Spring Poetry Contest Winners - High School

Congratulations to our  high school Spring Poetry Contest winners!  Areen Bedoyan won first place for her poem, "Young Poem."  Our runners up were Nicole Mikailian for "Parts of a Whole" and Hagop Sarkis for "Burning Forest."  Your entries were amazing! Please see them below and feel free to congratulate them by leaving a message on the blog.  Check out tomorrow's blog for entries by the middle school winners.

Young Poem

By: Areen Bedoyan

You’re young, she said

You do not know yet

“How do I live life?” I asked.

You’re young, she said

When you grow up, you will mature

“How do I love?” I asked.

You’re young, she said

Make mistakes today but be honest tomorrow

“How do I speak?” I asked.

You’re young, she said

You will not comprehend

“How do I understand?” I asked.

You’re young, she said

There is no cure

Let your voice go to soon explore the world.

Parts of a Whole

By: Nicole Mikailian

I am a child whose history spans different paths

Where my heart and soul resides

I am composed of many that nothing can divide

I am of Lebanese descent

Where baklava and kanafeh infuse my house with their delicious scent

Growing up as a child I was never referred to as “honey” or “sweetie”

Instead the only words I heard were either habibti or habibi

I trace back to a land that is rich in both heritage and culture

It’s unique food, language, and traditions fill the world with tremendous color

Red, Blue, Orange are where my ancestors roots are cherished

I am from a place where traditional songs, poems, and stories will never parish

I grew up in an Armenian diaspora that is more than welcoming

One that loves inviting, encouraging, and is known to never stop celebrating

Just like a pomegranate that stains redder than red

I belong to a culture whose story will never be left unread

I live in the country of red, white, and blue

Where everyday is an adventure to learn something new

I grew up in the hustle and bustle of a big city

Where I got accustomed to red, white, and blue quite quickly

Physically, yes I am here, but the love for my homeland will never disappear

Burning Forest

By: Hagop Sarkis

Burning in the middle of the night

With such beauty, I sat and watched

As the flames from tree to tree hopscotched

So such power was that beacon of light

My body stood there as I wanted to fight

But there I was mind botched

All my thoughts were all splotched

The forest burning through the night

So I ran as far as I could

With the past behind me

The burning forest still stood

But I knew it was either me or that burning tree

Now standing on ash from what was wood

The decision was to let it be.