Junior High

Pawnee's Poets

by Kari Krebs

May 19, 2010

Congratulations go out to two Pawnee Junior High students for having their poems published in the Spring 2010 anthology A Celebration of Poets. Matthew H., 8^th grade, and Joe C., 7^th grade, both submitted original poems for the Creative Communications poetry contest. Both poems have been selected as one of high merit, a feat not awarded to every entry. This accomplishment also awards Matthew and Joe the chance to have a top ten poem in the 7^th - 9^th grade poetry division.

Students from around the nation were asked to enter the poetry contest held by Creative Communication. Students were required to submit an original poem over any topic. The poem was not to exceed 21 lines. The contest is broken into grade division. “Top Ten poems in each grade division…will receive a $50 savings bond, special recognition in the book and a free copy of the anthology that is created from the contest.” (1)

“Creative Communication is a company who is devoted to the promotion of writing, teaching and appreciation of student writing. The intent of the student writing contest is to motivate creative writers. The top entries are published in an anthology that will record the creative insights of today’s young writers.” (1)

Along with the poetry contest, there is also an essay contest. Please click the following link to read rules for each contest and see other contest dates. You may also purchase the Spring 2010 A Celebration of Poets anthology at the Creative Communication website.

http://www.poeticpower.com/Contest.html

Why Do We Die?

Joe C., 7^th Grade

I get out of bed
with one thing in my head —
my friend is dead.
And I ask a question,
“Why do we die?”

And I cry,
because my friend has died.
I pray and pray for the day
for someone to tell me why.

When you lose someone
it hurts your soul.
Hear my cry —
tell me why we die,
because it hurts me in the inside.

Now I go to bed
With one thing in my head —
my friend is dead.

Ode to My Dog

Matthew H., 8^th Grade

Miniature black,
furry dog,
the color of a
dark shadow.
Full of fun and play.
Muscle and bones holds
him together. I love
that I am his owner. He
makes me feel like I
am safe when he lays
at the edge of my
bed, like a security guard
guarding a bank vault.
I run my hands across
his back, smooth and soft fur.
Breathing hard from running
so much; he’s a vicious shark
when he hears something
odd. My one and only special
dog Rocky.