Contests
Oprah Essay Contest
Five-line Poetry Contest
Teen Ink
U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser and WHS Sophomore Erica Bohac at the
Ashland Library Poetry Reading of contest winners on February 5,
2006. Erica had won the 10th grade category with her poem
entitled "Dance" (see below).
This is my free verse poem about dance. More specifically, it describes
the experience at one of many competitions during the dance season. It
expresses the difference between being backstage, waiting in the wings,
and dancing on stage.
Chaos;
Glitter, bobby pins, and the occasional feather everywhere
Futile attempts to perfect lips, hair, and costumes
Hairspray meets taste buds with its unpleasant flavor
Tap shoes are clicking
Three different stereos are playing three different songs
“5, 6, 7, 8!”
The intense work ethic and determination builds up like an unbreakable brick wall
Silence;
In the wings we wait
Holding hands
Deep breaths
Inspirational words from the coach soak in
Nervousness balances confidence to an exact degree
Seven months for this next three minutes
Pointedtoesstraightlegsfacialexpressionsstrongarmsgoodtechnique
Pose
Cue Music;
The first note resounds
My movements matches it perfectly
Four people moving as one
Judges receive four intense looks
All at once
Our eyes could burn holes in everything they take in
Passion, determination, pride, and emotion shows in every part of our bodies
The turns, kicks, and jumps seem out of control
But I am in control of every slight movement
I have to be
The stony faces of judges are not phased by our emotion
This is not for them
This is for me
This is for us
My team
Gracefully we glide across the brightly lit stage
But the sharp poses contradict the fluid movement
The torment and longing in the music,
Reflected in our dance
The last count of eight
My lasting impression depends on this
1, 2, 3, and 4, 5, 6, 7, hold 8
Hold, hold, hold
One last fiery stare
Turn and walk
Stay in character
Silence;
Smiles creep onto our still pained faces
The next group waits
Holding hands
Deep breaths
We walk towards the official backstage
The pride and knowledge of our success tries to overcome
Overcome the humility and professionalism we must hold true
Sorrow and misery that once consumed our character’s face is undetectable
Smiles, hugs, and cheers now reign
This happiness: uncontrollable
Chaos
District 145 Public Schools
and
Educational Service Unit #6, Milford, Nebraska
|
