The World We Live In

Fort Erie Elementary Poetry Contest

 

INTRODUCTION

 

     The poems in our anthology have been selected from pieces written by 7th and 8th grade students in Fort Erie, Stevensville, and Crystal Beach, who participated in a series of two- and three-day workshops taught last November and January by Buffalo poet Ann Goldsmith.  The workshops were designed to expand these young poets’ awareness of language and its possibilities; to stimulate their creative powers; to help them express their thoughts and feelings through poetry, and to connect those felt responses with lived experience.

     Dr. Goldsmith has taught in schools throughout Western New York State and on Long Island, as well as in Canada.

     The initiative for this program originated from Elizabeth Glenny, Poetry Chair and Mike Keenan, President of the Niagara Branch, Canadian Authors Association.  Elizabeth and Mike organized an all-day teacher’s workshop conducted by Ann Goldsmith at Fort Erie’s Holiday Inn & Convention Centre.  Ann then visited the elementary schools.

     Congratulations to the participants. We had over 200 entries This program was well-received by students and teachers, and we will attempt to follow it up next year with a similar strategy.  We hope that you enjoy these poems.

 

Mike Keenan

Executive Officer

The Council on World Affairs of Canada

 

Judge’s Comments

 

     Congratulations to all of you who took the initiative and boldly entered poems to be considered for this anthology.  Writing poetry can be intimidating enough for some but it can be even more frightening to allow others to read your work.  It brought joy to my day to be able to consider the many entries with so many different personal styles and subjects to cover.

     The depth of the impressions found within these poems is impressive in that so many poets looked within themselves to discover things to explore while many others searched through the events that represent community and a sense of the entire world.  Clearly the events of 9/11 shaped many thoughts and concerns about our complex world.  People as young as you have already had to learn to survive and attempt to understand a world that brings together people of all backgrounds and beliefs.  Poetry allows you to encounter the large issues and sort through all the complicated aspects of growing up.

 

Evan Kenney

 

Winning Poets

 

 

First Place - Happiness

by Randall Phillips Debassige

Rose Seaton Public School

 

Second Place - Our Earth Is Like a Rainbow

by James Witkowski

Stevensville Public SChool

 

Third Place - I am the whistle!

by Jennifer Overholt

Rose Seaton Public School

COWAC Director, Doug Martin & award winners

 

 

FIRST PLACE

 

            HAPPINESS               by Randall Phillips Debassige

 

                        Happiness

                             Is drifting with the wind

                        Slicing through the clouds

            Dreams; unlimited

                                 Your spirit slits the sky

                                                     Your soul is set free

                                        Imagination makes the rules

                        Thoughts, scattered across the air

                                  In a world where nothing matters

                                            In a world where dreams come true

                        One thing that can make a difference

                                Is in your heart, in You.

 

SECOND PLACE

 

Our Earth Is Like A Rainbow                       by James Witkowski

 

Our Earth is like a rainbow

                        Oh the colours it holds

                                    Our Earth is like a rainbow

                                                Oh the stories it’s told

 

From the deep royal green of the jungles

                        To the rich lush chestnut of the soil

                                    Our Earth is like a rainbow

                                                Oh the colours it holds

 

The bright golden rays of the sunshine

                        Contrasts the frightening pitch black of the night

                                    The soft mellow mauve at the dawning

                                                To the hot pink of the setting sun

 

The crashing aqua waves on the shoreline

                        The bubbling white foam of the sea

                                    The burning hot glow of lava

                                                And the soaring blue of the skies

The cool clear ice in the arctic

                        Glitters in the silvery glow of the moon

                                    The hot dazzling sun in the tropics

                                                And the soothing green of the palms

 

Our Earth is like a rainbow

                        Oh the colours it holds

                                    Our earth is like a rainbow

                                                Oh the stories it’s told

 

 

THIRD PLACE

 

                        I am the whistle!                     by Jennifer Overholt

 

                I am the whistle in the wind

            I am the whistle in your ear,

                I am as cool as the water

            That I blow across the river

                I am the wind in your hair

            I am the coolness in the winter

                I am the whistle in the wind

            I will never stop going on and on …

                I will never stop whistling,

            Until the earth ends

                I am the singing around the world

            I am the whistle in the wind!

 

 

 

Honourable Mention

Alanna Bell

Alicia Bonner

 

The Judge’s Selection

Brianna Bell

Davey Bertin

David Colgate

Robin Eade

Nicole Gullett

Ashley Higham

Steven Hill

Christopher Kaestner

Lauren Magner

Andrea Ramsay

Steve Seburn

Franz-Paul Stefanik

Daniel Stuffels

Aaron Thompson

Chantell Weagant