Haiku Hotshots

The Beaverton City Library recently celebrated National Poetry Month with an annual writing contest for teens. The contest is generously supported by the Beaverton Library Foundation, which awards cash prizes in each age division: middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Each year, teen librarians choose a different poetic format; this year’s was the Haiku.

This was the tenth anniversary of the contest and one of the biggest competitions yet, with over 900 entries from students throughout the Beaverton area. The panel of distinguished judges included members of the Teen Library Council, who weighed in on their favorite work, and youth services librarians who made final decisions based on originality, voice, overall impression and adherence to the poetic format.

This year, judging was a difficult task because there were so many wonderful entries. We hope you will enjoy reading the winning entries as much as we did! The Beaverton City Library offers a variety of contests and programs for teens throughout the year. For more information, please visit the website: www.BeavertonLibrary.org/teens.

First Place

by Carly S., Grade 11

Tears welling in clouds

Reach the mouths of the Squirmers

Who marry the earth.

Second Place

by Belen P., Grade 10

Heavy like thick rain,

But destructive like strong swell.

I just described guilt.

Third Place

by Jack R., Grade 10

I had a girlfriend

I had a superpower

And then I woke up

Honorable Mention

by Katie C., Grade 9

Sunlight gleaming off

Calm water in the garden

Two radiant suns

First Place

by Marcell S., Grade 7

Shiny red apple

Delicious crunchy oval

Yanks my white tooth out

Second Place

by Andrew P., Grade 8

Age: Measured in rings.

But by the scars on our trunks

We learn who we are

Third Place

by Robbie M., Grade 6

Muddy bonds trap me

I break free with great green stem

Color explosion

Honorable Mention

by Sara R., Grade 6

SEVEN continents,

A BILLION people plus,

And only ONE me.

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