VoicesNet Anthology International Poetry Competition Winners and Finalists
Contest I - Poem Submissions from January 1, 2002 to May 31, 2002
Congratulations to all of the worldwide poets who contributed to our inaugural and historical "Voices Anthology - The International Poetry Competition".
Enjoy these top 3 poems from the winning authors. The list of all finalists from the poets selected for our publication follow the top 3 poems. |
Voices Anthology I Winner
Winner: Ibitomilade O. Akinyanmi from the USA
Voices in the Wind
Said the wind to me
I bring you voices from across the world
and did I hear them?
The voices in the wind
The first of hunger spoke
and how it cried for food
I pick up my pen to write
of the hungry man in the street
The next spoke of oppression
of the big man cheating the small
of the government blindfolding the people
so I pick up my pen to write
Another I heard cry of affliction
It spoke of wars guns and bombs
of maiming and killing
so I pick up my pen to write
The voice of mourning I also heard
of widows and orphans calling out their grief
so I pick up my pen to write
one voice of poverty spoke
of lack of shelter and of life threatening diseases
so I pick up my pen to write
Then I heard the voice of the betrayed
and the cry of the jilted beat strongly on my ear
that I could feel their painful loss
so I pick up my pen to write
when I had written all of these
I thought that I was done
on my bed I laid my wearied body to sleep
yet the wind brought more voices to whisper in my ears
and these ones did put sleep to flight
the voice of the earth brought me back to life
crying of disembodiment
weeping for the murder of her children
that her voice may be heard
I pick up my pen to write
I heard the drunkard’s voice
and that of the drug addict too
how they cry for help!
That others may hear their plea
I pick up my pen to write
I heard a cry of agony
from the unformed throat of the aborted child
and cry I did with him
I cried for the torture he was made to bear and
for his voice which will never be heard
I pick up my pen to write
Then I heard a song of joy
of the newly wed
of them to whom a child is born and
of those that are full of the joy of life
so I pick up my pen to write
I also heard a voice speak
of innocence still alive
I heard one speak of hope and
I thought the world this voice must hear
so I pick up my pen to write
I write of the foolishness of man and of his atrocities
I write of man’s joys and also of his love
I write of man’s pains and agonies
I write of what he sees
what he feels and what he thinks,
of these I write as well
I write of everything and anything
the voices I hear crying in the wind
I write so that those whose ears cannot hear
may read and be wise
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Voices Anthology I 2nd Place
2nd Place: Valerie Elizabeth Sumner from Australia
The Rose
Trust in me, said the rose to the tree
And I will lure the bees to thee
To send your seed with winged speed
So forests deep can grow near me
And roses bloom in summers warmth
Where squirrels play and birds sing
So come dear bees and pollinate
And I will send my scent for free
My family comes in precious blooms
Some are white and some maroon
I myself am perfect red
Without a spur upon my bough
My leaves are soft and emerald green
Whilst I grow here so serene.
|
Voices Anthology I 3rd Place
3rd Place: Simon Henry Weinberg from France
A House in the Country
All I want to achieve
Is a house in the country
The soft peal of church bells
The quiet of a bird's cry
The bittersweet of wood smoke
The lapping of lake against land
The "grüss Gott" of the neighbors
The craft of a man's hand.
- To live in life as we would in heaven:
A joy in pleasure, and leisure, nature and humanity
In beauty and discovery, innocence and deity.
No more hands to the grindstone
Wills to the whip
Flat in the city
Weekends losing grip
Bills to be paid for
Violence to be feared
Pollution, emotion
Blood sweat and tears.
No more early flights late-night fights
Cuddling by the telly on a Saturday night
No more Baby-sitter woos for a night in the pews
No more puffing up the cushions for an afternoon snooze
No more shopping sprees, bank-balance squeeze
No more scraping out a living on bended knees
No more late hours spent paying the rent
Sucking up to bosses with their pockets half-bent
No more irrational, unfashionable, working-for-promotional
Careering without steering, rent in arrear-ing
Funless, one less
Duress and Executive stress
No future unless.....
All I want to achieve
Is a house in the country.
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special note: these are pre-proofed copies of the top 3 poems.
Voices Anthology I Finalists
(in alphabetic order by last name, first name)
| Poet Name |
Poem Title |
Age |
Country |
| Byjunath |
Walk in the Eternal Street |
44 |
India |
| Akinyanmi, Ibitomilade O |
Voices in the Wind |
26 |
USA |
| Anderson, Nicholas Ronald |
The Clock |
17 |
USA |
| Astin, Deborah J. |
In the Throes |
42 |
USA |
| Bailey, Barbara S. |
I Am The Cry |
39 |
USA |
| Belden, Michael |
American Banner |
|
n/a |
| Buhrman, Natasha L |
Lord's Lesson |
25 |
n/a |
| Choudhary, Shanu |
A Twisted Hatred |
14 |
England |
| Christman, David P |
How much |
20 |
USA |
| Finnell, Douglas P |
9/11 haiku |
38 |
USA |
| Fraher, Donna M |
The Sea Orphan |
32 |
n/a |
| Gramlich, Katelyn W. |
War at 3AM |
15 |
USA |
| Howard, Michelle |
Mine |
40 |
n/a |
| Isabelo, Prescilino M |
I Remember Those Days |
21 |
USA |
| Jackson, Angela L |
UNDER ATTACK |
29 |
USA |
| Jobmann, William G. |
LIFE |
21 |
USA |
| Jordan, Joyce V |
A TALK WITH GOD |
53 |
USA |
| Joye, Bridgette J |
Colorblind |
18 |
USA |
| Kendall, Jane |
If wishes were Dishes |
36 |
USA |
| Keuter, Jennifer K |
On the Wings of the Innocent |
19 |
USA |
| Kigelman, Neomi |
Where I Belong |
18 |
Canada |
| Koss, Elliot J |
An Unborn Love |
17 |
USA |
| KURUBO, SODIENYE |
Them |
18 |
Nigeria |
| Lang, Benjamin H |
Avenue Man |
13 |
n/a |
| Larson, Coy D |
Last Call |
26 |
USA |
| Leithhead, Alyson |
Not Forgotten |
43 |
Australia |
| Lunn, Roeethyll |
Why Me!!! |
53 |
USA |
| Marsden, Wendy R |
"Excuse me; Are you lost?" |
32 |
Australia |
| McGonegal, Ryan A |
'' TWO of a KIND '' |
26 |
Canada |
| Mericle, Laura J |
War |
15 |
USA |
| Naber, Michael |
Predator of the Mind |
47 |
USA |
| Ostgard, Alicia N |
Natural Silence |
15 |
USA |
| Palubiski, Allison M |
The Party |
19 |
Canada |
| Parker, Karen |
Iris Haiku |
32 |
n/a |
| Petersons, CJ |
LIVE at Eleven. |
26 |
Canada |
| Poole, Courtney |
The Cheese Circus |
10 |
England |
| Purcell, Evan C |
I Am A Bold Adventurer |
15 |
USA |
| Sawyer, Korie C |
Finally |
12 |
USA |
| Schultz, Daniel E |
Forgotten |
57 |
USA |
| Silva, Steven R. |
Children |
40 |
USA |
| Southon, Stephen C |
Catherine wheel |
36 |
New Zealand |
| St. Patrick-Davy, Rachel |
Click |
41 |
n/a |
| Sumner, Valerie Elizabeth |
The Rose |
60 |
Australia |
| Tepfenhart, Ossiana Minerva |
Stop it! |
14 |
USA |
| Thomas, Clare L |
Emmy (written for a friend whose baby is in Neontal ICU) |
30 |
n/a |
| Thompson, Trish A. |
Heart And Soul |
49 |
USA |
| Vidra, Ashley Vidra N |
A Letter To Mommy |
15 |
USA |
| Walen, Cheri A |
My Haiku |
17 |
USA |
| Weinberg, Simon Henry |
A House in the Country |
36 |
France |
| Wells, Mischelle Myers |
Salvation |
26 |
USA |
| Wilkinson, Douglas J |
Sparrow |
28 |
Canada |
| Wolfram, Ericka K. |
Hopeless Timeless |
18 |
USA |
| Yasinski, Emma C |
Anger |
13 |
USA |
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