International Homeschooling
2020 Contest Winners
Patriotism
2021
Poetry Contest
Theme
A short message from our poetry Judge
Kathy Mellor
While it is an honor to judge the poetry submitted, it is also tremendously difficult to look at all the work and heart that went into each one and deem one better than another. I commend all the participants for their excellence, it is no small thing to bare your soul on paper. My hope is that whether or not you won, you continue putting pen to paper and develop your gift for sharing thoughts and feelings through poetry.
Grand Prize Winner
Reagan Dregge
Minnesota
Adult
Nessie
The Loch Ness Monster's
shape was born
In shadow-shrouded chasms
Long thought to haunt the
misty deeps
Of cold and lightless fathoms
Some say she is a
fairy beast
A figment spun from tales
While others claim a
dinosaur
Or remnant kin of whales
Myths multiply and
theories mount
But just the other day
I watched her swallow
up the sun
Then wink and float away!
2nd
Elena
14 years old
Utah
A Plea to the King
How could the earth be a boring abyss
With all the people such as this:
The soldiers who never say a word?
Or the dancer whose music is always heard?
What of the storyteller whose shows are worthwhile,
Bringing to the children smile upon smile?
Or the workers who seem not to have names
Yet always have time for the children’s games?
Or the little toddlers with two left feet
Who follow their parents like little lost sheep?
They might seem like stepping stones in the ground.
But with them here the earth is crowned.
Not with the metal that you may believe
But with all of the things that they can achieve.
So, I ask of thee- right here, right now,
If thou wilt hear my pleaded vow;
To see the world as it really should be
Not things in the way of thy decree.
And while they need not show their worth-
(As that has been useless since their birth),
I ask of thee, O’ King O’ Mine,
If thou wilt see this as a sign-
To have error is human and that's all we can be,
To change is divine so that's what I ask of thee.
1st
Elaena
13 years old
Virginia
The Still River
The river is still,
as still as a painting,
yet just as a painting,
it is full of motion.
Upon the still river,
the round orb like shape of the Moon,
leading the stars
like a shepherd leads his sheep.
Then once a month,
when the shepherd goes to sleep,
the stars twinkle
and dance across the night sky.
Then, when the night turns to day,
the sun appears, a fiery maiden,
her golden hair rippling behind her.
Her dress and shoes made of gold,
riding in a orange chariot
pulled by fiery birds,
leading her army of clouds
against the armies of rain.
Just as they start to win the battle,
her own forces betray, and banish her.
All this reflected on the still river.
3rd
Kathryn
9 years old
Arkansas
He is Coming
When the sky is dark,
And the thunder claps.
He is coming.
When the trees tremble,
And the earth quakes.
He is coming.
When the wind whirls,
And the rain falls.
He is coming.
When the rain stops falling,
And the earth stops quaking.
He has come.
Published Poets
Adult
Reagan Dregge
Minnesota
Nessie (Grand Prize Winner)
Faith
Melissa Crowther
Utah
Sanctuary
Winter's Wait
Juliette Hiller
Oh, Smiling Moon
Middle School
Elena - 13 years old
Virginia
A Still River
Grace - 13 years old
Nevada
Opportunity
Caden - 12 years old
South Korea
My Sweet Little Sister
Teen
Elena
14 years old
Utah
A Plea to the King
Lily
17 years old
Louisiana
Quarantine
Adison
14 years old
Utah
When Imagination Takes Role
Elementary
Kathryn - 9 years old
Arkansas
He is Coming
Cayden - 10 years old
Indiana
A Seed I Sow
Jordan - 9 years old
Winter
Authors Pick
Kylie - 10 years old
Texas
Deadly Dreams
Isla - 11 years old
ZAMBIA
The Killamanine
Cambry - 12 years old
Virginia
Seaside ABC's
Max - 5 years old
AUSTRALIA
Best of the Best
These poems will also
be published