Winners Page
Make sure to join the A Year of Poetry of Tea Time Group on Facebook
so you don't miss the 2026 Poetry Contest.
Check out the poetry of past published poets below.
A short message from one of our past poetry Judges
Kathy Mellor
While it is an honor to judge the poetry submitted, it is also tremendously difficult to look at all the work and heart that went into each one and deem one better than another. I commend all the participants for their excellence, it is no small thing to bare your soul on paper. My hope is that whether or not you won, you continue putting pen to paper and develop your gift for sharing thoughts and feelings through poetry.
Poetry in Fall will be released in November 2026
2026 Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner
Ellen
14 years old
England
The Leaf Man
The strangest thing just happened,
And it happened on my street.
I saw a little leaf man
With acorns on his feet.
His hair was made of maple.
His bag was made of oak.
He dressed himself in cedar,
And he wore an aspen cloak.
In his bag he had a paintbrush
And a paint tube labeled “red.”
I thought he’d have a canvas,
But he used the trees instead.
From the smallest of the saplings,
To the mighty common beech,
No tree or bush was left behind;
The leaf man colored each.
And when his work was finished,
The leaves in fiery haze,
The leaf man walked to Fifth Street
To set their trees ablaze.
1st Runner Up
Zorayda Faustino
Illinois, USA
The Lost Battalion of Meuse-Argonne
Like army ants you’ve trudged the rugg’d terrain,
Into the misty forest of Argonne,
With gru’ling pace you trekked through heavy rain,
The bliss and color of the Fall forgone,
For six long, wear’some days hath you endured,
With blood, sweat, tears and dwindling food reserve,
While German lines bombard your stranded herd,
You kept your ground, resolved to stay and serve,
But lo! To thee a question I shall ask,
Whilst thou respond from up that somber hill?
What drove you all, O mighty men, to task?
Was it for peace that claimed your lives at will?
Alas! Your deaths were surely not for naught,
For Allied vict’ry, hath your valor wrought.
2nd Runner Up
Eve
11 years old
New Zealand
A Season of Dementia
It’s fall now,
And things are starting to slow for my nana*.
She can’t remember a thing from last fall.
She’s in her own world,
Even if someone calls.
She sits in her chair,
Stares at the fall leaves out her window.
Or wanders around
And watches the fire kindle.
She doesn’t know that it’s fall,
She doesn’t know me,
All she knows is her
Little
Square
Room
Though spring will soon come,
Even that gives her no joy.
No joy at all.
The leaves come,
And they go,
But not my nana.
She just stays there,
Thinking of the leaves.
3rd Runner Up
Rubekah
9 years old
Indiana, USA
Leaves in Fall
The leaves remind me of geese
Like they are flying in the wind
The leaves are perched in the trees
Until they drop to the south
Like geese
If you had fun with this,
You should join the snail mail club.
Published Poets
Adult
Zorayda Faustino
Illinois
The Lost Battalion of Meuse-Argonne
Carolyn Armstrong
Washington
Kings, and Queens, and Vagabonds
Annie McCosh
Connecticut
Autumn's Invitation
Teen
Ellen - 14 years old
England
The Leaf Man
Luna - 15 years old
New Jersey
Autumn is Poetry
Thomas - 16 years old
Washinton
A Smoke for Will Lamiere
Middle School
Eve - 11 years old
New Zealand
A Season of Dementia
Laiken - 11 years old
Arizona
An Old Man's Morning
Evie - 12 years old
Texas
Autumn Gratitude
Elementary
Rubekah - 9 years old
Indiana
Leaves in Fall
Emma - 10 years old
Idaho
A Hike To Be Thankful
Ellie - 10 years old
Virginia
Autumn Leaf Rain
Authors Pick
These poems will also
be published
Megan McCain - Adult
Washington
Cycles
Breanna Lowman- Adult
Indiana
Falling Gracefully
Breanna Lowman - Adult
Indiana
Synchronized Swimmer of
the Sky
Yvonne Perez - Adult
Texas
This Season Of My Life
Madeline - 17 years old
Kansas
Song of the Sunflower Field
Madeline - 17 years old
Kansas
Autumn Squirrels
Madeline - 17 years old
Kansas
Grandma's Apple Pie
Joshua - 14 years old
Maryland
The Song of the Scarecrow
Kiralee - 15 years old
Utah
Autumn Leaves
Kiralee - 15 years old
Utah
The Worn Dance Floor
Kiralee - 15 years old
Utah
The Leaves
Hailey - 17 years old
Mississippi
A Day of Thanksgiving
Thomas - 16 years old
Washington
A Light in the Attic
Luna - 15 years old
New Jersey
Reading Under the Tree
Spencer - 15 years old
Ohio
Agincourt (October 25, 1415)
Ellen- 14 years old
England
The Kids On the Bus and Us
Ellen - 14 years old
England
The Thirty First
Alvin - 14 years old
Arizona
All I Need
Leilani - 14 years old
Colorado
Thanksgiving
Kalani - 15 years old
Utah
Autumn's Liveliness
Elizabeth - 16 years old
Michigan
Dried Tansies
Elizabeth - 16 years old
Michigan
Last Words of Fall
Fred Chesswas - 14
New Zealand
A New Zealand Autumn
Charlotte - 15 years old
New Jersey
Autumn Reminds Me of You
Charlotte - 15 years old
New Jersey
Be like the Leaves
Carter - 15 years old
Massachusetts
Wildfire Haiku
Cara - 11 years old
Australia
Skritchy the Brush Turkey
Landon - 12 years old
Washington
Summer Turns Fall
Tonia - 13 years old
Alabama
Changes in Fall
Clare - 12 year old
Colorado
Migration
Isabella - 11 years old
Washington
September 22nd
Emma - 13 years old
Utah
Sailing By Ash Breeze
Xavier - 9 years old
Canada
Oh How I Love the Fall
Clark - 10 years old
Texas
In the Autumn Breeze
Elisha - 10 years old
Illinois
The Scaecrow
Elijah - 7 years old
Massachusetts
Pumpkins
Ruth - 8 years old
Tennessee
Leaves of Color
Emily - 7 years old
Virginia
Pumpkin Pie
Oscar - 8 years old
Australia
Autumns Here
Bethany - 9 years old
New Zealand
What is Light?
Thank You to this years Gold Sponsor
2025 Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner
Noelle
15 years old
Utah, USA
Tracing the light
She stands tall, bold with might
The delicate petals yellow and bright
Roots embracing the earth below
Yet towards the sky she longs to grow
Always pointed up and tall with grace
She shifts to turn her face
Towards the sun, the light of all
Following across the sky till night fall
Then waits all night to see the grace
Of the sun's bright golden face
Then traces it across the sky
Until she has to say goodbye
Could we be like this flower, true?
No matter the darkness that passes through
To lift your face, embrace the light
And always look for the good in life?
1st Runner Up
Ellen
13 years old
Michigan USA
The Fireworks and the Firefly
I’m sitting on the grass, waiting for the show,
The fizzle of the rocket, the sparkle’s rosy glow.
Everyone cheers at the first explosion in the sky.
It’s Red, White, and Blue for the Fourth of July.
The heavens above are in a parade,
And new acts come on as the other ones fade.
I suck in a breath as the rockets take flight.
I gasp with the others and squeal with delight.
Then the flash of a firefly catches my eye.
He’s trying to compete with the lights in the sky.
He’s flitting around, performing an act.
Though he’s lacking a sense of timing and tact.
But his valiant efforts aren’t leaving a mark.
The flashier lights are the talk of the park.
So I turn from the eruptions lighting up the sky
To see the nice performance of the simple firefly.
2nd Runner Up
Emma
9 years old
Indiana, USA
Morning
Dark and black the forest lay.
Warm, but shrouded by the mist.
Till the clouds with effort parted,
And with sunlight it was kissed.
3rd Runner Up
Annie McCosh
Adult
Connecticut, USA
Popsicled
Hot and sticky,
Toddler full-tilt,
Adrift in the heat,
Ready to wilt.
Purple and cold—
Surprisingly sweet.
Ice on a stick,
New summer treat.
Drippy and wet,
This thing is tricky!
Purple streaked kid—
Cool and sticky.
Published Poets
Adult
Annie Mc Cosh
Connecticut
Popcicled
Allison Vestal-Laborde
Louisiana
Spy on Bees
Megan McCain
Utah
Eighteen Summers
Teen
Noelle - 15 years old
Mississippi
Trace the Light
Luna - 14 years old
New Jersey
The Low-Flying Kite
Madeline - 16 years old
Kansas
Fun in the Sun on Summer Vacation
Middle School
Ellen - 13 years old
Michigan
The Fireworks and the Fireflies
Emily - 12 years old
New Zeland
Ice Cream
Clare - 11 years old
Colorado
The Garden Thief
Elementary
Emma - 9 years old
Indiana
Morning
Eden - 10 years old
Texas
My Boat
Lily - 10 years old
Canada
Joy
Authors Pick
These poems will also
be published
Jenna Breitbarth - Adult
Maine
A Homeschool Summer
Elissa Drake- Adult
Utah
The Garden
Sharron Dodd - Adult
Texas
Prancing Prisms
Jasmine Ganter - Adult
Massachusetts
Fly Into Summer
Mandi Brinkman - Adult
Ohio
Ballgame with Dad
Thomas - 15 years old
Washington
Summer Sunset
Thomas - 15 years old
Washington
Ode to Car Trips
BreAnn - 14 years old
Utah
From Lonely to Love
Hannah - 14 years old
Arkansas
Songs of Summer
Elisabeth - 15 years old
Michigan
The Rabbit, The Coyote, & the Goose
Charlotte - 14 years old
New Jersey
Summer Reminds Me of You
Marcellino - 12 years old
Oklahoma
Dark Summer Night
Cherish- 13 years old
Indiana
Summer Twilight
Cherish- 13 years old
Indiana
Goodbye Peaches
Luca - 13 years old
Connecticut
ANEW
Gideon - 11 years old
Utah
Summer Storm
Caroline - 12 years old
Maryland
Blue
Samantha - 13 years old
New Jersey
The Pirate Queen
Laura - 13 years old
New Zealand
Waihi Beach
Zachary - 12 year old
Oklahoma
Vacation in Australia
Azalea - 10 years old
Georgia
A Visit From Summer
Emma - 9 years old
Indiana
The Whip-Poor-Will
Couplets
Clara - 11 years old
Colorado
Summer Cheer
Elisha - 9 years old
Illinous
The Beach of Boracay
Albert - 16 years old
Texas
Going to the Beach
Thank You to this years Gold Sponsor
2024 Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner
Hailey
15 years old
Mississippi, USA
The Poet
The poet sits, a pen in her hand,
A bit of paper laid before her;
On a blanket, in the grassy land,
Only meant for the explorer.
Time takes its curve as the poet waits,
Gazing at the beauty all around.
Rush her? She’ll be lost in dire straits—
Lost, never again to be found.
She takes a deep breath of fresh spring air,
Filling her lungs and refreshing her soul.
She sees a budding tree, no longer bare,
Bend as the wind takes his stroll.
The doe will never go unnoticed
By the eyes of those who truly look:
The pure poet, the skillful artist,
Or the One who wrote the greatest Book.
But let the writer take her time
To draw out the fairest poem—
That it might be perfectly sublime,
Most eloquent and wholesome.
Bees find nectar from flowers nearby;
Butterflies go fluttering about.
The birds dance in the trees and sky;
She hears their sweet melodies throughout.
Now immersed in the greatness of spring,
Her mind full, her heart overflowing.
The poet’s pen kisses the paper that brings
A poem—pure, beautiful, and knowing.
2nd Runner Up
Carolynn
10 years old
Ohio
The Spring Fence
There is a fence in my backyard,
A fence with pink and red flowers,
A fence that is tall like a tower.
There is a fence in my backyard,
A fence where animals play,
A fence where I can rest all day.
There is a fence in my backyard,
A fence where bees buzz around,
A fence where I plant seeds in the ground.
There is a fence in my backyard,
A fence where mother grows her daisies,
A fence that sits rather lazy.
There is a fence in my backyard,
A fence that is beautiful and fine,
A spring fence that is mine.
1st Runner Up
Cherish
12 years old
Indiana, USA
The Graceful Hummingbird
Oh hummingbird, so quick and light,
You fill the air with splendid mirth.
How rapid are your wings in flight,
And sweet the nectar of the earth.
You wear a gorgeous princely gown,
Of vivid plum and brilliant green.
A crest of feathers is your crown,
How rich your incandescent sheen!
You swiftly dart from here to there
And vanish at the slightest word.
You chirp and twitter through the air,
How graceful is the hummingbird.
So like a tiny beamish fay,
Go and brighten someone’s day.
3rd Runner Up
Lee Salazar
Adult
Virginia
Natures Outdoor orchestra
Splendor erupts from once barren ground
Pecking, peeping,pollen profound!
Rain puddles of chalkdust and arched bows are found.
Incessant sneezing! “Invierno?,.,”
no sound…
New life awakens! Yellow, pink, purple,and green all around.
Grandeur performance! A seasonally maestroed showcase of Nature’s outdoor orchestra abound!
Published Poets
Adult
Lee Salazar
Virginia
Nature's Outdoor Orchestra
Elizabeth Schroeder
Colorado
There is a Waking Spring
Melanie Hoem
California
The Worlds Perfect Puddle
Teen
Hailey - 15 years old
Mississippi
The Poet
Julia - 15 years old
Canada
With Flowers in Her Hair
Madeline - 15 years old
Kansas
Ode to Spring Acrostic
Middle School
Cherish - 12 years old
Indiana
The Graceful Hummingbird
Tawny - 13 years old
Utah
Treasured Creation
Luka - 12 years old
Connecticut
April Freedom
Elementary
Carolynn - 10 years old
Ohio
The Spring Fence
Natalie - 7 years old
Canada
A Spring Afternoon
Josiah - 10 years old
Arkansas
The Field
Authors Pick
These poems will also
be published
Elizabeth Schroeder - Adult
Colorado
There is a Waking Spring
Mandi Brinkman- Adult
Oregan
Sounds of Spring Time on the Farm
Zorayda Faustino - Adult
Illinois
On the Third Day
Bernadette - 17 years old
Connecticut
One April Spring
Anneliese - 15 years old
Michigan
Protector of the Forest
Ella - 15 years old
Utah
A Reason for Hope
Adelynn - 17 years old
Utah
Fling Open Every Door
Meise - 17 years old
Virginia
The Season of Senses
Sophie - 14 years old
Washington
The Promise of Spring
Samantha - 12 years old
New Jersey
Bunny Rabbit
Luca- 12 years old
Connecticut
Moonshine Creek
Luca - 12 years old
Connecticut
From Small Seeds
Cherish - 12 years old
Indiana
The Signs of Spring
Jake - 13 years old
Utah
Rainbow
Spencer - 13 year old
Ohio
And Every Time I Wake
Jeremiah - 11 years old
Illinois
Summer in Spring
Jeremiah - 11 years old
Illinois
Easter Sunday
Kiralee - 13 years old
Utah
Clouds of Peace
Kiralee - 13 years old
Utah
Naughty Little Leprechaun
Tawney - 13 years old
Utah
Melody of Flight
Cara - 9 years old
Australia
The Beauty of Spring
Laiken - 9 year old
Arizona
I Have a Little Sister
Ellie - 8 years old
Virginia
My Show
Limericks
Rachel Harper - Adult
Arizona
A Song for Pi Day
Jasmine Ganter - Adult
Massachusettes
A Limerick to Pollen
Luke - 11 years old
Washington
A Dog Named Gus
Alex- 17 years old
Ohio
Naughty
Charlotte- 13 years old
New Jersey
Jen's Den
THE 2023 Platinum SPONSORS
2023 Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner
Anders
16 years old
California
December 25, 1914
An icy gust slices into my otherworldly lair.
Gunshots and powder will fill the air.
Tanks will come rolling, the men must prepare to fight,
I squeal, so giddy, so full of delight,
I will emerge to collect souls as to the lifeless ground they fall,
I’ll feast on the sound of death’s silent caterwaul,
I’ll devour the men who aren’t lucky enough to live,
They’ll bleed and they’ll die and have nothing left to give.
I’ll lick my lips and I’ll feed on their screams,
I am terror and I am death, I am the stuff of dreams.
I slither quietly from my cavernous pit,
And see something frightening, I have to admit,
It’s terrifying, and the reason for which I cannot assume,
There are no souls for me to consume.
Through the foggy air, I see the fighting has stopped,
There’s no death or wailing in sight and my heart has dropped.
I fly at the nearest soldier, I’m curious.
I scream at him, “Man, this lack of destruction is making me furious!”
He glances right at me, and his countenance shifts,
He looks at the ground, then his strong chin lifts,
His jaw is set, his eyes are stone,
He whispers, “We are cold and wet, please leave us alone.”
I laugh and he flinches, such a small insignificant thing,
I can see that he’s tired; he’ll soon feel death’s sting.
The man stands up—I am shocked by his faithful soul,
I feel an unseen power pulling me back into my malicious hole.
The man begins to sob icy tears of relief,
This little cold man with infallible belief.
“I name thee Satan, now get thee away,
I see you are hungry, but this is Baby Jesus’ day.”
1st Runner Up
Lilian
10 years old
Australia
An English Winter
Crystalized jewels of water hang from the branches of an oak,
Flakes of fine, white powder, fall across the frosty ground,
Whilst the silver blade of an axe steals the last breath of the mature pine.
The rich scent of winter fills the air,
As spices blend,
Ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.
Warm woollen mittens,
Granny Mavis’ knitted bobble hat,
Families warmly embrace.
Fire flickering, licking the chill,
Drinking hot cocoa,
With marshmallows to toast.
And even before winter is over,
The first blooms of crocuses show their dainty, white buds,
And we know, winter is easing.
But not for long,
For after three seasons,
We will encounter winter once more.
2nd Runner Up
Julliet Hiller
Adult
Washington
An Arrogant Journey of A River
Fairly, fairly, i ripple over the rocks.
Nothing, nothing can stop my journey down.
The deer will sip, the birds peck, the wolves will lap.
Still I slip and slide to where an ocean is found.
Crispy, cold I wash the roots of the mountains.
Coming changes with leafless trees and gray ground.
The deer are slow, the birds; flown, the wolves are gaunt.
Still I slip and slide to where an ocean is found.
Heavy, heavy the jagged parts I carry.
Slowly, slowly the frozen pieces are bound.
My rush is not, my flow is froze, my pride; gone.
Still, I wait in the riverbed until found.
3rd Runner Up
Luca
12 years old
Connecticut
Blizard Hike
I took a hike over a hill
In the cold winter chill
My boots crunched down below
They crunched the hard, icy snow
I stopped and looked at the heaps of white
No green, no blue, not in my sight
What a winter wonderland I’ve found!
It is so quiet; I hear no sound
I feel peaceful and I feel calm
I turn over my hands and open my palms
I thank the Lord for this snowy day
With a cold breeze and sunshine rays
Published Poets
Adult
Julliet Hiller
Washington
An Arrogant Journey of A River
Sharon Dodd
Washington
Pine Warbler Thanks
Sarah Revo
Idaho
Winter Grandeur
Teen
Anders Agle - 16 years old
California
December 25, 1914
Ella Gray - 16 years old
Tennessee
Frost
Alex Van Komen - 15 years old
Ohio
Shelter
Middle School
Luca - 12 years old
Connecticut
Blizard Hike
Sophia - 12 years old
Pennsylvania
Mistress Winter
Kiralee - 12 years old
Utah
New Years Colors
Elementary
Lilian - 10 years old
Australia
An English Winter
Mala - 10 years old
Australia
Winter Voice
Micah - 9 years old
Zambia
Yeti
Authors Pick
These poems will also
be published
Ericka Harris - Adult
Oregon
My Soul's Winter
Jasmine Ganter- Adult
Massachusetts
Snow Notes
Lee Salazar - Adult
Virginia
Snowball Fight
Sharon Dodd - Adult
Texas
Like a Twinkling Tannenbaum
Sadie Smith - Adult
Utah
Sounds of Their Feet
Alan Somers - Adult
Australia
The Southern Cross Hearth
Elizabeth - 17 years old
Colorado
Wanderlust
Hannah - 14 years old
Zambia
The Peak
Annalise - 14 years old
Michigan
Winter Trees
Korbin - 12 years old
California
Storm
Rhylin - 13 years old
California
The Fairie's Nook in Winter
Spencer- 12 years old
Ohio
Winter Wolf
Kiralee - 12 years old
Utah
What Is Winter
Kiralee - 12 years old
Utah
Catching Chocolate
Cristabella - 11 year old
Virginia
Sledding
Maya - 12 years old
Utah
Snowball
Parker - 6 years old
Utah
My Fire Pit
Luke - 10 years old
Washington
Cupid's Arrow
Jeremiah - 10 years old
Illinous
A Winter Tree
Jeremiah - 10 years old
Illinous
Christmas
HAIKUS
Emilee - 10 years old
Utah
Gifts at Christmas
Lillee - 8 years old
Utah
Valentines Day
Henry - 7 years old
Arizona
I Shiver So Cold
Alex- 7 years old
Australia
Penguins
2022 Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner
Hope
6 years old
Maryland
Night In the Shimmering Sky
The night is as black as the darkness in a cave.
The stars are shimmering, silver, gold, and yellow.
I can't wait to see them shoot high up and around me.
The wind is blowing as I walk across the mountain,
ready to see my imagination run wild.
I get to the top.
I shut my eyes.
I find the world blue.
The moon is a shimmering milky white color.
If you look at the moon as closely as I did, you might see the moon's face.
My imagination runs away from me and finds its own way.
Then I think of everything that could happen if I touch the moon.
The goddess, Chang'e; she lives on the moon forever and ever and is always waiting for someone.
The skies are as beautiful as I think.
Then I open my eyes.
I float up high into the sky.
I can't believe it; I think I will touch the moon.
Stars are surrounding me.
I look up at the moon's crest.
The wind blows in my face, but I don't care.
It gets colder and colder as I go up, but then I hear a voice that says,"Hello, hello. So you made it to the moon. Is your choice to come live with me?" the voice says.
"Yes," I say quietly, as the wind grows wild,
but then I touch the moon.
It feels warm and soft, just like bird feathers.
I sing and dance with Chang'e.
I love how it feels when my imagination runs wild.
2nd Runner Up
Jennifer Zimmer
Adult
Kansas
Ode to Adventure
My Adventure, you inspire me to write
How I love the way you scare and excite
Invading my mind day and night
You are fierce and wild
Dreams of you fill my heart
I will remember you while we’re apart.
1st Runner Up
Julia
13 years old
Florida
Sandy Shore
Sandy shore, rocky beach,
Crested waves, crashing each,
Swirling shells that whisper tales,
Of the sunken ghostly sails.
Whispers of, roaring of,
The arching waves, up above,
The drifting kelp, the silent sea,
This is all a part of me.
3rd Runner Up
Allie
14 years old
Missouri
Lee's Last Battle
The ship was quiet, floating low
On a silent sea
Unknown to the crew sleeping below
Pirates began their spree
These pirates were a cruel gang
Hungry for loot and more
Their sudden angry shouts rang
And the sailors woke in mid-snore.
“You’re captives of Captain Lee!”
The pirates shouted to the crew
“Anyone who moves will be tossed into the sea
So don’t move whatever you do.”
While the sailors were tied fast
A young lad crept up to the deck
He hadn’t been found with the last
And there was hope to save his friends yet!
He ran up to the pirate, sure of how to begin
And without a second thought
Firmly kicked the man in the shin
And ran before he was caught.
“Get him!” The captain howled, hopping on one foot
But the scamp knew how to play foul
And dusted the pirates with soot.
They cried and rubbed their eyes
And in doing so they found
They tumbled over the side
And fell into the sea, drowned.
The boy became a captain and from that day on
The pirates steered clear, remembering his brawn
Published Poets
Adult
Jennifer Zimmer
Kansas
Ode to Adventure
Lucy Becker
Kentucky
The Wind and I
Melissa Crowther
Utah
Sailing Adventure
Teen
Allie - 14 years old
Missouri
Lee's Last Battle
Makayla - 15 years old
Arizona
Finding Purpose
Ella - 15 years old
Tennessee
When a Shadow Lies Over the Path That is Ahead
Middle School
Julia - 13 years old
Florida
Sandy Shore
Silver - 13 years old
Utah
On Adventures
Kiralee - 11 years old
Utah
A Drop of Rain
Elementary
Hope - 6 years old
Maryland
Night in the Shimmering Sky (Grand Prize Winner)
Kaiya- 10 years old
Colorado
Bird in My Backpack
Jaban - 10 years old
Canada
Miniaturized
Mara- 9 years old
Colorado
The Red Panda Explorer
Authors Pick
These poems will also
be published
Maya - 11 years old
Utah
My Closet
Ella - 13 years old
Utah
I am an Explorer
Isabela - 14 years old
Kentucky
Hike in the Woods
Mary - 14 years old
Florida
Wonderlust
Maigan - Adult
Florida
My Adventure
Luke- 9 years old
Washington
Under the Sea
Bethany - 10 years old
Oklahoma
Graceful a Swing
Kiralee - 11 years old
Utah
Harry Potter's Glasses
Grand Prize Winner
Jake
10 years old
Utah
As I Wander
As I wander through the pine trees,
I reflect on those who lived here long ago.
Native Americans blessed this region;
I hear their tales in the wind as it blows.
Flying eagles, colored rocks, wild flowers, untamed horses,
Winding rivers, arrowheads, smokey fires, and buffalo grass.
The indigenous American spirit,
Is freedom and hope in the trails that I pass.
Grateful to live in this country,
Which today we all call “Land of the Free!”
American Indians heritage lives on,
Amongst you and me.
2nd Runner Up
Ella
12 years old
Utah
The Rose of Freedom
The rose petals soft,
Smells of sweet dew.
The flower petals velvet,
And red like the sunset.
The flower chosen,
For our nation.
For the Soldiers,
who gave us freedom.
For the flag of rights,
That waves of privilege.
The rose is special to our hearts.
We honor the dead with the rose.
Chosen for honor and devotion,
Chosen for love, life, and liberty.
Adult
Lucy Becker
Kentucky
Choice
Juliette Hiller
Washington
The Land of the Free
Nellie Boyer
Virginia
Glimpses
Middle School
Ella - 12 years old
Utah
The Rose of Freedom
Mary - 13 years old
Georgia
Reign of our Voice
Isabel - 13 years old
Kentucky
Going to America
Brock - 8 years old
Utah
Freedom
Louise Dyson - Adult
England
Dual
Melissa Crowther - Adult
Utah
Meadowlark
Amelie - 6 years old
Malawi
Country of Malawi
Elijah - 16 years old
Michigan
Patriots Parade
Mason - 10 years old
Missouri
D-DAY
Maddox - 12 years old
Japan
Freedom Fighters
Alitsa - 11 years old
South Carolina
The Music, The Song, The Faith
Joshua - 11 years old
New Jersey
We Are America
2021 Contest Winners
1st Runer Up
Anika
15 years old
Utah
The Picnic Battle
The people gather on this eventful day,
Gray against blue,
Father against son.
The citizens and reporters and watchers.
They come with sandwiches and nice suits and dresses.
They hold up their glasses
To watch the skirmish,
To see the side that they are sure will win.
“Oh I’ll wipe up all the blood that is to be spilled today
With my pocket handkerchief.”
And they did not find what they expected.
They did not anticipate
The grief or sadness,
The regret that comes with any fight.
The battle much bloodier than expected,
The dawning realization:
War, this war, all war, is no picnic.
They started to move, to get up, to run.
To get away from the war that was no picnic.
The panic to see the other side winning,
The horror to see the lives that were lost.
Gray against blue.
Brother against brother.
Father against son.
Never again see any dispute as a reason to party.
Never again see any conflict as a joke.
War is no picnic.
3rd Runner Up
Lucy Becker
Adult
Kentucky
Choice
Ignorance is bliss,
Because there's only you
What do you know to seek?
There's no burn to be better
It's survival of the fittest, might makes right
Responsibility isn't acknowledged, isn't owned
Because there isn't knowledge
Because there isn't knowledge.
Responsibility isn't acknowledged, isn't owned
It's survival of the fittest, might makes right
There's no burn to be better
What do you know to seek?
Because there's only you
Ignorance is bliss
CHOICE
Knowledge is power
Because you have learned
What is the good and the beautiful
It ignites a quest, a desire
To start another's fire, because
With great power comes great responsibility
Because there is knowledge.
Because there is knowledge
With great power comes great responsibility
To start another's fire, because
Ignited is a quest, a desire:
What is the good and the beautiful?
Because you have learned
Knowledge is power
Published Poets
Teen
Anicka - 15 years old
Utah
The Picnic Battle
Elijah- 16 years old
Maryland
Heavy is the Crown
Thomasin - 15 years old
Washington
Revolution
Elementary
Jake - 10 years old
Utah
As I Wander (Grand Prize Winner)
Annabel - 10 years old
North Carolina
Unsung
Pawpaw
Lily Hall - 10 years old
Texas
Love of my Homeland
Authors Pick
These poems will also
be published
2020 Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner
Reagan Dregge
Adult
Minnesota
Nessie
The Loch Ness Monster's
shape was born
In shadow-shrouded chasms
Long thought to haunt the
misty deeps
Of cold and lightless fathoms
Some say she is a
fairy beast
A figment spun from tales
While others claim a
dinosaur
Or remnant kin of whales
Myths multiply and
theories mount
But just the other day
I watched her swallow
up the sun
Then wink and float away!
2nd Runner Up
Elena
14 years old
Utah
A Plea to the King
How could the earth be a boring abyss
With all the people such as this:
The soldiers who never say a word?
Or the dancer whose music is always heard?
What of the storyteller whose shows are worthwhile,
Bringing to the children smile upon smile?
Or the workers who seem not to have names
Yet always have time for the children’s games?
Or the little toddlers with two left feet
Who follow their parents like little lost sheep?
They might seem like stepping stones in the ground.
But with them here the earth is crowned.
Not with the metal that you may believe
But with all of the things that they can achieve.
So, I ask of thee- right here, right now,
If thou wilt hear my pleaded vow;
To see the world as it really should be
Not things in the way of thy decree.
And while they need not show their worth-
(As that has been useless since their birth),
I ask of thee, O’ King O’ Mine,
If thou wilt see this as a sign-
To have error is human and that's all we can be,
To change is divine so that's what I ask of thee.
Published Poets
Adult
Reagan Dregge
Minnesota
Nessie (Grand Prize Winner)
Faith
Melissa Crowther
Utah
Sanctuary
Winter's Wait
Juliette Hiller
Oh, Smiling Moon
Middle School
Elena - 13 years old
Virginia
A Still River
Grace - 13 years old
Nevada
Opportunity
Caden - 12 years old
South Korea
My Sweet Little Sister
Teen
Elena
14 years old
Utah
A Plea to the King
Lily
17 years old
Louisiana
Quarantine
Adison
14 years old
Utah
When Imagination Takes Role
Elementary
Kathryn - 9 years old
Arkansas
He is Coming
Cayden - 10 years old
Indiana
A Seed I Sow
Jordan - 9 years old
Winter
Kylie - 10 years old
Texas
Deadly Dreams
Isla - 11 years old
ZAMBIA
The Killamanine
Cambry - 12 years old
Virginia
Seaside ABC's
Max - 5 years old
AUSTRALIA
Best of the Best
1st Runner Up
Elaena
13 years old
Virginia
The Still River
The river is still,
as still as a painting,
yet just as a painting,
it is full of motion.
Upon the still river,
the round orb like shape of the Moon,
leading the stars
like a shepherd leads his sheep.
Then once a month,
when the shepherd goes to sleep,
the stars twinkle
and dance across the night sky.
Then, when the night turns to day,
the sun appears, a fiery maiden,
her golden hair rippling behind her.
Her dress and shoes made of gold,
riding in a orange chariot
pulled by fiery birds,
leading her army of clouds
against the armies of rain.
Just as they start to win the battle,
her own forces betray, and banish her.
All this reflected on the still river.
3rd Runner Up
Kathryn
9 years old
Arkansas
He is Coming
When the sky is dark,
And the thunder claps.
He is coming.
When the trees tremble,
And the earth quakes.
He is coming.
When the wind whirls,
And the rain falls.
He is coming.
When the rain stops falling,
And the earth stops quaking.
He has come.
Authors Pick
These poems will also
be published
