COLUMBUS, Miss. (CMSD) – Learning how to express yourself as a fifth or sixth grade student can be difficult. However, some Hunt Intermediate School students have found a writer’s touch.
“I wanted them to find power in words. We are a tech-based society. Many people have gotten away from writing to express themselves,” said Hunt SPRIT Teacher Sara Beth Honsinger.
6th graders Isabella McGee and Valerie Perry, along with 5th grader Paris McBride were three of the more than 60 Hunt students to compete in the Mississippi Poetry Contest. The statewide competition saw more than 350 poems submitted from K-12 students. Contestants were allowed to use up to 30 lines.
McGee placed 3rd for her grade. Perry and McBride received honorable mention recognition.
While the students have some experience writing poetry, they usually draw.
“This (placing 3rd in the state) makes me confident and proud. I’m very surprised,” said McGee.
“It makes me happy, because I’m very competitive,” said Perry.
“I’m happy and surprised. I didn’t expect it, because I usually don’t compete,” explained McBride.
Honsinger, along with SPRIT Teacher Jennifer Jarrel knew the competition was an opportunity for students to learn and grow.
“A lot of students had never written poetry. So, we had some lessons. Part of that lesson was learning there is not right or wrong answer with poetry. We want them to have self-confidence to try new things. We don’t want them to lose their creative muscle,” said Jarrel.
“We, as teachers, were not surprised at their level of thinking. These are incredibly bright students. Our job is to make them see it. They are so talented,” said Honsinger.
Two Columbus Middle School Students also placed in their poetry contest. We will soon share their story.
Below are the poems McGee, Perry, and McBride submitted for the contest.
A Lone Wolf in the Night
By Isabella McGee
“A lone wolf
Staring at the moon
One lone howl
In a state of constant gloom
Paws step through the forest
Wondering where one belongs
Alone in the dark
But never felt loneliness in the heart
Was never included
Always excluded
Whispers in the mind
Saying it’s gonna be alright
Hunting alone
Purpose and might
One sole survivor
Stuck in eternal night”
Where the Mountains Breathe
By Valerie Perry
“The mountains where silence sleeps,
Their shadows long, their wisdom deep
They wear the dawn like golden thread
A crown of light on every head
They whisper stories to the sky
Of ancient earth and eagles high
Of rivers carved from melting snow
Of secrets only they could know
The winds climb up their stony spine
Like travelers searching for a sign
And when the clouds drift soft and slow,
The peaks stand watchful far below”
Nature is Sweet, Sweet Like Honey!
By Paris McBride
“Across the grass is the hop of a bunny.
Nature is sweet, sweet like honey.
The flowers grew, and grew anew.
From the blue droplets, down they flew.
The light ball came, bright and sunny.
Nature is sweet, sweet like honey.
The ball flew down, or so it seemed!
Afterwards came the moon, and oh how it gleamed!
The moon and the stars, the moon looks gunny.
Nature is sweet, sweet like honey.
We stand on a cliff, looking at a star.
They seem so close, and yet, so far!
Now it’s midnight! Glad you made it with me!
Nature is sweet, sweet like honey.
And now, you should probably go to bed.
The cycle has restarted, so rest your head!”