Georgia Writers Museum recently completed its first poetry contest, open to students in 6th through 8th grades (public, private, and homeschooled) in Putnam and Morgan counties.
Students submitted poetry centered around nature in honor of Earth Day, with winning submissions judged by educators, professional authors, writers’ guild members, and volunteers with a passion for literature and composition.
First Place: “I Am The Ocean” by Liana I am not just water. I am weight. I am memory, churned in tides and pulled by the ache of the moon.
You call me blue, but I am every shade of sorrow.
I hold the tears of glaciers, the songs of whales fading like forgotten lullabies.
I crash because I feel too much.
My rage wears cliffs to dust, yet even my fury feeds life. What destroys can also create.
You build walls to keep me out, plastic skin and oil veins — but I remember your touch when it was reverent.
When your feet sank into my shore like a promise, not a threat. I hold the heat you give off without asking, and still, you wonder why I rise.
You fear my storms, but I learned them from you. Still, I cradle your coasts. Still, I offer salt to your wounds.
Still, I breathe out half your air and ask nothing but mercy. I am not drowning — I am speaking. Listen.
Second Place: “A Morning Far Away” by Tayla The sun rays hit the mountain They come down like a fountain Waking up the world we know Ready for the world to go The birds start singing Like a bell ringing Waking up this sleepy town Getting everyone out of their gowns Now you hear them start to chatter Like the rest of the world doesn’t matter You can hear the whales in the distance And the birds are still full of persistence Now this little town is awake What adventures are we going to take?
Third Place: “The Earth is Dying” by Maggie The Earth is dying, that’s really nice It might sound made up, but take my advice Climate change is real And it’s not a good deal. The trees are dying And people are trying To build more factories But one day, we’ll be on our knees Gasping for air, due to lack of oxygen-producing trees One day your kids will be asking “What were trees like?” You’ll remember they’re extinct You’ll wonder if you should’ve stopped to think “What will life be like in ten years?”
Before causing a world that is full of tears Why won’t people stop and wait They are causing a terrible fate The planet will get warmer It will never return to its glory former I hope you’re happy with the decisions you’ve made Your carbon emissions are making Earth’s beauty fade
Honorable Mention: “A Warning to All” by Mckynna
The Earth’s beauty is slowly fading A wonderful arrangement now slowly decaying This is all to blame on us We are the cause Humans cause pollution and other harmful things Sickening other beings, creatures, and things with wings Some people dismiss it as ‘just a hoax’ But let me tell you, it’s no reason to boast Please consider what you are doing If you don’t stop You will no longer be ‘oohing’ At the graceful sights Nature will be gone All of Earth will be in plight Take heed of this warning Don’t say I didn’t speak When nature is done the Earth will be weak
Honorable Mention: “When I See” by Andre When I look through the trees I see wonder, imagination, and colorful bees When I look into the sky My wonders fly When I look into the moon All I see is a wonderful gloom When I listen to the bird’s song I hum along When I feel the sun through the day My stress goes away When I look at the gray I feel sorrow Then there is sun tomorrow When I look at the sunrise All my worries die When I look at nature I don’t see a metal structure — Contributed