1st
Mary Eloise Tymchuk
North Hall Middle School
The Lost Dog
I sniffed and sniffed till my nose was tired.
I wanted some food that my belly desired.
Trying to find my way through the maze of trees.
But I had to go through mud that went up to my knees.
Why had I wandered off, oh why had I done that?!
All because of that squirrel! I thought as I sat.
I should’ve stayed with Brooklyn on the trail.
I thought of her worried call and how she looked pale.
Yesterday morning, we started out.
I was glad that we were out and about.
We had a picnic by the lake,
I was so excited when she pulled out a cupcake.
Then, we started walking on the trail by the river.
When we got to an opening, I felt a shiver.
I sensed a squirrel, inching away.
Brooklyn reached down to try to keep me at bay.
I escaped from her hands and ran into the woods,
Pausing to look back at all the baked goods.
She ran at me with full speed.
And as she went, she began to plead:
“Tuck! Tucker! Come back! Please!”
After she had said that, she began to wheeze.
I turned back to look at her one more time,
And I saw her all covered in grime.
I sensed the squirrel climbing up a tree,
And that is when I got stung by a bee.
Oh, how it hurt! The stinging pain!
I thought I saw a doggie haven, I was going insane.
The rest of the story is a blur.
I do remember getting stuck in a burr.
Now, I am sitting here in the mud.
Off in the distance, I see a girl with a flower bud.
Food! I think, Food at last!
I take off, just like a blast.
Then, she turned around,
And because of exhaustion, I fell to the ground.
When I woke up, I sprang up like a bud.
Brooklyn was sitting there, giving me a belly rub.
I was so excited to see her at last;
I ran around in circles, I was so fast.
Now, we are all safe and sound.
I watch and guard her just like a hound.
We still go on many adventures, but I swore:
I won’t chase after animals anymore.
I sniffed and sniffed till my nose was tired.
I wanted some food that my belly desired.
Trying to find my way through the maze of trees.
But I had to go through mud that went up to my knees.
Why had I wandered off, oh why had I done that?!
All because of that squirrel! I thought as I sat.
I should’ve stayed with Brooklyn on the trail.
I thought of her worried call and how she looked pale.
Yesterday morning, we started out.
I was glad that we were out and about.
We had a picnic by the lake,
I was so excited when she pulled out a cupcake.
Then, we started walking on the trail by the river.
When we got to an opening, I felt a shiver.
I sensed a squirrel, inching away.
Brooklyn reached down to try to keep me at bay.
I escaped from her hands and ran into the woods,
Pausing to look back at all the baked goods.
She ran at me with full speed.
And as she went, she began to plead:
“Tuck! Tucker! Come back! Please!”
After she had said that, she began to wheeze.
I turned back to look at her one more time,
And I saw her all covered in grime.
I sensed the squirrel climbing up a tree,
And that is when I got stung by a bee.
Oh, how it hurt! The stinging pain!
I thought I saw a doggie haven, I was going insane.
The rest of the story is a blur.
I do remember getting stuck in a burr.
Now, I am sitting here in the mud.
Off in the distance, I see a girl with a flower bud.
Food! I think, Food at last!
I take off, just like a blast.
Then, she turned around,
And because of exhaustion, I fell to the ground.
When I woke up, I sprang up like a bud.
Brooklyn was sitting there, giving me a belly rub.
I was so excited to see her at last;
I ran around in circles, I was so fast.
Now, we are all safe and sound.
I watch and guard her just like a hound.
We still go on many adventures, but I swore:
I won’t chase after animals anymore.
2nd Place
Reese Brumbelow
Davis Middle School
What I’m Made Of
I’m made of sunny skies in the summertime
And the cool breeze that hits my face
in the fall
Of rollercoaster rides and Disney fireworks
And the sound of waves crashing at the beach
I’m made of music when I dance to it
Of songs that I sing 24/7
I’m made of museum-worthy artwork
And artwork that may not be
so good
I’m made of the words that
I write when I’m creating a song
Of dreams that want to visit Paris
And to eat lots of desserts in front
of the Eiffel Tower
I’m made of pom-poms and stunting
And cheering in 90 degree weather
And sometimes in pouring-down rain
I’m made of late-night ballet classes
And trying to learn new parts of the dance
Of practicing over and over
again for my recital
And getting new dance costumes every year
I’m made of the creative patterns
I draw on my paper
Of crazy doodles that make no sense
Of singing on stage and being
a part of chorus
And learning new songs that I
sing with my friends
I’m made of 10 page long paragraphs
And stories that I could write for hours
Of one day becoming an author
I’m made of good spelling and grammar
And not of rocket science
I’m made of hard work, helping
Other people and not being anyone else
but me
This is what I’m made of
What are you made of?
I’m made of sunny skies in the summertime
And the cool breeze that hits my face
in the fall
Of rollercoaster rides and Disney fireworks
And the sound of waves crashing at the beach
I’m made of music when I dance to it
Of songs that I sing 24/7
I’m made of museum-worthy artwork
And artwork that may not be
so good
I’m made of the words that
I write when I’m creating a song
Of dreams that want to visit Paris
And to eat lots of desserts in front
of the Eiffel Tower
I’m made of pom-poms and stunting
And cheering in 90 degree weather
And sometimes in pouring-down rain
I’m made of late-night ballet classes
And trying to learn new parts of the dance
Of practicing over and over
again for my recital
And getting new dance costumes every year
I’m made of the creative patterns
I draw on my paper
Of crazy doodles that make no sense
Of singing on stage and being
a part of chorus
And learning new songs that I
sing with my friends
I’m made of 10 page long paragraphs
And stories that I could write for hours
Of one day becoming an author
I’m made of good spelling and grammar
And not of rocket science
I’m made of hard work, helping
Other people and not being anyone else
but me
This is what I’m made of
What are you made of?
3rd Place
Evelyn Crow
North Hall Middle School
The Legend of the Prince of Thieves: The Final Chapter
Branches prodded, branches poked.
Twigs underfoot snapped and broke.
Trees shook and bushes thrashed.
And from behind him Austin heard a crash
Austin ducked behind a tree,
And turned just in time to see,
Another tree slashed,
As his hope was dashed.
The soldiers crowded in the clearing,
Their swords drawn and gleaming.
They looked high and low,
And seemed to think out from behind a tree would step their foe.
The prince of thieves, as Austin was known,
Liked a good story and show, as the the soldiers had been shown,
But for a bit of drama, he wouldn’t give himself away,
Not when it meant he could live another day.
Austin held his breath,
And prayed with all his might,
That his death,
Would not come tonight.
The soldiers looked lost,
Without their prey,
And Austin thought,
He might live another day.
Then he took a step back,
Put his foot on the ground,
And when the twig snapped,
The soldiers turned at the sound
Austin ran, and footsteps pounded.
Austin Faltered, but the soldiers kept coming.
Knowing their armour would keep them grounded,
Austin turned to a tree and started climbing.
“You can’t stay up there, forever!” Austin heard one man shout.
“I can wait longer than you lot!”
Then the prince knew with no doubt,
That the steel pressed upon his back meant he was caught.
Once on the ground,
With both hands bound,
The prince was subdued,
Because, as a soldier said, “We have caught you.”
So ends the chapter of the prince of thieves,
With the prince captured, and all swords sheathed.
Our cause is lost, his help our greatest need.
He knows this, too, as he waits to be freed.
Branches prodded, branches poked.
Twigs underfoot snapped and broke.
Trees shook and bushes thrashed.
And from behind him Austin heard a crash
Austin ducked behind a tree,
And turned just in time to see,
Another tree slashed,
As his hope was dashed.
The soldiers crowded in the clearing,
Their swords drawn and gleaming.
They looked high and low,
And seemed to think out from behind a tree would step their foe.
The prince of thieves, as Austin was known,
Liked a good story and show, as the the soldiers had been shown,
But for a bit of drama, he wouldn’t give himself away,
Not when it meant he could live another day.
Austin held his breath,
And prayed with all his might,
That his death,
Would not come tonight.
The soldiers looked lost,
Without their prey,
And Austin thought,
He might live another day.
Then he took a step back,
Put his foot on the ground,
And when the twig snapped,
The soldiers turned at the sound
Austin ran, and footsteps pounded.
Austin Faltered, but the soldiers kept coming.
Knowing their armour would keep them grounded,
Austin turned to a tree and started climbing.
“You can’t stay up there, forever!” Austin heard one man shout.
“I can wait longer than you lot!”
Then the prince knew with no doubt,
That the steel pressed upon his back meant he was caught.
Once on the ground,
With both hands bound,
The prince was subdued,
Because, as a soldier said, “We have caught you.”
So ends the chapter of the prince of thieves,
With the prince captured, and all swords sheathed.
Our cause is lost, his help our greatest need.
He knows this, too, as he waits to be freed.