Westwood Library sponsors VOYA teen poetry contest winner: Katherine Horan

Katherine Horan, whose poem,The Accidental Plagiarist, was included in the Westwood Public Library 2005 Poetry Anthology, has been selected as a winner in VOYA's Teen Poetry Contest 2005. The Westwood Library sponsored Katherine's entry in the contest. VOYA, Voice of Youth Advocates, devotes its April issue to poetry, and runs an annual contest. As one of five national winners, Katherine's poem will be included in this year's April issue. She will also receive a cash prize. Congratulations, Katherine!

THE ACCIDENTAL PLAGIARIST

The accidental plagiarist
Should not be utterly dismissed
For his transgression, as it is
Time's Fault for any cheat, not his.
He has a thought, but it's been claimed;
All joys and all emotions named.
The lovers' vows have all been sworn;
It makes a poet quite forlorn.
He can't be blamed for redone rhymes,
Not e'en those writ a thousand times,
For knowledge contains such a store
It seems we're always storing more.
And if a poet seeks to write
A rhyme already brought to light,
The poem will be left, decayed,
When critics cry that it's cliched.
The great ideas died with the greats
And rules were set on granite plates
To make all new works formulaic,
Melodramatic, or prosaic.
A true original idea
Has become wanting on our Gaea.
So ends my little tale of woe,
I'm sure you've heard it elsewhere, though.

Katherine Horan

SEND US YOUR POEMS!!

You have until April 13 to send your original poems to the Westwood Public Library for inclusion in the 2006 Poetry Anthologies. We'll be publishing two anthologies this year: one for middle and high school students, and one for 4th and 5th graders. This is not a contest! All poems submitted will be published - one per student. 30 line limit, family friendly language, please. The books will be available on May 2 and will be presented to the poets at a poetry reading at the library. Don't worry, reading your poem is optional! Send your poems to westwoodpoetry@yahoo.com. Include your full name, grade, school, email address and phone number.