Sylvia McCarthy clinched Grand Champion honours, while Gerry Chymko came in first place, followed by Donna Dittrick in second, and Larry Sorrell in third.
Their prize-winning poetry is below.
My Four-legged Friend
by Sylvia McCarthy
The love that I feel
For my four-legged friend
Overwhelms me at times
And I pray it won’t end.
She has a special place
Right here in my heart
I know she loves me
Till death us do part.
Understands perfectly
All that I ask.
Is always obedient
Gets right to the task.
When she visits my home
She scampers inside
Just like a person
To sit by my side.
She jumps on the sofa
And cuddles so close
So snuggly and warm
With her cute button nose.
Her name is “Miss Molly”
Such a bundle of joy
I watch with delight
As she plays with her toys.
My life has been changed
Since meeting my friend
The Lord knew our needs
We will love to the end.
Daytime Friends
by Gerry Chymko
Surely everyone possesses a heart
That desires a true friend
And I am not an exception
My heart is telling me it has found that friend.
The feeling my heart has of our togetherness
Is driving my loneliness from my mind
Yesterday’s memory of our friendship
Returns faithfully today.
Our friendship surpasses all I have ever experienced
It will be protected faithfully forever
I compare it to a butterfly, soft and gentle
Gathering a breeze that keeps bringing back our friendship to us.
To the Ones I Loved
by Donna Dittrick
We feel them in our everyday lives
Something as simple as children at play
Or little things someone may say
A smile, a gesture, or even a song,
We can feel how we all once belonged.
Life is short and always sweet
Death is impossible to defeat
Live your life, follow your dreams
Pray for loved ones, gone too soon
Never stop dreaming …
Seek and You Will Find
by Larry Sorrell
Sitting at the kitchen table … Gramma!
Granddaughter on her knee
She was just three
She keeps me on my toes
My feet, they come and go
Sometimes, she is smarter than me
A pretty pink dress, a crinoline there would be
Gramma sighed!
What’s the matter, Gramma?
Don’t cry!
I’ve lost my ring of keys
Come, we will hide and seek them
We will find them, you will see
A little game we often play
One’s voice, a sound of glee
They were underneath my doilies!
Where we sat with some cookies and some tea
A little tiny tea set, my mother once gave to me
We hugged each other tightly
My tears were plain to see
She looked upon me
Her face was wet, like me
Don’t ever lose your heart, Gramma!
‘Cause I’m inside, you see
And you’re inside of me!
