Sarah Mook Poetry Contest

Sarah Mook Poetry Contest Results, 2018

Dear Participants, 

Thank you for entering the Sarah Mook Poetry Contest. It is my great pleasure to read all of your poems before passing the finalists along to judge Marie Kane. Congratulations to all the poets! I wish to express my gratitude to the teachers, parents, and mentors who support these young writers.

 Each winning poet receives a cash award: First $100, Second $50, and Third $25. 

K-2 First: “The Beautiful Day” by Viola Podgurski-Yates, Pipersville, PA

Judge's Comments

K-2 Second: “Moving On" by Eliza Disz, Sarasota, FL

Judge's Comments

K-2 Third: "The Icy Lake Rhythm" by Wesley Erk, Pipersville, PA

Judge's Comments

3-5 First: “What I Wanted” by Maya Millman, Great Neck, NY

Judge's Comments

3-5 Second: “Ode to My Violin” by Dylan Zhang, Winston Salem, NC

Judge's Comments

3-5 Third: “One Shadow in the Sea” by Lily Bettcher, New Bern, NC

Judge's Comments

6-8 First: "Dear Minty” P1 P2 by Reyna-Leyah E. Solomon, Gladwyne, PA

Judge's Comments

6-8 Second: “Together” by Oscar Herrera, Edgecomb, ME

Judge's Comments

6-8 Third: “Human” by Emerson Harris, Edgecomb, ME

Judge's Comments

9-12 First: “Ode to Margarine” by Maggie Farren, Oak Park, IL

Judge's Comments

9-12 Second: “Learning Masculinity" P1 P2 by Corina Robinson, Oak Park, IL

Judge's Comments

9-12 Third: “The Unit of Happiness” by Shivani Parulekar, Hackensack, NJ 

Judge's Comments

A note from Marie Kane: Congratulations! I am honored each year to read these poems. Thank you all for sharing them! Your willingness to be honest, brave, yet still poetic, speaks to your talent as writers. Your poetry captivated me with its striking visual images, inventive use of metaphor and other poetic devices, original approaches to topic, mature voice, and economic and definitive language. There is much to read here—nature’s solace, parental events, illness, loss, and love of music and life all demonstrate your skill with and appreciation for the written word. 

New this year, Sarah's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Olwen Jarvis, came up with the idea of a prize especially for kindergarteners, an opportunity for these youngest poets to earn cash awards to be used for the purchase of books for their school libraries. Mrs. Jarvis also generously provided funding for these awards. We are grateful to her for honoring Sarah and these young poets:

First: "At the Beach with Dad" by Ryo Sato-Papagiannis, Edgecomb, ME    

Judge's comments: This poem evoked a delightfully happy picture for me. The way the writing comes together seems very much like a child of five or six years of age "thinking out loud". There is observation of other things happening on the beach, the size of the waves, being there with Gigi, the horses.  "I liked going to the beach with Dad". ending with the original thought.  This little piece has solidarity! Congratulations young poet keep on writing!                                                                                               

Second: "Decorating the Christmas Tree" by Darin Walker, Edgecomb, ME       

Judge's comments: Everyone in the family is involved in this piece of writing! Busyness bubbles throughout. I could sense the mess of glitter and glue and best of all making the decorations, not buying them! There is love in this poem. The last two lines bring the family together, just as it should be at Christmas! A thoughtful piece for a 5/6-year-old. Well done, continue to put your thoughts on paper for others to enjoy!  

Third: "Sports on my Mind" by Caleb Bynum, Charlotte, NC

Judge's comments: Absolutely what a six-year-old would say! However...the last line cinched it…. this should have been the first line! This child loves sports but right now in his heart he wants a PET DRAGON!  Here we have imagination, surprise and delight! Well done! I hope you got your dragon!



Thank you also for your donations! A contribution of $432 was made in Sarah’s name to Save the Children Fund, which provides much-needed services to struggling children throughout the world. 

Award letters will go out to the winning poets very soon. Winning poems will be published on the website in a few weeks.  Please check the website later this summer. Thank you for helping to honor Sarah and her gift of poetry. Have a safe and happy summer! 

Sincerely,

David Mook and Family