Celebrate National Library Month!

MTPS Poetry Contest Winners!

We had 630 poems entered into our MTPS Poetry Contest and here are the winners from each level. Please note there was a tie for first place at the middle school level. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to our winners!

Elementary School Winner - Cody Melnick

"Together" by Cody Melnick, Grade 5 (Fairview Elementary School)

People are nervousTime to be kindSo many changesIn a short period of time
Shelves are emptyCan't buy a thingStay at home is in orderGive someone you love a ringTake this time to breatheTry not to fallDon't take one day for grantedShow love through it all
Show compassionDo your bestCheck on someoneWith a simple text
One day at a timeAll lives matterTOGETHER in unityThis virus we will shatter

Middle School Winner -

Joseph Capuno

"Nodus Tollens" by Joseph Capuno, Grade 8 (Bayshore Middle School)

Eager and excitedYou start flipping Through the pages Of a new book called Life
While readingYou start screening and repeatingEach word, Each sentenceThat might have the true meaning
SuddenlyYou figure outThat your whole journeyHas taken a new route
You start to become engagedReading one page after anotherLittle by littleAnd a little bit more
ThenA wall begins to separateBetween you and your fateYour journey seems to deviateLike a fish falling for the baitOr the perfect lifeThat never should've changed
PanickingThe words seem to changeStarting to rearrangeInto somethingThat is too foreigntoo strange
You begin to thinkWhere your story went wrongHarshly analyzing Your mistakesYour opportunitiesYour failuresEverything
The pages begin tearing apartThe words and the sentencesInside the walls of your mind
People keep asking you"How are you?""I'm great, I'm fine"It's fine that I didn't get a chance to shineI'm sorry that you didn't have toRedesign your lifestyleTo become someoneWho's become a blank, manila file
But thing isWhat the story doesn't realizeIs that everything Was just a lie
Right before you lose faithOne sentence states"Where were you,""We need you,""We love you,"
And then you realizeEver since the first wordYou were never immersed in the pagesFlying through life's stagesAnd never truly caringThe meaning of anythingIf at all
ButAs the story reaches an endA plot twist occursSmiling, you realizeThat your story Your opportunitiesYour achievementsYour experiences
Was to find yourselfAt the end

Middle School Winner -

Sean Decker

"Not Everything is Bad" by Sean Decker, Grade 7 (Thompson Middle School

Oh, TodayEverything’s awfulThe damage being done seems oh so colossalBut instead of focusing on how the world is in troubleWhy don’t you sit back with a nice plate of waffles
I’m not trying to say that you should pay no attentionTo this god awful virus and its evil intentionsI just don’t want you to dwell on this in domestic detentionInstead use this time for a self reinvention
Take advantage of the time away from the officeBy picking back up the guitar in your closetOr by taking the time to learn to make chocolateOr by sitting back and rereading The Hobbit
What you really need to do to help save the landIs make sure you regularly wash your handsSo if you can help it please don’t go out and aboutBecause the safest place right now is inside your house

High School Winner - Sara Deuidicubus

"Grain after Grain" by Sara Deuidicibus, Grade 12 (HS North)

My life is like sand, and I live on the shore.I’m sparkling and white, but reflect so much more.People walk over me while never thinking twice,So I lay out a path and try to be nice.Others rely on me for grain after grain,And I always help them, although it’s a strain.
A girl takes a piece of me to build her fort,Then decides on a castle, which I have to support.A boy digs into me with a stray stick,And when he is not satisfied, he gives me a swift kick.A woman drains me to fill her jar,And leaves behind a gaping hole - a scar.A man shovels me up to melt into glass,Then returns day after day - depleting my mass.
have so much potential, which others can see,But instead of being thankful - they take advantage of me.I try to protest, I try to groan,But my dismay is smothered by the sea foam.And when I become tired and angry and beat,No one comes to save me - they are no longer sweet.
But when my hills reach their lows,I come to accept that this is how it goes.Then, suddenly, a wave crashes from above,Filling my gaps and flooding me with love.Now, I feel joyous as I did long ago,But my dreams and wishes - I still did not know.Where I wanted to be - I still did not know.Why I helped when I couldn’t - I still did not know.The moment will come when I get to live,But until then - I will just give, and give, and give.

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