WINNERS
James McIntyre Poetry Contest 2003:
JK, SK, & Grade 1
Best poem
First A Tree by Emily Grass
A tree can be tall.
A tree can be small.
Second Cheese by Alyssa Toellner
I like cheese;
White cheese is the best.
I like it when it’s soft.
Cheese is good.
Third Cheese by Amanda Wright
I like cheese.
It is yellow.
It might be green.
I’ve seen red cheese.
Honourable Mention Cheese by Tanner Churchill
Cheese has milk in it.
It makes my muscles big.
It tastes good.
Mozzarella is the best.
Honourable Mention Cheese by Nick VandenBrink
It tastes good.
I like cheddar cheese.
I like to put it on crackers and sandwiches.
I also like Cheez Whiz.
Honourable Mention Cheese by Brianna Marchand
I like cheese because it is good.
My favourite kind of cheese is marble.
I like Swiss cheese too.
When Mom and I have pizza, I like her to order it with Swiss cheese.
Honourable Mention Cheese by Danielle Whetstone
Cheese is good in grilled cheese sandwiches.
It tastes delicious.
It has really good stuff in it.
I like cheese.
Grades 2 & 3
Acrostic
First Ingersoll by Sydney Wolfe
I - Ingersoll is a very peaceful place – I love it!
N - Nights go by in Ingersoll when trains go by.
G – Girls and boys in Ingersoll go to the Public Library to check out their books.
E – Early some mornings in Ingersoll it rains a lot.
R – Rains almost every night where we live.
S – Somewhere in Ingersoll there is a train and the Cheese Museum.
O – Out where we live three are a lot of trains.
L – Lovely things happen in Ingersoll where we live.
L – Loving things can happen in Ingersoll.
Second Trains by Michael White
T – There are lots of trains in Ingersoll
R – Railways are running
A – Almost every time you go to the station, it is always fun
I – Ingersoll has lots of train tracks
N – Normal trains are fun to ride
S – Stations are very busy
Third Ingersoll by Hannah Minler
I – In Ingersoll, we have lots of trains
N – Next door neighbours are nice
G – Great people cover Ingersoll
E – Excellent friends to play with
R – Rivers are quiet
S – Silly ducks play
O – Outstanding fairs
L – Lovely kids
L – Love each other
Honourable Mention Ingersoll by Cody Watson
I – Important
N – Nice
G – Good
E – Enjoy
R – Ready for anything
S – Super
O – Okay
L – Large
L – Love it!
Honourable Mention Ingersoll by Teagan Chevrier
I – Interesting animals
N – Never boring
G – Great stores
E – Everlasting love
R – Remarkable people
S – Supporting friends
O – Often happy
L – Lovely community
L – Loving families
Other (rhyming, 2-word poem; 3-word poem)
First Trains by Jeffery Elliott
Different kinds
In Ingersoll
Popular here
Dark oil
Sparks fly
Hot engine
Express trains
Second Cheese by Samantha Lord
I love to eat cheese
Can I have some please?
If there is some cheese left, I will eat the rest.
Cheese is the best!
Third Back to School by Warren McAllister
Getting new clothes
Seeing old friends
Making new friends
Playing old games
Getting a new teacher
High-fiving a old teacher
Seeing new faces
Getting a year older
Grades 5 & 6
Rhyming verse
First Hear the Wind Blow by Raven Allen
Up high, down low,
Hear the wind blow.
Through the trees,
Falling leaves.
Up high, down low,
Hear the wind blow.
Second Cheese by Allison Scheele
Mozzerella, Cheddar, Swiss,
Cheese is the best!
I could eat cheese all day,
Without a rest!
Monterey Jack and Roquefort
It’s all so good!
Cheese from cows and cheese from goats,
I really wish I could!
White cheese, blue cheese
What difference does it make?
Orange cheese, yellow cheese,
It’s time to take a break.
Third The Moonlit Walk by Alex Jonker
I took a walk the other night,
with the moon out and shining bright.
The stars twinkled with every step I took,
in every corner and every nook.
With all lights out and everyone gone,
They all went hom to sleep ‘till dawn.
But I was still on my walk,
The walk by myself, the moonlit walk.
Then I decided that I should go,
go back to my house, go back to my home.
To see my baby and children three,
to see their eyes look up at mee.
I asked them if they wanted to talk,
I told them ‘bout my moonlit walk.
‘Bout the stars that twinkled with every step I took,
in every corner and every nook.
‘bout how the moon shone so bright
and then I kissed them, and said good night.
Honourable Mention Friends by Matthew Hennessy
The word friends is very strong,
It’s even better than my favorite song,
Friends are always there for you,
Even when you think you won’t make it through,
Two for one and one for all,
Its like a circle but very small,
I want you to know forever more,
I will stand at your door.
Free verse
First Math by Bradley McGann
moving the pencil back and forth,
not knowing what to do,
thinking and thinking,
Home work
Second Fall by Jennifer Dawes
The wind blows a joyful stride,
The grasses blow to the winds command,
The crickets chirp a mellow tune,
The coloured leaves do fall,
As this goes on my heart sings happily
And this, my friend is called Fall.
Third Red by Allison Scheele
Red is the colour of a budding rose,
Releasing a fragrant smell,
Red is a cardinal,
flying over hill and dale,
Red is the colour of a red, red apple,
waiting to be picked.
Red makes me feel rosy and good,
or also very angry.
Red makes me feel warm inside.
Honourable Mention In the Valley by Raven Allen
In the valley,
there's flowers,
tall trees,
singing birds,
and don’t forget the chipmunks.
Honourable Mention Friends by Donna Devost
friends are nice.
friends are kind.
friends are sharing.
What would life
Be without my
friends
Honourable Mention Come into my Garden by Sasha Weekes
Come into my garden, friend,
Do not be afraid.
My damsons welcom you –
Do not be afraid.
The daffodils twinkle with joy,
At sight of each new guest.
Marigolds glint in the hot summer sun,
Their yellow petals gleaming.
Come into my garden, friend,
Do not be afriad.
My damsons welcome you –
Do not be afraid.
Roses and tulips of all colours,
Sway on the soft breeze.
Petunias and daisies,
Always ready to cheer you up.
Come into my garden, friend,
Do not be afraid.
My damsons welcome you –
Do not be afraid.
Other (haiku, cinquain, acrostic, diamante)
First The House Sits High by Cody Jones
The house sits high
on the misty mountain.
The falls run gracefully there.
Second Leaves by Bradley McGann
Leaves
on the driveway,
on a roof, or a car.
I wish that I could jump on them!
Crunchy!
Third Miss Juliana by Sylvie Weir
A ballerina
Twirling around gracefully
Inspires me to dance
Honourable Mention I Saw a Rose by Sylvie Weir
Rose
Crimson red
Weave of petals
Shining its beauty everywhere
Blossom
Grades 7 & 8
Rhyming verse
First Leaves Live It Up by Chloe Weir
Have you ever wondered
Why the leaves rush by
Well there is a reason
A reason why
They’re going to a party
Before they go to bed
They think they are late
Their clocks are ahead
And when they come home
Up stairs they all creep
They hop into bed
And fall fast asleep
Next morning they rise
And in sun or rain
They go to the party
All over again!
Second You Can Make It by Jennie Mitchell
Sometimes it may seem
As though you’ll never see the sun,
Sometimes it might feel
Like you’re over and done.
But just like through the winter,
There’s always hope of spring,
Just like someday a bird will fly,
Even though their broken wing.
After a dark and dreary winter the flower seems,
Prettier then when last it was in bloom,
And through the dark of night,
There always is the moon.
And no matter what happens,
Or what you’re going through,
I will always, always, always,
Always love you.
Third Grandma by Jennie Mitchell
It always seems sad,
When someone you love,
Takes their journey,
And goes up above.
My Grandma was someone,
Especially special,
With a huge sense of humor,
That’s not superficial.
We are all,
Really going to miss her,
The way she’d laugh,
And always be your listener.
I’ll always remember,
Her bright blue eyes,
The way they’d go wide,
When she got a surprise.
She was a wonderful Grandma,
A wonderful friend,
A wonderful mother,
To the very end.
Honourable Mention Spooks in Ingersoll by Kristen Allison
What’s that I hear at the dead of night?
Could it be a huge, horrible sight?
While I listen here, tucked in my bed,
Visions find their way into my head.
A scary werewolf, with its sharp fangs
An ugly monster, making loud bangs.
A sphinx, her riddles locked into place
The yeti, staring into your face.
As I wait for something to go wrong,
I hum to myself a little song.
I get the nerve, to step on the floor,
I slowly make my way to the door.
I creep down the creaky, spooky stairs,
I may come face to face with huge bears.
But still I go, even further on,
I do still hope that all the ghosts are gone.
I feel my heart beat against my chest,
But I know that I must do my best.
To rid the world of these horrid beasts,
I must not celebrate with small feasts.
Until I know what made that loud sound,
I know I will not be homeward bound.
I must investigate this weird case,
It will be an interesting chase.
What is it that my eyes truly see?
It’s not common like a bumble bee.
Ingersoll’s full of crazy creatures,
Ones with very weird, wacky features.
But I always know where to look,
If I would really like my nerves shook.
Imagination is needed here,
Ingersoll’s the place to test your fear.
Honourable Mention The Robin by Katelyn Dawes
The Robin sits upon
The branches, as he calls
To the wind as she passes,
And as she does, leaves do fall.
The Blue Jay races
With the wind, as she wins
The handsome call of the
Jay flies away as he sings
The Crow as black
As night, soars, dips and bends
Along the side of the wind
They know their journeys end.
Free verse
First The One That Stayed by Erin Caskey
Some friends come and go,
But you will always have one that stays.
Out to look at the stars with you,
To be there on your wedding day,
And if something’s wrong they’ll come
to you, and make it all okay!
Second Time by Jennie Mitchell
Time goes on forever.
Always moving, never rests.
I wish I could catch time in my hand, and
never let this moment pass.
When everything feels perfect.
But then, how can a moment be perfect, for it is
Only that, a moment. Whisked away in the whirlwind
of time, and is all but a memory.
A perfect moment is almost too perfect to be true.
But time is true, and will carry you along your path,
with perfect moments now and then. And surprises,
for you will never know how, or when.
So let time carry me away, through everyday, on its journey through eternity.
Third I am Me by Melissa Jacques-Durston
There will never be another person like me.
I am special because I am different
I am day and night
I am the sun and the moon
I am the sky, the earth, and the ocean
I am both dreams and wishes
I am hugs and sometimes tears
I am free yet I fear
I am courage and curiosity
I am love and hate
I am promises and lies
I am a girl becoming a woman
I am hope and trust
I am rain and shine
I am misery and happiness
I am light and dark
I see rights from wrongs
I am me and that is all I’ll ever be.
Other (haiku, limerick, cinqain, tanka)
First Haiku by Melissa Jacques-Durston
Listen! A frog
Sitting in the stillness
Of an ancient pond.
Second Volleyball by Katie Gillespie
Up down side to side
Using every part of the court
Bump, volley, spike, serve
Stretching legs, arms, fingers, feet
Volleyball is the true fun sport
Special awards
Cheese Poet Laureate's Award: Best cheese poem/dairy ode
Cheddar Cheese by Katie Gillespie
Oh please oh please just give me some cheese,
Not just a small one, if you please,
But a gigantic tasteful slice,
Be careful now watch out for the mice,
They’re sneaky little devils, but never fear,
I’ll have that slice gone without one single tear,
I feel for the mice, I m,now they have to eat,
But not my slice of cheese, it’s MY treat!
*Best poem about Ingersoll
A Town of the Humble, a Town of the Meek by Ethan Cassidy
A town of the humble, a town of the meek
A place where there is happiness and joy
And what is the name of this town you do seek
Ingersoll! Ingersoll! Ingersoll!
The town of the children who run and who play
A town where no-one has nothing to do
And what is the name of this place that we say
Ingersoll! Ingersoll! Ingersoll!
Sports team, festivals, library, and great fun
Elections, churches, stores, schools and much more
And what is the name of this place in the sun
Ingersoll! Ingersoll! Ingersoll!
The parks and the rivers are places to see
And if you like trains there are lots around
And what’s the name of whereabouts you should be
Ingersoll! Ingersoll! Ingersoll!
Our emergency services never fail
Our town is a safe place to live for all
And what is the name of this place that we hail
Ingersoll! Ingersoll! Ingersoll!
Grades 9 & 10
Rhyming verse
First Prophecy by Leah Weir
When those whose backs are to the wall
Let spirit rise and weapon fall
The greatest power of them all
Will sing once more its endless call
Though claws are sharp and teeth are bared
The chosen ones will come prepared
After tears are shed and laughter shared
They’ll do what most have never dared
Now wake again from endless sleep
The powers that have lain so deep
Now take again the flying leap
Through caverns of the truth now creep
The time is finally right at last
Every creature stands aghast
Magic flows from each one’s past
The final spell has now been cast
For seconds all are joined as one
When all is said and all is done
In the final light of the setting sun
The final battle has been won
Second Cheese Cheese Cheese by Megan Murray
Ingersoll, the town of cheese,
Visit the museum won’t you please?
Grated, sliced or in a ball,
Cheese is a great snack after all!
Different kinds of cheese, such as cheddar,
Ingersoll cheese is always better!!
Third Town’s Pride by Alisha Campbell
Over the mountains and swamps,
Through mid day’s warm sun,
For thirty-two kilometers,
Laura did run.
She was at her home,
Settling down for the night,
When an American Colonel,
Came in for a bite.
He ate up his food,
And drank up his wine,
Just then Laura’s destiny,
Sent her a sign.
He was talking freely,
Speaking without doubt,
When all of a sudden
His secret slipped out.
The plans to attack the British,
She heard the Colonel speak,
But how could she stop them?
She was so very weak.
But save them she did,
For eighteen hours she ran,
No one could stop her,
Not women or man.
Laura finally arrived,
As the night time did fall,
She warned Fitzgibbons,
She warned them all.
The result of her bravery
Canada did stand,
Victorious among all,
She saved our great land!
Laura Secord was special,
She stands out among the rest,
Her father founded our town,
Laura Ingersoll Secord was the best!
Free verse and Other
First First Love by Sarah Mitchell
Fresh breeze, long hair. Water trickling down a stream.
Orchard blossoms, fruits of spring. Green leaves, handsome young man.
Lush grass, picket fence, beautiful girl, small glance.
Birds singing, sun shining, wonderful, perfect afternoon.
Second glance, long look. Soft steps, grass rustling.
Flowers picked, hand in hand, long walk, night falls.
Strong hold, first kiss. Love comes, with new romance.
Beautiful stars, shining bright, moon glowing, all is right.
Second The Water Tower by Rachel Egan
The water tower’s,
high, high! Above the sky, above,
upon the grass hill.
Third I.D.C.I. Football by David Guy
The crowd cheers louder
As the team runs on the field
Then the whistle blows
Limerick
First Who Dares to Disturb My Slumber by Leah Weir
There once was once a cat who did creep
Up on to a chair to count sheep
But now I despair
It was my dad’s chair
Let’s just say he’s no longer asleep
Second Ingersoll Folks Made Some Cheese by Ryan McLean
Ingersoll folks made some cheese
And to everyone it did please
They really liked cheddar
But Mozzarella was better,
Oh, Ingersoll did make some cheese
Grades 11 & 12
Rhyming verse
First Ballad of a British Home Child by Amanda McAllister
In the year of 1909,
In London England I was born.
Born the bugger of a beggar
From my poor mother I was torn.
Society took me screaming
To that scary barnardo place.
Here I grew up as an orphan
My spirit beaten with disgrace.
I am just a child all alone,
Not knowing who I really am.
I’m told my name is Richard Hough,
Yet no one seems to give a damn.
At the tender age of fifteen,
Upon my own two feet I stand.
Shipped off to work in Canada,
Not a boy and yet not a man.
I wandered there from place to place,
Finding some work up on the rail.
Still the bugger of a beggar
With no family – just this tale.
I live lonely and all alone,
Not knowing who I really am
I’m told my name is Richard Hough,
Yet no one seems to give a damn.
The day I laid my eyes on her
And made lovely Mary my wife.
She loved me just the way I was,
It was her love that changed my life.
It was together we embarked
Searching for answers to my past,
Took fifty years and many tears,
But I finally know at last.
I will die loved and not alone,
Knowing exactly who I am.
I know my name is Richard Hough,
And my dear Mary gives a damn.
Second The Cheese I Love (and Hate) by Devon Reilly
First off is the cheese called Cheddar.
Out of all the cheeses, it is better.
Thick and smooth, orange and round,
These cheeses are quite easily found.
The next best is a cheese called Swiss.
A taste of it leaves your tongue in perfect bliss.
A bite of this is one of every mouse’s goals.
Maybe that’s why this cheese is always full of holes.
Parmesan is next in our cheese line.
This cheese feels somewhat fine.
White, smooth and usually thinner,
It tastes great when served at dinner.
Mozzerella is the fourth named cheese.
A ball of this cheese is a treat that’s sure to please.
Soft and squishy is what this cheese’s got.
Colorful and sweet is what this cheese is definitely not
The last and certainly the very least,
Is Limburger, the odor beast.
This cheese shouldn’t be a definite buy.
The smell alone could make men cry.
So know I bid you a fond adieu,
And I hope you have learned about cheese too.
So take my advice and remember it well,
Some cheeses are nice, but some just smell.
Free verse
First Cheesey Poem by Shawn Atthill
Cheese, cheese, cheese
Lots’a mots’a, tuns’a Feta
Cheese, cheese, cheese
Second I Love Cheese by Anne Matheson
I love Cheese,
Whether be cheddar, mozeralla or blue.
I just gouda have cheese!
Other (Limerick, Haiku)
First Served with Apple Sauce by Tyler Strickler
Served with apple sauce
Cracker barrel’s old cheddar
From cattle’s finest
Second The Big Cheese by Matt Stoop
The world’s cheese was all light as a feather.
Ingersoll knew they could do so much better.
They made one real big,
Than shipped it over the brig.
Ingersoll won with a gigantic cheddar.
Adult:
Rhyming verse
First Cheese by Janice M. McDonald
Provolone,
On its own,
Pleases well my tongue;
Cheddar’s bite –
Such delight –
Is milder when its young.
Piquant Blue
Earns its due
In dressings and cream sauces;
Parmesan,
Quickly gone,
Enhances what it crosses.
Camembert
Has a flair
When paired with freshest breads;
Gouda, brie
And Havarti
Are scrumptious within spreads.
Cream and Quark
Bring a spark
Of smoothest cool and pleasure;
Swiss and Jack –
Hold me, back!
Are lunch’s greatest treasure.
Chunk or slice,
Try them twice,
Rejoice in each one’s savour;
Any cheese
Is sure to please
Someone with its flavour!
Second She Loves Me by Allan Elliott
Sitting in my kayak, not going very far
Singing to my sweetheart, while playing my guitar
Floating over lily pads and past fallen logs
Listening to the dragonflies and green croaking frogs
An orchestra is playing in a gentle breeze
A symphony of sounds made by windswept trees
Her eyes are twinkling like the stars above
How do I tell her that I am in love?
Leaning towards me, she kisses my cheek
My body shivers and my knees go weak
She gives me a hug and kisses my lips
I lose my balance and my kayak tips
Third Waiting by Audrey Hutcheson
Blackbirds are waiting
to call by the river
The glad news
of spring’s warmth and glow;
The gardener waits
to take down his shovel;
The world waits for blossoms
up through the snow.
Free verse
First Raindrops by Dorothy G. Griffin
Raindrops
Running down the window
Are like the tears
Of those who walk
Alone.
We raise
Umbrellas of indifference
To shield us from knowing
Or caring,
And put the smiling mask
In place.
Only love,
Like the sun,
Can break through
The clouds of anguish
To burst into a rainbow
Of promise.
Relentlessly
The raindrops beat
Against my window
And blur my vision
Of the rainbow
Forever.
Second Early Morning Farewell by Elizabeth Bustard
Plummeting rom the sky
he hit the water, then skidded
to join his mate with their two chicks
on the emerald water of Perry Lake.
Bursting into song rich with
hoots, wails and tremolos
they lift their voices a capella.
As the last lingering tremolo fades
there echoes the sound of clapping.
Two small boys with mom and dad
applaud. Climbing into the van
tiny hands honk the horn, as slowly
the wheels turn toward home.
The loon family resume their fishing.
Third April by Julia Penistan
To human eyes,
Spindly explorations of maples inflate subtly with knobby redness
And a shimmer of green about a wood of motleyness is discovered;
Beneath this illusion,
Inner pulsating urge to push fingertips through to sky,
Dance with winds and resound with meteors
So strains winter skin,
The only possible release leaps vehemently forth
Beyond twiglets into new-forced arms, exploding leaves;
And under a night blanket of emerging stars
Early returning birds sing an exultation of youthfulness
And a blossoming of primeval buds bursts into bliss.
Honourable Mention The Gift by Dorothy G. Griffin
The gift of love cannot be boxed and tied with string
Nor written on a page
Its dimensions are measured in the self-offering
Of the giver.
Its depth can be fathomed only if response is found
Within another heart.
For only then can its profound strength, its warmth, its sound,
Be understood.
Its substance can be seen in the radiance of a smile
And in eyes filled with tears.
Unbidden, the gift of love comes and, after a while,
The heart believes.
Other (ie haiku, tanka, prose poem, villanesque etc)
First Water by Lori Munro- Pearson
Water … Timeless Gem;
The Life Line of Existence,
So Pure - Transparent.
Second Sunset Spook by Elizabeth Bustard
Shoes stepping softly,
Sarah screams, "Spindly spiders!"
"Spiders?" Startled stares!
Sage spidery spruces sway
Spinning silent stories, spells!
Third Nighttime Magic by Janice M. McDonald
A rift in the clouds
rips wide the evening’s gray,
reveals the heavens,
brings a sense of such closeness
I reach out to touch the stars.
Special awards
Cheese Poet Laureate's Award: best dairy ode
Lines written about cheese on a foggy spring day by Bryan Smith
I think I shall never see,
A cheese as lovely as a Brie,
Though there are those who claim it better,
Their orange, aged, Canadian Cheddar.
Often will I wax poetic
Over Gouda, smooth and aromatic.
A king would gladly leave his throne
For the bite of his dear, sweet Provolone.
Though they say "do not feed a fever!"
Give me toast, topped with fragrant Chevre!
In Britain, some say the best Lancashire,
For my taste, Colby or Wensleydale comes near.
From Switzerland come Gruyere and Emmenthal,
Both delights when sampled at the market stall.
Give me wine, bread and Saint Paulin!
Let me laugh out loud! Screen me tales of Tintin!
Cottage cheese I’ll eat with fruit in summer.
Likewise at dessert, mellow and creamy, golden Muenster.
And when all my eating of mild cheese is through,
I’ll compose an ode to Danish Blue.
Let these words be heard, I cry, this paean to curds!
Why a cheese poem? What an ode! You say.
Let kings bow, Lords and Ladies fawn, Queens curtsey!
Dairies, Cows and Cheese - praised be these words!
*Best Poem about Ingersoll (past or present)
My Home Town – the War Years by William Heslop
"MY HOME TOWN - THE WAR YEARS"
The Royal Train came through our town
with King George and his Queen.
They waved and wowed an adoring crowd;
what an unforgettable scene!
I was a young lad at the Ward School,
. . . aged five I think at the time.
My mom wanted me to see royalty
as their train slowly chugged down the line.
Miss Cuthbertson was our teacher
and she won all my classmates' applause
when she took us in tow in her car to the show
to see "The Wizard of Oz".
My family moved further down Thames Street
near the post office and all the stores.
With cars starting and stopping and people out shopping
and dogs running 'round on all fours.
I remember the day when war was declared;
we kids were confused by it all.
Those who were fit and of age to commit
joined up and answered the call.
My father went into the air force
. . . feeling he just had to do it,
and went in to submit his letter to quit
from his job at Fleischer and Jewett.
For a child these changes were scary
as Harvard Trainers droned overhead.
Large army convoys made such a loud noise
I swore they were under my bed!
Mayor Edmonds appealed to the kids of the town
"We must keep our war efforts on course".
We were asked to pick wads of silky milk pods
to make parachutes for the air force.
The salvage committee appealed all around
for bottles, fats, tin cans and brass.
The townsfolk responded, so proud and undaunted,
and exceeded objectives en masse.
So many things became rationed
like fruits and gas and fresh meat.
I can still see the mothers lined up with the others
to buy nylons on sale down the street.
Sounds are things kids remember the most
like the Borden's plant whistle at noon.
When the traffic blazed through on old highway two
and the curfew bell ringing too soon!
I started my own little spy club,
you had to be serious and frown.
Girls weren't allowed . . . we'd mix with the crowd
to check out new faces in town.
The night we went out with our flashlights
Constable Holmes sure gave us a start.
He said, "I've no doubt . . .you're too young to be out!"
but praised us for doing our part.
Jackrabbit drives were a hit at that time;
the young men's guns made a racket.
The "skin from the hare" made warm things to wear
like a down-filled air force flight jacket.
Our churches and service clubs rallied
to form spirited, volunteer groups.
They knitted warm sweaters and wrote lots of letters
then sent them off to our troops.
In school we licked hundreds of war stamps,
they were loaded with vitamin "V".
They helped us buy tanks and four-engined "lancs"
and ships to sail 'cross the sea.
The Morrow plant's wartime work schedule
put the Aragon's staff through its paces.
Serving hot meals and teas with miraculous ease
placed smiles on the shift worker's faces.
"The war is over!" the paper boy roared.
Kids rang the town bell aloud.
When the pipe band appeared, we yelled and we cheered
and joined the parade with the crowd.
The people converged on the crowded main street;
drivers honked their horns loud with pride.
Many took stock of the good news . . . with shock,
while others just stood there and cried.
I'll never forget that glorious day,
what a wonderful time for us all.
I was happy to be so young and so free
in my home town of ol’ Ingersoll.
JC Herbert Award - for a longer poem about rural or small town life
After Thoughts by Ruthanne Foster
I’ve seen them stopping along side the road:
they park off the travelled path
their tires crunching the patches of weeds
that grow in the gravel
releasing their yellow pineapple smell.
Their cars are small, plain, the colour of puffballs,
blending in the road like killdeer eggs.
They come alone.
No women waiting in the car, nor yapping dog,
or youngsters testing the strength of their arm,
tossing stones into the field.
Most often their people stop down the road
near the grove of maple
to watch for deer along the creek
or the swans that stop there, come spring.
Not these men.
They come quietly, slowly,
not raising a dust on the road
I often don’t hear their approach
above the clattering of the binder.
They park out in the open
along the front fields
bearing the full hit of the sun on their faces,
and bare arms, welcoming the heat on their skin;
allowing the warmth to loosen sinew and tendons
and warm the blood.
They come and watch
as we load the sheaves of wheat
or plough with the horses.
They wait as we stop
when one of the youngsters strikes out across the stubble.
I can see the manner
they hold their shoulders, shift their weight
the muscles remember the rhythm of harvest -
the thrust, and pitch, and sweat.
In me they must see themselves
as younger men,
as they had followed the team
overturning miles of long, glistening furrows.
In them I can see myself:
We who have felt the earth, watched its crops,
given back to the soil
for what is taken away.
An upturned palm to shield their eyes
from the sun’s glare,
could be taken for a wave.
I nod slightly in return,
my hands full of rein, or fork.
They do not come to talk.
I do not stop my team.
There are no words that need be spoken