Age 8 and younger
First Place
Tennessee Seasons
Anna Westerwelle
Thinkin’ about Tennessee,
Seasons making me dizzy.
In spring flowers bloom,
It also brings babies very new.
Summer sun likes the sky
Watching birdies start to fly
Autumn leaves way up high
Daddies want to eat some pie.
In winter there’s little snow
On our famous Cumberland Plateau.
Seasons going ‘round and ‘round,
While I’m lying on the ground.
Second Place
The Tennessee Mountains
Ellison Knox
Mountains are big and tall
Mountains are not so small
We always love to explore them so
Their beauty makes our eyes just glow.
The Tennessee mountains are beautiful
The more we explore them
More and more
But we still have things we’ve never seen.
Age 9–13
First Place
The Sky
Paulina Trout, Duck River EMC
The starry sky
High above
Shining bright
But none are awake
To see them dance
The flowers are hiding
The birds on their nest
Protecting their eggs
From the night
But the glory up high
shining in the sky
But none are to see them fly
Shooting are the sky
When the sun rises
In the east
The star will disappear
Leaving till tonight
When the will dance
And when they fly
And I will be awake this time
Looking out my window
At the glorious sky
Second Place
Tennessee the Land Flowing with Milk and Honey
Nehemiah Nunez, Powell Valley EC
North, East, South, West,
This piece of land is known as Tennessee.
The 16th state in the Union
Broke away with the Confederate States of America.
But now, it is one of the most respectable states in America.
Her flag is similar to the country’s…
Red on the outside,
A circle of blue,
And three white stars in the middle;
Yet, we must not forget her heroes like
Davy Crockett or General Jackson.
Tennessee is known for
Her hospitality and
Her God-fearing government and people.
Let’s not forget that.
Truly, Tennessee is a land flowing with milk and honey.
Third Place
Tennessee’s Beautiful Farmland
Krista Casillas, Middle Tennessee Electric
Tennessee’s Beautiful Farmland
The land that was once settled on by the Paleo- Indians,
The land that grows the fresh produce you get at the farmers market on Saturdays,
The land that has beautiful animals,
Tennessee’s beautiful farmland,
The land that you look at going down the road,
The land you see people living their livelihood on,
Tennessee’s beautiful farmland,
Constantly, getting bulldozed over,
Farmhouses, turning into subdivisions,
That was once,
All just,
Tennessee’s beautiful farmland
Age 14–18
First Place
Holy Water
Nisha Javagal, Middle Tennessee Electric
I drink the holy water
from Tennessee’s outstretched lands.
It fills me up from within.
The power is in my hands.
From its scorching summers
to numbing wintertime,
these lands knock off the hate
and let love overclimb.
The water is fresh
and displays the life within.
It guides in all the gifts
and deducts all its sins.
From encouraging leaders
to humanitarians,
Tennessee created it all.
Tennessee created
this holy water.
From the river north
or from the dams built in.
Tennessee creates this life
that leads the hopeful way
to places of passion
that can’t be cast away.
Second Place
A Tennessee Day
Kripa Sarkar, Middle Tennessee Electric
As the water rests
On the roadside curb,
The grass faintly green
Spread across is golden hay,
From behind a thorny shrub
Chirp crickets, hidden-unseen…
Now a sunny day, yet it may rain,
So the efforts of spring blossoms
Won’t go in vain!
For the Sun is an onlooker,
What hath it to gain?
Rattle and shudder
Roars of thunder!!
Breaking the silence
Pours the rain,
Gives company, the Northern Cardinal,
Their song of melodious train…
An American Robin jumps about
Pecking worms that surface the ground
I glance at the sky, blue and grey
Waving at A Tennessee Day…
Third Place
The Veterans of Tennessee
Samuel Nunez, Jr., Powell Valley EC
From 1776
To 1812
They left the mountains,
Forgetting self.
Though “Tennessee” was not their name,
Their fame kept their country from shame —
The veterans of Tennessee.
When the call came,
They went out to fight
For freedom and justice,
Liberty and right.
They charged to the fray
With all of their might —
The veterans of Tennessee.
The mountain men
Never did pause,
They desired to fight
For their cause.
They endured the American Civil War,
Then others’ wars while on other shores —
The veterans of Tennessee.
Those who served in Tennessee ranks,
Should not be deprived of our thanks.
Age 19–22
First Place
Smokey Mountains
David Smith, Fayetteville Public Utilities
Seen at a distance they stand full of pride.
No peers nor rivals stand by their side
mighty and precious, wildly
untame.
With beauty and majesty no man can
claim.
Their height and steel are difficult to
climb,
with a soul and a spirit hardened by time.
Unmoving, unshaken, untouched by the
ages.
They have watched the world as it furies
and rages.
And found men wanting with their
impatient minds.
They are focused, and steady, models of
their kind.
Statues of creation where on the top
wisdom stands,
God bless these mountains, and God
bless this land.
Second Place
Fall Awaits.
Mary Smith, Fayetteville Public Utilities
Hurry up now Fall Temps.
Hurry Autumn air.
Hurry Fall leaves.
Hurry up Harvest fair.
Hurry up and come on, experience awaits.
Hurry up summer, it’s time to welcome Fall traits.
We’re ready for pumpkins, cozy socks and warm fireplaces.
Ready I tell ya, for apple pie-scented spaces.
For harvesting fall crops and taking down summer pools.
For lining up winter boots and putting away spring gardening tools.
Hurry up summer, you’ve had your say.
Move on further south now.
It’s Fall’s time to play.
Third Place
Orange Country
Emily Bargo, Southwest Tennessee EMC
Life is slow,
Down below.
With the sun hanging over us,
We embrace its touch,
Changing into shades of amber rust.
Heat creeps into your home and into your bones,
Wraps its arms around you,
Stealing the breath from your lungs.
Temper the words born from flames,
As you wait for the return of rain.
Age 23–64
First Place
Summer Reign
Deborah Odom, Middle Tennessee Electric
Crown of clover, coronation complete.
Behold my Tennessee kingdom!
Inhaling the fragrance of the fleeting
season — honeysuckle bloom.
Tongue tingles from sucked nectar.
Clinching my scepter, burnt out sparkler,
fireflies glow.
At dusk, cicada’s trumpet sounds.
Eyes closed, I reminisce.
Stains of grass emblazon my coat of
arms — a sundress.
Bare feet, cold creek,
Clusters of muscadines,
Sweet sun tea in Mason jars —
butterflies land.
C ranked homemade ice cream, sticky
chins, chilled watermelon,
Spittin’ peach pits at old cotton quilt
picnics,
Casting a line — America’s Pastime.
Salty cheeks, dusty bikes,
Bonfire lights, thundering nights,
Burning embers signal — my summer
reign.
Second Place
Summer Storms
Terry Weaver, Duck River EMC
Distant thunder rumbles
Over the rolling hills.
The parched ground turns its face upward,
Floodgates of Heaven open.
Cooling water bathes the crops.
The corn drinks deeply.
Droplets on leaves are welcome to stay.
Weary lawns rejoice.
Birds retreat, anticipating feasts soon to appear.
Lethargic creeks swell with gratitude,
Rippling in approval.
Menacing, booming clouds return,
Prodigal waters in tow,
Welcomed as the dearest of long-lost friends.
Their work completed, they ebb and pass
As slowly as the long afternoon.
Twilight breezes in,
Tiptoeing towards slumber.
The land, refreshed, rejuvenated,
Dreams peacefully of the fresh new dawn to come.
Third Place
Time
Cindy Jackson, Cumberland EMC
Time
We think we have a lot
We don’t
We think it will always last
It won’t
We scramble around day by day
Appointments, duties and holidays
The tick and the tock
Of the clock on the wall
The device on the wrist
The timepiece from Grandpa
Will one day stop ticking
Like the heart in our chest
Time will stand still
Our bodies at rest
What did you do
With the time you were given
Wasted away
Or selfishly driven
Or were you a vessel
Though broken and such
Encouraging others and loving much
Age 65 and older
First Place
Anonymity
Belinda French, Duck River EMC
As a child growing up in Tennessee
I didn’t know anonymity, but all that
ended at a big university
When I was introduced officially to Mr.
Anonymity.
Mr. Anonymity became a constant
companion
For many years to come. I don’t wish that
on anyone
It’s not at all fun.
Please my friends, let’s pay attention to
others
And not just those in our group. With
open eyes and hearts
Be kind, doing our part.
Years later, it was back home for me.
Mr. Anonymity didn’t make the trip. He
wouldn’t dare
He’s the one not welcome there.
Second Place
Tennessee the Beautiful
CT Johnson
Driving, walking, or riding the bike
Traveling on roads like the Bear Creek Pike
Green fields, pretty trees, and wildflowers
Makes you want to walk or ride for hours
Hills and valleys are here and there
Enjoy the scenery with a breath of fresh air
Tennessee is beautiful for all to see
Except for the trash that is thrown so free
This poem was written so you very well can see
Our clean community meant a lot to me
Keep this poem in memory spring, summer, and winter
Keep Tennessee beautiful before our visitors enter.
Third Place
The Giver
Millie Ungren
If you could give me anything
I’d like a chestnut tree
Leafy limbs mighty trunk
Standing proud and free
Summer’s wind from out the south
Kite with a sky-blue tail
Sailboat ride on Pickwick Lake
Letters in my mail.
I want to walk on Clingman’s Dome
A chocolate shake from Sonic
Muscle shells from river’s edge
Does that sound too ironic
Lonesome wail from a night-bound train
Feather from a mockingbird
That book entitled ‘Bible’
They say it’s living word
Half the years Mathusala got
Things that really matter
Happy laughter from those I love
And eternity hereafter.
