Gratitude Competition: Winners & Finalists
The following poems and art were selected as the Winners for the Kids’ Poetry Club Autumn/Fall 2020 Competition on the topic of GRATITUDE! The Winners were selected from over 500 entries that came in from 16 different countries. The competition results were announced in a special awards ceremony podcast episode on November 9th, when Little Dazzy Donuts read the winning poems. In addition to seeing the Winners below, you can also read all of the Finalists’ poems, listen to all of the poets reciting their poems in our bonus episodes, and check out the Finalists’ art. Congratulations to all of the Winners and Finalists!
Poetry & Art: Under 9
“Books” by Ananya
aged 7, from the United States
(available to listen to in episode 59)
Fiction books,
like fantasy,
take me to the castle.
Other books,
like sci-fi,
take me to outer space.
My atlas takes me all around,
but I don’t move an inch!
These books you see
teleport me
to many different lands.
Today, we’re stuck in
because of COVID,
but my books
are the key
to traveling
without moving an inch!
Oh books,
what would I do
without all of you?
Sunanda, aged 7, from the United States
Poetry & Art: Age 9-10
“A Simple Cat Am I” by Clarissa
aged 10, from the United Kingdom
(available to listen to in episode 59)
A simple cat am I,
snuggling down, I sense the day go by.
Reclining on a soft, silk pillow;
lounging in sun-dappled shade by the willow.
A thankful cat am I,
for the mice that creep, the birds that fly.
Animals that sacrifice their meat,
to make the juicy food I joyously eat.
A curious cat am I,
long tail twitching like a flag on high.
Watching! Eyes of inquisitive green
spy dragonflies dance with electric-blue sheen.
A grateful cat am I.
Loved from birth until the day I die.
Dawn ‘til dusk I feel heavenly bliss.
Other cats don’t experience life like this.
Parvatha, aged 10, from Sri Lanka
Poetry & Art: Age 11-12
“Gratitude Brewed” by Menucha
aged 12, from the United States
(available to listen to in episode 64)
After a long day,
all you could ask for is a steaming hot cup of tea.
That was what always came to me.
Whether it was chamomile or mint, peach, or green.
Every day, when I would come back, it was waiting for me.
Waiting for me to drink it.
Waiting for me to sip.
Waiting for me to thank that person who made it for me.
I walked and walked.
Taking small steps.
And then I ran.
I ran into my grandma’s arms.
I gave her a hug.
and I told her thank you.
Thank you for the tea.
That was all I had to say because the thoughts were inside:
inside my head and inside my heart.
They were going into hers.
And that was an evening that changed my life
forever, because my grandma never forgot the tea.
Hiten, aged 11, from India
Poetry & Art: Age 13-17
“Thankfulness” by Kanan
aged 13, from India
(available to listen to in episode 64)
Let your dawn begin with a thankful note and dusk end with a wide smile.
Stay up ‘til twilight to see the moon shine and being thankful to the sun for it's light.
Be thankful towards the Earth for supporting our footsteps.
Be thankful to the air, every time you breathe.
Thankfulness is the feeling of gratitude.
Don't let gratitude be a favour
as being thankful doesn't mean you are weak
but a feeling of gratitude you seek.
“Grateful For Change” by Asmita
aged 15, from India
(available to listen to in episode 59)
My life was a wild forest.
The world not at its kindest.
Everything merged into shades of green.
And I was just one poor unloved teen.
I always saw but wasn't ever seen.
I had only a memory of you, dear.
Like a wisp of breath in the air.
Joy was a fallen leaf, hope a bird.
Time was a thief who kept his word.
And I did hear but wasn't ever heard.
Then I looked in the mirror one day,
I saw you; You told me to get away.
My life is a garden now, dear.
Change is a bubbly friend this year.
And the world seems worthy of care.
