Bedford Library Poetry Contest Winners Announced

There's a group of young poets in Bedford eager to join the ranks of such poets as Robert Frost and Shel Silverstein. 

Eighty-five budding writers submitted original work for the 4th Annual Poetry Contest, sponsored by the Friends of the Bedford Free Library, and nine were recognized for their achievement in a ceremony and ice cream social held on May 27.

The contest, for children aged 6-18, encouraged young authors to identify themes and create original poems for a blind judging. Three age groups, 6-9, 10-12, and 13-18 each had a first place, second place and honorable mention category.

The four judges included Mark Ceconi, a fifth grade teacher at Bedford Village, Kathy Greenwood, an English teacher at the Rippowam Cisqua School as well as local poets Patricia Hart and Rita Mercedes.

Kathy Greenwood said while judging the contest they looked at the content of the writing as well as voice and technique. "There should be evidence of their craft and we should be able to hear their personal voice come through in the poem," she stated.

Ann Cloonan, Director of the Bedford Free Library, said the contest was created to commemorate National Poetry Month in April. Children spent April creating their original work and gathered at the library on May 27 to hear the winners.   

"The contest is a great way for children to get involved with the library and do something fun with words, outside of reading," said Cloonan. She's thrilled with how the contest has grown: Over the last four years, entrants have more than doubled.

While waiting for the winners to be announced, poets and guests enjoyed Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream with toppings. Cloonan said the ice cream social is something the library likes to do for the community and is a great draw for people to gather there.

At precisely 4:00 p.m., their bellies satisfied with ice cream, eager children and their parents gathered around the back porch of the library to hear Maureen McManus, Bedford librarian, announce the winners. Winners who were present came forth to read their poem aloud, and collect a certificate and a small cash prize.

Poet Annie Strongwater, who won second place in the 10-12 age group for her poem entitled "A Glimpse of Autumn," said she was inspired by a seasonal poem she heard in school.

"I used the first line of a poem that I studied in her fifth grade class about winter, and I changed it to reflect autumn; I built the rest of her poem around that theme," she said.

Susannah Davies, whose poem "Feet of Summer" won Honorable Mention in the 13-18 year old age group also wrote about the seasons. She said as summer is getting closer she is eager for school to end and was thinking about the feeling of mud on her bare feet when she penned the poem.

Students also showed their sense of humor. Julia Raboy, who took first place in the 6-9 category, wrote a poem entitled "First Day Troubles," in which she described her horror at the fancy, frilly dress her grandmother sewed for her to wear on the first day of fourth grade.

Many of the entrants said they aspire to be writers when they grow up. Warren Kennedy-Nolle, who won second place in the 6-9 category, and was a first place winner last year, said he is currently at work on his first novel.

Here's a full list of winners:

Age 6-9

1st place – "First Day Troubles" by Julia Raboy

2nd place – "Presence of Fall" by Warren Kennedy Nolle

Honorable Mention – "Lightning Bugs" by Sam Levy 

Age 10-12

1st Place – "Secret Language" by Kyle Heller

2nd Place – "Glimpse of autumn" by Annie Strongwater

Honorable Mention – "Pantoum for these Bananas" by Michael Morin

Age 13-18

1st Place – "Fortune Cookies" by Nina Wagner

2nd Place – "Nightwatch" by Alexandra Del Bello

Honorable Mention – "Feet of Summer" by Susannah Davies