Date: Fri 26-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANN

Quick Words:

poets-Simone

Full Text:

Celebrating Young Poets

(with cut)

"Poetry is the language in which man explores his own amazement," wrote

Christopher Fry, and that is just what students from Newtown Middle School can

attest to. Fran Simone's English class received news earlier this week that

poetry they had written was accepted for publication. Simone worked with her

students to create the poems that were submitted to the Young Poets Contest

sponsored by Creative Communication.

The poetry is to be published in an upcoming anthology entitled A Celebration

of Young Poets. Winning poems and other high merit entries will be

highlighted. The publication date is expected to be in late June this year.

The poems were judged by a team of writers and educators who have a background

in literature and education. Poems were selected on their literary merit,

creativity and social merits.

At first, students were not convinced they would enjoy writing poetry. Once

engaged in the project, however, they had a definite change of heart.

"I didn't like writing poems, but realized this was fun and was happy to be

published," said Jonathan Butler, "I've never had anything published before!"

Christina Wolf appreciated that she now understood poetry better than before

she started.

The following students' poems have been accepted for publication:

Grade Six: Erik Bagger, Gregory Baumgart, Maggie Boushell,Jonathan

Butler,Jared Cohen, Sarah Colacurcio, Kimberly Correa, Emily C. Cunningham,

Sara Davis, Amber Finlayson, Dave Freestone, Stephanie Greenfield, Vincent

Guilfoil,Andrew Heller, Sarah Hemingway, Richard Hood, Allison Hornak, Patrick

Keating, Tyler Knapp, Kyle Lyddy, Zach Lyon, Nicholas Magoulas, Nick

Mentesana, David Modzelewski, Dan Morehouse, Michael Nester, Scott Newberry,

Lesley Oberstadt, Juli Pressmar, Robert Raino, Lauren A. Reed, Alex Rote,

Scott Shpunt, Brian C. Smith, Ben Striano, Jenna Wilkie, and Christina Wolf.

Grade Seven: Diana Bowen and Angela Lam.

Grade Eight: Justin Ceneviva and Brian C. Smith

My Dad

By Scott Shpunt

His name is Jerry. Other people call him Jer, but I call him Dad.

He is a banker. He uses numbers at work, with the precision of a calculator.

When he comes home from work he changes his suit and his attitude.

He throws the football to me, an oval rocket hurtling through the air.

When we wrestle he usually wins because he's bigger and stronger.

He provides and protects me. He helps me with many things.

I love my dad very much, and he loves me too.

My Mother

By Amber Finlayson

My Mother is trustworthy, a box that keeps everything inside. I can tell her

anything. She wouldn't tell a single soul. She gives so much to my brothers,

sister, and me, an old lady on the street with nothing for herself, but still

smiles for others.

A sunshine in the spring, she is a bright person. She uses her knowledge on

all of us, a great story to hear.

She sticks to her children, wall paper on a wall. An eraser, she changes the

mistakes we do.

She is fun to be with, a playful puppy wanting to play.

She is beautiful, a model getting ready for a show.

She is my mom, and I love her a lot!

My Mom

By Sara Davis

My mom is a burning candle.

She is always there to light up a dark room so you can see.

She is always ready to guide me through the darkness of uncertainty,

Leading her flame ahead for me to follow.

When I am cold, her flame will make me warm.

She teaches me to be independent by burning me when I lean too much on her.

When her flame is extinguished,

Mine will light up because her flame has taught me so well.

My Favorite Cousin

By Zach Lyon

My cousin is a great lion,

Protective, caring, smart, and very calm,

Enjoyable, funny, dependable, loyal,

He cares very much about all of his family and friends,

To me, a second father.

He is twenty three years old, proud and strong,

Comes and does everything with me.

Whether camping, dining, or even hanging out,

He is like the never ending tree sprout.

Nothing can get him down, or push him around,

Because of his bravery, courage, and powerful will.

Brad is my very best cousin,

And he is worth everything in the world to me!

My Radical Dad

By Robert Raino

My dad is like a coat.

He is strong and protecting me from snow.

He is a rock, hard and powerful he fights off predators.

He gives me shelter to protect me from any harsh condition to show that he

loves me.

He is a bird that builds me shelter.

He is a gentle robin, but when predators come, he fights them off just for me.

My dad is the key to my kingdom.

He gives me shelter like a beaver to its young.

If it wasn't for my dad my life would never be the same.

Mrs Karkut

By Scott Newberry

Mrs Karkut is a suit of armor, keeping the dyslogistic words away from me,

Her ringing voice blocks out all others, her tough mentality protects me from

the hurts of others.

She leads me into a battle of pure glory and takes me to the top,

Her keen double bladed silver sword gives me the power to fight back. Her

chain mail keeps away the poverty stricken dottards who try to make me cool,

She takes in all the blows, when others try to cut through, they cut hard, but

with no avail,

She is a suit of armor, leading me to glory in a battle called life.