard the Sound of Silver?

FIFTH GRADE Dinner Page 22 3rd Place

Saryn Perez Before I Know Page 23 3rd Place

Riley Gonzalez I Rise Page 24 2nd Place

Phoenix Beasley Mind Works Page 25 1st Place

Daniel Droit

SIXTH GRADE Stand Out Page 26 3rd Place

Lizett Garcia The Wonderful Place Above Page 27 3rd Place
Keiana Davis
Dylan Morman Firefighter Page 28 3rd Place
Evelyn Phillips
Grayson Howard Ocean of Memories Page 29 2nd Place
Anna Hall
Trysten Edmonds Sensations of Spring Page 30 2nd Place
Gabriel Fajardo
Oliver Finney Dirt Page 31 2nd Place

The Rose Page 32 1st Place

Bread Page 33 1st Place

You Are Loved Page 34 1st Place

SEVENTH GRADE

Lexi Ledford Am I Good Enough Yet Page 35 3rd Place
Page 36 3rd Place
Avery Decker The Rain Woman Page 37 2nd Place
Page 38 2nd Place
Alyssa Wehring That Addictive Smile Page 39 1st Place

Tiffany Hedrick Connections

Jemimah Iliyasu A Cry in the Night

EIGHTH GRADE

Canon Gorman Per Aspera Ad Astra Page 40 3rd Place
Randall Rinehart
Carly Mauldin repetition, repetition, Repetition Page 41 3rd Place
Streit Smith
Smoke and Mirrors Page 42 2nd Place

Time Page 43 1st Place

NINTH GRADE

Nathaniel Callaway Seed of Sadness Page 44 3rd Place
J. Ford
Jaylen Mitchell Silence Page 45 2nd Place

Consumption Page 46 1st Place

TENTH GRADE

Caleb Williams Fishing Page 47 3rd Place
Gracie Martinson
Devon Jetton Triumph Page 48 3rd Place
Jessalynn Harris
Vitae Cyclum Page 49 2nd Place

Competitional Swim Page 50 1st Place

ELEVENTH GRADE

Benton Bryan Boy on a Scooter Page 51 3rd Place
Kayla Josey
Kelsie Marcantel Shoes Page 52 2nd Place

Through Glass Page 53 1st Place

TWELFTH GRADE

Jaelan Linville The Forgotten Page 54 1st Place

9

Lillian Johnson
Ms. McDonald & Ms. Bagley

Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

Curiosity

Interesting, exciting

Discover, explore, think

It makes my brain feel smarter

Wonder

First Grade Third Place

10
Wyatt Mosley

Ms. McDonald & Ms. Bagley

Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

Dinosaurs

Colossal, Scientific

Fearsome, Stomping, Munching

They are extinct, but I still love to learn about them

T-Rex

First Grade Second Place

11

Axel Merino
Mrs. McShurley & Mrs. Harwell

Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language - Nacogdoches ISD

The Football Field

Fans yelling “Can I have your autograph?”
Players warming up

The coach saying “it’s half time”
The excitement of the fans

The yumminess of the popcorn
The yumminess of the hotdogs
The cheese and pepperoni from the pizza
The smell of the hot dogs and pizza
The sides of the fans touching me in my seat

The ball because I catch it
I feel happy watching the Jaguars.

First Grade First Place

12
Cambria Harman
Ms. Mitchell

UTT Innovation Academy - Longview, TX

Bracelets

Bracelets,

Bracelets,

We can share

Braided like Rapunzel’s hair.

Second Grade Third Place

13

Hudsyn Bell
Ms. Mitchell

UTT Innovation Academy - Longview, TX

Books !!!!

Books
Books
I love books
Books are amazing
I read them every day.
Books even take me in a different place
They take me in a rainbow world
With unicorn too
I can’t wait to read a new one
Then it will take me too!

Second Grade Second Place

14
Arely Gonzales

Ms. McDonald & Ms. Bagley

Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

The Garden

The smell of fragrant sunflowers...smmmm

The taste of scrumptious sweet strawberries, as I feast on them like
I haven’t eaten in days. Mmmmmm

The feel of the spring wind coolly blowing...wooOOoohhhh

The sound of...thump...thump as apples fall into my basket

I see miniature roses blooming and growing in the ground

We had an enjoyable time outside in the garden

Second Grade First Place

15

Aiden Akin
Ms. McDonald & Ms. Bagley

Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

I’m Worn Out

I’ve been working so rigid
You just wouldn’t imagine
And I’m worn out.
There’s awfully miniature time
And so much to earn
And I’m worn out.
I’ve been sitting here holding the grass in place,
Pushing a leaf with the side of my head,
Eating the apples to see if they’re sweet.
Counting the toes on a centipede’s feet...

Third Grade Third Place

16
Madison Stem

Ms. McDonald & Ms. Bagley

Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

Spring

The lively sniff e of flowers.
The rain seems endless.
The way the birds chirp.
The wind, oh the wind.
The storms keep me up all night.
The fresh fruit and vegetables growing are delicious.
Spending time with the family going on outdoor adventures.
Now that’s a wonderful spring to me!

Third Grade Second Place

17

Hattie Howard

Ms. McDonald & Ms. Bagley

Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

Fashion Makes Me Feel

When I walk the carpet red, I have nothing to dread.
When I wear my yellow rain coat, I have so much hope.
When I put on my green shoes, I no longer have the blues.
When I see my blue sparkly dress, I can always say yes.
When I bought my purple hat, I wanted to have a long chat.
When I apply my pink lipstick, I can show you a magic trick.
When I see the big orange sun, I know my day is done.

Third Grade First Place

18
Aiden Cross
Mrs. Brown

Hudson PEP Elementary - Longview ISD

An Act of Kindness

A simple act of kindness may seem pretty small
But to me it’s about as big as a shopping mall
Now I know what you’re thinking, but let me explain
The huge things some kindness can change
Kindness can inspire a large change of heart
Then the world will grow together and never come apart
And with all the kindness going around
Every man, woman, and child will be safe all around.

Fourth Grade Third Place

19

Steven Livingston

Mrs. Brown

Hudson PEP Elementary - Longview ISD

At the End of the Road

One day, I was strolling by when I saw a person at the end of the road
I asked him why he was here but he simply said that he didn’t know.
So then, this bright, happy day took us on a walk in town
Then we went to the garden to gain fresh fruit from the ground.
After that we decided to stroll down the rocky street
Then we headed to a restaurant to eat some yummy meat.
It was nice to tag along so we went on a high hill
When that happened we saw a wonderful view of the mill.
My fellow friend wanted to go back to town so then we flew
We landed in the giant plant and we saw that it grew.
When we landed on the road we wanted to have more fun
So then we got up and we had to quickly run.
We decided to walk down the path that lead to “alleyway,”
We were tired when we got there so we just swayed and swayed.
At the end of our wonderful adventure I came to simply know
That you can make a friend when you reach the end of the road!

Fourth Grade Third Place

20
Olivia Lipsey
Ms. Dodge

Baker-Koonce Intermediate School - Carthage ISD

My Favorite Sport

Soccer is extremely fun and most of the time you just run.
Wait a second! I’m not done.
My favorite sport is soccer.

The ball is checkered white and black, and it kind of hurts when it hits your back.
If it hits you, it will bounce right back.
My favorite sport is soccer.

Try to kick the ball into the goal, and hope it doesn’t hit the pole.
Your team will scream, “You made a goal!”
My favorite sport is soccer.

If you lose, you won’t feel shame. You made a goal that game and everyone
cheered your name!

That’s my favorite sport...SOCCER!

Fourth Grade Second Place

21

Jess Pool
Ms. McDonald & Ms. Bagley

Northside Elementary - Henderson ISD

Have You Heard the
Sound of Silver?

Have you heard the sound of Silver?
A quarter in the streets
The machines working over head
The blades of a sharp knife
That’s the sound of silver

Have you heard the sound of silver?
The confidence of a man
The twinkle of a mother’s eyes
A dog tag of a fallen soldier
That’s the sound of silver

Have you heard the sound of silver?
A zipper on an everyday jacket
A 25th anniversary party
The moon at midnight
That’s the sound of silver

Have you heard the sound of silver?
The wealth of a common man
The sound of truth
A metallic trumpet’s song

That is the sound of Silver

Fourth Grade First Place

22
Saryn Perez

Ms. McDonald & Ms. Bagley

Northside Elementary - Henderson ISD

Dinner

I get there
When I go in I smell the extraordinary smell.
I know this dinner will be very swell.

When the waiter seats us and I order a nice and cold iced sweet tea.
I looked at the waiter’s name tag and it said David Lee.

There are so many outstanding foods on the menu, but I got just the one.
When we get done I’m probably going to weigh a ton!

I ordered a very appetizing sirloin steak cooked medium rare and a creamy
baked potato I can hardly bare.

While we wait my family and I eat some bread.
I get some smooth butter and I begin to spread.

I can hear the sound of the marvelous steak sizzling.
After I finish I get the lava cake with the chocolate drizzling.

I am so full I can rate my fullness a zero.

I love my step dad because he is my hunger hero.

Fifth Grade Third Place

23

Riley Gonzalez
Mrs. Boone

Hudson PEP Elementary - Longview ISD

Before I Know

They lift me up before I know I’m falling and
hold me close before I know I’m drifting
slowly away.

They let me go when they know I need to be
on my own. They guide me through life but

let me make my own decisions.

When I feel like I’m dangling I know if the
rope snaps they will catch me and help put

me back on my feet.

I may seem like my head is in the clouds but
they will make sure my feet are on the

ground. This love they have for me comes in
all different ways.

Fifth Grade Third Place

24
Phoenix Beasley
Mrs. Boone

Hudson PEP Elementary - Longview ISD

I Rise

I Rise from the sickness
I Rise from the pain
I Rise from the hatred
I Rise from the dead
I Rise from the bullies
I Rise from the grief
I Rise from the devil
I Rise from the mistakes

Fifth Grade Second Place

25

Daniel Droit

Ms. Craig

Northside Elementary - Henderson ISD

Mind Works

Math is the never ending gears that turn until time itself stops.

It is as simple as how a bird flies but as complicated as gravity’s existence.

The subject that binds us to sanity and yet drives us to madness since

Math IS everything.

Like a stain on our rug that completes the never ending design we need
it as much as we need a warm fire to protect us from the cold clutches
of death

And we’ll need it still

Fifth Grade First Place

26

Lizett Garcia
Mrs. Donham

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

Stand Out

Not everything is an imitation.
Think of something beautiful, magical, mystical.

Imagine something beyond your imagination.
Visualize something unique.

A long rainbow main,
Beautiful golden hooves,
Magical sparkling eyes.

One horn.

It is okay to be different.
Let everyone stare, be the one who stands out.
Be the bright unicorn standing on a dark horizon.

I’m a unicorn.

Sixth Grade Third Place

27

Keiana Davis

Ms. Taylor

Quitman Junior High - Quitman ISD

The Wonderful Place Above

The house of country
Gentlemen of the
Neighborhood
Form one escort
Of

Lady Mary’s carriage.

The fairest face in England
Sang to her a Song.

The lady, listening, felt a
Warm Drop Upon her cheek.

He saw tears sparkling
Upon Her Lashes.

He whispered,
“I, too, have

Been
A

Wanderer
Of that dear country

Of
Gold and Snow,” he cried.

Softly, blue sky of a
Lady’s eye of An Angel.

Ladies of France
Will not understand

I have spoken
Of

Heaven.

Sixth Grade Third Place

28

Dylan Morman
Mrs. Walton

Malakoff Middle School - Malakoff ISD

The Firefighter

Never give up,
Never give in,
Fight till you lose...
Or fight till you win,
Never let up,
Never let down,
Never let the frightened
See you frown, wield your weapons,
Conquer all fears,
Work till your sweat...
Replaces their tears,
Learn from your losses,
Savor your wins,
Prepare for the next one,
And battle again.

Sixth Grade Third Place

29

Evelyn Phillips
Mrs. Donham

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

Ocean of Memories

In the depths of the sea,
Unknown creatures swim by.
Although many are beautiful,
They all carry disease.

Dreadful thoughts being carried around.
Mementoes of expired joy drifts through.
In the blink of an eye,
The squid releases it’s ink.

Dark horrors fill the space between you and happiness.
You see a younger version of yourself;
Before the bags under your eyes grew dark,
Before the light in your once glowing irises went out.
Oh, how you envy her.

Now you’re alone.
Anxiety holds you in its strong grasp.
Shivers are sent down your spine as
Depression is injected into your bones coming from
Needles made of stress and insecurity.

But the ink will clear.
Your bones will reform so you can swim to shore
And build a castle for the ones you care about.

Just remember, that deep down in the dungeons,
Your worry is left untouched,
Swimming in an ocean of memories.

Sixth Grade Second Place

30

Grayson Howard
Ms. Chrisman

New Diana Middle School - New Diana ISD

Sensations of Spring

Sounds of spring are beautiful sounds.
We hear natural noises like
the pitter patter of the rain as it lands on the green grass,
the chirping of newborn blue jays as their mother returns to them with food,
and the joyful sound of children splashing around in puddles.

The sounds might be amazing,
but nothing will beat the wonderful, delicious smell of freshly baked apple pie,
or newly bloomed, beautiful roses and dandelions,
and even the fresh smell of dew in the morning lights.
The foods are splendid, but nothing can top the activities like,
baseball on a cool spring afternoon when you had just hit a homerun,
or cross-country in a loud stadium while over protective moms and sports loving
dads are cheering you on in the stands,
and even soccer on a large grassy field where everyone is screaming because
you just scored.

All of those are thrilling, but nothing beats spending time with family.
These times could be,
playing board games on a rainy day,
going on hikes up a mountain,
or just going on family bike rides.

Sixth Grade Second Place

31

Anna Hall

Ms. Parks

Bridgemark Center for Learning - Tyler, TX

Dirt

I am the dirt under the grass.
I wonder if I do it right.
I hear people saying it’s easy but it is not.
I see 100’s on kid’s papers and red marks on mine.
I want to be like everyone else.
I am the dirt under the grass.

I pretend I am like every other kid.
I feel happy when I get it right.
I touch my face and feel burning tears rolling down my cheeks.
I worry I will be like this for the rest of my life.
I cry when I think about my future.
I am the dirt under the grass.

I understand I’m different.
I say things I am not.
I dream of the day I will do it.
I try working hard at school.
I hope someday it will be as easy as 1,2,3.
I am the dirt under the grass.

Sixth Grade Second Place

32

Trysten Edmonds
Ms. England

Spring Hill Junior High - Spring Hill ISD

The Rose

You’re there every morning, glistening with dew.
You contain beauty in its purest form.
Your soil enriched by minerals.
Your petals like pinwheels, spinning in the wind.
You’re strong, like trees, yet you sway, like the leaves they carry.
You come in a multitude of colors,
Red, yellow, blue, purple, and more than I could ever count
The birds, the bees, the bugs, the trees!
All staring down at your beauty
You’re a handful of happiness,
Or a symbol of deep respect.
Life giving as water,
Life taking as fire,
Life spreading as flower, blowing petals through the wind
The grim Reaper’s touch defies you.
Due to the life and love, flowing through your stem
1 Corinthians 13:13
Faith,
Hope,
Rose,
But the greatest...
Is ROSE.

Sixth Grade First Place

33

Gabriel Fajardo

Mr. Newman

UT Tyler Innovation Academy - Longview, TX

Bread

Here I am
bundled up with others.

Here I am
at the very end of the line.

Here I am
seeing my friends getting picked up.

Here I am
seeing them getting ripped up bit by bit.

Here I am
Sitting in shock frozen in fear like a deer in the road.

Here I am
seeing one by one they’re getting feed to the thing in the water.

Here I am
held by a massive fist as I am ripped to pieces and thrown in the cold water

below.
Here I am
dead eaten by a big feathered creature and the parts that were not picked
sink below

Sixth Grade First Place

34

Oliver Finney
Ms. Petri

Bridgemark Center for Learning - Tyler, TX

You Are Loved

I was once something new,
Then again, something old.
I fell to the ground, then got back up again
Determined to be something good.

I bloomed and I grew and I turned into something
Not only good, but something that would make a difference.
Someone picked me up from the ground
And my purpose then I found.

I was a flower given to someone -
To someone that somebody loved.
And then their love grew into something great
And I knew I forever was loved.

Sixth Grade First Place

35

Lexi Ledford

Mrs. Egan

Cushing Junior High - Cushing ISD

Am I Good Enough Yet

Am I good enough yet,
As I skip a meal,

And instead go for a run.

Am I good enough yet,
While I put on my makeup,
As I’m crying in the mirror,
Because I’m not pretty enough.

Am I good enough yet,
I ask myself,

As I weigh myself in the bathroom,
While I compare how much I was the night before.

Am I good enough yet,
As I cry myself to sleep,
Because I’m gaining weight.

Am I good enough yet,
As I tell myself I am perfect the way I am,

While I eat my whole plate at dinner,
When I am finally happy with myself again.

Seventh Grade Third Place

36
Avery Decker
Ms. Johnson

Henderson Middle School - Henderson ISD

The Rain Woman

Drip, Drip, Drop.
The sky goes dark, the droplets let loose, it pours out like a woman crying

in the rain.
She’s never happy, she’s always gloomy, drip, drip, drop.
Royal blue flowing hair, tears roll down her pale rosy cheeks, her piercing

blue eyes, drip, drip drop.
Her heart is small and fragile, she knows no love, only enemies, she is

strong, she is smart, she is considered hopeless.
She is as graceful as a fairy, fierce like a tiger, she sets out to stun the

heavens, drip, drip, drop.
Everyday the depths of the darkness consume her inner innocents, she

never wanted to be this way, but they did.
But like a violet rose blooming in full glory, she shines, drip drip drop.

She is known as the Rain woman.

Seventh Grade Third Place

37

Alyssa Wehring

Ms. Newman

UT Tyler Innovation Academy - Tyler, TX

That Addictive Smile

That addictive smile on her face,
But that smile is a burden,
Red eyed Men yelling cat calls at that addictive smile,
The smile that lights up the room she walks into,
Is her burden because we all know what happens to girls with addictive smiles,
The cold blooded world will destroy that addictive smile,
And then wonder what happened to that astonishing smile,
That warmed the cold hearts who were scared to feel,
And brought her hope to this godforsaken world,
Then wonder why she frowns,
That ghastly frown now carved in her pure face,
Once full of life and purity,
Now tainted by this brutal world,
Her once bright, hopeful eyes,
Dead,
The life sucked out of them,
By a Red eyed Man,
By a Yellowed toothed Man,
A Rough handed Man
A Violent Man,
Her cries are now filling the night sky,
That was once filled with her laughter,
Tears of sorrow stain her face,
The tears of laughter gone forgotten like an old relic,
Forgotten by Man,
And Destroyed by Man,
Like all Beauty.

Seventh Grade Second Place

38

Tiffany Hedrick
Ms. Chrisman

New Diana Middle School - New Diana ISD

Connections

One, two, three, four...Inhale.
One, two, three, four...Exhale.
One, two, thr...

I don’t get it. I don’t get why people put so much time, into such little things.
A flower. Always crisp. Always bright. Always beautiful.
A tree. Always sturdy. Always tall. Always hard.
A bee. Always feared. Always innocent. Always small.
I don’t get why, people are so devoted into everything being same. At least
similar.

One, two, three, four...Inhale.
One, two, three, four...Exhale.
One, two, thr...

I get why, everything has a percentage of value to it. Removing it effects
other objects.
Flowers gone. half of the world is dead.
Trees gone. Half of this population is dead.
Bees gone. Half of all flowers are dead, resulting in trees being dead,
resulting into us, being dead.
I get it. Everything is the tiniest bit similar in order to make connections.

One, two, three, four...Inhale.
One, two, three, four...Exhale.
One, two, thr...

Seventh Grade Second Place

39

Jemimah Iliyasu
Mrs. Egan

Cushing Junior High - Cushing ISD

A Cry in the Night

Midnight
The clock strikes 12

Silence,
Then
A cry in the night
Gnashing of teeth
A sharp pain in the head
As a shiver goes down my spine
Then again,
Silence
Hunted for the rest of my life
Can anyone save me
The pain of the whole world
Compared to my pain are specks of dust
No one can save me from
The cry in the night
Help me.
Can anyone hear me?

Seventh Grade First Place

40

Canon Gorman
Mrs. Leppert

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

Per Aspera Ad Astra
(Through Hardships To The Stars)

Badges mark their pauldrons
Wild, untamed spirits they use to have

They carry their fallen brothers in their
HEAVY HEARTS

They are empire breakers
But as they stand encased in
Man Killing metal they feel like
BOYS

This could be the end for them
Their last shout into the
WIND

“This is the last time; this will end the war.”
It has taken to much for it not to

They said they would never leave again
Only to be put back into the meat grind of
WAR

Some call them Liberators, Fathers, Husbands, Brothers, Sons
But as they march toward their destination they feel like
KIDS

It is the tenth year of war and the twentieth of their
LIFE

Eighth Grade Third Place

41

Randall Rinehart

Ms. Newman

UT Tyler Innovation Academy - Longview, TX

repetition, repetition, Repetition

under the horizon the moon Goes, at sunset Wake from its repose.
the horizon Over from, sphere of fire bright Comes.
this event by life ever Maintained, the sky by colors vibrant Stained.
pushed now is the darkness Away, from the night is Born the day.
the animals and plants Awake, the warmth Feel of the sun’s grace.
a day new Begins, as night Ends.

in the sky Center lies the sun, the day now noon Halfway is done.
of the sun and moon the earth a Fulcrum, a perfect solar Equilibrium.
the day through is Halfway, the night here is Halfway.

from horizon moon Arrives, to its repose Go at sunrise.
the inferno orb down Sinks, into Enter its lifeless sleep.
the blue day sky is now Dark, the beauty of a canvas Stark.
one by one Come by the stars, suns of alien Planets far.
animals Sleep now and plants, of sunlight Hoping a glance.
of life the noise now quiets Down, No movement energetic around.

in the black sky Center lies the moon, the night now midnight Halfway is through.
sun and moon around earth in moon Unison, Halfway done waiting day for is everyone.
every creature slumbers as for light Wait, but we Must accept night to embrace day.

when later day Arrives to away chase night, things all once Again relish the light.
an endless Cycle fall into we, Paradox into all enter never see.

Eighth Grade Third Place

42

Carly Mauldin
Mrs. Leppert

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

Smoke and Mirrors

Sometimes I stay up a little too late

The city drifts off and dreams
While I peer into the inky pool
That is my living room
Doors and chairs floating in the still dark

The bathroom is an island
It’s yellow light spills onto cold tile
My feet find soft carpet
And the mirror shows me a face

There was a time
When this meant war
And my brain screamed all the nasty lies it likes to tell me
When there’s nothing left to contradict it

But tonight
I’ll say no
There’s no smoke
Just a mirror
And a girl who finally has it figured out

Sometimes I stay up a little too late
And I’m left with just myself
But now
For the first time in a while
I feel okay

Eighth Grade Second Place

43

Streit Smith
Ms. Newman

UT Tyler Innovation Academy - Longview, TX

Time

I feel a sudden rush of wind
Time is stuck - Earth doesn’t spin.
After just a moment, it begins again.
But it’s spinning in reverse.

The hour and minute on my clock
Are counting down instead of up.
I look outside to view the street,
People backtrack on their feet
And wake up instead of fall asleep.

Six year old Tim just turned five.
My grandmother came back to life
A widower just found his wife
And a dead man is healed with a knife

Someone took a flag off the moon
A caterpillar came out of a cocoon
The twin towers were rebuilt
A child cried before he spilt his milk.
And the tower of Pisa lost its tilt

But after the day’s work is done,
We realize it’s only begun.
We feel the need to rest our heads
So after breakfast we go to bed.

Eighth Grade First Place

44

Nathaniel Callaway
Mrs. Lowrance

Pineywoods Community Academy - Lufkin, TX

Seed of Sadness

When angry winds start to blow,
A sadness seed starts to grow,
And when it starts to rain doubt,
The sadness seed begins to sprout.

It starts growing like a weed,
And grows with the day of greed.
Unless the sun of bad goes out,
The weed will cause the inner world a drought.

So pull the weed of sadness,
And remove the watering cup of madness,
So when the sun of good begins to shine,

The inner world will be devine.

Ninth Grade Third Place

45

J. Ford

Silence

As the rain pours down, my heart aches.
Troubles run through my mind as I get stabbed with a stake.

People walk past me as if I am invisible.
Waiting for someone to notice, yet I’m ignored and imprisoned just like a criminal.

Silence.
At times I wonder if I’m all the way there.
Wishing I was high so I wouldn’t have to worry about who cares.

All while the freshman class stares.
Silence.

I ride the bus home and stare through the foggy window.
Thinking of the things I wish I could be though.
Hearing the voices they tell me it’s almost over.

So I’ll just sit and wonder when that will be, listening to the voices as they carry me.
Silence.

Ninth Grade Second Place

46
Jaylen Mitchell
Mrs. Egan

Cushing High School - Cushing ISD

Consumption

I walk on eggshells
Shattered dreams
The scent of ignorance caresses my body
And I let it consume me,
Fear digs into the earth I call my soul
This consumption defines me

Not me
But what they have made me become

Ninth Grade First Place

47

Caleb Williams

Ms. Guerrero

Woden High School - Woden ISD

Fishing

As the night creeps away, the crisp morning Sunlights greets the tops of
the oaks on a bluebird

Sky. Lake water begins to sparkle in the distance as The soft morning
breeze arrives.

Bass boats roar of engines interrupts the morning chirps of small birds in the
treetops.

I walk out on the dock and gaze off in the distance And soak up the goodness
of freedom.

I soon grab my fishing rod and buzz out cast past a Patch of hydrilla floating
carelessly.

I reel in slow with my rod going up and down in an Erratic motion to entice the
hungry fish.

Soon after, a sudden pull of the line gives me a Thought of a hookset...as I
did imply the thought.

He drags out my line fiercely as I also reeled in Fiercely. I reel, and reel, and
reel until his bucket

Head shakes the surface of the water. All the Surrounding minnows flee for
they know they very

Well could be consumed by this beast of a fish.
I slowly pull him out of the water and give God Glory for this amazing catch.

I then release him
Back into the majestic, relaxing, calming lake.

Tenth Grade Third Place

48

Gracie Martinson
Ms. Roland

Tenaha High School - Tenaha ISD

Triumph

Don’t be discouraged.
Don’t lose hope.
For the journey is greater than the struggle,
And the struggle strengthens the soul.
For the soul builds perseverance,
And perseverance builds the fighter in us.

It doesn’t matter where you came from
Or how deep your roots run;
The only thing that matters is where you’re headed
And how you choose to nourish your roots.

It doesn’t matter what obstacles stand in your way
Or what your peers have to say;
It only matters how you plan to soar through those obstacles
And stand your ground

Don’t be discouraged.
Don’t lose hope.
For the triumph is worth the glory.

Tenth Grade Third Place

49

Devon Jetton
Mr. Brown

Harmony High School - Harmony ISD

Vitae Cyclum

A sense of suspense rolls off the walls.
Thick and intense are the crimson bird’s calls.
Into the skies, the blood-red bird flies,
To rise from her grave and run from demise.
She lives in the forest, crooked and dead.
The gloomy bird clinches the hard fist of dread.
Upon the winds rolls hints of death and despair
As the stench of decay floods through the air.
Pestilence pulls the bird down from her branch.
She looks deep in Death’s eyes - falls into a trance.
As the bird snatches one last breath from the skies,
Her eyes glaze over as she lays over and dies.
The wrath of the wicked, demonic devourer, and
The cool breath of Death paves way to the flower.

A rose-red flower sprouts from deep roots of agony
And soon springs a canopy of life and vitality.
Life fills the fields full of fruits ever fortunate,
Honeysuckles galore, and apples so corpulent.
A forest of intricate, intimate passion
Risen from impotent, virulent fashion.
Fauna floods forests, seas, and the skies,
And flora colors countries as evergreen empires rise.
Life thrives in ignorance of any worry or troubles
That their world may end in shambles, rubble, and stumbles.
Life flows with grace, so fluid and effortless.
Choices made easy, with no need for preference.
Animals thrive and live as they please,
But across oceans and seas, scarlet fires spread like disease.

Tenth Grade Second Place

50

Jessalynn Harris
Mrs. Penny

Lindale High School - Lindale ISD

Competitional Swim

The tan concrete slaps against her feet.
Her breath leaves vaporous puffs,
as frigid air stings her lungs.
The turquoise water almost bluer than her determined eyes.

A sudden dive sends her into a world where she can fly.
Her powerful strokes,
pushes her past the component.
Her big broad shoulders create a trail.

Legs following in perfect long length form.
As her feet create a wave.
Shivers create a wave of emotion,
especially holding that first place metal.

Tenth Grade First Place