November 2009

First Place:

N/A

by Mary Kelly McCormick

 

Removed at the request of the poet.

 

Honorable Mention:

 

GIVING THANKS

by Victoria Maynard

 

In days of yore, a feast was planned

to celebrate this brand new land

a place, where people would be free

to live, and worship reverently

not fearing their religions, banned.

 

They learned to farm and till the sand

a meager harvest, yet so grand

the Wampanog 's, shared their bounty

In days of yore.

 

We thank that small courageous band

our forefathers, who set their hand

against the winter's cruelty,

surviving, through frugality

and daily toil; They made their stand,

In days of yore.

 

 

Special Form Poem: Rondeau

 

Thanksgiving Day

by John Vincent Palozzi

 

Thanksgiving Day comes once again

it's time to pray and say amen

then pass the bowls filled with the food

we've come to share. Do not exclude

the crude or rude who have no yen

from feasting on the julienne

of from partaking of the hen.

 

We all must feed the multitude

Thanksgiving Day.

 

So let us join with kin and friend

around the table one again

with joy and loving attitude

to fill this yearly interlude.

 

For that's the purpose of this when-

Thanksgiving Day!

Second Place:

 

Homing

by Ruth E. Dickinson


Something holds me here,

A greenness, treeness,

salty sweetness

hold me homing here.


Birdsong,

peeping-frog song,

the bell buoy's fogsong

hold me homing here.


Something sought,

longed for

holds me homing here.

 

Honorable Mention:

 

Elderly Mother

by Shirley Kent


Dark coal clouds of forgetfulness

Ever keeping one's soul on track

Diamond facets of mindfulness

Hiding under shadows of black

Ever keeping one's soul on track

Tasting sour like some bad Bordeaux

Hiding under shadows of black

With mind scattering to and fro

Tasting sour like some bad Bordeaux

Buried memories of our past

With mind scattering to and fro

Not knowing what has happened last

Buried memories of our past

Diamond facets of mindfulness

Not knowing what has happened last

Dark coal clouds of forgetfulness