I'm entering a poetry contest. I think 1st prize is a $1500 scholarship. I'm not sure what 2nd and 3rd get. But i figured, there's no entrance fee or anything, so why not give it a shot? some of these i may have posted before, but a couple are new. I can only enter one poem, but I don't know which one. Also if you have any corrections or advice on how to change one, let me know. Thanks!
3 and 4 haven't been revised yet, so keep that in mind.
Possibility #1.
A teenage girl,
Baby in her arms.
Women stop, gossip flutters.
“Irresponsible.”
“Such a sad picture.”
“An awful reflection of today’s society.”
However,
Things aren’t always the way they seem.
A teenage girl,
Baby on her lap.
Bouncing on her knee, it’s her sister.
“Mom is gone, but I,
I’ll take care of you.
I just hope we find somewhere to go from here.”
Remember,
Things aren’t always the way they seem.
A teenage girl,
A Baby against her chest.
A woman passes by, barking.
“You should be ashamed.”
Another comes and sits,
Holds out her arms, lends a shoulder to lean on.
Knowing,
Things aren’t always the way they seem.
A worried mom,
Her head in her hands.
Tears stain the path she had no choice but follow.
She hopes they’ll forgive her, and
Understand,
Things aren’t always the way they seem.
Possibility #2
My mouth is so dry.
The room won’t stop spinning.
My head feels so hot.
My body is weak.
With every second my stomach churns.
Oh help! Please, someone help me.
I can’t get up.
Closer and closer they come. The evil eyes glowing,
Hiding in the walls.
Everything’s okay. It’s alright.
Breathe in…
Breathe out…
In,
then out.
In, out. In out!
Faster and faster,
Please make it stop.
All I need is one more.
Just one more, I promise then, no more.
Just one more, and then I’ll be better.
Please, just one.
Possibility #3
Your eyes, they glance in my direction.
You can stare me down
I won’t meet your standard of perfection.
I don’t need your crown.
I don’t need to hear your gawking voice.
I can see it on your face.
I won’t listen; I still have that choice.
I move at my own pace.
You’re afraid of what you don’t understand.
I see it in the way you walk.
I think you should learn how to be a man.
Do a little more than talk.
I won’t bow to your god of beer.
I won’t bow to you.
I don’t bow to the cause of the queer
Never bow to anything untrue.
So walk my way, look me in the eye
Still I won’t conform
Even though you try, you won’t make me cry.
I want to be transformed.
Possibility #4
Whisper something in my ear.
Lean in close.
Don’t get scared.
Let me know that you’ll be there.
When I can’t see through the fog
That covers all my days
When the rock I try to push
Doesn’t want to move.
When I cry too much
And smile too little
Let me know that you’ll be there.
Put your arms around me.
Pull in close.
I won’t be scared.
I want you to know that I’ll be there.
When you try so hard
And things fall through.
When the water you’re wading in
Is getting too deep.
When nothing makes sense
And you want to give up.
I want you to know that I’ll be there.
