Judges on Monday announced the winners in the Homer Council on the Arts pandemic poetry contest, “Fruits of Quarantine.”
The winners are Sofia Loboy, seventh grade, middle school division; Ciere Legin, 10th grade, high school division; and Jo Going, adult division. Along with publication in the Homer News, the poets also each receive a Homer Bookstore gift certificate.
Entries included a school class from the International School Palermo, in Italy. Judging the contest were Devony Lehner, Linda Martin, Mercedes Harness, Mae Remme, Erin Kirkland and Heather Beggs. Some of the comments the judges had about the contest were ““this made me laugh when needed,” “strength from specificity,” “charming and thoughtful words,” “reading these has been a great break” and “so many totally cool glimpses into these intriguing private realms.”
The Homer Council on the Arts also announced the winners in its COVID-19 Prevention Poster Contest last month. The winners are Amelia Lee, kindergarten; Kiano Slaughter, fourth grade; Rainey Sundheim, seventh grade, and Natalie Farren, sixth grade. Posters featuring their art work as well as other submissions are on display in the front windows of the Homer Council on the Arts office on West Pioneer Avenue. Posters also are available to hang around town. Call 235-4288 for more information.
Fruits of Quarantine poetry contest
Middle school winner
“Untitled”
By Sofia Loboy
We sat
Unknowing
Sharing snacks
Careless
We talked
An inch apart
Ranting
Careless
We breathed
Air
No mask
Careless
My fingers Reach
last high five
My ears Echo
final goodbye
My mind
Screaming, Chasing, Grasping
to be
Careless
High school winner
“Life in Pandemic”
By Ciera Legin
Don’t go outside, that sounds like the gist
Stay in your homes, I hear them insist
Don’t go see your friends, don’t talk face to face
Stand six feet apart, give plenty of space
Go to the store, hoard what you may need
Deprive all the others, by acting on greed
Hospitals full, leaving nowhere to go
Doctors are scared, and rightfully so
World leaders are liars, who can we trust?
When everything’s turning, from ashes to dust
This will not end, not anytime soon
Until we learn, how to sing this new tune
Wash hands, wear masks, and sanitize
Don’t touch your face, mouth, nose or eyes
Obey all instruction, for this too shall pass
If all these precautions, are taken en mass
Stay home by yourself, it’s called isolation
Together apart, across every nation
Through every challenge, and storm we may weather
Remember: we’re all in this together
Adult winner
“Acceptance”
By Jo Going
Twice a day
the tides change, and the signs
in the sand
fold into themselves, disappearing in a froth of white foam.
For years have I watched, barefoot in solitude,
to see where they go. Sometimes an ache can run,
feeting, through the heart
and disappear in the brush, without ever seeing
the curved antlers and soft eyes,
the delicate hooves. Sometimes you simply stand,
silent, hands in mittens, just watching
all that can give, so easily,
and just so easily, take away.
This poster by Kiano Slaughter, 4th grade Chapman School, is one of the winners in the Homer Council on the Arts COVID-19 Prevention Poster contest. The posters are available from the arts council for display at businesses. (Photo courtesy of Homer Council on the Arts.)
This poster by Natalie Farren, 6th grade, West Homer Elementary School, is one of the winners in the Homer Council on the Arts COVID-19 Prevention Poster contest. The posters are available from the arts council for display at businesses. (Photo courtesy of Homer Council on the Arts.)
This poster by Rainey Sundheim, 7th grade, Homer Middle School, is one of the winners in the Homer Council on the Arts COVID-19 Prevention Poster contest. The posters are available from the arts council for display at businesses. (Photo courtesy of Homer Council on the Arts.)
