Callahan's 2000 Poetry Contest

Poems About Nature

Callahan's Saloon is pleased to announce the results of its fourth annual poetry contest.

The theme for 2000 was Nature. Choosing from among the over one hundred entries was not at all easy. I had the help of MaryEdna (Artwork), whose judgment I respect and who on occasion keeps me from going haywire. However, I'll have to take the flak if I didn't pick your favorite poem.

I am grateful for the enthusiastic participation in this contest, and I hope that all the entrants will continue to grace the message board at Callahan's with their creativity.

Peter H. Desmond
Poetry 'Tender
Callahans Saloon

Here are the winners:

First Place: "21 December 2000"
Second Place:The Ancients
Third Place: Nature Lover

And Honorable Mentions:

My Garden is Lovely - Things of Summer
Life Cycles - The Blue Prince

First Prize:

"21 December 2000"
by Abigail M. Slater

Sun is reluctant to retire today
while he can still make a contribution,
but rules are rules, and at 8:37 AM, EST,
Sun will sever his diurnal career with Earth, Inc.,
so younger stars can climb. It's only right.

Sun stands sentinel behind gray-black, leafless poplars
glorifying autumn's final hour. What a pro!
Partners for years, Sun and Trees,
they hold onto heated light this afternoon
like a prolonged handshake.

Sun turns at last from his cubicle:
timed cold descends.
That Solstice deal's closed and delivered.

He'll settle in the West.
Gold watches are superflous.

Abigail writes: A former teacher, I work now for Verizon, Inc. and have published poetry in Northeast Journal, Education Digest, and The Massachusetts Teacher. I do not believe in vampires, but my readers say my work has a "bite" to it. If I neglect my writing, however, it drains me like a vampire until I turn something out. My poetry influences include Auden, Whitman, Dickinson, and in the world of novelists, the under-rated Richard Yates.

"21 December 2000" - The Ancients - Nature Lover

Second Prize:

The Ancients
by Vickie Bowman

Do you hear it
in the howl of the wind
in the shifting of the sands
the soft pad of yucca sandals
Anasazi the Ancient Ones
walking in the seasons' change
The death of the Earth
the quiet time
the white time
only survival matters

Do you hear it
in the drip of melting ice
in the music of the stream
the soft clink of turquoise beads
Anasazi the Ancient Ones
walking in the seasons' change
Rebirth of the Earth
the planting time
the growing time
soil tilled seeds sown

Do you hear it
in the rustling grass
in the summer storms
the chatter and the laughter
Anasazi the Ancient Ones
walking the seasons' change
The Earth abundant
the tending time
the toiling time
anticipating plenty

Do you hear it
in the fall of leaves
in the crackle of the fire
the trading and the stories
Anasazi the Ancient Ones
walking the seasons' change
Harvesting the Earth
the feasting time
the storing time
the circle joins

Do you hear it
in the canyons echos
in the whispers caught in time
the voices of a nation gone
Anasazi the Ancient Ones
walking away
the Earth abandoned
the drought time
the desolate time
sand drifts cover tracks

Vickie's write-up: Australian poet/adventurer: "have verse - will travel." Delights in being different. Hero worships Robert Service and Henry David Thoreau. Not young but still learning. Published online in Poetfest anthologies, Events Quarterly & The Haiku Page. Co-Winner of the Callahan's St.Valentine's Day contest in 2000.

"21 December 2000" - The Ancients - Nature Lover

Third Prize:

Nature Lover
by Cortland Richmond

Some folks need
Something small to love.
Some folks will love
The smallest thing.
The city lad
Whose concrete world
Has not one bit of green,
Would love, as well.

Some sun, some water,
Who knows how?
He found a shoot lodged
Hard against the wall.
Tenderly, protected this
His garden 'til,
Cleaning, the caretaker
Pulled up the weed he'd grown.

Bio not available

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