Poetry is alive and well for area youngsters

“It seems just possible that a poem might happen to a very young man: but a poem is not poetry — that is a life.” That’s what T.S. Eliot wrote in 1940 about his masterpiece “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” Well, poems just did not happen to the young winners of 22nd Annual Sussex County poetry competition either. Their poems were what they experienced in their own lives. “Love and Honor,” composed by Jennifer Gilfillan won a first place. Jennifer is an eighth grader at Kittatinny Regional High School. It was written from her heart to her brother, a Marine stationed in Japan. She has not seen him for three years. “Sorrow” took a second place. Reverend Brown sixth grade Joseph Brown was inspired to write it by his frequent travel to New York city and being approached by homeless people begging for money. These young poets received their awards at a ceremony held at Sparta Public Library, the sponsor of this annual competition. Close to 500 poems were submitted by sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders this year. The poems were judged by a panel of three judges and are on display at the Sparta Public Library. The winners Eighth grade: First place — “Love and Honor” by Jennifer Gilfillan, Kittatinny High School Second place — “Dandelions” by Sara Sturm, Reverend Brown School Third place — “Retirement Home” by Brittney Mirkov, Reverend Brown School Honorable mention — “Beautiful” by Nicholas VanDeMoere, Kittatinny High School Seventh grade: First place — “A Shining Star” by Morgan Fox, Glen Meadow Middle School Second lace — “The Signs of a Coming Rain” by Violet Reed, Glen Meadow Middle School Third place — “The Traveler” by Katie Dermody, Reverend Brown School Honorable mentions — “I Wish” by Katie Helfrich, Byram Intermediate School “The Magic Meadow” by Maureen Drury, Reverend Brown School “Contents of my Closet” by Amanda Salerno, Reverend Brown School Sixth Grade: First place — “Right Here” by Venessa McClement, Byram Intermediate School Second place — “Sorrow” by Joseph Brown, Reverend Brown School Third place — “The Joy of Books” by Julianna Verso, Hardyston Middle School Honorable mentions — “Opposite Leaders” by Hughie Gardner, Lounsberry Hollow Middle School “Determination” by Nicole Mitchell, Lounsberry Hollow Middle School “My Grandpa” by Michael Ficke, Reverend Brown School