2017 Anthology Book

PUBLISHED BY

YOUNG AUDIENCES OF NORTHEAST TEXAS
TYLER, TX

© 2017, 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
2017 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 2017.

2 017 Poetry in Scho ols Foreword

Poetry in Schools began over thirty 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 2016 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: Melissa
DeCarlo, Ann Faulkner, Bill Faulkner, Rica Garcia, Ed Garcia, Joyce McGee,
Adrianne Pamplin, Justin Robinson, and Carol Thompson. Finally, my thanks to
Young Audiences of Northeast Texas, Region 7 ESC, County Line Magazine
and Rusk County Poetry Society for the wonderful synergy that makes it
possible to continue the legacy of Poetry in Schools!

Anne McCrady

InSpiritry

List of Poems

FIRST GRADE Page 9 3rd Place
Page 10 2nd Place
Katelyn Jackson Church Festival Page 11 1st Place
Joseph Morales Bowling Ball
Alondra Tejada Books 3rd Place
2nd Place
SECOND GRADE 1st Place

Wren Goode Lasagna Page 12 3rd Place
Page 13 2nd Place
Harrison Chenault I’m Going on a Toad Hunt Page 14 1st Place

Destinee Chapman The Joy at Disney World Resorts 3rd Place
3rd Place
THIRD GRADE 2nd Place
2nd Place
Aubrey Elledge Floating Feathers Page 15 1st Place
Mady Wilson Page 16
Josue Morones Night Sky Page 17 3rd Place
3rd Place
A Family’s Love 2nd Place
2nd Place
FOURTH GRADE 1st Place

Caiden Stafford The Hunt Page 18 3rd Place
Daniel Kendall 3rd Place
Judith Martinez SPIDER Page 19 2nd Place
Amaris Cerda 2nd Place
David Brown My Mexican Ranch - The Best Place to Be Page 20 1st Place
1st Place
I Am Smart and Imaginative Page 21

The Wild Life Page 22

FIFTH GRADE

Morgan Doerge Where I Am From Page 23
Anna Hall Dyslexia Page 24
Emma Hart People Names Page 25
Emily Cavazos Most of my Life Page 26
Korian Brown The Painting Page 27

SIXTH GRADE

Olivia Blundell 1st Grade: Day 1 Page 28
Merlin Cooper Her Eyes Page 29
Grace Baker A Stormy Life Page 30
Victoria Rodriguez Sky Page 31
Peyton Clifton Ode to Peyton’s Football Page 32
Kate Konrady Hope of the People Page 33

List of Poems

SEVENTH GRADE

Abby Hattaway The Flowers Page 34 3rd Place
Page 35 2nd Place
Dalton Leutwyler Behind My Eyes Page 36 2nd Place
Page 37 2nd Place
Abby Reeves Galaxy Page 38 2nd Place
Page 39 1st Place
Ryan Thomas Beddingfield The Enemy
Page 40 3rd Place
TJ Spencer Untitled Page 41 3rd Place
Page 42 2nd Place
Carly Mauldin I Am Not the Person You See Page 43 2nd Place
Page 44 1st Place
EIGHTH GRADE Page 45 1st Place

Cerenity Exline Bo Bates Page 46 3rd Place
Zachery Newman Page 47 3rd Place
Madeline McCrory Hunting Page 48 2nd Place
Ciaira Guyton Page 49 1st Place
Brittany Sanches The Woods
Page 50 3rd Place
Jaylen Mitchell Clone Page 51 2nd Place
Page 52 1st Place
I Am
Page 53 3rd Place
Hurricane Page 54 3rd Place
Page 55 2nd Place
NINTH GRADE Page 56 2nd Place
Page 57 1st Place
Gracie Martinson It’s Too Late
Joseph Ramirez All Bright Under the Sun Page 58 1st Place
Skylar Hickman The Soft Blow of Wind
Madelynn Crow The Life of Mom

TENTH GRADE

Gabby Cupp What Love Means
Sarah Koop Music is like the Wind
Mikel Feliciano First World Problems

ELEVENTH GRADE

Jamie James The Wind Blows
Jacob Watson The Journey
Korbin Davis The Language of the Soul
Dawson Cunha River in the Distance
Malis Dachelet Sunflower

TWELFTH GRADE

Claire Simmons It’s About Love

9

Katelyn Jackson
Ms. McShurley & Ms. Harwell

Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language - Nacogdoches ISD

Church Festival

The struggles of climbing the rock wall
Food booths

Music playing in the background
Somebody singing

The rough carpet on my seat
The vibrating that makes me shake

Stinky feet…P. U.!
Stinky socks…P.U.!
Cold popsicles… yummy!
The great nachos
I feel like God loves me

First Grade Third Place

10

Joseph Morales
Mrs. McQuiston & Mrs. Bagley
Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

Bowling Ball

A bowling ball looks like a sphere and is a round ball going down the lane.
The sound of my bowling ball is Boom, bong, slam.
Bowling balls have an oily smell.
Bowling balls taste like gritty dirt and sand.
Bowling balls feel like a smooth round rock.
I hope I get to go bowling!

First Grade Second Place

11

Alondra Tejada
Ms. McShurley & Ms. Harwell

Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language – Nacogdoches ISD

Books

Letters that are BIG
Pages that are really white
Pages that turn back and forth
The cover of the hard book

The soft pages
The new book smell
I feel joyful with books

First Grade First Place

12

Wren Goode
Mrs. McQuiston & Mrs. Bagley
Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

Lasagna

Lasagna looks like a pan of delicious warm noodles
Lasagna sounds like popcorn popping as it bakes in the oven
Lasagna smells like an Italian wind
Lasagna tastes as yummy honey
Lasagna makes me feel warm and loved inside
Lasagna is my favorite food

Second Grade Third Place

13

Harrison Chenault
Mrs. McQuiston & Mrs. Bagley
Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

I’m Going on a Toad Hunt

I’m going on a toad hunt to hunt down all the toads
Because snakes will die of hunger and monkeys eat those
The Cheetahs eat moneys and I guess that’s good
Lions eat cheetahs, knock on wood
Bears eat lions but there won’t be any there!
I’m going on a toad hunt because I’m afraid of bears.

Second Grade Second Place

14

Destinee Chapman
Ms. McShurley & Ms. Harwell

Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language – Nacogdoches ISD

The Joy at Disney World Resorts

The wonderful fantasy castle catching my eyes.
My pretty hotel room with sunlight.

The loud fireworks popping in my ears.
Beautiful music when we’re dancing.
The lovely pool water on my body.
My mom snuggling with me in bed.
The tasty wonderful breakfast.
The delicious, yummy dinner.
The good dessert.
The yummy sides with my main meal
I feel the joy at Disney World

Second Grade First Place

15

Aubrey Elledge
Mrs. McQuiston & Mrs. Bagley
Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

Floating Feathers

Feathers are as light as paper
They can be white, black, brown, or even gray
They were used for pens back in the day
Some are light like the sunshine in May
Some are dark like midnight on the bay
One is not like any other, there are so many different colors
Have you ever seen a feather from way up high
I wish I were a feather floating high in the sky.

Third Grade Third Place

16

Mady Wilson
Mrs. McQuiston & Mrs. Bagley
Wylie Elementary - Henderson ISD

Night Sky

Oh the beautiful night sky
So smooth and silky
it looks like a soft velvety blanket
Ahh, that sweet smell
Wooo what a wonderful whirly windy night
The roots of the night sky run deep in the heart
Oh the beautiful night sky
Woa the brightly burning big stars
The fluffy gray balls of clouds cover the gorgeous
night atmosphere like a beautiful whirly relaxing
pillow

Third Grade Second Place

17

Josue Morones
Ms. McShurley & Ms. Harwell

Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language – Nacogdoches ISD

A Family’s Love

My mom and dad’s warming smile that is brighter than the sun.
My mom, dad, brother, sister and I
Sitting around the dinner table

The laughter of my family when I tell a joke
My mom asking, “How was your day?” at the dinner table

The cozy hugs and snuggles my family gives me
My mom and dad kissing me goodbye as I walk to school

The smells of BBQ my dad is making
The perfume my mom is putting on before church
A cold glass of lemonade my dad makes with my brother splashing it on my face
The sweet ice cream from Marble Slab Creamery on the weekend.

I feel like the most important kid EVER!

Third Grade First Place

18

Caiden Stafford
Mrs. McCaw

Northside Intermediate School - Henderson ISD

The Hunt

It was a shady day, a very shady day.
As we went down the dirt road
We could hear her snorting,
Big, furry, round, and mean.
Rattling like maracas
The hog snorting
A gunshot
Pop!

Silence
The job was done.

Fourth Grade Third Place

19

Daniel Kendall
Mrs. Clifton

Explorers Homeschool Co-op - Henderson, TX

SPIDER

agile, venomous
spinning, webbing, jumping

eight-legged terror
Arachnid

Fourth Grade Third Place

20

Judith Martinez
Ms. McShurley & Ms. Harwell

Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language – Nacogdoches ISD

My Mexican Ranch -
The Best Place to Be

The flowers blooming on every tree
Water flowing down the steep, rocky hill

Chicks peeping around me
Piglets going “oink, oink” in their cage

The soft fur of the sheep
My grandma’s warm hugs
The amazing smell of the flowers
The yummy burritos my grandma makes
Refreshing cold homemade horchata
There is no place I’d rather be.

Fourth Grade Second Place

21

Amaris Cerda
Mrs. McQuiston & Mrs. Bagley
Northside Elementary - Henderson ISD

I Am Smart and Imaginative

I am smart and imaginative
I wonder how nature feels about us
I hear animals chittering and chattering around
I see the never ending battle between humans and nature
I desire peace between the smart humans and frolicking animals
I am smart and imaginative
I pretend I’m an artist that makes paint come to life
I feel the smooth paper moving the images
I touch the paint as it colors me inside
I worry about the future
I cry when left inside the darkness
I am smart and imaginative
I understand how small things can change lives
I say imagination is the key to anything
I dream the seemingly impossible
I try to make things right
I hope for the bad to turn good again
I am smart and imaginative

Fourth Grade Second Place

22

David Brown
Ms. McShurley & Ms. Harwell

Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language – Nacogdoches ISD

The Wild Life

Huge trees standing tall above me as if Mount Everest was right in front of me
Little bugs and centipedes on the ground right next to me

Birds singing a lovely tune up in the trees like an orchestra lady at a concert
Me crunching on leaves while I’m walking through the woods

The rough dirt on my hands when I trip over an average size rock
Dewy plants on my legs
The very nasty, smelly mud

I’m living the life of the wild.

Fourth Grade First Place

23

Morgan Doerge
Mrs. McQuiston & Mrs. Bagley
Northside Intermediate School - Henderson ISD

Where I Am From

I’m from hog whips from Sullivan’s
And the showbox
I’m from the backroads
I’m from boots and pearls
And from Stock Show Girls
I’m from the woods,
The grass burs
I’m from the Christmas Tree farm
From dirt, from Momma and Daddy
I’m from the unorganization
And hometown hicks
From burning daylight
And taking on more responsibilities
I’m from forgiveness
And Everlasting life
That’s where I’m from

Fifth Grade Third Place

24

Anna Hall
Mrs. McGaughran
Bridgemark Center for Learning - Tyler, TX

Dyslexia

I am Dyslexic
I wonder if I can
I hear “you aren’t trying” and “try harder”  
I see jumbled up letters on my page  
I want to read like the other kids
I am Dyslexic

I pretend I can
I feel I can’t
I touch my head and wonder if I still have a brain
I worry I’m not gonna ever read
I cry when I feel dumb  
I am Dyslexic

I understand I learn differently
I say I can do it
I dream I read like a pro
I try thinking of things I can do when I feel frustrated
I hope I go to a good college
I am Dyslexic

Fifth Grade Third Place

25

Emma Hart
Mrs. Konvalin
Hudson PEP Elementary - Longview ISD

People Names

We have Calcium in our bones,
Iron in our veins,
Carbon in our souls,
And
Nitrogen in our brains,
93% percent Stardust,
With
Souls made of flames,
We’re all just stars with weird
“People names”

Fifth Grade Second Place

26

Emily Cavazos
Mrs. Konvalin
Hudson PEP Elementary - Longview ISD

Most of my Life

Her eyes,
Like a deep
Pool of love
That I can’t go in
Because I won’t pay attention
To how far down
I’m sinking
Her hands,
Like a warm blanket,
That that keeps the cold out
Yet lets the warmth in
That keeps the dark out
Yet lets the light in,
Whenever they touch me
Her voice,
A soft melody
That I hear daily
To comfort me during
Hard times
One that’s music
To my ears
Her,
A strong woman
Standing tall above me
I hope to be just like her,
Someday.
I love her very much
She is the most of my life.

Fifth Grade Second Place

27

Korian Brown
Mrs. Boone
Hudson PEP Elementary - Longview ISD

The Painting

One clean sheet of paper, and a little paint brush
Take my time, take my time, no need to rush
Brush to water, then to paint
Not too much pressure, just a little stain
Stroke up, stroke down, then one long glide

Brush with a smooth, slow rhythm, just let it slide
Stand back and observe, adjust, adjust

Perfection is not a necessity, but creativity is a must
Now I’m in the zone, I feel so free

Painting is the only thing that make me feel like me
One sheet of paper, now projecting my imagination

I’m very, very pleased with my new creation.

Fifth Grade First Place

28

Olivia Blundell
Mrs. Miller

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

1st Grade: Day 1

The color leaves your face.
Why are you so scared of this place?

You really shouldn’t worry.
You’re gonna be late unless you hurry.
You creep in through the front door,
And you start to gain your confidence back a little more.

You start walking to your first class.
Children running around all that glass.

Is that Shelly from last year?
People are talking as you try to hear.

The principal walks into the room.
Then that instant you know you are in doom.

You say hello to your fellow peers,
and say goodbye to all your fears.
WHOOSH! There goes a paper plane,
and you have to say no to Shane.

Children are like a bow.
They need to be flexed. Don’t you know?

You are about to start the day,
As a kid comes your way.

She asks if you are new here.
Then you reply “Yes dear”.

Now that the announcements have been made,
It is time to start teaching the first grade.

Sixth Grade Third Place

29

Merlin Cooper
Ms. Abernethy-Duffin
Cushing Junior High School - Cushing ISD

Her Eyes

Her eyes bright as the moon
On a dark night. As beautiful as a spring day
or on a starry night without a moon in sight.
Big brown eyes like a mighty tree standing tall in the forest
But can’t see the one who loves here until he comes and tells

her how he feels about her.
Until then, let her eyes shine so bright.

For now and ever.

Sixth Grade Third Place

30

Grace Baker
Ms. Parks

Bridgemark Center for Learning - Tyler, TX

A Stormy Life

I am the grass blowing in the rough storm.
I wonder if God is really around me in bad times.
I hear yelling in my ears.
I see kicking in front of my face.
I want to have a peaceful and wonderful life.
I am the grass blowing in the rough storm.

I pretend I have a perfect life.
I feel upset when I feel left out in my family.
I touch the trembling people’s hands.
I worry if I’m the only kid that has had a rough life.
I cry when I remember my birth mom.
I am the grass in the rough storm.

I understand that I act like I’m all that.
I say words I’m really not.
I dream that I die at school.
I try to make my mother smile.  
I hope that I will do good in school.  
I am the grass in the rough storm.

Sixth Grade Second Place

31

Victoria Rodriguez
Mrs. Clifton

Explorers Homeschool Co-op - Henderson, TX

Sky

Blue
Night
Thick
Rain
Beautiful, wet clouds quietly flying
Sky

Sixth Grade Second Place

32

Peyton Clifton
Mrs. Clifton
Explorers Homeschool Co-op - Henderson, TX

Ode to Peyton’s Football

It waits outside in a red tub
A bit worn
Clifton printed on the band
An air-born missile
Spiraling in and out of his hands
Playing with Daddy after work
He wants to be like Tom Brady
It is tiring
Making the ball go whistle, slap, pow and thump

At nine-thirty
He has showered
Eaten, brushed his teeth
And gone to bed
Thinking, falling asleep
His ball
An air-born missile
Its fuse burnt out
Is in the red tub

Sixth Grade First Place

33

Kate Konrady
Ms. McCreary & Ms. Newman

Trinity School of Texas and UT Tyler Innovation Academy -
Longview, TX

Hope of the People

Life and all its aspects
Surround us and influence others.
Give us meaning and spirit
Taken away? Nothing matters anymore.
So let it thrive and become us.
The feelings blossom
Life flowers bursting from the ground.

Beauty, afterwards, is all you can see.
Colors explode, lights dance.
Lift up your hands and decide your fate.
Let it swirl in the wind
Full of hope and compassion
Taking flight in the sky
Clear and blue, pondering what happened.

Then, after that, Happiness can take its hand
And make peace with Death.
Letting us understand.
The Sun and Moon are equal, but different,
Like the rest of the world.

Think, fall silent, and be content.
Because tomorrow is another day
One that will challenge you.
Time after time, once again.

Sixth Grade First Place

34

Abby Hattaway
Mrs. Williams

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

The Flowers

Oh dandelion, oh dandelion,
How you swing in the wind.
You’re the prettiest thing in mankind
Besides the sun coming over the horizon.

Oh rose, oh rose,
Your beautiful, majestic, petals.
Butterflies and stinging nettles,
My love for you tenderly grows.

Oh sunflower, oh sunflower,
How your speckly seeds grow to my heart.
It’s sweet that you and the sun never look apart.
Your gracious shade of color glistens every hour.

Oh daisy, oh daisy,
Your beauty will never perish.
So I will forever cherish,
How much you look like heaven, it’s crazy.

Oh Indian paintbrush, oh Indian paintbrush,
Your colors go together,
More than me and my twin brother.
And more compassionate than any of my crushes.

Seventh Grade Third Place

35

Dalton Leutwyler
Mrs. Egan

Cushing Junior High School - Cushing ISD

Behind My Eyes

Behind my eyes you may not see it
But there is
Hate
Anger
Sadness
Behind my eyes I dig through my thoughts
But for some reason
I just can’t find it
Behind my eyes there is darkness
My soul is so dark and depressed
And in my heart there is a big black hole
I search and search but I just can’t find the light
Behind my eyes I see it
There is a glimmer of light
I have to run to it
Behind my eyes I run to the light
Darkness tries to grab me every chance they get
Then right before the light I see the greatest darkness behind
my eyes
My mother’s death
I see myself at the age of five
I see her in the car lying down dead
As I’m in the back afraid with barely a scratch
Behind my eyes I try to fight it
I cry and cry I just can’t beat it
I will never be able to enter the light

Seventh Grade Third Place

36

Abby Reeves
Mrs. Egan

Cushing Junior High School - Cushing ISD

Galaxy

Billions of people
Wrapped around technology and celebrities
What we don’t see is
We are 1 of the only living things
We are on a floating rock
In the nothingness we call space
Spinning around a ball of fire
Spinning around a prison
So dense nothing can escape not even light
Yet we are so wrapped in our own ways
To notice
Too wrapped up
To think past
Little green things with big eyes and head

Seventh Grade Second Place

37

Ryan Thomas Beddingfield
Mrs. Williams

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

The Enemy

Bullets whizzed past me at high speed
I peeked out from cover and saw the target
He also saw me
Before he could shoot
I ran back to cover
Then I saw it
The extraction
A huge van
Painted in rust
I heard the target creeping around the corner
Before he saw me I shot
Five loud thuds against his body
I walked over to him and said “Good Game”
He said the same back
We both laughed as we were out of ammo
I headed over to the table and refilled
Then headed back onto the field

Seventh Grade Second Place

38
TJ Spencer
Mrs. Egan

Cushing Junior High School - Cushing ISD

Untitled

Roses are red

Mud is brown

Country music up

Tailgate down

Seventh Grade Second Place

39

Carly Mauldin
Ms. Mann

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

I Am Not the Person You See

You think you know me
But we are strangers
Because I am not the person you see

I am not a stereotype
Or the mask I wear

I am my past
The places I’ve been
And all the people I’ve met

I am the books I’ve read
The movies I’ve seen
The music pouring through my earbuds

I am my midnight thoughts
And all the things I believe in

You’ll never know me
And I’ll never know you
Because we aren’t made of particles

We are made of moments

Seventh Grade First Place

40

Cerenity Exline
Ms. Leppert

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

Bo Bates

I came into the office
My father spoke the
Words I cannot bear
“Bo was in a wreck
Bo is gone.”
Bo is gone.
The pain rips me apart
It was like losing a brother
Now a brother in my heart
Bo is gone.
The pain swells up inside
I cannot hold it in anymore
He was always by my side
Bo is gone.
The pain continues to spread
Like an unstoppable virus
But I keep it all in my head
Bo is gone
My father spoke the
Words I cannot bear,
“Bo was in a wreck
Bo is gone”

Eighth Grade Third Place

41

Zachery Newman
Ms. Abernethy-Duffin
Cushing Junior High School - Cushing ISD

Hunting

Hunting is my thing
I like it more than I like to sing.
Whether its deer, hogs, bears, rabbits, squirrels, dove, or ducks,
I sure like trying my luck.  
It makes me feel like a man.  
I am a big fan.

Eighth Grade Third Place

42

Madeline McCrory
Ms. Leppert

Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

The Woods

The woods whisper to me in the night
Stories, they tell, of life and death,
Beauty, Pain.

The woods hint at more than we could ever imagine.
A world full of species upon species,
Each life with their own story,
From the tiniest creature to the largest beast,
From the smallest weed to the most beautiful tree.

The woods depict an amazing picture.
Complete with all the charm and mystery
one could hope for.
Finished with all the joy and sorrow
that even the best artist could never paint.

The woods are overflowing with stories.
You can chop down the trees.
You can hunt out the animals.
But you will not take their stories,
For the woods are a book that will never be burned.

Eighth Grade Second Place

43

Ciaira Guyton
Ms. Leppert
Kilgore Middle School - Kilgore ISD

Clone

You don’t look like them.
You don’t have what they have.
You don’t talk to the same people.
You don’t have their personalities

so you change.

You strip yourself bare of every flaw you come across
to be like them.

You lowly slice away your external being,
to be like them.

The need to be the same spreads inside of you like a wildfire,
burning everything in its path.

But at the end of the day,
you look at the unknown creature staring back at you,

and you realize that it’s too late to change.
Too late.

Eighth Grade Second Place

44

Brittany Sanches
Ms. Abernethy-Duffin
Cushing Junior High School - Cushing ISD

I Am

I’m the sound of screeching tires on the road,
The animal I resemble is a small mouse
Running from an owl,
Except with me I’m running from life,
I’m the song that’s trying to be made,
But can’t find the right lyrics,
I’m a big fat ugly zero,

That wants to be a one but can’t get  there,
I am the banged up car in the junk yard,
I’m the messed up couch
That the white fat girl sat on  and broke ,
I’m the first piece of bread,

That everyone touches but never really wants
I’m the squeaky clarinet,

I’m the place where there is nothing but graffiti and broken
glass,

I’m the flower that is beautiful from afar
But when you get close you see it’s ugly,

I’m the tree that’s getting set on fire,
I’m afraid of tomorrows,

Behind my eyes I’m hiding this great big,
War…

Eighth Grade First Place

45

Jaylen Mitchell
Ms. Abernethy-Duffin
Cushing Junior High School - Cushing ISD

Hurricane

I’m a hurricane
I don’t belong to a city
I don’t belong to any man
I am a wanderer,
A one night stand
Here I stand alone
Erasing everything in my path,
If you look into my eye you will see my past
You will see serenity from the disaster I have caused
I am a hurricane; master of destruction;
Beautiful in many eyes but a history of pain

Eighth Grade First Place

46

Gracie Martinson
Ms. Wiist

Tenaha High School - Tenaha ISD

It’s Too Late

She’s blind…
She can’t see the world plunging beneath her,

The Earth caving in.
She’s deaf…

She can’t hear the world warning her,
Screaming to stay back.
She’s mute…

She can’t tell them that she doesn’t know what’s going on,
That she’s confused.
They’re blind…

They can’t see her world plunging beneath her,
The Earth caving in.
They’re deaf…

They can’t hear her cries,
Screaming for help.
They’re mute…

They can’t tell her that everything will be okay,
Because it’s too late …

Ninth Grade Third Place

47

Joseph Ramirez
Dr. Guerrero
Woden High School - Woden ISD

All Bright Under the Sun

All bright under the rain
so glowing under the spirit’s
I spot sinning claws on the flock
Dig it! The boy must continue

All mournful in the world
I saw flying goats against the land
Be aware! The night will come as fast as light

All bright under the rain
I walk with scary disasters under the trees
Tighten up your shoes! The boy must continue

darkening hungry
where the light comes from

a trace of sadness
With what memories

the witness
come singing
remembering old times

Ninth Grade Third Place

48

Skylar Hickman
Dr. Guerrero
Woden High School - Woden ISD

The Soft Blow of Wind

The soft blow of the wind,
Flows free  through my hair,

I’m going to Big Bend.
The rock under my feet,
The sun burning my skin,

Soft with light,
It’s beginning to turn night,

And as the sun falls,
I get a chill feel,

I have to go now, my parent calls,
But there is one flaw,
If I go to their call,

I’ll never see the mountain standing tall,
I see it now and that is all

Ninth Grade Second Place

49

Madelynn Crow
Mrs. Tokoph

Bridgemark Center for Learning - Tyler, TX

The Life of Mom

Shrieking sound of tears are
Heard from down the hall;
I jump out of bed with a slump;
Searching for the screaming
When the noise ends and
I fall back in bed, I hear

The rage of the alarm,
Ringing somewhere.

Up again I rush to the kitchen
To flip on the stove and
Prepare the feast

With a sizzle of bacon and pop, pop of grease;
One by one, foot by foot are heard;

Coming to attack the fresh, fried bacon.
By the time six tummies are full;

Here comes another, larger than before;
It shakes and scuffles,

Making all types of sounds;
It wants breakfast; it needs it now!

When breakfast is finished,
Just the first meal of the day.
I don’t know how I do this each day?

But I know in my heart;
That there is no trade for

Love or for passion,
That a family can bring.

Ninth Grade First Place

50

Gabby Cupp
Mrs. Ware

Elysian Fields High School - Elysian Fields ISD

What Love Means

You see her around,
You think she’s hot,
You do not know,
She thinks she is not.
You smell her hair,
You say, “You smell good,”
You don’t know,
What she silently wishes you understood.
You touch her hand,
You think you’re in love,
You do not know,
She’s never been loved.
She says to you,
“Why can’t you see?
I hate myself,
And I can’t comprehend.
Why do you love me?”
You say,
“Why can’t you tell,
You are beautiful,
To everyone?”
You say, “I love you,
Do you love me?”
She says,
“I don’t know,
What does love mean?”

Tenth Grade Third Place