Fresno County Public Library Poetry Contest

To Be the Author I Want to Be

When I finally finish a book
And leave my cozy nook
I look up and down my shelves,
There's a book about pastels
Another on a mystery
However artful crime,
Can’t dwell on the misery,
But I’ve read every book,
In my cozy nook
Every, every, book
Nothing catches my eye,
So maybe I can try,
To be the author I want to be
An author's job is never done
Writing till the setting sun
Maybe travel for inspiration?
This deserves concentration!
A publisher I’ll have to find,
The editor, a friend of mine!
So maybe I can try,
To be the author I want to be.

--Ellie A., 3rd-5th Grade

Mustard Seed

It starts small

Mustard seed

Oh I plead

But a tiny faith moves mountains

Oh mustard seed

Now I plead

--Moriah D., 3rd-5th Grade

--Mishaal H., 9th-12th Grade

Complete

Always be complete in you because nobody does or sees things like you

No one person is the same so don’t ever be ashamed for liking different things

or having weird dreams, don’t be mad because you have a weird laugh and don’t

cry because you don’t have blue or brown eyes.

These are things you can’t control, like

the way your body takes shape or the way you love the rain

You can’t change they way you speak or stop at how tall you wanna be

Don’t be ashamed of they way you have your hair or the way you always see to care

Don’t feel sad because your nose curves a different way or the way your skin looks after a long day

Be true to your person and as always remember to say

“Be complete in me” because who cares what everyone else thinks

--Josie M., 9th-12th Grade

The Burden of Life

My life as it seems is very happy and glows and gleams, but is it really how it seems?

I work day and night to keep the smile on my face, even though the pain I feel can't be erased.

My life is a perfect painted picture, painted so good you can't see the cracks, as if it doesn't exist, trust me when I say this, there is no bright light that isn't darkened by the share of the night.

I feel broken and damaged which no one can trace, because of the smile that's always plastered on my face.

My stomach, my number one flaw, on the outside it's flat and solid, but I know deep down it's not, it's a round circular dot.

I suck it in whenever I'm out so I don't look like the odd one, in and out.

My friends all skinny and thin, I feel like I have to blend in.

So stuck my stomach in I shall every day, to feel allowed to stay with my friends to the end.

My mind does it naturally now, so suck it in I shall, the pain and hurt I feel will never heal.

The marks there from myself will never go away, might as well be a trophy on my shelf, for I feel like I am someone else.

--Madelyn J., 9th-12th Grade

The Drought in My Heart

I love you like I love the rain

It comes with a great deal of pain to admit

Because like the rain you come and go

You drizzle

You sprinkle

You pour

You make yourself impossible to ignore

All I ever want to be is caught within your storm

Tears fall because you belong to the clouds

And I, the earth, will only ever get you

When she decides to let go

You will make your way back to her though

For you and I will only ever be temporary

You plan on staying here

I want to go

Maybe elsewhere I can learn to fall in love with the snow

But with ever drop that will ever fall from the sky

Is a tear for us

for our love will inevitably die

--Taylor H., 9th-12th Grade

Desperation Is a Mirage

I found myself in a ball in the corner of the room with my eyes closed
Tears were leaking down my face and onto my arms
“open up”
i don’t think I can unless you tear me limb from limb
“talk to me”
Id rather rip out my vocal chords
“please just look at me”
my eyes hurt
a warm embrace that feels like pure light holds me
while in the same position my tears start flowing more
I howl my sadness into them
like a wolf i’m mistaken
i’m no hungry killer
just lonely
in search of others who can understand
“open up when you’re ready”
in better words, I wont fight you
“take your time then we’ll talk”
I hesitantly wrap my arms around them
“you’ll be okay”
words i’ve never heard in return to me saying them
In the moment I feel safe, despite the horrible pain still in my chest
In that moment I feel seen and in a odd way, okay
Thats when I opened my eyes and look around to an empty room
light coming in from my window
and I feel the tears that stained my cheek
desperation is a mirage

--Madison S., 9th-12th Grade

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The 25th Annual Poetry Contest is here!

Welcome to Fresno County Public Library's 25th Annual Poetry Contest. Submit your poems between April 1st and April 30th. Poems will be judged by talented, local professionals and our winners will be celebrated at an in-person Awards Ceremony in June.