Outdoor Fun Competition: Winners & Finalists
The following poems and art were selected as the Winners for the Kids’ Poetry Club Competition on the topic of OUTDOOR FUN! The Winners were selected from over 900 entries that came in from 20 different countries. The competition results were announced in a special awards ceremony podcast episode on August 23rd, 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 8
“A Beautiful Place To Be” by Phoebe
aged 7, from the United States
(available to listen to in episode 117)
A beautiful place to be.
A beautiful place for birds
and me,
and families and flowers
for us to see.
To smell. To be,
Flowers are wonderful,
and so are we!
By Chanelie, aged 6,
from Sri Lanka
Poetry & Art: Age 8
“The World’s Word” by Arlo,
aged 8, from the United States
(available to listen to in episode 117)
Where the poppies grow,
and the yuccas bloom,
and the lupines live,
I go.
The orange grove I walk through.
The oranges fall.
The time keeps going.
Don’t wait.
We need to help
our Earth is calling.
I start. You start.
We all do our part.
Where the water falls,
I stand,
and watch as the raindrops fall.
Autumn will come.
The pumpkins grow.
The leaves fall.
I’ve seen it all.
The cactus fruit.
Get ready for winter when the number goes down.
Keep planting.
Keep helping.
Keep believing.
Keep working.
Be you.
We need to help.
Don’t wait.
We need to help.
So keep doing your part!
By Aryesh, aged 8,
from India
By Lily, aged 8,
from the United States
Poetry & Art: Age 9
“Blackpool” by Mckinleigh,
aged 9, from the United Kingdom
(available to listen to in episode 119)
A family arrived this morning,
dressed all in blue and white.
They placed all the sounds in a bucket,
and quickly skipped out of sight.
The whirring of the rides.
The crashing of the waves.
The whining of the dogs.
The echoing of the caves.
The squawking of the seagulls.
The munching of the cakes.
When you pat the bucket,
the banging noise it makes.
The clopping of the horseshoes.
The fizzing of the lights.
The ticking of the trains.
The whooshing of the kites.
A family arrived this morning.
Took all of Blackpool's fame.
Placed all of the sounds in a bucket.
Blackpool will never be the same.
By Vinuka, aged 9
from Sri Lanka
Poetry & Art: Age 10
“Reading Under A Tree” by Alice
aged 10, from United Kingdom
(available to listen to in episode 111)
Resting your spine against the bark of a tree,
with the leaves and the feel of being free,
and your imagination springing and your head in your book.
The delicate bugs hiding in a cranny or nook,
with the blessed tree sheltering you overhead,
with the soft comforting earth forming a bed,
Words transporting from your book to your brain,
your tree sheltering you and your book through the rain.
The book irresistible and each word compelling,
each bark chippings smooth and your book is bestselling.
The environment relaxing and the tree providing calm.
The book corner flicking under your palm.
Nature surrounding you and green leaves above.
Serene feelings enclose you and the tree possesses love.
Exciting emotions surround you on account of your novel.
The sunshine beaming down with you not having to grovel.
As you concentrate contently on your fiction volume,
while you tree creates your feelings to bloom.
By Aadya, aged 10,
from India
Poetry & Art: Age 11-12
“My Secret Garden” by Subhangi
aged 12, from the United States
(available to listen to in episode 117)
Oh, take me to my secret garden.
The place of paradise and peace.
Where I spend warm summer days
beside the pond full of ducks and geese.
The cool wind blows in my face.
The treetops give me shelter.
Insects crawl all around
as I behold the phenomenal wonders.
My secret garden has a gate,
concealed cleverly by the overgrown ivy,
against which I lean my back to rest
scribbling down thoughts inside my diary.
As I walk past the unique plants,
leaves rustle in my presence.
I wander as free as a cloud
and stop to smell the lovely essence.
In my magical garden, beautiful flowers grow,
whose colorful petals spread fragrance across the valley.
Who always shows off their true beauty.
Creeping along the garden alley.
My secret garden is a wonderful place.
Darkness shall never show its face there.
During nightfall the moon shines brightly,
illuminating the area with its nightly stare.
Oh how I love my secret garden!
The place of paradise and peace.
Where I stand under the blue sky,
quietly observing my masterpiece.
By Riyansh, aged 11,
from United Kingdom
Poetry & Art: Age 13-17
“Along With Mom” by Sanaskriti
aged 13, from India
(available to listen to in episode 115)
Sunset time, was on for a ride.
The silence was captured on the roadside.
Her moving steps got frozen at a sight.
Those eyes were shining in daylight.
Smooth air was playing with her hair.
The view from the bridge made her cheered.
That slight smile captured my heart.
Time was the thing, falling apart.
Rarely I have seen such a cheerful soul.
Living that moment was her only goal.
Holding her hands comforted me for a while.
“Mom let’s go”, I told her with a smile.
