Nicolet College Poetry Project Contest Winners!

A big congratulations goes to Evelyn Pritchard for her poem "The Unfinished Work" (posted April 5)! Evelyn will be awarded the Ron Parkinson Poetry Matters Award for the Best Original Student Poem. 

Another big congratulations goes to Tazia Oxendine for her poem "Atlantic" (posted April 7)! Tazia will be awarded the Best Original Poem by a community member. 

Both Evelyn and Tazia will be recognized at the Student Award Ceremony on May 10 at 6:00 p.m. in Lakeside Center. 

Again, congratulations to Evelyn and to Tazia!

Announcement

Today marks the end of the Seventh Annual Nicolet College Poetry Project in celebration of National Poetry Month! Thank you to all those who submitted poetry, to those who read the daily postings, to those who attended the open mic night at ArtStart, to ArtStart for hosting and promoting the evening event, and to Rhinelander High School and WXPR for getting the word out! A special thank you goes to Nicolet College for their steady encouragement and support for this yearly event. Lastly, thank you to those who served on the selection committee for the poetry contest! The winners will be announced shortly. See you next year! 

April 30, 2017

"Old stone Hare"
By Hannah Arbuckle

Perched by the pane, you sit
Petrified in stone. Alert, ears up
Overtaken by ferns, you wonder not.
To flesh you are foreign, movement
is a stranger, a foe.
You sit weathering, avoid
of what you represent,
only to the eye you are the hare.

"Nicolet Transfer student. This poem was created in a local coffee shop with ideas powered from a caramel latte."

* * * * * * * * * *

“Waiting”
By Evelyn Pritchard

I used to be a little sprout
eager and excited
waiting with anticipation of how the world would be when I got to be a big old tree
now I am a twisted tree barely hanging on
the girl with the dark perspective
now I am the pessimist that this world made me to be
but somewhere deep inside is that eager little sprout waiting for its day to shine waiting in this world

“This poem was one that I was hesitant to turn in. I feel that it is a true expression of who I have become as a person. I know that being as young as I am this should not be so, but I have found that through thick and thin that little sprout from before is still there rooting on the old tree."

* * * * * * * * * *

“Auction”
By Darlene Machtan

They came to bid
on pieces of
my father’s hands,
ny mother’s heart.

Only the bitter March wind
that blew them raw
seemed to understand
they had no right.

April 29, 2017

"Content"
By Brooke Modjewski

I understand that I am different 
I relate strongly to the ugly duckling 
I'm not bad-looking but 
I'm just not like everyone around me 

I understand that I am different 
I dance in public to the music that's in my ears
I act like my life is a music video 
I know I look childish 

I understand that I am different 
I like expressing myself through material things 
I wear hot pink eyeshadow 
I don't mind wearing something that others wouldn't  

I understand that I am different 
I have a disorder that makes me go haywire from time to time 
I can often be two different people 
I am not ashamed to be mentally ill

I understand that I am different 
I am a woman that likes women 
I can sense your distaste every time I tell you
I don't see why who I love is distasteful 

I understand that I am different 
I am very comfortable with who I am
I may not be like you but
I am a diamond in the rough

"This poem is a growing product of my process of self-knowing that started at age seventeen. As I am now nearing twenty, I've found that it's not possible to change myself as I thought it was in adolescence. I hope everyone can learn to embrace everything about themselves rather than feel ashamed."

* * * * * * * * * *

“Dan in Blue”

I've seen the pines
Pink desert skies
Snow falling
Slowly 
Green grape vines
Ocean views
Sand and sleet
But nothing compares to when we meet 

[Please see the posting for April 25 for another poem by Cirina Gasparri.]

April 28, 2017

Untitled
Aaron Mangerson

In hopeful dreams I see by day are silent screams I yearn by night.
The warm embrace and a subtle taste of lips flash through my mind.
My faded memories are reclaimed now bristling with luster.
Yet my heart is fraught and dreads the thought; it's all that I can muster.
This maiden fair with golden hair belongs with someone else.
So I toil away until that day I feel just what I felt.

“I'm a 33 year old single Dad trying to work towards a better future for me and my kids. I wrote this poem after bumping into an old flame from high school that kindled some long lost feeling that I had to put aside.”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Toad In the Tub”
By Macy Washow 

A tiny toad clings to the mirror above the bathroom vanity. 
My still sleep-blurred eyes mistake it for . . . 
some type of Florida roach. 

Then it leaps . . . how astounding for something so small! 
Just a toad, I sigh, amazed at what fear can do. 
His eyes bulge, astonished at our encounter. 

Relieved to be dealing with toads, not bugs, 
I try to capture him in my washcloth. 
He watches my hands come near, 
then escapes to the tub in two gigantic leaps. 

Deceived. The tub is no safe haven but a trap. 
He hops from side to side until fatigued. 
When he stops in a tub corner to rest, 
I seize my chance, swooshing down! 

Unaware that in capture lays salvation, 
he twitches inside the cloth 
until I set him down outside, 
where he hops away without giving thanks. 

Later I research “toads” and find he is a frog, not a toad at all. But things are not always what they seem. 
A toad made for a better poem.

“This is a poem I wrote while in Florida last spring about an unexpected morning encounter. I am retired and live in Lac du Flambeau.”

April 27, 2017

“One Plane Ride”

By Zachariah Farris

The heavens,

not some place way off, way far.

It rests in you,

placed right where you are.

Crafted are we not - joined in song?

The hymn - it speaks.

Come play,

come dance,

we don’t last long.

Join me in pain, in suffering and sorrow

weep – weep - weep with me now,

there may be no tomorrow.

Join me in hate, in fears, in selfish gains,

desire itself, works in mysterious ways.

Join me in honesty, in truth, and in love,

qualities seeming - to come from above.

Join me in respect, in joy, and in peace,

we have but one life,

one,

divine lease.

Dance – sing – laugh and cry,

for this fraction of heaven with certainly cease,

surely, it will die.

As lights go dim, do not mourn 

We all, one day,

 join the forevermore.

Die not before, the heavens closes its door,

Live with me! Live with me! Live with me now!

Before, before,

we join,

The forevermore.

“Attending Nicolet, enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program. This poem started with my lack of understanding, with my tiny eyes, and ends with it as well – but I understand the best that I can.”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Of Nations and Worlds”

By Samantha Siefert

Toppled towers, frozen fields

Fleeing armies and dropped shields

Missing magician, lost elixir

Terrified defenders, a broken fixer

Bravery used to be our banner

And daring was our dance

Fearless was our favor

And courage was our cry

Hidden truths, plain lies

Hurt homes and blood skies

No hope, broken heart

Kingdom and world torn apart

But then terrifying terrorists took

Our bravery away

Vile villains stole our victory

And we didn’t take it back

Foolish wisemen, broken glass

Faded flowers and wilted grass

Dead bodies, lost cause

No cities, and no laws

We didn’t defend our homes

So there’s really no reason to cry

We lost the fight

We didn’t try

No? No. NO!

We should have fought!

We should have tried!

We should have done our best

To give justice to those who died.

Learning lessons, wisdom grows

Through cracks sneaks a rose

Growing hope, revealing truth

Teaching history to our youth

This is what dreams are made of

Good things and light

Defence against an enemy

And teaching what is right

Knowing knowledge, building towns

Music always makes better sounds

Laughing, dancing, and singing

Trumpet blares and bell ringing

And now we stand here staring at our little world.

They think it’s unfixable; they think we’ve lost,

But we know better because we’ve seen it in the past.

Come now, there’s work to do. Let’s go prove them wrong.

Tallest towers, brave knights

Burning of a thousand lights

Raised shields, banners unfurled

Welcome to a new world.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

“I’ve always liked alliteration and rhyming in poems, so I knew that I wanted this poem to include that. I’ve also always liked hearing old stories about knight, castles, and kingdoms because war and peace occurs just as it did back in those days just in different ways. Thus, this poem was born from a mix of those ideas. We can always fight for what matters, even if it’s hard.”

April 26, 2017

“Spring”

By Katie Moreau

Spring is in the air

Spring is in my hair

The grass is green

With the cutest babies ever seen

Flowers bloom from everywhere

Only smell them if you dare

The bumble bees buzz around

All the new life on the ground

Spring is in the air

And everyone has not a care

* * * * * * * * * *

"Together Again"
Marcia Obukowicz

They come,
The house feels full, 
What's been missing, returns.
The air crackles with the electricity 
of good conversation and the joy of being together.
Friends arrive, food is shared. 
Traditions and stories, fill and spill across the table,
bonds of love renew and strengthen.
In the connection of moments, all is right!
But the clock ticks away the precious time, too fast, ...
way too fast.
The need to return to the lives we all have left 
grows into the reality of departure.
The hearts break just a little and a few tears fall as we wave goodbye. 
They drive away and
then the little prayer rises
Be safe, safe travel, safe journey, safe life
until we can be together again.

“Host mom of several foreign exchange students, thankful when life aligns so we can reconnect in person.”