HALDIMAND—Haldimand County Public Library’s 12th annual April Poetry Contest was a community favourite again this year, with nearly 200 poems submitted by individuals of all ages across Haldimand County. The event has categories for Primary (Grades K-3), Junior (4-6), Intermediate (7-10), and adult (18-up).
The theme of this year’s contest was “Family” and participants were asked to express through poetry the importance of family, what family means to them, or a specific aspect of family life, such as love, birth, or loss.
Please enjoy this selection of winning poems from this year’s contest.
Adult Category
1st place – ‘Family’ by Mary (Bonnie) McKinnon
I get down on my knees and I pray
Thanking God each and every day,
For the love of my family, I’m so glad
Because in 1988, they lost their dad!
My sons and daughter weren’t very old
Some of their dreams were put on hold,
Money was scarce but there was lots of love
I’m sure Dave is proud looking from above!
Jeff, David and Bonnie Jean are my everything
Of their praises each day, I profoundly sing,
They have families of their own and busy as can be
But my kids still find time to visit me!
Being old is not as bad as some say
Thanks to my family visits, I enjoy being grey,
Now that I’m in my 84th year
More often on my doorstep they appear!
I go to their houses now for a delicious meal
And all of them say, it’s not a big deal,
I love you my children and am so glad
To express my feelings, even if the poem is bad!
Look up and see the skies of blue
That’s your mother’s wish for you,
If a few raindrops should fall
That’s your Dad saying: “I love you all!”
2nd Place – The Bond by Deborah Beauchamp
Four strong, young arms
around the old man.
Two daughters holding him
as he takes his last hard breath.
They will never forget their bond
with each other in this moment.
A moment,
that they realized the meaning of family
and their own immortality.
3rd Place – ‘Family’ by Odeyne Wodskou
Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers all make a family.
Some are bigger, some are smaller;
all share love it’s plain to see.
We live together day by day;
Go out to work, come home to play.
We get together as much as we’re able
To gather ‘round the family table.
Sharing news and plans and such;
Always trying to keep in touch.
Sometimes our family is far away,
And then our phones are the only way
To visit with them once in a while;
Getting together brings many more smiles.
Remember if you have to roam,
Your family waits for you at home.
Primary Category
1st place- ‘Family is Great’ by Ally Houwer
Finding treasure is great,
But the greatest treasure of all is family.
Some come small, some come big
Warm houses with love and care
waiting for you
Dinner on the table to fill hungry tummies
Beds to keep us warm on cold nights
Lovely music to fill the air
Clean clothes to wear
Pushes on the swing
Warm hugs to cheer you up
Reading books together on the couch
Popcorn and movies on Friday‘s
Bedtime prayers to keep us safe
This is what makes family my treasure.
2nd Place – ‘What Family Means to Me’ by Jacob Houwer
Family means…
Playing in the sandbox with my brother
Going for tractor rides with Grandpappy
Fishing with Daddy
Having eggs with Grandpa
Visiting neighbours with Mom
Going on the swings with my sisters
Eating tasty snacks that Nana makes
Biking to get ice-cream with my cousins
Having Kraft Dinner with Beppe
Family is great
I love my family
3rd Place – ‘What Makes a Family’ an acrostic by McKye Roberts and Holden Hensen
Forgives each other
An awesome group
Makes mistakes
Is including
Loves to help each other
Yay! Now you know my family
Junior Category
1st place – ‘Young and old’ by Gracelyn Polillo
Your days have gone by
like rain drops on the grass
and you were once young
but now at last
you are old, tired and worn out
energy flees like water from a spout
but then you get news
that changes your blues
your family is coming to visit you
the presence of loved ones brightens your mood
the joy of seeing your family and how they have grown
the memories you share
from the seeds you have sewn
it brightens the darkness
and brings joy to your heart
as you realize true love
keeps families from being apart
2nd Place Junior Category
‘My Family Tree’ by Finnley Vanderwier
My brother likes reading,
And listening to books,
About Holmes and Watson,
With lots of thieves and crooks.
My sister loves piano,
Harry potter and Peeves,
Also P.G Wodehouse,
“Very good Jeeves!”.
My big bro’s a musician,
He plays electric guitar,
In the musical world,
I think he’ll get far.
My dad loves his garden,
His plants and his trees,
He wants a functional farm,
So we just bought some bees.
My mom likes cooking,
And going on walks,
She walks to the farm,
In her cheetah print crocs.
That’s my whole family,
So it just leaves me,
But that’s the extent,
Of my family tree.
3rd Place Junior Category
‘The Best Family Ever’ by Addison Carrigan
My family is my whole world.
They make sure that I’m safe.
They love me so much.
When I’m down or frustrated they’re in my corner.
They’re my happy place
When I’m with them they make my heart light up with joy/
I say to myself, ”I’m so fortunate to have
such an amazing family.”
They’re so important to me.
My family is the best thing in the world.
I love you.
You are the thing that is keeping me going.
Intermediate Category
1st place – ‘The Grace of Family Embrace’ by Eidam Rosalin
Stone by stone,
A house is formed.
Through bleeding sacrifices,
New life is born.
It’s the weight
Of a hand
On your shoulder,
The unspoken
Promise
That you’re not
Alone.
Through whispered secrets,
And stories told,
From parent’s care
To siblings’ share
Family is a gift
One cannot clone.
In every hug,
A world unfolds.
Destined to carry a legacy,
Though
Every trail,
Every test.
Sincerely,
I am blessed.
Created through
their fiery embrace,
Bound by blood,
Forges into
Hopes
And
Dreams
And
Echoes
Of
Their grace.
Like a beacon in the dark,
They are our guiding light.
Through every trail
And every test,
Family stays in sight.
Cherish your family,
Hold them tight.
Past life and death,
Our souls reunite.
From our roots to our wings,
Family’s love gives us light
Finishing their legacy,
We spread our wings
And take flight.
2nd Place – ‘My Big Brother’ by Maddox Vanderwier
My brother is a monster,
Sneaking to the stove,
Devouring at 2am,
And stamping up above.
He has a vast knowledge of gaming,
Which he likes to talk about,
In the shower hear him singing,
I try to sleep while he shouts.
In the morning he is grumpy,
The afternoon he’s full of cheek,
In the evening he’s hungry,
And he likes to call me ‘freak’.
But in the end he is my brother,
The one that I was given,
So I’ll love him through it all,
Big and small – thick and thin.
3rd Place – ‘Family’ by Russell Polillo
Whether close or far
Travelling by plane or car
The moments we share
With family who care
Brings a smile to our faces
Even if we live in different places
Family is a bond that cannot be broken
as valuable as a gold token
The good the bad
along with the happy and sad
Family is there for it all
Together none shall fall.
