2008 Poetry Contest: 1st Place Winner

Congratulations to Rachel Marshall!

1st place winner

Am I?

Am I too pretty for you?

Am I too complicated for you?

Or am I just too bright, exceptional, astute, smart, brilliant, perceptive, well informed, resourceful, profound, penetrating, original, keen, imaginative, attentive, reasonable, capable, ingenious, knowledgeable, creative, alert, quick-witted, sharp or just plain old discerning?

Or just call it clever because I just used twenty-three words just to say one thing.

Am I intimidating you because I'm outspoken?

I've learned lessons along the years

And so far my faith has not been broken.

Am I wrong to want to succeed,

Because I want success?

Or should I just follow along with your gossip mess?

I'm sorry that I stepped out of the box rather than to stay in it.

I concern myself with political issues such as the Gena 6

World wide issues such as the Genisi

My nation's issues such as how my president and I don't see eye to eye

Keep things on my mind

Like how I can save mankind

I want to be someone important so I will not sit to the side

Nor the back

But I will be in the front

Willing to pull any stunt

To prove my point

Because there is a point to all of this!

So you tell me the answer to the question I am going to ask,

So am I too refined, well-bred, cultured, mature, grown-up, cultivated, matronly, settled, skilled, rounded, broken in or just plain old shrewd for you?

Because I've got news for you,

When you close the magazine,

Turn off the TV,

Turn on the radio,

And your friends are gone and you're all alone

Open a newspaper

And read what has to be read

And the same issues that are in my head

Will now be in your head!

And then you can ask the question to someone else

Am I?

I want to help create my future so I'm not forever blaming my past…

I want people to have memories of me that will forever last…

I want to be that great poetic story teller…

I don't want to be stuck saying "I can do better".

And then you can ask the question to someone else

Am I?

Having mo better blues on a rainy day

And just because it raining that doesn't mean my sky has to be gray

My sun can still shine

And so can I!

I can drown in a flood and still can't wash away what's in my mind

I've taken plenty of time to perfect my mind

So again the question is…AM I?

College Prep Poetry Contest sponsored by Pearson Publishing, College Prep Department North Campus, MDC and Reflections Magazine