Our Winners, age 12-19 CategoryL to R:
Patrease Michelle David, Angela St. Pierre. Missing from photo is Jael Carballo and April Salandy (out of the country), and Cassie Bisram.
MOST OUTSTANDING YOUNG POET - JAEL CARBALLO
REJECTION/ ACCEPTANCE
You were once part of me you alien child you shared
My breath and I carried you in my walk.
I was unsure of what you would become if you would be
My daughter or my SON.
I cried so many tears knowing that I would bring you into a world that
I myself was unsure, confused of I could not understand.
Sometimes I felt that you could disappear
Because of all the things that I FEARED.
You shared my nourishment and I wondered was I nourishing you well
Until I heard you were DISTURBED.
It pained me to know that you weren’t a part of me
Sharing my breath and no longer did I carry you in my walk.
Speechless I could not talk.
No!
My child
I want to caress you
But my body REJECTS YOU.
It pains to know that we no longer share times together
You ALIEN CHILD that took dwelling for some months
Why? I ask
Anybody…………
Nobody knows
I did not mean to harm you but my body does not KNOW YOU.
I needed you to be with me.
Deep down inside to me I could hear a little cry
“Mummy don’t let me go”
But
NO
DON’T GO
STAY.
I
Don’t
Understand
This world
but if you stay I would play with you and caress you tenderly
I feel you going SLOWLY……….
Then you are no longer there
you can’t share my breath and I am too weak to walk or talk.
The Doctor says you’re NOT ALIVE.
And no longer do I feel to SURVIVE.
Would I ever caress you gently?
You were a part of me
You Alien child you took dwelling in my womb
But soon you let go
Are
You weak?
If only you could speak.
If only I had enough strength to give to you to survive
I’ll hold you and let you know
How much I LOVE YOU SO.
Copyright 2008 byJael Marissa Misty Carballo.
POET OF MERIT - PATREASE MICHELLE DAVID
BECAUSE OF YOU....
I cried tonight
because of you
you probably don't even know what happened
you probably don't even have a clue
I cried tonight
because of you
i drawed your little face
but couldn't decide whether your hat should be pink or blue
I cried tonight
because of you
visioned your tiny, little fingers and toes
everything so tiny and sweet that made you, You!
I cried tonight
because of you
Financial reasons over powered my judgement
the decision i had to do
I cried tonight
because of you
Now i realize i should have sacrificed
For God almighty would have provided for you
I cried tonight
because of you
how i wish in my belly again you would grow
a mistake i made that i can't un-do
I cried tonight
because of you
A thousand tears
unseen
unheard
punishment i pay for treason
for you were a part of me and i betrayed you
i beg mitigation...but the blame is mine
i accept...
i cried tonight
because of you...
Copyright 2008 by Patrease Michelle David
3RD PLACE WINNER - CASSIE BISRAM
TRINI PEP TALK
Sit down dey an wait fuh yuh books
tuh come tuh yuh.
Sit down dey an feel dat time go traipse behind yuh.
Sit down dey an forget about yuh dreams and feel sorry fuh yuhself
an if u feel ting does come easy and money does grow on tree, yuh lie!
Sit down dey an feel man go mine yuh when yuh come big oman.
Doh study tuh make sumting ah yuhself an yuh go see how life
is ah hard hard ting
an if yuh feel raisin chirren easy witout ah wok, yuh lie!
Ah tired tell yuh, yuh gettn big and dis roungs is every man fuh heself!
Ting gettn rel dare and yuh go want tuh buy nice ting
an eat good rice and stew chicken
an when yuh cah buy flour tuh make roti
yuh go understand why I does haffta cuss yuh so!
So sit dong dey an doh do nuttin with yuh life and
waise yuh time.
If yuh feel I go ketch tail tuh mine u forevah yuh damn lie!
I din come here tuh tonne stone!
Doh say ah neva tell yuh…
Copyright 2008 by Cassie Bisram
4TH PLACE WINNER - APRIL SALANDY
LITTLE GIRL
Little girl,you've only just started living
You've still got to find your place in this world.
Be careful what you go around believing
Some People don't care as they should.
Little girl, you are beautiful it's true.
But that only gets you so far.
You've got to work hard to get where you want to
And you got to have a beautiful heart.
Little girl, I know sometimes life gets rough.
And you don't know where to turn.
And it seems like you could never do enough
But sometimes you got to get burnt to learn.
Little girl, he seems perfect beyond compare
But please don't just surrender your heart.
Yes he says all the things you want to hear.
But these little boys are smart.
Little girl, please don't give it all away
If he cares he'll understand.
If he really loves you like he says, he'll wait
If not...well...he IS a man.
Little girl no one's perfect,
everyone makes mistakes
But that's what moves us along.
When we learn from them and like I say...
You can never know right If you've never known wrong.
Little girl don't let anyone take away your dreams.
You've got your whole life ahead of you
I know sometimes it's not quite what it seems.
There's so much more I'd like to say too.
But little girl...you're not so little, girl.
I know you've heard it all before
You're underestimated, and it hurts
You're a lot smarter than the world gives you credit for.
So just keep doing exactly what you do
Keep you head on and high
And even when this cruel world is against you
Don't forget to smile.
Copyright 2008 by April Salandy
5TH PLACE WINNER - ANGELA ST. PIERRE
GREAT FRIEND
When you smile,
It’s like happiness is being reborn into the world
And sorrow, for a moment is no more
Your face lights up and burns,
Burns brightly like a candle
I often try to touch your heart and soul
And words, again cannot express
They simply cannot express what it is like
To be a friend to someone like you
And it’s something I call,
A breath of fresh air
Though I was troubled,
Here you came,
In all your glorious colors
Painting my life with new meaning
And hoping that you would stand long enough to admire
Your touch is golden
And your friendship is rare
Though I may see you differently than others
You are like a painting,
Such a magnificent work of art.
You are somewhat of a perfectionist,
And your path often seems clear,
Yet I can only see so deep
I can only go this far,
I am cautious not to overstep
Or underestimate you,
Still, your light shines on
And though we are different
We can sometimes be alike
What a friend you are
Copyright 2008 by Angela St. Pierre
