THIS CHILD
Paige Akers
Grade 6—Taku
This child
hides behind a wall of fear
With shattered heart
and unstoppable pain
Her hazel eyes
have grown dim.
This child
cannot smile.
All that crosses her face
are tears rolling
down her bruised cheek.
She wants to be loved
to have a home,
but nobody’s there.
She walks in circles
with no place to go,
darkened windows
stealing her gaze.
Unrescued, alone,
she dares to dream.
THE CHASE
Shiloh Brady
Grade 6—Girdwood
Running
snow crunching under his feet
wind whipping through his fur
silver pelt a blur
in the moonlight
pink tongue lolling out
between white fangs
Flying, flying through the night
The wolf.
COCOA
Imani Carmon
Grade 3—College Gate
When I come in
From the cold
I can’t wait
For that hot cup
Of cocoa.
Smelling the
Chocolatey steam
Catching my nose
Holding the
Hot cup
Soothes my cold hands.
Tasting the fudgy
Chocolate,
It feels good
To be a kid!
FISH PRINTING
Ashley Ann Groesbeck
Grade 4—Muldoon
A commanding voice
Giving directions
Saying
Rub head to tail
Head to tail
Saying
Smear the paint
Head to tail
Head to tail
Saying
Don’t lift up your hands
Keep on going
Head to tail
Head to tail
Smudged fish
On the paper
Head to tail
Head to tail.
ICE CLIMBING
Alexis Penny Ospina-Wicks
Grade 3—Girdwood
The way the ice shines
As my pickax pierces the wall
So close to my face
I feel as if it’s talking to me.
Even though I want to give up
It says to me, “Keep going, keep
going.”
My cleats dig deep
I feel one with the ice, with
nature.
GOOD-BYE
Leslee Rogers
Grade 5—Scenic Park
There are two dreaded words
When there is nothing else to say,
Nothing else to do,
Nothing else to dream,
Nothing else to think,
Nothing.
There are two words
That make you feel empty,
W you say but don’t want to,
Words that make everything
feel like the end of the world,
the end of everything.
There are two painful words
You must say when it’s time,
The unstoppable words,
Good-bye.
A HERO, MY FRIEND
E.J. Tung
Grade 3—Sand Lake
He helps in Thailand,
I miss our walks and our games,
Dad, come home soon, please.
I see dads and kids,
They are playing in the sun,
My heart is crying.
I am joyful now,
Dad is back home safe and
sound,
The sun shines on us.
THE STORY OF LIFE
Rachel Zafren
Grade 3—Rogers Park
Writing the story of life
With my pen
Staining the paper,
With my story
With my way,
With my hopes,
With my feelings,
Staining the paper.
With my pen,
With my world,
I will do this forever,
I will write the story of life.
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 2004 Bell Benton Poetry Award
Winners of the 2006 Bell Benton Poetry Award
