THIRD PLACE
Poems from the Wyoming Landscape
Hayley Pearson-Horner
Age 16
Cody, Wyoming
Poetry
River
(blank verse)
The shadow of whispering reeds blocks me
sun shines energizing my particles
my pure waters stay untouched of evil
I provide clean nourishment to all life
I’m the snake of the snake, a windy wind
I twist, bend, and turn because I am free
Wind
(limerick)
I run through the turbines’ blades
a second is spent for the worlds’ aid
my days are filled with generating power
I am at service to the land I scour
the air stays clean with the energy I made
Canyon
(ballad)
I stand against the elements
holding boulders to me
those who pass by are always safe
I’m spread for all to see
the destroyers have gone at last
people once marked my walls
now they just admire my beauty
nature brings them with calls
I am no longer a passage
people stay for glory
suddenly everyone listens
as I tell my story
Mountains
(terza rima)
The clouds engulf the top of me
I sit on top of the brilliant show
looking upon the wonderful world I get to see
The small towns and cities cascade just below
skirting around my base staying at the brink
they respect my boundaries and my natural flow
Humans explore me, scouring every part they think
they hike to the top of forests and ridges
I stay afloat avoiding what makes me sink
The land counts on me to be a bridge
I add texture to the earth, keeping it from being bland
without me, Wyoming would decimate to a smidge
I break barriers as I stand
leaving the state nothing but grand
Oil Rig
(elegie)
My days of use are over
sitting empty and alone
I am surrounded by clover
so I will carry on my own
I’ve been emptied of my controller
my demise cannot be atoned
better options came, like solar
the only memory I hold is a tombstone
Yellowstone
(haiku)
Yellowstone Lake
The cutthroat returned
their numbers are at full force
Yellowstone is pure
Old Faithful
I am a symbol
dependable as always
shooting my waters
Buffalo
I stand strong as ever
the land is filled with us, we’re
spirit of the west
Tourists
We flood the entrance
numbers stay strong with our will
the park stays alive
WYOMING
(sonnet)
We have become a fully equal state
everyone has matched opportunities
Wyoming is now almost free of hate
together we’re one big community
Every person has a uniform say
democrat, republican doesn't matter
our state makes the decisions either way
all dividing barriers are shattered
Our focal includes hunting and fishing
we are still farmers and people of land
but now things get done without the wishing
and several get the chance to take a stand
Finally, nothing else needs to be done
Wyoming has come together as one