River of Words West Coast Awards Ceremony

Here are the poems and art presented at the 2012 River of Words West Coast Awards Ceremony on April 28 at Saint Mary's College.

In My Grandfather's Backyard

Allison Chang, age 15
Sunnyvale, California
© 2012 River of Words Shasta Bioregion Prize
(Awarded to a San Francisco Bay Area student)

Allison Chang, age 15
Sunnyvale, California
© 2012 River of Words Finalist

For a second

For a second
I am mist
For a second
I am water
For an instant
I am orange flames
If only the moon holds me
If only the moon hugs me

Forever
I keep in my heart
a flame of wisdom
and a drop of courage
as I sleep under
the blazing stars
while the owls look
after me as I sleep

For a second
I am silver
For a second
I am fur
For a moment
I am feather
If only the moon holds me
If only the moon hugs me

Kamala Rose, age 10
Poetry Inside Out
Inverness, California
Teacher: Brian Kirven

A Poem

A poem isn’t a lion
but rather the lion’s roar

A poem isn’t taking
but giving

Isn’t a globe
but the real world

Isn’t a bird
but helping the bird

A poem isn’t thinking
but speaking

Isn’t blending in
but standing out.

Emmalee Wong, age 10
San Francisco, California
Center for the art of Translation / Poetry Inside Out
Teacher: John Oliver Simon

Creek

Gurgling and splashing
Shimmering and flashing
It runs and dances
Walks and prances
It playfully flows
And tickles my toes
It’s cold and clear
Reflects like a mirror
As it swirls around rocks
It gurgles and talks
Sitting by the creek
I feel it playing around my feet.

Alicia Buchter, age 10
Santa Cruz, California
Happy Valley Elementary School
Teacher: Lynn Guenther

Earth, Heat, and Cold

Earth,
North America,
U.S.A.,
California,
San Mateo County,
South San Francisco,
Miller Ave.,
2^nd floor,
Room J,
Desk,
Me.
I think,
I remember,
I write a poem,
I am hot
I want cool.
I wish for a river,
A pool, a pond, a stream,
Rain, water, ice,
On goes the A.C.,
It is cold,
No,
No river,
Not a pool, a pond, a stream,
No rain, water ice,
Just a jacket will do,
For now.

Jimmy Lujan, age 12
Pacifica, California
Ocean Shore School
Teacher: Virginia Szczepaniak