The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

This is the eighth year former Big Sandy High School graduate Ellaraine Lockie has provided the English students at BSHS the opportunity to participate in the Walter Gerson Poetry Contest.

Each year Ellaraine Lockie judges students’ poetry, makes comments about the poems and awards students for their excellent poetry and participation. This year is no exception. There are several cash prizes and several honorable mentions.

Two teachers at Big Sandy high school have been involved in the poetry contest. Lauren Clampitt handled the Gerson poems for the first six years they were in existence. This is Kelsey Voeller’s second year at handling the Big Sandy part of the contest.

Each year the students in grades 8 through 12 compose a poem. They are all mailed to Ellaraine Lockie in California. Lockie, a published poet whose poems appear monthly in “The Mountaineer”, makes her only requirement for the poems is that they be in free verse. She judges all of the poems, decides on three money winners and several honorable mentions and then mails them back. She funds the prizes each year from her own pocket. This is a very special cause for Lockie and so appreciated by the rest of us. The Big Sandy school has appreciated Lockie’s willingness to allow the contest each year.

Once again “The Mountaineer” will print all of the poems. Thanks to Big Sandy students, Ellaraine Lockie and Kelsey Voeller for making our pages better!

These are the last of the poetry winners. Third place Honorable MEntion was a tie beteween Alana Malmend and Jessica Roth. Teacher’s Choice poem winner was Sophie Reichelt.

The Feeling

By Alana Malmend

I felt a breeze here this morn

as soft and warm as a kiss

that sat too long in the sun

and now forgot its shape.

It left with a passing sigh,

The noise left my hair a mess

and now my lungs wanting

for air

because that breeze was

my breath.

Missing Pieces

By Jessica Roth

People lose things all the time;

Whether it be keys or homework,

But the worst part is,

Most of the time,

We lose ourselves.

Pieces get torn away from us,

Day by day,

And no one stops to retrieve them.

Living in a constant daze,

Cannot be living at all.

It’s okay to take your time,

It’s okay to grab your pieces.

Don’t leave them for another,

Because you have to be the one,

The one to save yourself,

In this world of missing pieces.

Learning to

Let Go

By Sophia Reichelt

I used to find some comfort,

I used to find that you cared.

But nothing hurts worse,

and nothing will compare.

You put your hand in mine,

and I’m slowly pulling away.

But something won’t let go,

and it’s probably me.

Learning to let go,

I’ve found is far too hard.

But staying with you,

will push me way too far.

So I’ll continue to learn,

and I hope you will understand.

I’m learning to let go.