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TEEN 12 - 14  Sponsored by J. Graham Publishing

   First Place—Rose Heffernan - Oakville, ON

Rosie says that everything she writes, in school too, is ridiculously long and has a hard time at cutting things out and is horrible at "keeping it short."

Winner 1 - Certificate + $ 15.00 CAD
 

My Favourite Things

Some of my favourite things
Are imaginary things
Like an unpolluted planet
And a world where everyone's equal
And if you look up the world 'bully' in the dictionary
It won't be there.
But some of my favourite things do exist
Like polka dots
Leggings
Laughing
Walks
Hockey
Flowers
Music
Converse
Pajama pants
Smiling
Elephants
Beaches
Trees
And the smell of rain
And Life.
Some of my favourite things
Are imaginary things
But that's okay
Because all I have to do
To reach my favourite things
Is close my eyes.

                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Second Place—Rose Heffernan - Oakville, ON

Winner 2 - Certificate + $ 10.00 CAD
 

How to Take out the Trash

T'was the day I finally took out the trash,
Rotten eggs and spoiled milk fell down with a splash.
It slipped into my hair; it spilled in my eye,
I can tell you right then, I wanted to die.

It all started when I got into a fight,
My mother screamed, "YOU TAKE OUT THAT TRASH TONIGHT!"
"NO!" I screamed back, ran upstairs, slammed the door,
I was thereby on strike, forever more.

The strike remained successful for days, months, a year!
Until my mother came and said, "Listen, dear?
I know we're angry with each other but this fight is getting old,
The trash had reached the ceiling and the ceiling's growing mold."

Of course I didn't believe her? up to the ceiling?
But when I neared the kitchen, I got this funny feeling.
The smell, it was disgusting; totally atrocious,
Something was coming up my mouth, something ferocious.

*This poem will now be put on hold as the next scene is simply too disgusting to describe it. Please, sit down and have a cookie. Did you hear the one about the goldfish? It's the most valuable fish in the world! HA, HA, HA! And the one about the-
Oh! My lovely secretary says the scene is over, now. Thank you, and have a simply, dandy day.*

I finally took the trash out, 200 meters in height,
My mother did win the battle, but certainly not the fight.
Truth to be told, I'm glad I finally saw the light,
But please don't tell my mother? I hate it when she's right!

                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Third Place—Rose Heffernan - Oakville, ON

Winner 3 - Certificate + $   5.00 CAD
 

Feeling Thankful

Sometimes when I'm feeling down
I think of all the people who go through life
Ten times worse than I do.
When I'm feeling sick
I think of the kids who know
They only have hours left
But they are in such pain
They wouldn't mind dying
Right there
Right then
And when they finally die
They're thankful.
When I don't want to study for a test
I think of the kids who are so poor
They can't even afford to get an education
And the kids who walk
18 miles to get to school
To learn their multiplication facts
At age 16
And I thank God
That I can afford it
Those kids who walk 18 miles
They're thankful.
When I have to do chores
I think of all the young kids
Who work day and night
For hours on end
Just so they can get enough money
To get a spoonful of rice to eat tonight
And if they succeed
They're thankful.
So why aren't we?

                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1  Honorable Mention

A Silent Prayer

Stephen Francesco Albino Sansalone
Whitby, ON