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.

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high school*

2019 Merit Award
By Karanjot Mann, Grade 12

all the things i do
i remember the times that were twisted,
thrilling, and situations with life turning
after all the kanye west we listened to
i knew you would be a dropout
before you even went to school
the spiraling, sizzling sauces
that juice out of that bacon
all you can think of is the thing
i got 100 situations that i’ve exploited
god i’m tired

all the things i do
puff puff puff,
darn weed
you’re a thief in the night not no chicken
no roll call but you hit me up
at three in the morning
hundred and sixty ALL GONE no insurance
butterfly doors open up through the sky
but there is no one to notice

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Karanjot Mann. Broadside illustrated by Megan Carroll.

The Clown*

2019 Walk Award
By Gavin James Karney, Grade 6

A cheerful clown
bouncing and dancing,
in a small circus.
Late at night.
Noticing he is a horror.

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Gavin James Karney. Broadside illustrated Christian Anne Smith.

Beautiful*

2019 Merit Award
By Gaia Garza, Grade 6

a flower
sitting in a pot
after it was planted
because it was so beautiful
it had to be shown

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Gaia Garza. Broadside illustrated by Megan Carroll.

. . . . .
Gaia Garza is a sixth grader at Whatcom Middle School. She likes drawing and animals. She has a hamster named Ponyo who is orange like the other family pets. She is inspired to learn to play piano.

finding poetry

In case you missed the announcement a couple of weeks ago, The New York Times posted the winners of its annual student poetry contest. This year, the Times challenged students to create blackout poems from pages of the paper’s print edition. They chose 25 winners (from more than 2500 submissions). The poems are creative, beautiful, and poetic. Have a look. And if you think it’s easy, do as the article suggests and try it yourself!

Duet in Five Haiku*

2019 Merit Award
By Anishka Duggal, Grade 11

At the piano
My hand crosses over yours
I don’t play the notes

Keys: our witnesses
Silent black on white eyelids
Closing at first light

Two bodies counting
Time as it moves forward now
Breaking on each beat

Our metronome wants
More than our rippling skin
As it waits sidelined

Move over now the
Practicing bench is too warm
Not meant for us both

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Anishka Duggal. Broadside illustrated by Kimberly Wulfestieg.

Anthropophagi*

2019 Merit Award
By Lucas Cunningham

I felt my head — with wings of silk
Off of my shoulders fly
It chirped — but once — before the Dusk
Did fill the auburn sky

I thought to think I could not think
Forsaken was my Mind —
And in its place beneath my neck
The Face it left behind

Blind and bereft — all that was Left
Once nightward thoughts had flown —
A gasping mouth — upon my Heart
A face but left Alone

I know not now where flew my Head
Nor how it felt to Die —
But I know grief — the Hunger of
The Anthropophagi

. . . . .
*Copyright 2019 by Lucas Cunningham. Broadside illustrated by Angela Boyle.

. . . . .
Lucas Cunningham is a senior at Sehome High School. He will be attending Pomona College, where he plans to study environmental science and creative writing. This is his first published poem, but he hopes to pursue more writing opportunities in the future.

“Anthropophagi” was inspired by the author’s AP Lit class. While reading Othello, the class stumbled upon a particularly intriguing illustration, and so the “anthropophagi” became a kind of motif throughout the year. The poem is written in the style of Emily Dickinson, but its heart will always remain with Ms. Nyman’s 3rd period class.