. Third Place Winners . A Sonnet On Scripture: Inspired by Ezekiel 3 by Willow Rain Purles, 10th grade, homeschooled Sometimes the words drip like sweetest honey Most mellifluous to the very soul Psalms and proverbs that bring us to our knees Heartwarming verses illustrate life’s goals Yet, more oft than not, we sound the soft plea: “Free our mind, make our understanding full!” “Part this swirling, befuddling, muddling sea!” “Dearest God, must we eat this bitter roll?” For doctrines hide truths we have yet to see And we labor over scriptural scrolls Soon enough we’ll have our epiphany And His words will make our hearts and minds whole Do not drown in the archaic leaves now To you, great knowledge He will soon endow . . The Cavy after “The Panther” by Rainer Maria Rilke by Iago Macknik-Conde, 10th grade homeschooled in Brooklyn, New York He stirs from restless sleep, ready to leap, He scans the enclosure with swift eyes And finds that the bars still keep Him. He springs in surprise Or sudden joy that he is unhurt. The pacing panther came And went. Cutting claws did not subvert His sanctum, the steel frame. He does not wish to break free From his world, caged and controlled. Countless dangers lurk beyond. His plea Is that the metal will hold. . . . . Fourth Place Winners . Chrysanthemum about the mental struggles of a night-shift ER nurse who couldn’t save her patient the night before from a fatal car accident by Ria Garg, 11th grade, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) She’s relieved waking as the house goes to bed, Wearing her blue that she knows will be stained Tying her hair knowing it’ll stick to her head By the time she walks back up these stairs again. Her foot and the pedal shake ever so slightly As the yellow streetlights turn into blurred streaks. Cold sweat trickles down her forehead lightly; To put an end to her thoughts is all she seeks. She walks into the room with a confident air, Refusing to be let down like she had before. She looks down at the figure, saying a prayer, Moving away the cloth and starting the war. She threads with ease until the gash is closed While her wound expands, tearing her apart. Her steady, tender hands seem composed, But she is losing her sanity and heart. “All done” she speaks, as the rest work with haste But the night before leaves her mind slow and numb. Why must she blink in this dreadful aftertaste? Because all she can see are broken headlights and a chrysanthemum. But she is a warrior, fighting her demons, Even though her heart aches from the agony and toll, The crashing waves aren’t enough to take her down For she has a fierce light raging inside her soul. . . My Room Can Hold Me by Izzi Considine, 10th grade Portsmouth Abbey School The cushion folds to hold me The needle yearns to mend A tissue box now whispers “This need not be the end” The linens ache to dry my eyes The curtains dream to dim Doors shut against the ripping tides, The waves in which I swim Frayed bears hope to grant respite Candles long to thaw Flames ease the weight of lethargy, Emotions running raw Bedside lantern croons a lullaby A wavelength ‘bove my ears Stacked books stay silent shut Containing all my fears Printed Renoirs crave to soothe me Kodak snapshots prod the soul Recalling what is not yet lost Who still loves me, makes me whole Drain stained mug now hints to me Of warmth it once and will contain And cotton sheets remind me Of rest that still remains . . life with whipped cream by Ashley Malkin, 10th grade Greenwich High School all my life was a straight line weary eyes and daily grind every day with no surprise hearts unmet and dream’s demise countless pity-wearing folk gave up songs and honeyed joke to toil in a labyrinth; caught imprisoned by doubting thought but i broke from structured space the tired, cookie-cutter place now i eat whipped cream nonstop with childhood wishes on top . . From Winter to Spring by Vishak Srikanth, 12th grade Basis Independent Silicon Valley, San Jose, California Arid branches of trees hang sadly, limp and lifeless, Encompassed with white snow, trails swiftly vanish Facing the depths of winter blues, most groundless, Arid branches of trees hang sadly, limp and lifeless, Like a witch that casts adverse spells, so pointless, Incomprehensible is this rotten season, I want to banish! Arid branches of trees hang sadly, limp and lifeless Encompassed with white snow, trails swiftly vanish. Fresh serene flowers begin to bloom everywhere As ruffled leaves smile sheepishly from their stalk Dancing in the wind, clouds of dust billow in the air Fresh serene flowers begin to bloom everywhere. Like groundhogs stirring out of their cozy lair Reminding us it’s time to advance the clock! Fresh serene flowers begin to bloom everywhere As ruffled leaves smile sheepishly from their stalk. . Poet’s Note: “From Winter to Spring” is a set of 2 triolets about seasons that chronicle how a teen feels when he walks through a meadow in spring and a trail in winter. The triolets in the set contrast the teenager’s moods during the two seasons. In winter, he feels the winter blues and wonders why things around him are so gloomy and even wonders why we even have this cold and dull season. In spring, he is happy, optimistic, and calm while walking through the meadow. The poems are written from this teen’s perspective and about the idea of how seasons can evoke specific emotions or reactions in young adults. . . . . NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.
