Poets and poetry lovers came together recently to celebrate the art of the well-placed word and to honor winners of a tri-library poetry contest.
The contest, which was open to poets of all ages, was sponsored by Friends of the Covington Library, Friends of the Black Diamond Library and the Maple Valley Library Guild.
Covington librarian Jane Shumate announced the winners during an open-microphone “Poetry Coffeehouse” on May 22, held at the newly remodeled Covington Library. Prizes were awarded in three categories – children (ages 11 and younger), teens (12 to 18) and adults (19 and older).
For the children’s category, Nicole Carter of Kent won top honors with “Great Barrier Reef.” In the poem, Carter describes her experience of diving in the Australian reef, and combines thoughts on the beauty of the undersea world with a message advocating world peace – a message Carter said she’s passionate about.
First place in the teen category went to Maple Valley resident Amanda Portch for “We Were Only Thirteen.” Portch’s poem discussed some of the dangerous mistakes made by 13-year-olds who “just wanted a way to be free.”
In the adult category, Maple Valley resident Gregg Collette scooped first place with his poem, titled “Village Books – Bellingham, WA.”
Collete, who attended college in Bellingham, described falling in love with the female bookstore clerk for her taste in books.
“This warms my heart, seeing all these people here for poetry,” said Collette when he stood up to read his entry.
A language arts teacher at Auburn Mountainview High School, Collette said he entered the poetry contest mainly so he could lead by example for his creative-writing students.
“Whenever my kids write something good, I encourage them to enter it” in contests, he said.
First-place poems won a gift certificate to Baker Street Books in Black Diamond. Second, third and fourth-place finishers received certificates from the library. All of the poems will appear in a poetry book that the library will publish later this year, according to Shumate, who moderated the coffeehouse.
