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Local Texture Contest Awards
1st Prize
Medley: Barrages of Thought/the Rains Blues,
Poem by, Michael J. Benham
2nd Prize
Milkweeds (above left), Digital Photograph, by, Catherine Labrecque
3rd Prize
Goat (above right), Pencil Drawing, by, Melinda Warren
Honorable Mentions:
Moose Color Pencil Drawing, by, Amber Harris
Well Beaten Path, Poem by, Scott Morse
The New Kid, Story by, Dan King
Friend or Foe, Poem by, Jennifer Aldrich
Light, Poem by, Jessica Maynard
Canaan Landmark, Drawing by Sara Carter
Cassiopeia, Poem by, Michael J. Benham
Michelle, Poem by, Amanda Brown
Digital Photograph by, Catherine Labrecque
Bloodgem, Please identify yourself for three honorable mentions! Lost and Alone, Mistress of the Dark, and Watch the Rain, Poems by, Bloodgem
1st Prize
Medley: Barrages of Thought/the Rains Blues
Poem by, Michael J. Benham
the dark shrouds upon my eyes are falling
but i am not falling
like
the rain is falling
heavy bullets of pure life
beautiful isn't it?
that such amazing things
come with such
a substantial rage
or with
such a
meditative patter
while in this darkness
the artificial light hovers in beams
not bullets
across the selectively illuminated chamber
to my settle
where
i am falling from my clouded perceptions
with a heavy thud
like a bag of rain
Honorable Mention
The Well Beaten Path, Poem by, Scott Morse
The well beaten path
Blanketed by the pine needles
Thrown away by the trees
Honorable Mention
Light, Poem by Jessica Maynard
Light is everywhere
Even in the darkest hour
There's a certain posing power.
It shines throughout and glows within
Prettiness and without sin.
Happiness in its true form
Although it is so norm.
The light pierces the darkness
No more and no less.
Honorable Mention
Cassiopeia, Poem by, Michael J. Benham
The cratered scape of her mistress and her dusty, desolate plains, in bright light, ghostly,
greys and whites, stars above, this rock, this piece of God, it is no place for a bear, for it
bares no trees, no water, just,
rocks
rocks
and
rocks
Honorable Mention: The New Kid, Story by, Dan King
I awoke to the alarm clock's buzzing in an annoying way. I fall out of my chair when I reached to shut it off. I cursed to myself realizing I had fallen asleep at my computer again. This habit has caused some serious bruising on my shoulder. Walking over to my alarm clock, I slammed my foot against the side of my bed. Letting out a yelp of pain, I whimpered silently.
"You OK in there Johnny?" My younger brother asked from behind my closed door.
"Yea, I'm fine." I replied.
I walked to the bathroom in my boxers with a towel draped over my shoulder. I heard snickering from behind me so I turned around to see my sister's friend standing there with her head out the door. My face grew beet red. I had forgotten my sister had company.
"Nice bod." She said smiling.
"U....um, thanks." I stammered.
"Put some cloths on!" My sister snapped as she came up the stairs.
Instead of arguing, I walked into the bathroom and shut the door. I could hear my sister and her friend laughing about some boy. Were they talking about me?...... Nah. I turned on the shower and hopped in. As the water hit my face, I started to think how the first day at Mascoma Valley Regional High School was going to go. The water started to get cold but I didn't care. I did care about the constant banging on the bathroom door.
"Hold your horses, I'm getting out!" I snapped.
I wrapped the towel around my waist. Opening the door, I expected to see my sister - but it wasn't her, it was her friend. I tried to smile but I couldn't. I was extremely embarrassed. I ran to my bedroom and slammed the door. Damn! No privacy! Getting dressed, I noticed that my bag was lying on the floor open. I zipped it shut and ran down stairs.
"John," my mother said, "behave in school today."
"Yes mother dearest." I responded.
Before she could respond to my sarcasm, my little brother screamed, "Bus!" I was out the door and walked towards the bus. As I got on, I noticed a lot of people talking and laughing. I found the only empty seat left and plopped myself in it. Looking out the window, I mapped out the way to school. I felt the weight of someone sitting down, but we hadn't stopped which meant that someone had moved. I turned to face the person. It was a boy about my age with light blond hair which was close to white with hazel eyes that mesmerized me.
"Hi, I'm Atticus." He said smiling. "And you are?"
"John." I said staring.
We sat there staring at each other, his eyes held me there not allowing me to be released. I noticed that he was smiling. If it was anyone else, I would have found it creepy, but his smile was kind and welcomed. I felt my mouth form a smile in response to his. My mask has been cracked, damn, I thought.
"Hi freak, its rude to stare." A female voice said in front of us.
He sat down and began to talk. I learned that he had just moved here with his mother. He was into a lot of the things I was; hanging out, reading, etc.. To my shock, he pulled out Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
"I'm reading the same thing." I said. "I love J.K. Rowling."
"I do too." Atticus said smiling.
We couldn't go any further in our conversation, because we pulled up to the school and I needed to get ready. I was about to step into my living breathing hell. I just hoped Atticus would be alright. To be continued.
Honorable Mention
Friend or Foe, Poem by, Jennifer Aldrich
You and I will differ,
As long as water, in cold air, grows stiffer.
Like birds of a feather,
You and I were together.
Just as hot is to cold-
Just as good is to evil-
What water is to a fish,
Oh, don't you just wish!
You said you were a friend,
Well this is the end!
Just as hot is to cold-
Just as good is to evil-
Honorable Mention
Michelle, Ballad by, Amanda Brown
The night was dark and cold,
the Fall breeze blowing her brunette hair.
2 A.M., a dead battery
nothing but a dead battery.
"What use is this?
No signal, no tone, no light."
Stumbling in the dark... U.V.M. in sight.
U.V.M. in sight.
"Here, use mine... It's dark out here
make your call..."
"I'm not that far I swear."
"Not that far I swear."
"I was just at the bar...
A friend is picking me up."
Why are you convincing yourse
lf.
It's been a week
and there's been no report
they say she's gone.
Please say she's not gone.
A swimming hole
near the top of a cliff.
Her body was found... But not alive.
Please say she's alive...
Honorable Mention
Moose Color Pencil Drawing, by, Amber Harris. Canaan Landmark, Drawing by Sara Carter
Jessica Maynard's poem Light wins Honorable Mention in Local Texture Litterary Magazine contest
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