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speakup

The Robin

By Margaret Meed of Victoria Corner, age 9

Category: 10 and under

There is a robin way up in my tree,

And it's as pretty as can be.

It has an orange-red breast,

And it's brown on the rest.

It sings to me from its perch way up high,

It sings to me but it won't say good-bye.

I like that robin sitting way up there,

If I owned it I'd give it much care.

Healing

By Sara Cook of Jacksonville, age 17

Category: ages 11 to 17

I'm feeling better today,

Since Mommy's screams are not heard anymore,

And there's no loud banging at her door,

And the late-night fights have finally ended,

And Mommy's bruises, breaks, and cuts have mended.

I'm feeling better today,

Since Daddy doesn't yell at me when he's mad,

Or hits me on my face, ‘cause it hurts really bad,

Since now I don't hear the mean things that he said,

And no tears stain my face while I'm praying in bed.

I'm feeling better today,

Since Mommy found the courage to call and found hope,

And we both got help and learned how to cope

With the open wounds we'd suffered together,

And the hole in our hearts we thought would never get better.

I'm feeling better today,

Since a miracle happened; Daddy got help too,

Through all of life's trials, I sort of knew he'd come through.

Now, Mommy's happy since they both made things right,

And now, Daddy prays with me and kisses me good night.

I'm feeling better today,

Since the scars that have haunted us in the past

Have healed and we've found peace at last;

For, Daddy has changed and now, shows us his love,

And I believe he was saved by The One from above.

Inspired by a recent newspaper article entitled Helping children cope.

The way he smiled at me

By Wanda Porter of Benton

Category: ages 18 and over

The sun was bright, the sky was blue,

My heart was young and gay,

My true love came as in a dream

He smiled at me that day.

As days made months, and months made years

And we as love grew stronger

Made plans to marry in the spring,

Our love would wait no longer.

The summer sun had no more warmth,

The autumn leaves had fallen:

The winter snow had turned to streams,

Springtime would soon be callin'.

Our plans were made, the date was set,

We'd marry soon in May.

But war broke out, his name was called,

He had nothing to say.

He wrote to me each day that passed,

I wrote to him the same,

Until one day he could not write,

The battle was to blame.

He came home on the morning train,

I rushed to where he lay:

I held his head and kissed his lips,

He smiled and passed away.

Now he is gone and I'm alone,

Alone as one can be;

But though he's gone, I can't forget

The way he smiled at me . . .

Honourable mention:

Spring

By Haley Mclean of Harvey Station, age 7

Birds are chirping

butterflys are coming

flowers are growing

signs are showing

that it is spring.

I like spring

It's realy fun

I can ride

and I can run

in the sun.

I like spring!