2nd Place

Middle School-Shore Country Day School

Grade 8

The Star Charts

by Sarah Kennedy

The charts on heavy paper

made into stories by words unknown

The lines scratched on ancient walls,

to inspire, and to mystify

On the deck over the cruel sea,

they lit the way for progress

And the gash of stars that swept a path

were for so many a way home

So who are we to fathom

the depths of what they show?

They are our ally, always watching

and our most enigmatic mystery

For what do we know of lights in the sky? 

3rd Place

Middle School-Waring School

Grade 8

Middle

by Cole Cunningham

Flowers stay bright forever,

At least I think.

And that grey rat gnawing at my head

Stays there, at least I think.

I can only tell by the stink of his stained teeth.

I can’t get flowers out of my head.

I guess the grey rat enjoys that.

The Netherlands is probably full of grey rats.

Still, my mouth is turning to a windmill.

And my neck, topsoil.

Among all this, I’m just fine.

Nothing worries me, at least I think.

My head grows long stems,

And becomes laced with red and orange.

Thorny roses, and biting tulips.

Grey rats flock to me.

And people skate on the dikes in my head.