Hey Poetry Lovers in Friday Harbor*

2019 Merit Award
By Cadillac Joe Wright

brimstones
     are butterflies that
carry ur hippy vibe &
     we can smell the
          monsoons amp up
     blue diamond &
     the old Spanish trails
that surround you —
     far overhead is that
     chevy in the sky…
ur red blazer burns thru zion
     these days we boil
     longhorn skulls in
          peppermill lave &
summer craves the cold storms
     of sugarhouse java —
the universe is filling up
w/ raspberry
chambord n’ other miracles…
comets circle —
     flash floods &
          hello river!!!

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Cadillac Joe Wright. Broadside illustrated by Angela Boyle.

Jane*

2019 Merit Award
By Elliot Stockman, Grade 6

There once was a young girl named Jane,
Who lived in England, and took lots of trains,
She walked on the track,
And with a loud “Thwack!”
She ended up flying to Spain.

In Spain, they all rode on bikes, of course,
But what surprised her was they all spoke in Norse
She wanted a pie,
But she encountered a sigh,
And she ended up eating a horse.

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Elliot Stockman. Broadside illustrated by Christian Anne Smith.

Thirteen*

2019 Merit Award
By Susan Cohen Raphael

At thirteen
I was put in jail
for running away from home

I remember well
that first night in one small room
with four closed walls
a bare bed
a sink
a mirror
one small high barred window
a door with barred minuscule opening

I remember the sounds of voices
and the sound of free movement in the hall
I remember the lights of the city
the stars in the sky
I remember crying

It was Christmas night
and I was frightened
and I was alone

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Susan Cohen Raphael. Broadside illustrated by Christian Anne Smith.

After St. Lucy’s Day, 2018*

2019 Merit Award
By Tom Moore

With the final whisper of the night’s
last bell, the church goers gather
with their prayers. Outside

it is cold. Beyond cold, really.
The two gay men with their son
have come to be a part of something

larger than themselves
though they are not
sure what. For most

people here the assumptions made
about an ancient fertility god
don’t translate well into

code. Yet the kids seem to get a kick
out of things. The tree, tastefully done
sketches of Jesus, the programs for those who

don’t usually attend
do not offend. Hiding
out there in the dark is
of course, the thirst.

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Tom Moore. Broadside illustrated by Megan Carroll.

I bought a pair of earrings*

2019 Merit Award
By Quinn Moore, Grade 4

I bought a pair of earrings
They were sparkly and blue
I loved them and adored them
They were shiny and new

Then you gave me a small rock
Which was very dirty too
But I loved it even more so
Because it came from you

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Quinn Moore. Broadside illustrated by Kimberly Wulfestieg.

Water by Salmon*

2019 Merit Award
By Phelps McIlvaine
After Emily Dickinson’s “WATER IS TAUGHT BY THIRST”

As life is taught by death,
and the Sun by Space,
So, Clouds are taught by Land
and Rains by Place.

As Mountains are taught by Plains,
and Rivers by Lakes,
So, Trees are taught by Soils,
And Elements by their Weight.

As Deserts are taught by Shores,
and Ocean Waves by Wind,
So, Depth is taught by height,
and Tides by Celestial Spin.

As Sound is taught by Silence,
and Insight by Reason,
So, humans are taught by Water
and Water, by Salmon.

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Phelps McIlvaine. Broadside illustrated by Angela Boyle.

the awful days*

2019 Merit Award
By Adam McClusky, Grade 11
after Lord Alfred Tennyson

he clasps the crag with crooked hands close to the sun
in the lonely lands far away from everyone’s beef
enjoying the time alone from the people that annoyed
him the most not craving each pestering pitch that
came out during his day and the odd but pitiful
repeated days wondering how they’re going on with
their Day from the selfishness insecure ways with the
weird vibes given off each day crying for one of his
friends to ask him about his day but that won’t change
so he’ll just stay clasped with his crooked hands close
to the sun in the lonely lands not forgetting a bit
but smiling and laughing about those awful
Days.

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Adam McClusky. Broadside illustrated by Megan Carroll.

. . . . .
i go to Squalicum high school. I play football i also wrestle and went to state for wrestling. I didn’t really like English but now i like it a little more.

i got my inspiration from the guy in the office that no one likes like in the movies. So he just isn’t noticed and just wants people to notice him.