Sixth-grader's water-themed poems take top honors
Bailey Bystry, a Glen Ellyn resident and sixth-grade student at Hadley Junior High School, earned a spot as a finalist in the River of Words Environmental Poetry & Art Contest -- the largest youth poetry competition in the world.
Bailey's poem, "If I Could Be Water," was chosen from approximately 20,000 entries from 11 countries and is expected to be published in the River of Words Anthology this summer.
Bailey's poem "Morning Water" also won first place for sixth grade in the Glen Ellyn Public Library's Middle School Poetry Contest.
She is one of three Illinois winners of the 100 winners who will all be honored at the River of Words' 13th annual awards ceremony, to be held at The Library of Congress Center for the Book, in Washington, D.C., Monday.
"I'm extremely excited and honored to be one of the finalists in this competition," said Bailey, who wrote and submitted the poem as an assignment for the Writers Studio, a writing workshop she has attended for the past two years.
Her writing can be read online at www.writersstudiokids.blogspot.com.
"The Writers Studio takes both children who love writing, and those who don't know why they should write well, and has them use creative writing as a springboard to what could be AP English, English Honors, and as in Bailey's case, even publication. Bailey is a strong writer and poet and we're very proud of her," says Naazish YarKhan, director of Writers Studio, who teaches workshops in Glen Ellyn and Wheaton.
Bailey was in her third year of being home-schooled when she entered the competition in February.
She started attending Hadley Junior High School in April.
"Bailey's dad and I are so thrilled with this accomplishment; it's yet another reason to be proud of her," said her mother, Jenifer Bystry. "We hope her win will inspire Bailey to always explore her talents and to continue to seek opportunities to share her efforts through avenues like contests and publication."
Bailey is looking forward to attending the ceremony to receive her award in person.
"I can't wait to meet some of the other winners and thank the people at River of Words," she said.
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass, recent winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for Poetry, will host the event. Hass co-founded River of Words in 1995 with writer Pamela Michael, the nonprofit organization's executive director. The contest is conducted by Berkeley nonprofit River of Words and affiliated with The Library of Congress Center for the Book.
Commenting on this year's winners, Robert Hass remarked, "It's thrilling to see, year after year, these young writers and artists giving us back the places where we live through their words and images. Through their explorations and reflection on their home grounds, we are all made more aware of the beauty, history, and fragility of our natural landscapes."
"If I Could Be Water" will be published in the River of Words 2008 anthology, "River of Words: The Natural World as Viewed by Young People."
The organization will donate a book to both the Glen Ellyn Public Library and Hadley Junior High's library in honor of Bailey's win.
If I Could Be Water
If I could be water I wouldn't be a pond Muddy and brown,
I wouldn't be an ocean Big and alone, I wouldn't be rain Falling again and again,
I wouldn't be ice Cold and frozen, I would be a river Long, wide and free.
Morning Water
A misty morn, A foggy dawn, The perfect beginning For a stroll to the pond.
A splash, a ripple. The silence breaks. Deer come to drink In this hazy morning place.
The sun starts to climb Into the soft pink sky. So I bid my farewells, And say my good-byes.
A misty morn, A foggy dawn, The perfect ending For a stroll to the pond.