RECESS
By Tusipepa Janice Amituanai
Northwood Elementary, Grade 6
Sherri banged her elbow,
Stephanie skinned her knee.
Travis tore his sweater,
Nikki fell from a tree.
Aricka got a bee sting,
And Veronica ran away.
Now you know why schools
Have just one recess a day.
PURPLE
By Angeline Ebnet
O’Malley Elementary, Grade 5
Purple is the beautiful
Mountains at night
The Northern Lights
Dancing in the floating sky
Sweet sour juicy grapes.
The daughter of blue
The mother of pink
Delicious plums
Purple violets
In the sunny meadow
Pink in the darkest shade.
SUGAR GRASS
By Tanya Francilo
Eagle River Elementary, Grade 6
Sugar grass
So frosty on the ground.
Glistening when the sun shines,
The cold morning sugar
on soft blades
making grass crystallized.
When the air warms,
It’s gone.
SCIENCE FAIR
By Leighan Gonzales
College Gate Elementary, Grade 3
I went and entered
the science fair,
I wanted to study the giant bear,
But they assigned me
a research on hair
That might be science,
but it isn’t fair.
WHAT IS A POEM?
By Shannon Lamb
Nunaka Valley Elementary, Grade 5
Anger let loose
on a piece of paper?
Happiness explained
in a whole different way?
Fears, worries, and agony
taking over your paper?
What is a poem?
Look deep inside and find
the poem for you.
SECRET HIDING PLACE
By Alyssa McGill
Ravenwood Elementary, Grade 4
Dark away in my hiding place
Where bees are buzzing
and ferns are growing
The lighting dim wherever I go,
And no one can find me now,
Where willow trees
are hanging low
In the still, cold, quiet stream.
I wonder
I wonder if fairies live
Where bees are buzzing
and ferns are growing
and willow trees are hanging
in a still, cold, quiet stream
and I lie down
until I sleep
where fairies live
down by the stream,
dreaming in
my secret hiding place.
TIME TEST
By Haley Morrissey
Denali Elementary, Grade 1
It’s quiet
I’m nervous waiting to go.
I write my name
The timer goes off and I start.
My muscles are tense,
My heart is pounding,
I start stomping my feet.
I try to think,
I try to concentrate,
Sometimes I get stuck.
I get distracted by little noises,
Pencils writing, tapping, erasing,
People squirming.
I really want to finish.
Whew!
I’m done!
WONDROUS SIGHTS
By Emily Elaine Novakovich
Scenic Park Elementary, Grade 6
Have you ever stood on the highest peak
Or flown on silver wings?
Have you ever looked
upon the wondrous sights
That only God has seen?
Have you ever gazed in crystal water
Or seen the majestic sun set?
Have you ever swum in the ocean
Or are you afraid to get wet?
Have you touched the softest silk
That felt like God’s perfect cloud?
Have you ever felt the peace of silence,
Or are you always loud?
The wonders of the world await
At every turn and bend
The only thing that can make them better
Is seeing them with a friend.
SNOWFLAKES
By Kala Pearce
Northern Lights ABC, Grade 3
Snowflakes are ballerinas
dancing in the sky.
They twist, twirl, and leap
gracefully.
They are lovely lace
falling from above.
They fall gently, lightly,
They spin and sway,
Their delicate beauty comes in
different shapes and sizes.
Dance, snowflakes, dance!
HOW TO EAT A POEM
By Chelsea Talbot
Muldoon Elementary, Grade 3
Slurp scrumptious simile soup
Munch meaty metaphors
Crunch chocolate-coated commas
Devour delicate descriptions
Satisfaction fills your stomach
You just dined on a poem.
Winners of the 1999 Bell Benton Poetry Award
Winners of the 2000 Bell Benton Poetry Award
Winners of the 2001 Bell Benton Poetry Award
Winners of the 2002 Bell Benton Poetry Award
Winners of the 2003 Bell Benton Poetry Award
Winners of the 2005 Bell Benton Poetry Award
Winners of the 2006 Bell Benton Poetry Award
