2002 James McIntyre Poetry Contest Winners

Grades 2-4, Rhyming
First -- My Cat Scrap by Sylvie Weir
My cat Scrap
Is the weirdest cat on earth
He sleeps all day
And has an enormous girth
He acts like a dog
Though he doesn't like meat
He gives me a kiss
Then begs for a treat
He's soft and cuddly
And lovely to hug
But when I want to go to sleep
He wakes up to bug

Second -- Who Am I by Aaron Mitchell
In the north pole,
I glitter and glow.
I like to catch
The white snow.
I like to slide
On the ice.
On top of the pond,
It's Paradise.
I like to watch
The Northern lights.
On top of my hill,
The wind invites.
I like to kick
The snowballs high.
I try to make them
Reach to the sky.
My name is Slush,
I like to play,
I'm a big dog,
And I'm white and gray.

Other (free verse, acrostic, cinquain)
First -- Jumping by Jessica Lovell My dog is jumping for joy
He is jumping for joy when the wind is blowing
Because the trees blow when the wind blows
Jump Jump Jump
Amos goes with the WIND.

Second -- A Walk in the Garden by Sylvie Weir
Once I walked in my garden to see what had grown
I found daisies and roses and sweet cherry blossoms
I discovered petunias and marigolds and tall hollyhocks
I went deep into my garden and right before my eyes
I saw a wilted rose of sharon
It made me want to cry
Then I turned around and lifted my head
To see a beautiful blooming rose of sharon
It made me laugh out loud

Third -- Doves by Donna Devost Doves have white soft feathers,
they are nice to people,
they bring Peace to this world.

Grades 5-6, Rhyming Poem
First -- Hopping by Alissa Melitzer Hopping on the lily pads
one and to another
Playing games like leap frog
with your sister and your brother.
Inviting all the relatives for
a dinner of some flies
Giving heartfelt hugs and the same
for the goodbyes.
Falling into a deep sleep on a big
huge rotten log.
Life would be so easy if I really were a frog!

Second -- Go Home Cat Go Home by Chloe Weir
Go home cat go home
Don't stalk the garden gnome
Your feet disturb the loam
Go home cat go home
To bed cat to bed
White paws beneath your head
To sleep now you've been fed
To bed cat to bed
Sweet dreams cat sweet dreams
You feel quite good it seems
Maybe that's what purring means
Sweet dreams cat sweet dreams

Third -- A Teacher's Job is Never Done by Alissa Melitzer
All the students in the room,
Custodian in the hall sweeps with a broom.
Teacher marking last week's test,
Thinking that he needs a rest.
Thirty pairs of eyes staring down at a sheet,
Writing with pencil, careful and neat.
Recess time, they think is best;
That's when teacher gets his rest.
R-r-ring - the school bell has just rung;
Now the students use their tongues.
Running, skipping as much as they can,
Then the school bell chimes again.
In they come and sit right down
The children look up - it's gym time now!
They grab their T-shirts, off they go,
Tightening shoe laces, fixing bows,
R-r-ring - the bell rings one more time,
How the students love that chime!
The end of another school day,
Teacher waves a fond goodbye,
Nostalgia brightens up his eyes.
No more math, books or binders,
No more lessons - now it's summer.
He turns off the lights and closes the door,
Another Grade 5 year is over

Other (ie free verse, limerick, cinquain, acrostic)

First -- The Stream by Allison Scheele
The Stream
Flowing softly by,
Bursting forth from pebbles
and stones,
Rippling gently,
Gurgling past thoughtfully
Like a beautiful dream.

Second -- Diamond by Allison Scheele
Divinely
Inquisitive
And
Motherly
Our kitten is
Named
Diamond

Third -- Once on a Sunny Day by Josh Quinn
Once on a sunny day
There was a boy named Jay.
That day he was mad,
And acted very bad.
That mad little boy named Jay.

Grade 7, Best poem (includes rhyming, free verse, haiku, limerick)
First -- Hockey by Andrew Innes
Wake up, Wake up.
It's my dad and his coffee cup.
It's six am:
Hockey time again.
I pack my bag.
and throw in a skate rag.
My dad starts the car.
The arena isn't far.
I'm in the dressing room.
I throw my bag down with a boom.
Now I have to get dressed;
With all of the rest.
The drills are boring.
And I'm not scoring.
So I slap my stick,
and give the boards a kick.
I think I'm starting to hate;
having to skate.
My skates dig in the ice with power.
Only one more hour.

Second -- Alligator in the Tub by Jennie Mitchell
Danny was a playful boy,
Who loved to run and play,
But his mom wouldn't let him out,
On his certain day.
"Where are you going Danny?"
"Why mom, out to play,"
"Oh no you're not Danny,
Not now anyway."
"You march straight to the bathroom,
And scrub and rub till you're clean,"
"But mom, that's not fair,
You're just being mean."
So Danny went to the bathroom,
And looked all around,
Then ran back to mom,
With a pound, pound, POUND.
"There's an alligator in the tub,
Mom, you've got to call dad,"
"I won't do that Danny,
You're just being bad."
So Danny went back to the bathroom,
And once again looked around,
Then was back beside mom,
With only one big bound.
"MOM, there's an alligator in the tub,
And a barracuda in the sink
And a bug in the toothpaste,
And a goldfish in my drink."
"Stop making up such silly stories,
I won't hear anymore,
Now do what I asked you to do,
And march straight to the bathroom door."
So Danny went back to the bathroom,
With his head hung low,
Then ran back to his mom yelling,
"OH NO, OH NO, OH NO!"
"Danny what could be wrong now,"
"There's something weird on the floor,
And, and,
Something gooey by the door."
"Danny, you go back there,
And I'll come with you this time,
Then I will show you,
There's not so much as an old dime."
So they marched to the bathroom,
Danny and his mom,
While mom wasn't expecting anything,
Danny was expecting a bomb.
"See look I told you,
There's no barracuda in the sink,
And nothing in the toothpaste,
And no goldfish in your drink."
"I said you were just being bad,
There's no alligator in the……
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH…"
And mom ran to call dad.

Third -- The Ball is Bouncing by Cory Gouthro
The ball is bouncing
Then sailing through the air.
I have to catch it.
Use a little flair.
I have the ball now.
I feel like I'm on fire.
I stride down the floor.
And I jump higher.
I scored the basket.
I want my team to win.
We jumped up and down
And did a big spin.
Honourable mention Sports by Jesse Way
That's right my name is Jesse,
And I live for sports.
I play some of them on fields,
And some of them on courts.
I play some for Ingersoll,
And some for my school,
And I play some just for fun.
But they are always cool.
I love sports so very much.
And that's very true.
I will play them forever,
That I will assure you!
Honourable mention Ode to a Book by Ethan Cassidy
Ode to a book,
which I like to read,
It have big words
and is a brain feed.
Fantasy books,
and non-fiction too.
I read them lots,
I say, "Why don't you?"
They're fun to read,
you can bring them home.
Have a book card,
and you're not alone.

Grade 8, Rhyming Poem
First -- Roses by Leah Weir
*in memory of my grandfather
Red Young
April 29, 1929 - Nov 28, 2001
If you stroll into the garden
As you turn a little bend
You may find a precious flower
Which has finally reached its end
It's petals black and lifeless
All scatter in the breeze
How sad it is to watch them fly
Like ashes in the trees
But walk on in the garden
And surely you will find
All the wondrous treasures
That a red rose left behind
Second -- Ingersoll is a Great Town by Ben Brown
Ingersoll is a great town
It does not make you sad and frown.
Ingersoll is great you see,
It is fun for you and me.
Ingersoll has lots of shops,
They will make you lick your chops.
When you are in Ingersoll,
You're a great friend to us all.
Ingersoll is really cool,
The best is Sacred Heart School.
Ingersoll is great you see,
It's fun for you and me.

Other (ie free verse, haiku)
First -- A Grandma by Tawnya Devost
A grandma is like sunshine…
brightening life with her sweetness,
warming the world with her love…
a very special treasure!
Second -- Colours by Tawnya Devost
Pink - The colour of a rose when it blossoms. Purple - The colour of my sister's make-up on her eyes. Red - The colour of my cheeks when I blush. Brown - The light coated colour on my cat. Blue - The colour of the undisturbed ocean. Black - The fear that lives deep inside of us all. Orange - The colour of a great tasting fruit I eat in the morning. Peach - The colour of our soft, silky skin. White - The pearl my nan wore around her neck. Silver - The colour of a coin that gets put in our piggy banks. and Gold - The colour of our hearts put together to make Peace.
Third -- Porcelain Dolls by Leah Weir
Dolls sit quietly
Painted faces never blink
When you are looking

Grade 9, Best Poem
First -- My Walk With God by Tyler Totten
It was an amazing sight,
A beautiful, heavenly, indescribable light.
I left my body then went past our Earth, the Moon, and Mars,
And soon went past all the stars.
I came to an unearthly place,
Where I saw people tall and short, of every race.
I saw my entire life,
My mother, father, children, and wife.
In this place I saw a city of gold,
And angels, whose wings would unfold.
In this place there was only right, no wrong,
My feelings were like a harmonious song.
There was no war, hate, or evil at all,
Then I heard a wonderful call.
I looked up and saw a dove,
And from it I felt eternal love.
Then it became a godly man,
And to me he ran.
"Where am I?" I asked in confusion and fear.
What he said brought me a happiness tear.
You would never hear something so beautiful if the universe you
were to roam,
He said, "My child, you are home."

Grade 10, Best Poem
First -- When Day Turns Into Night by Diana-Jean Kristean Richter
The sky's not so far up anymore,
The stars aren't so bright,
So scared of what life will bring,
When day turns into night.
An urge to stay stay strong,
Another is to cry,
It seems so hard to cope with,
When a loved one has to die.
A pain from deep within,
It feels like it will never end,
Why did you have to take from me,
Not only a loved one, a friend.
Those memories of being together
Plays back like a film without sound,
That hand was there to reach out to,
Will never be found.
I will not forget you,
Now that we are apart,
Your laughter, smile and voice,
Will always be in my heart.
The sky's not so far up anymore,
The stars aren't so bright,
I'm so scared of what life will bring,
When day turns into night.

Second -- A Child No More by Nicole Feeney
How could it be?
God oh God, why me?
I'm sorry I cursed
and I'm sorry I swore,
I'm sorry I went knocking on that door.
I'm sorry I avenged adventure
With little to fear.
Why did it happen to me?
It wasn't fair, I wasn't prepared.
how could I be?
He came with power, he came with speed.
He came in doing his evil deed.
A child no more,
But not quite a woman
and yet now I must play the part of one
How could one so young,
be burdened down with
the actions of another, so much older?
A child no more,
But a mother.

Special awards, Cheese Poet Laureate's Award: Best dairy ode
Cheese Town by Holly Totten
Cheese, cheese, can you hear them call?
Hey, they have cheese in Ingersoll!
Cheese, cheese, it's everywhere,
I have Swiss cheese in my hair!
Melted cheese, shredded cheese, cheese spread,
These all taste good on bread,
Mild, medium, extra old,
I like it hot, I like it cold,
Cheese string, cottage cheese, cheese slice,
Anyway you have it, it tastes nice,
Cheese, cheese, can you hear them shout?
Come to Ingersoll and check it out!
Best poem about Ingersoll
First -- The Children of Ingersoll by Hilary Waud
The children of Ingersoll sure know how to have fun
They laugh and they play, they sing and they run
In bathing suits and uniforms or t-shirts and shorts
You'll find them engaged in all sorts of sports
From basketball to soccer, baseball, hockey and more
Just hanging with friends they truly adore
Celebrations and victories are what they like best
But just having fun is worth all the rest
So if you come to our town the children you will see
Smiling faces as happy as can be
They don't care about fortune and they do not want fame
They want their friends and to just play the game

Second -- Canterbury Folk Festival by Chris Comiskey
Canturbury Folk Festival such a wonderful time,
Come on it doesn't even cost a dime.
The music is great, even at night,
The moon, the stars, the town what a site.
The crafts, the food, the Jester happen all day,
The shows, the fun, the beer tent too much to say.
When you meet the Jester say "Hello"
Because you might get a wet you never know.
In the craft there are lots of things to see,
Candles, glass, wood stuff, food, water and tea.
Have some fun, ride on the rides,
Up, down in and out just like the tides.
We've got all your ice cream you'll ever know
Rocky road, Moose tracks and Chocolate chip cookie dough.
Come on in, it doesn't cost a dime,
Canturbury Folk Festival such a wonderful time.
Third -- Ingersoll Library by Sabrina MacDonald
Books, Books
they are everywhere.
From fiction to non
they're all there.
Computers in just
about every stall.
You can look
up just about all.
Dictionaries to the left
fiction is to the right.
Non-Fiction in the back
And helpers in sight.
*Judge's special award
"a wonderful image and a wonderful feeling in a challenging form (cinquain)"
Mother by Sylvie Weir
Mother
My own
Sweet and kind
Warming my whole life
Mom

Adult, Rhyming Poem
First -- Autumn Song by Juanita DeRoo
Everywhere I look around
I see bright leaves, floating down,
With a subtle whispering sound
They fall, like rain to meet the ground.
Through sun and shadow they persist,
An autumn-winter catalyst,
Without the power to resist,
The Earth receives their dying kiss.
Second Ideas by Catherine E. Swift
Their shapes are amazing,
Like antelope grazing,
Across a hazing of blue.
Some grey and some white,
Some heavy, some light,
A cotton field clouding our view.
These puffs in the sky,
Are billowing high,
Re-arranging and changing so free.
A minute ago,
They were hanging down low
As raindrops descended on me.
Some cumulus nimbus
Are building around us,
Preparing a battering boom.
With power unleashed
And thunder released,
Lightning bolts brighten the gloom.
Then after the storm,
All is peaceful and warm.
A tenuous treasure we find.
For over our head
Gleams a rainbow instead,
A generous gift for the mind.

Third -- Dream Quilt by Juanita DeRoo
My favourite days are snowy ones,
I take a quilt down from the rack
And always choose the faded grey,
Backed with Redpath sugar sacks.
I crush it tightly to my heart,
And press it to my face,
The soft folds hold the precious scent
Of another time and place.
Faint smells of balm and wintergreen,
And hints of turpentine,
Roses warming in the sun,
And elderberry wine.
Flames snap and crackle on the hearth,
Within their amber glow,
I see the shapes and forms of those
I loved so long ago.
As snowy drifts build up outside,
The memories ebb and flow,
My childhood all returns to me,
As pure and clean as falling snow.
Honourable Mention Contentment by Audrey Hutcheson
The joys of a farmer are chiefly these -
A smiling sun, a balmy breeze;
A tractor that starts,
A back that 's strong,
A grin for the odds -
When the day goes wrong.
While expenses go up, and crops go down
His seasons keep on turning 'round,
Until at last his work is done -
A little lost, a lifetime won.

Free verse First -- Pavane for a Late Princess by Julia Penistan
when pebbles cuddling close for fairy tales and goodnight kisses
are swallowed by mushrooming ogres and monstrous radiation,
rocks, too, crack
water splits back into primal elements
when the dream of all bubbles bursts
for amidst such exploding roar even the unremitting canticles of seraphim
are distant, silent
but into this masked and solitary dungeon
where dragons beaten back blaze again through the night,
a royal troubadour flies
singing wishes into presence
after an entirety of love has lifted off and reunited,
the sun rises new over palace walls,
stars shine brilliance
and angel wings continually brush aching souls
with abundant showers of magical fairy dust

Second -- Images by Ruthanne Foster
A small boy's face
framed in the window of a passing 18 wheeler.
He looks down on the world,
diesel fumes fanning his hair
Beyond him, in shadow
the same features
on the face of his father
He looks down on the road
cigarette smoke pouring out
the corners of his mouth.
Images…
the colour of the rust on the truck…
freckles on the arm…
auburn hair…
cigarette package on the dash…
white T-shirts…
rolling through this cigarette town.
A pair of faces
seen only once -
A mobile Norman Rockwell
as the transport
rumbles past my door.
Third -- Grief by Julia Penistan
Spectacles hold a tear, fast,
too close to be noticed,
change the inward vision
or distant focus
Storm sweeps -
Torrential, edge-of-hurricane rages -
And leaves, in cascades of painful weeping
Strike hard
Within, sheltered
a house continues to break
Honourable Mention Call of Evening by Elizabeth Bustard
Revving the motor
he shoots out the boathouse.
The children and I hanging on
as he spins the boat in circles,
the turbulence of the water
creating wave upon wave.
Missing the shallow point
we zoom into the bay
breaking the golden reflections
of trees patterned in the lake.
Suddenly, he cuts the engine!
"Listen," he whispers
"Listen to the waves."
Watching and listening, we behold
the undulating waves
crashing on the shore
then gradually receding,
until the water once more
mirrors our boat, trees, loons.
Children resume their chatter.
"Shhhh" he whispers
"Listen to the silence,
Listen to the silence!"

Other (ie haiku, diamante, limerick, cinquain, sonnet, etc)
First -- Clock Passional by Patricia Bowes-Rowlandson

Second -- Shells by Karen Horeth
orange sun still shines
but blue shells - empty cradles -
whisper all losses
Third A Fellow Named James McIntyre by Audrey Hutcheson
A fellow called James McIntyre
Once wrote about Ingersoll's fire;
But his poems about cheese
"From cows thick as bees"
Made history for that town/country squire

Special awards -- * are not winners in any other category
*Cheese poet Laureate's Award: best dairy ode
Guardian of the Cheese by Juanita DeRoo
A busy fly one day perchanced
To pass the pantry door,
And saw a cheese, a-ripening
One shelf above the floor.
Her golden charms were evident,
Her aroma so divine,
He threw all caution to the wind
And paused to spend some time.
He set his leg hairs all aright,
And wiped his big brown eyes,
He groomed his wings, and other things,
And pondered on her size.
He swiftly calculated
Her mass and density,
Then quickly skimmed around her rim
The lovely cheese to see.
He never saw it coming
Though it's shadow made him freeze,
A swatter, handled skillfully
By the Guardian of the Cheese.
The cheese remained cool and aloof
Upon her pretty plate,
The fly lay there with legs in air
And never knew his fate.

*Best Poem about Ingersoll, past or present
The Cheese Poet by Audrey Hutcheson
Once a young Scotsman to Ingersoll came,
In the mid-1800's, James McIntyre, his name.
A furniture maker, embalmer and friend,
He looked after Oxford from beginning to end.
Concerns for the county he expressed in plain verse;
Though his meter was awkward, it could have been worse.
For his verses were simple and not always in rhyme,
While he shared with true feeling, the events of his time.
The fruit of the maple he described in detail,
The snow, slush, the kettle, the neck yoke and pail.
He recorded with sadness the great fire, which spread
Through most of the town, from a vintage horse shed.
But his praises for cheese making brought special renown,
For they furthered that business to country, county and town.
Yes, his verses on cheese, made him Canada's poet.
These are just a few facts of his life as we know it.

*JC Herbert Award -- for a rhyming poem about rural or small town life
I Remember by Elizabeth MacCallum
I remember, I remember when I think back to the past
Of teenage years in Ingersoll, a laddie and a lass
At fifteen started dating, having met in their high school
Soon Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it just became the rule.
There was the fun at Teen Town dancing to a favourite song
Like "Deep Purple" or like "Istanbul", we really did belong
We often had a spot dance, Paul Jones, mixers quite a few
Then drank some great hot chocolate, I recall a time or two.
Then out to Rusty's after, where fake cats crawled 'round the wall
A hamburg and a milkshake, it was great in Ingersoll
ON Sundays walking 'round the town they'd end up in the park
Or push each other in a swing and talk until the dark.
They often stopped at Bighams for a sundae that was great
Like "Tin Roof" or "Snow White and Dwarfs", they both were just first rate
They'd go to movies just for fun, they really loved "The Strand"
Mrs. Maitland always smiled at them as they were holding hands.
The school days passed so quickly, academics and the sports
The Blue and White Revue was fun and gave them skills of sorts
The kickline, waltz routine or choir was worked on as a team
And then the dreaded "Prom Night" to see who would end up queen.
Mr. Herbert was their leader at cadets they walked the rounds
And he would want perfection or they'd never leave the grounds
They marched down streets and gave commands and felt so very proud
The precision squad manoeuvred, and would really please the crowd.
The Reverend Evans and Daniels influenced them in a way
And almost every Sunday they would come to church and pray
Christmas brought carol singing and the Golden Rule was taught
They always knew they had a friend and that helped out a lot.
At the library Miss Crawford helped them find a book or two
To research or just read for fun, an interest to pursue
The days went by so quickly in this idylllic life
Then many left to seek a dream, ties severed like a knife.
But time has ways of changing things, and change came by one day
The Laddie and the Lassie left, and went their separate way
The years passed by, the hair turned grey, their lives were winding down
But in their hearts forever lived the memory of this town.