Chester Girl Takes Off With Published Poem in National Magazine

Maria Monaco may only be in seventh grade, but her creative work now has the opportunity to touch peers across the country.

The seventh grade student at Black River Middle School had an original poem published in children’s magazine Highlights in December, titled “Fly…”

The poem, reprinted below courtesy of Highlights Magazine, was printed in the “Your Own Pages” section. More than 35,000 drawings, poems, and other submissions are sent to the magazine on a yearly basis, and are chosen by Highlights to “foster children’s creativity,” the magazine said.

When she’s not writing poems for national publications, Monaco loves playing soccer, writing, dancing, learning, and reading, and wants to be a lawyer when she grows up.

Fly . . .

Once upon a time
in a faraway land,
a golden crane didn’t know how to fly.
He told his story to the twinkling star.
The star replied, “Get a passport and
you’ll be free at night, but try not to
forget your bag with all your might.
You’ll fly to Europe, Antarctica,
and France, wearing your bright
diamond chain. But remember,
I am told, to fly you need the key
to the soul.”

Pictured: Cover of December issue of Highlights Magazine. Photo Courtesy Highlights Magazine.

Subscribe to Mendham-Chester Patch’s free daily newsletter for more local news, and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox, by clicking here.