COUNCIL, THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, AND THE POETRY FOUNDATION, WELCOME TO THE 12TH ANNUAL VERMONT POETRY OUT LOUD STATE FINALS FROM THE STUDIOS OF VERMONT PBS.

TONIGHT TEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE WILL BRING US POETRY - THE SUBLIME AND THE MUNDANE, THE MARVELOUS AND THE MISCHIEVOUS, THE DEFT ILLUSION AND THE ENDURING TRUTH, THE RIVETING RECITATIONS OF POETRY OUT LOUD.

POETRY OUT LOUD IS A NATIONAL COMPETITION THAT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS IN GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE TO EXPLORE GREAT POETRY THROUGH MEMORIZATION AND RECITATION.

THE FINALISTS IN TONIGHT'S COMPETITION HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FROM MORE THAN 5,500 VERMONT STUDENTS IN MORE THAN 40 HIGH SCHOOLS, FROM BENNINGTON TO BURLINGTON, AND BARTON TO BRATTLEBORO.

THE WINNER OF TONIGHT'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WILL GO ON TO REPRESENT THE STATE OF VERMONT AT THE NATIONAL FINALS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND WILL COMPETE AGAINST 52 OTHER CONTESTANTS-ONE FROM EACH OF THE FIFTY STATES, PUERTO RICO, THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-FOR UP TO TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PRIZE MONEY.

OUR STATE CHAMPION WILL RECEIVE A TWO-HUNDRED DOLLAR AWARD AND AN ALL-EXPENSE-PAID TRIP FOR TWO TO THE FINALS IN WASHINGTON, DC.

THE CHAMPION'S SCHOOL LIBRARY WILL RECEIVE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE PURCHASE OF POETRY BOOKS AND RELATED MATERIALS.

TODAY'S SECOND-PLACE FINALIST WILL RECEIVE A ONE- HUNDRED DOLLAR PRIZE AND TWO- HUNDRED DOLLARS WILL GO TO HIS OR HER SCHOOL LIBRARY.

THERE WILL BE THREE ROUNDS IN TONIGHT'S COMPETITION AND ALL 10 CONTESTANTS ARE PREPARED TO RECITE IN ALL THREE ROUNDS.

HOWEVER ONLY THE FOUR TOP- SCORING STUDENTS WILL RECITE THEIR THIRD POEM IN ROUND THREE TO DETERMINE WHO WILL REPRESENT VERMONT AT THE NATIONAL POETRY OUT LOUD FINALS.

POETRY OUT LOUD RECITATIONS ARE SCORED IN FIVE CATEGORIES: PHYSICAL PRESENCE VOICE AND ARTICULATION DRAMATIC APPROPRIATENESS LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING OVERALL PERFORMANCE EACH STUDENT IS ALSO SCORED ON ACCURACY, ENSURING THAT EVERY LINE AND EVERY WORD IS FAITHFULLY PRESENTED.

APPLYING THESE CRITERIA TONIGHT WILL BE OUR PANEL OF JUDGES.

LET'S MEET THEM NOW: JESSICA HANDRIK, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AT THE FLYNN CENTER.

JIM SCHLEY, POET AND MANAGING EDITOR AT TUPELO PRESS.

RUTH WALLMAN, ACTOR AND TRUSTEE AT VERMONT STAGE.

TAMRA HIGGINS, WRITER AND FOUNDER OF THE SUNDOG POETRY CENTER.

AND MORGAN IRONS, WRITER AND ACTOR WHO WILL TRACK EACH RECITATION FOR ACCURACY AND TABULATING THE SCORES, FROM THE VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL, LORI HAVER AND MEREDITH BELL.

SO...LET'S BEGIN ROUND ONE OF THE POETRY OUT LOUD 2017 VERMONT STATE FINALS.

GRACIE SMITH, ARLINGTON MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL BACKDROP ADDRESSES COWBOY BY MARGARET ATWOOD STARSPANGLED COWBOY SAUNTERING OUT OF THE ALMOSTSILLY WEST, ON YOUR FACE A PORCELAIN GRIN, TUGGING A PAPIER-MACHE CACTUS ON WHEELS BEHIND YOU WITH A STRING, YOU ARE INNOCENT AS A BATHTUB FULL OF BULLETS.

YOUR RIGHTEOUS EYES, YOUR LACONIC TRIGGER-FINGERS PEOPLE THE STREETS WITH VILLAINS: AS YOU MOVE, THE AIR IN FRONT OF YOU BLOSSOMS WITH TARGETS AND YOU LEAVE BEHIND YOU A HEROIC TRAIL OF DESOLATION:?BEER BOTTLES SLAUGHTERED BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BIRD SKULLS BLEACHING IN THE SUNSET.

I OUGHT TO BE WATCHING FROM BEHIND A CLIFF OR A CARDBOARD STOREFRONT WHEN THE SHOOTING STARTS, HANDS CLASPED IN ADMIRATION, BUT I AM ELSEWHERE.

THEN WHAT ABOUT ME WHAT ABOUT THE I CONFRONTING YOU ON THAT BORDER, YOU ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO CROSS?

I AM THE HORIZON YOU RIDE TOWARDS, THE THING YOU CAN NEVER LASSO I AM ALSO WHAT SURROUNDS YOU: MY BRAIN SCATTERED WITH YOUR TINCANS, BONES, EMPTY SHELLS, THE LITTER OF YOUR INVASIONS.

I AM THE SPACE YOU DESECRATE AS YOU PASS THROUGH.

KIRA HANSEN, MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL MORE LIES BY KARIN GOTTSHALL SOMETIMES I SAY I'M GOING TO MEET MY SISTER AT THE CAFE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NO SISTER- JUST BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SAY.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT SO, EVER SINCE I READ A NOVEL IN WHICH TWO SISTERS WERE CONSTANTLY MEETING IN CAFES.

TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE, I WALKED ALONE ON THE WET SIDEWALK, WEARING MY RAIN BOOTS, EXPECTING SOMEONE MIGHT ASK WHERE I WAS HEADED.

I BOUGHT?

A STENO PAD AND A WATCH BATTERY, THE STORE WINDOWS FOGGED UP.

RAIN IN APRIL IS A KIND OF PROMISE, AND IT COSTS NOTHING.

I CARRIED A BAG OF BOOKS TO THE CAFE AND ORDERED TEA.

I LIKE A PLACE THAT'S LIT BY LAMPS.

I LIKE A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SMALL THINGS, LIKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AZURE AND CERULEAN, AND THE PRICE OF TULIPS.

IT'S GOING DOWN.

I WATCHED SOMEONE WHO COULD BE MY SISTER WALK IN, SHAKING THE RAIN FROM HER HAIR.

I THOUGHT, EVEN NOW FLORISTS ARE FILLING THEIR COOLERS WITH TULIPS, FIVE DOLLARS A BUNDLE.

ALL OVER THE CITY THERE ARE SISTERS.

ANY ONE OF THEM COULD BE MINE.

EMILY FRIEDRICHSEN, CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION HIGH VERY LARGE MOTH BY CRAIG ARNOLD AFTER D.H.L.

YOUR FIRST THOUGHT WHEN THE LIGHT SNAPS ON AND THE BLACK WINGS CLATTER ABOUT THE KITCHEN IS A BAT THE CLEAR PART OF YOUR MIND CONSIDERS RABIES THE OTHER PART DOES NOT CONSIDER KNOWS ONLY TO STARTLE AND COWER AWAY FROM THE SLAP OF ITS WINGS THOUGH IT IS SOON CLEARLY NOT A BAT BUT A MOTH AND HARMLESS STILL YOU ARE SHY OF IT IT CLINGS TO THE HOOD OF THE STOVE NOT BLACK BUT BROWN ITS ORANGE EYES SPARKLE LIKE TELEVISIONS ITS LEG JOINTS ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO COUNT HOW COULD YOU KILL IT WHERE WOULD YOU HIDE THE BODY A CREATURE SO SOLID MUST HAVE ROOM FOR A SOUL AND IF THIS IS SO WHY NOT IN A CREATURE HALF ITS SIZE OR HALF ITS SIZE AGAIN AND SO ON DOWN TO THE ANTS CLEARLY IT MUST BE SAVED CAUGHT IN A SHOPPING BAG AND RUSHED TO THE FRONT DOOR AFRAID TO CRUSH IT FEELING THE PLASTIC RATTLE LOOSENED INTO THE NIGHT AIR IT BATTERS THE PORCH LIGHT THROWING FITFUL SHADOWS AROUND THE LANDING THAT WAS A REALLY BIG MOTH IS ALL YOU CAN SAY TO THE DOORMAN WHO HAS WATCHED YOUR WHOLE PERFORMANCE WITH A SMILE THE HALF-COMPASSION AND HALF- HORROR WE FEEL FOR THE CREATURES WE WANT NOT TO HURT AND PREFER NOT TO TOUCH JAIME DEKETT, ST.

JOHNSBURY ACADEMY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION BY TAYLOR MALI A GRAND PIANO WRAPPED IN QUILTED PADS BY MOVERS, TIED UP WITH CANVAS STRAPS-LIKE CLASSICAL MUSIC'S BIRTHDAY GIFT TO THE CRIMINALLY INSANE-IS GENTLY NUDGED WITHOUT ITS LEGS OUT AN EIGHTH-FLOOR WINDOW ON 62ND STREET.

IT DANGLES IN APRIL AIR FROM THE NECK OF THE MOVERS' CRANE, CHOPIN-SHINY BLACK LACQUER SQUARES AND DIRTY WHITE CRISSCROSS PATTERNS HANGING LIKE THE SECOND-TO-LAST NOTE OF A CONCERTO PLAYED ON THE EDGE OF THE SEAT, THE EDGE OF TEARS, THE EDGE OF EIGHT STORIES UP GOING OVER- IT'S A PIANO BEING PUSHED OUT OF A WINDOW AND LOWERED DOWN ONTO A FLATBED TRUCK!- AND I'M TRYING TO TEACH MATH IN THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET.

WHO CAN TEACH WHEN THERE ARE SUCH LESSONS TO BE LEARNED?

ALL THE GREATEST COMMON FACTORS ARE DELIVERED BY LONG-NECKED CRANES AND FLATBED TRUCKS OR COME THROUGH EVERYTHING, EVEN AIR.

LIKE SNOW.

SEE, SNOW FALLS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVERY YEAR, AND EVERY YEAR?

MY STUDENTS RUSH TO THE WINDOW AS IF SNOW WERE MORE INTERESTING THAN MATH, WHICH, OF COURSE, IT IS.

SO PLEASE.

LET ME TEACH LIKE A STEINWAY, SPINNING SLOWLY IN APRIL AIR, SO ALMOST-FALLING, SO HINDERINGLY DANGLING FROM THE NECK OF THE MOVERS' CRANE.

SO ON THE EDGE OF LOSING EVERYTHING.

LET ME TEACH LIKE THE FIRST SNOW, FALLING.

ALYESE CARUSO-RANDALL, BELLOWS FREE ACADEMY FAIRFAX BROKEN PROMISES BY DAVID KIRBY I HAVE MET THEM IN DARK ALLEYS, LIMPING AND ONE-ARMED; I HAVE SEEN THEM PLAYING CARDS UNDER A SINGLE LIGHT-BULB AND TRIED TO JOIN IN, BUT THEY REFUSED ME RUDELY, KNOWING I WOULD ONLY LET THEM WIN.

I HAVE SEEN THEM IN THE FOYERS OF THEATERS, COMING BACK LATE FROM THE INTERVAL LONG AFTER THE OTHERS HAVE TAKEN THEIR SEATS, AND IN DESERTED SHOPPING MALLS LATE AT NIGHT, PEERING AT THINGS THEY CAN NEVER BUY, AND I HAVE FOUND THEM WANDERING IN A WOOD WHERE I TOO HAVE WANDERED.

THIS MORNING I CAUGHT ONE; SMALL AND STUPID, TOO SLOW TO GET AWAY, IT WAS ONLY A PROMISE I HAD MADE TO MYSELF ONCE AND THEN FORGOT, BUT IT SCREAMED AND KICKED AT ME AND RAN TO JOIN THE OTHERS, WHO LOOKED AT ME WITH REPROACH IN THEIR LONG, SAD FACES.

WHEN I DREW NEAR THEM, THEY SCURRIED AWAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY WILL SLEEP IN MY YARD TONIGHT.

I HATE THEM FOR THEIR INGRATITUDE, I WHO HAVE KEPT COUNTLESS PROMISES, AS DEAD NOW AS SHAKESPEARE'S CHILDREN.

"YOU BASTARDS," I SCREAM, "YOU HAVE TO LOVE ME-I GAVE YOU LIFE!"

CASEY OBER, MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL ENOUGH BY SUZANNE BUFFAM I AM WEARING DARK GLASSES INSIDE THE HOUSE TO MATCH MY DARK MOOD.

I HAVE LEFT ALL THE SUGAR OUT OF THE PIE.

MY RAGE IS A KIND OF DOMESTIC RAGE.

I LEARNED IT FROM MY MOTHER WHO LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER BEFORE HER AND SO ON.

SURELY THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR THIS.

NOW SURELY THE GERMANS DO.

THE MORE WORDS A PERSON KNOWS TO DESCRIBE HER PRIVATE SUFFERINGS THE MORE DISTANTLY SHE CAN PERCEIVE THEM.

I REPEAT THE NAMES OF ALL THE CITIES I'VE KNOWN AND WATCH AN ANT DRAG ITS CROOKED SHADOW HOME.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE THE LIFE WE'VE BEEN GIVEN?

TO ACT WELL THE PART THAT'S BEEN CAST FOR US?

WIND.

LIGHT.

FIRE.

TIME.

A TRAIN WHISTLES THROUGH THE FAR HILLS.

ONE DAY I PLAN TO BE RIDING IT.

ALIYAH BURR, BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BLEEDING HEART BY CARMEN GIMENEZ SMITH MY HEART IS BLEEDING.

IT BLEEDS UPWARD AND FILLS MY MOUTH UP WITH SALT.

IT BLEEDS BECAUSE OF A CITY IN RUINS, THE CHAIR STILL WARM FROM SISTER'S BODY, BECAUSE IT WILL ALL BE IRREPRODUCIBLE.

MY HEART BLEEDS BECAUSE OF BABY BEAR NOT FINDING MAMA BEAR AND IT BLEEDS TO THE TIPS OF MY FINGERS LIKE I PAINTED MY NAILS CRIMSON.

SOMETIMES MY HEART BLEEDS SO MUCH I AM A RAISIN.

IT BLEEDS UNTIL I AM A QUIVERING RAGGED CLOT, BLEEDS AT THE ENDING WITH THE HEROINE AND HER SUNKEN CANCER EYES, AT THE ENDING WITH THE PLAINTIVE FLUTE OVER SMOKE-CHOKED KILLING FIELDS.

I'M BLEEDING A RIVER OF BLOOD RIGHT NOW AND IT'S WEARING A CULVERT IN ME FOR THE BLOOD.

MY HEART RISES UP IN ME, BECOMES THE CORK OF ME AND I CHOKE ON IT.

I AM BLEEDING FOR YOU AND FOR ME AND FOR THE TINY BABIES AND THE IED-BLOWN LEG.

IT BLEEDS BECAUSE I'M MADE THAT WAY, ALL FILLED UP WITH BLOOD, MY SLOPPY HEART A SPONGE FILLED WITH BLOOD TO SQUEEZE ONTO ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

BECAUSE IT IS MINE, IT WILL ALWAYS BLEED.

MY HEART BLED TODAY.

IT BLED ONTO THE STREETS AND THE STEPS OF CITY HALL.

IT BLED IN THE PIZZA PARLOR WITH THE USELESS JUKEBOX.

I'VE GOT SO MUCH BLOOD TO GIVE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF ANY MILIEU.

EVEN FOR A BAD ZONING DECISION, I'LL BLEED SO MUCH YOU'LL BE BLEEDING, ALL OF US BLEEDING IN AND OUT LIKE IT'S BREATHING, OR KISSING, AND BECAUSE IT IS RIGHTEOUS AND TERRIBLE AND RED.

ABIGAIL DETRICK, NORTHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL FISHING ON THE SUSQUEHANNA IN JULY BY BILLY COLLINS I HAVE NEVER BEEN FISHING ON THE SUSQUEHANNA OR ON ANY RIVER FOR THAT MATTER TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST.

NOT IN JULY OR ANY MONTH HAVE I HAD THE PLEASURE-IF IT IS A PLEASURE- OF FISHING ON THE SUSQUEHANNA.

I AM MORE LIKELY TO BE FOUND IN A QUIET ROOM LIKE THIS ONE- A PAINTING OF A WOMAN ON THE WALL, A BOWL OF TANGERINES ON THE TABLE- TRYING TO MANUFACTURE THE SENSATION OF FISHING ON THE SUSQUEHANNA.

THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN FISHING ON THE SUSQUEHANNA, ROWING UPSTREAM IN A WOODEN BOAT, SLIDING THE OARS UNDER THE WATER THEN RAISING THEM TO DRIP IN THE LIGHT.

BUT THE NEAREST I HAVE EVER COME TO FISHING ON THE SUSQUEHANNA WAS ONE AFTERNOON IN A MUSEUM IN PHILADELPHIA WHEN I BALANCED A LITTLE EGG OF TIME IN FRONT OF A PAINTING IN WHICH THAT RIVER CURLED AROUND A BEND UNDER A BLUE CLOUD-RUFFLED SKY, DENSE TREES ALONG THE BANKS, AND A FELLOW WITH A RED BANDANNA SITTING IN A SMALL, GREEN FLAT-BOTTOM BOAT HOLDING THE THIN WHIP OF A POLE.

THAT IS SOMETHING I AM UNLIKELY EVER TO DO, I REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF AND THE PERSON NEXT TO ME.

THEN I BLINKED AND MOVED ON TO OTHER AMERICAN SCENES OF HAYSTACKS, WATER WHITENING OVER ROCKS, EVEN ONE OF A BROWN HARE WHO SEEMED SO WIRED WITH ALERTNESS I IMAGINED HIM SPRINGING RIGHT OUT OF THE FRAME.

TAITE CLARK, THE SHARON ACADEMY THE STATESMEN BY AMBROSE BIERCE HOW BLEST THE LAND THAT COUNTS AMONG HER SONS SO MANY GOOD AND WISE, TO EXECUTE GREAT FEATS OF TONGUE WHEN TROUBLES RISE.

BEHOLD THEM MOUNTING EVERY STUMP, BY SPEECH OUR LIBERTY TO GUARD.

OBSERVE THEIR COURAGE-SEE THEM JUMP, AND COME DOWN HARD!

"WALK UP, WALK UP!"

EACH CRIES ALOUD, "AND LEARN FROM ME WHAT YOU MUST DO TO TURN ASIDE THE THUNDER CLOUD, THE EARTHQUAKE TOO.

"BEWARE THE WILES OF YONDER QUACK WHO STUFFS THE EARS OF ALL THAT PASS.

I-I ALONE CAN SHOW THAT BLACK IS WHITE AS GRASS."

THEY SHOUT THROUGH ALL THE DAY AND BREAK THE SILENCE OF THE NIGHT AS WELL.

THEY'D MAKE-I WISH THEY'D GO AND MAKE- OF HEAVEN A HELL.

A ADVOCATES FREE SILVER, B FREE TRADE AND C FREE BANKING LAWS.

FREE BOARD, CLOTHES, LODGING WOULD FROM ME WIN WARM APPLAUSE.

LO, D LIFTS UP HIS VOICE: "YOU SEE THE SINGLE TAX ON LAND WOULD FALL ON ALL ALIKE."

MORE EVENLY NO TAX AT ALL.

"WITH PAPER MONEY," BELLOWS E, "WE'LL ALL BE RICH AS LORDS."

NO DOUBT- AND RICHEST OF THE LOT WILL BE THE CHAP WITHOUT.

AS MANY "CURES" AS ADDLE-WITS WHO KNOW NOT WHAT THE AILMENT IS!

MEANWHILE THE PATIENT FOAMS AND SPITS LIKE A GIN FIZZ.

ALAS, POOR BODY POLITIC, YOUR FATE IS ALL TOO CLEARLY READ: TO BE NOT ALTOGETHER QUICK, NOR VERY DEAD.

YOU TAKE YOUR EXERCISE IN SQUIRMS, YOUR REST IN FAINTING FITS BETWEEN.

'TIS PLAIN THAT YOUR DISORDER'S WORMS- WORMS FAT AND LEAN.

WORM CAPITAL, WORM LABOR DWELL WITHIN YOUR MAW AND MUSCLE'S SCOPE.

THEIR QUARRELS MAKE YOUR LIFE A HELL, YOUR DEATH A HOPE.

GOD SEND YOU FIND NOT SUCH AN END TO ILLS HOWEVER SHARP AND HUGE!

GOD SEND YOU CONVALESCE!

GOD SEND YOU VERMIFUGE.

EMILY KLAR, LAKE REGION UNION HIGH SCHOOL THE GAFFE BY C. K. WILLIAMS 1.

IF THAT SOMEONE WHO'S ME YET NOT ME YET WHO JUDGES ME IS ALWAYS WITH ME, AS HE IS, SHOULDN'T HE HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN I SAID SO LONG AGO THAT THING I SAID IF HE WHO RAKES ME WITH SUCH NOT TRIVIAL SHAME FOR MINOR SINS NOW WERE THERE THEN, SHOULDN'T HE HAVE WARNED ME HE'D EVEN NOW DEVASTATE ME FOR MY UNPARDONABLE AFFRONT?

I'M A CHILD THEN, YET ALREADY I'VE COMPOSED THIS CONSCIENCE- BEAST, WHO HARRIES ME: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY ABOUT WHO I WAS, EXCEPT THAT I, THAT HE, COULD ALREADY DRAW FROM INFINITESIMAL TRANSGRESSIONS COMPLEX CHORDS OF REMORSE, AND ORCHESTRATE EVER UNDIMINISHING RETRIBUTION FROM THE HAPLESS REST OF MYSELF?

2 THE SON OF SOME FRIENDS OF MY PARENTS HAS DIED, AND MY PARENTS, PAYING THEIR CALL, TAKE ME ALONG, AND I'M SENT OUT WITH THE DEAD BOY'S BROTHER AND SOME OTHERS TO PLAY.

WE'RE JOKING AROUND, AND SOME WORDS COME TO MY MIND, WHICH TO MY AMAZEMENT ARE SAID.

?HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN LAUGH WHEN SOMEBODY DIES, YOUR BROTHER DIES?

IS WHAT'S SAID, AND THE OTHERS GO QUIET, THE BACKYARD GOES QUIET, EVERYONE STARES, AND I WANT TO KNOW NOW WHY THAT SOMEONE IN ME WHO'S ME YET NOT ME LET ME SAY IT.

SHOULDN'T HE HAVE TOLD ME THE CONTRITION CYCLE WOULD FROM THEN BE EVER UPON ME, IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT I'D REALLY ONLY WANTED TO KNOW HOW GRIEF ENDS, AND WHEN?

3 I COULD HEAR THE BOY'S MOTHER SOBBING INSIDE, THEN STOPPING, SOBBING THEN STOPPING.

WAS THE END OF HER GRIEF ALREADY THERE?

HAD HER SOMEONE IN HER TOLD HER IT WOULD END?

WAS HER SOMEONE IN HER KINDER TO HER, NOT TEARING AT HER, AS MINE DID, STILL DOES, ME, FOR GUESSING GRIEF SOMEDAY ENDS?

IS THAT WHY HER SOBBING STOPPED SOMETIMES?

SHE DIDN'T LAUGH, THOUGH, OR I NEVER HEARD HER.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN LAUGH?

WHY COULDN'T SOMEONE HAVE BEEN THERE IN ME NOT JUST TO ACCUSE ME, BUT TO EXPLAIN?

THE KIDS WERE PLAYING AGAIN, I WAS PLAYING, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING MORE FROM INSIDE.

THE WAY NOW SOMETIMES WHAT'S IN ME IS SILENT, TOO, AND SOMETIMES, THOUGH NEVER REALLY, FORGETS.

THIS CONCLUDES ROUND ONE OF THE POETRY OUT LOUD 2017 VERMONT STATE FINALS.

BEFORE WE GO ON TO ROUND TWO, WE HAVE A SPECIAL TREAT.

WE HAVE WITH US A LOCAL YOUTH GROUP DEDICATED TO SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH POETRY....SPECIFICALLY SLAM POETRY.

SINCE COMING TOGETHER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THESE FOUR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HAVE COMPETED AROUND VERMONT AND INTERNATIONALLY.

WHAT'S MORE, THEY MADE THE HUFFINGTON POST'S DISTINGUISHED LIST OF MUSLIM AMERICAN WOMEN WHO MADE AMERICA GREAT IN 2016!

THE GROUP INCLUDES KIREN WAHKARR AND LENA GINAWI FROM SOUTH BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL AND HAWA ADAM AND BALKISA ABDIKADIR FROM BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL.

LET'S WELCOME THEM TO THE POETRY OUT LOUD STAGE: MUSLIM GIRLS MAKING CHANGEMUSLIM GIRLS MAKING CHANGE LENA: SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001 WAKE UP AMERICA, THE ENEMY IS HERE HAWA: THE TERRORIST KIRAN: THE JIHADISTS LENA: THOSE A-RABS BALKISA: THE WOMANIZERS HAWA: THE MONSTERS LENA: THOSE BIN LADEN'S KIRAN: THE ONES TO WATCH OUT FOR LENA: TO SURVEIL BALKISA: TO REMOVE HAWA: TO ATTACKBUT ACTUALLY WE'RE LENA: THE ADVOCATES KIRAN: THE AWARD WINNERS HAWA: THE BILINGUALS BALKISA: HELLO KIRAN: HOLA LENA: BONJOUR HAWA: GUTEN TAGASSALAMUALAIKUM HAWA: WE'RE THE 4.0 STUDENTS KIRAN: THE HONOR ROLL STUDENTS LENA: THE STAR ATHLETES KIRAN: BUT WE'RE ALSO THE MISUNDERSTOOD THE ONES TO WATCH OUT FOR TO SURVEIL TO REMOVE TO ATTACK KIRAN: IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF THE 10TH GRADE, MY FIRST DAY WITH THE HIJAB IN PUBLIC.

THIS HIJAB HAD THE POWER TO CHANGE ME FROM KIRAN WAQAR, TYPICAL TEEN, TO KIRAN WAQAR, AN AMBASSADOR FOR ALL 1.6 BILLION MUSLIMS.

MARCH 21ST, 2003 LENA: FIREWORKS WERE THROWN INTO A PALESTINIAN FAMILY'S VAN HAWA: FLAMES BURNED BRIGHTER THAN THE ROCKETS RED GLARE AMERICA, WHAT ARE YOU CELEBRATING?

APRIL 6TH, 2004 KIRAN: A WOMAN'S HIJAB IS RIPPED OFF AND SHE IS VERBALLY ASSAULTED.

BALKISA: BUT SHE'S DANGEROUS, RIIIGHT?

SHE DESERVES THIS, RIIIIGHT??

KIRAN: WAIT WAIT WAIT, IT'S HER BODY RIGHT , WOMEN SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT, RIGHT!

SO IF YOU CAN SHOW WHY CAN'T WE CONCEAL?

AUGUST 6TH, 2007 LENA: A CHEMICAL BOMB IS TOSSED AT A MOSQUE IN GLENDALE ARIZONA BALKISA: THE BOMB ALMOST HIT TWO MUSLIM AMERICANS.

LENA: IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, HAWA AND KIRAN: TWO MOTHERS HAWA: COULD HAVE LOST THEIR SONS HAWA AND KIRAN: TWO MEN KIRAN: COULD HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES HAWA- BUT WAIT, AMERICA, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR PROTECTION BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT YOURSELVES FROM US BALKISA: FROM ME I WAS WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL AND YOU DECIDED TO CROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.

WAS THE SURFACE I WALKED ON TOO HOT FOR YOU TO COME NEAR?

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LOOK FLAMED THE FIRE OF INSECURITIES WITHIN ME?

AUGUST 24TH, 2010 HAWA: A TAXI DRIVER PICKS UP MICHAEL ENRIGHT, HIS FIRST PASSENGER OF THE DAY LENA: IT WAS AN AVERAGE RIDE UNTIL HE UTTERED THE WORD 'MUSLIM' KIRAN: MICHAEL ENRIGHT, SLASHES THE TAXI DRIVER'S FACE, NOT ONCE.

NOT TWICE.

WHAT A PRICE TO PAY FOR THE FREEDOM OF YOUR RIGHTS?

BALKISA AND LENA: WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR FREEDOM OF RELIGION?

KIRAN: THE ONES PROMISED TO YOU, AND YOU, AND YOU?

AND ME?

HAWA: WHAT ABOUT ME?

HAWA: IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, I AM THE ONLY MUSLIM GIRL WITH THE HIJAB.

I CAN FEEL EVERYONE'S EYES, RAZOR SHARP, THEIR LIPS FORMING QUESTIONS.

WHO KNEW CURIOSITY COULD CUT SO DEEP?

I JUST WANTED TO CURL UP IN A CORNER.

FEBRUARY 10TH, 2010 HAWA: IMAGINE YOU'RE A MUSLIM GOING TO YOUR HOUSE OF PRAYER, SEEING A CROSS AND THE WORDS MUSLIMS GO HOME WRITTEN WITH RED PAINT ON THE WHITE WALLS.

LENA: GO HOME THEY SAID?

GO HOME WHERE?

KIRAN: THE HOSPITAL WHERE I WAS BORN?

BALKISA: THE CITY WHERE I WAS RAISED??

KIRAN: WE AREN'T JUST MUSLIMS WE'RE AMERICAN MUSLIMS KIRAN: EQUAL IN EVERY WAY LENA: I HEARD THE WORDS ROLL OFF OF HIS TONGUE "YOU MOSLEMS ARE THE REASON THE AIRPORT LINES ARE SO LONG.

YOU BOMBERS" HE WAS DRUNK BUT A DRUNK MIND SPEAKS A SOBER HEART KIRAN: THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SEE, HEAR, AND EXPERIENCE DAILY HAWA: AND NOW YOU'VE KNOW OF THESE: LENA: HIDDEN CRIMES BALKISA: UNHEARD VOICES KIRAN: TERROR ON MUSLIMS LENA: RESTLESS SOULS?

HAWA: GUNS AND BULLET HOLES WAKE UP AMERICA, THE ENEMY HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT TIMELY AND INSPIRING PERFORMANCE.

NOW, LET'S MOVE ON TO ROUND TWO: GRACIE SMITH, ARLINGTON MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL ENGLAND IN 1819 BY PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY AN OLD, MAD, BLIND, DESPISED, AND DYING KING; PRINCES, THE DREGS OF THEIR DULL RACE, WHO FLOW THROUGH PUBLIC SCORN,-MUD FROM A MUDDY SPRING; RULERS WHO NEITHER SEE NOR FEEL NOR KNOW, BUT LEECHLIKE TO THEIR FAINTING COUNTRY CLING TILL THEY DROP, BLIND IN BLOOD, WITHOUT A BLOW.

A PEOPLE STARVED AND STABBED IN TH' UNTILLED FIELD; AN ARMY, WHOM LIBERTICIDE AND PREY MAKES AS A TWO-EDGED SWORD TO ALL WHO WIELD; GOLDEN AND SANGUINE LAWS WHICH TEMPT AND SLAY; RELIGION CHRISTLESS, GODLESS-A BOOK SEALED; A SENATE, TIME'S WORST STATUTE, UNREPEALED- ARE GRAVES FROM WHICH A GLORIOUS PHANTOM MAY BURST, TO ILLUMINE OUR TEMPESTUOUS DAY.

KIRA HANSEN, MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL THE GREATEST GRANDEUR BY PATTIANN ROGERS SOME SAY IT'S IN THE REPTILIAN DANCE OF THE PURPLE-TONGUED SAND GOANNA, FOR THERE THE MAGNIFICENT TRANSLATION OF TENACITY INTO BONE AND GRACE OCCURS.

AND SOME DECLARE IT TO BE AN EXPANSIVE DESERT-SOLID RUST-ORANGE ROCK LIKE DUSK CAPTURED ON EARTH IN STONE- SIMPLY FOR THE PERFECT CONTRAST IT PROVIDES TO THE BLUE-GREY RIDGE OF RAIN IN THE DISTANT HILLS.

SOME CLAIM THE HARMONICS OF SHIFTING ELECTRON RINGS TO BE MOST RARE AND SOME THE COMPLEX MOTION OF SEVEN SANDPIPERS BISECTING THE ARCS AND PITCHES OF COME AND RETREAT OVER THE MOUNTING HAYFIELD.

OTHERS, FOR GRANDEUR, CHOOSE THE TERROR OF LIGHTNING PEALS ON PRAIRIES OR THE TALL COLLAPSING CATHEDRALS OF STORMY SEAS, BECAUSE THERE THEY FEEL DWARFED AND APPROPRIATELY HELPLESS; OTHERS SELECT THE SERENITY OF THAT CEILING/CELLAR OF STARS THEY SEE AT NIGHT ON PLACID LAKES, BECAUSE THERE THEY FEEL ASSURED AND UNIVERSALLY MAGNANIMOUS.

BUT IT IS THE DARK EMPTINESS CONTAINED IN EVERY NEXT MOMENT THAT SEEMS TO ME THE MOST SINGULARLY GLORIOUS GIFT, THAT VOID WHICH ONE IS FREE TO FILL WITH PROCESSIONS OF MEN BEARING BURNING CEDAR KNOTS OR WITH PARADES OF BLUE HORSES, BELLED AND RIBBONED AND STEPPING SIDEWAYS, WITH TUMBLING WHITE-FACED MIMES OR COMPANIES OF BLACK-ROBED CHORISTERS; TO FILL SIMPLY WITH HAMMERED SILVER TEAPOTS OR KILN-DRIED CROCKERY, TANGERINE AND ALMOND CUSTARDS, POLONAISES, POLKAS, WHITTLING STICKS, WAILING WALLS; THAT SPACE LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD ALL INVENTED BLASPHEMIES AND PIETIES, 10,000 DEFINITIONS OF GOD AND MORE, NEVER FULLY FILLED, NEVER.

EMILY FRIEDRICHSEN, CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION HIGH WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO US AND THE WORDS WE USE BY ADA LIMON ALL THESE GREAT BARNS OUT HERE IN THE OUTSKIRTS, BLACK CREOSOTE BOARDS KNEE-DEEP IN THE BLUEGRASS.

THEY LOOK SO BEAUTIFULLY ABANDONED, EVEN IN USE.

YOU SAY THEY LOOK LIKE ARKS AFTER THE SEA'S DRIED UP, I SAY THEY LOOK LIKE PIRATE SHIPS, AND I THINK OF THAT WALK IN THE VALLEY WHERE J SAID, YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD?

AND I SAID, NO.

I BELIEVE IN THIS CONNECTION WE ALL HAVE TO NATURE, TO EACH OTHER, TO THE UNIVERSE.

AND SHE SAID, YEAH, GOD.

AND HOW WE STOOD THERE, LOW BEASTS AMONG THE WHITE OAKS, SPANISH MOSS, AND SPIDER WEBS, OBSIDIAN SHARDS STUCK IN OUR POCKETS, WOODPECKER FLURRY, AND I REFUSED TO CALL IT SO.

SO INSTEAD, WE LOOKED UP AT THE UNRULY SKY, ITS CLOUDS IN SIMPLE ANIMAL SHAPES WE COULD NAME THOUGH WE KNEW THEY WERE REALLY JUST CLOUDS- DISORDERLY, AND MARVELOUS, AND OURS.

JAIME DEKETT, ST.

JOHNSBURY ACADEMY ULTIMA THULE BY LINDA BIERDS A LITTLE CANDLEWAX ON THE THUMBNAIL, LIQUID AT FIRST, SLIPPING, THEN STALLED TO AN ICE-HOOD.

ANOTHER LAYER, ANOTHER, AND THE CHILD LIES BACK, HIS THUMB A HUMMOCK, HIS SMALL KNUCKLE BUCKLED WITH CRACKS.

NO SNOW YET, BUT THE LAST WHITE MEADOWS OF SWITCHWORT AND SAXIFRAGE MIMIC IT.

ALREADY THE BEARS BRUSH BACK THROUGH THE DWARF WILLOWS- HUBBART POINT, CAPE HENRIETTA MARIA, THE BAY'S DEEP ARC FLATTENING, LESSENING AS LAND EXTENDS THROUGH THE FAST-ICE AND THE SEAM OF OPEN LEADS STRETCHES, WITHDRAWS.

THEY HAVE COME FOR THE PACK FLOES, FOR THE SLOW RAFTING.

AND REPEAT ON THEIR WHITE FACES, THE BOY THINKS, THE LOW STROKES OF THE BOREALIS: VIOLET MOUTHS, MADDER BLUE AT THE EYELIDS.

PERHAPS HE WILL WALK TO THE SHORELINE-NO SHORE, OF COURSE, JUST MILES OF LAND-FAST ICE STRETCHED OVER WATER, STRETCHED OUT TO WATER, THE LINE WHERE EACH BEGINS A FILAMENT, A VAPOR.

BY THEN THE BEARS WILL BE SAILORS, OR, FAR TO THE NORTH, STALLED IN THEIR WAXY SLEEP.

HE YAWNS, LOOKS DOWN AT HIS SLIPPER, HIS FLOORMAT OF BRAIDED FLEECE.

BY THEN THE LIGHTS WILL BE THICKER, GREENS AND MAGENTAS FLASHING, ROLLING IN AT TIMES LIKE FOG.

TO GO WHERE NOTHING LIVES.

HE TURNS, SETTLES.

TO EXTEND A LITTLE BREATH OUT OVER THAT ICE-THE WHITE, CUMBERSOME BODIES MIGRATING IN REVERSE WITH THE OTHERS, DRAGGING BETWEEN THEM A LIFELINE, PLUMP AND INTRICATE, LIKE A NET, LIKE PURSE SEINERS DRAGGING A CORK NET, ITS GREAT ARC SPIRALING, TIGHTER, TIGHTER, NOW GREEN IN THOSE LIGHTS, NOW BLUE, NOW PINK AS THE BOY'S EAR, WHERE ALL NIGHT A LINE OF COLD TRACES THE RIM, THE LOBE, CIRCLES DOWN, CHILLS, AND RECEDES.

ALYESE CARUSO-RANDALL, BELLOWS FREE ACADEMY FAIRFAX DEAR READER BY RITA MAE REESE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN IT ALL.

YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR NAME, WHERE YOU LIVED, WHO YOU LOVED, WHY.

I AM SIMPLY YOUR NURSE, TERSE AND UNLOVELY I POINT TO THINGS AND REMIND YOU WHAT THEY ARE: CHAIR, BOOK, DAUGHTER, SOUP.

AND WHEN WE ARE ALONE I TELL YOU WHAT LIESIN EACH DIRECTION: THIS WAY IS DEATH, AND THIS WAY, AFTER A LONGER WALK, IS DEATH, AND THAT WAY IS DEATH BUT YOU WON'T SEE IT UNTIL IT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

ONCE AFTER YOUR NIECE HAD BEEN TO VISIT YOU AND I SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HOW YOU MUST LOVE HER OR SHE MUST LOVE YOU OR SOMETHING USELESS LIKE THAT, YOU GRIPPED MY FOREARM IN YOUR TERRIBLE SWIFT HAND AND SAID, SHE IS EVERYTHING-YOU GAVE ME A SHAKE-EVERYTHING TO ME.

AND THEN YOU FELL BACK INTO THE WELL.

DEEP IN THE WELL OF EVERYTHING.

AND I STAND AT THE EDGE AND CALL: CHAIR, BOOK, DAUGHTER, SOUP.

CASEY OBER, MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL APRIL MIDNIGHT BY ARTHUR SYMONS SIDE BY SIDE THROUGH THE STREETS AT MIDNIGHT, ROAMING TOGETHER, THROUGH THE TUMULTUOUS NIGHT OF LONDON, IN THE MIRACULOUS APRIL WEATHER.

ROAMING TOGETHER UNDER THE GASLIGHT, DAY'S WORK OVER, HOW THE SPRING CALLS TO US, HERE IN THE CITY, CALLS TO THE HEART FROM THE HEART OF A LOVER!

COOL TO THE WIND BLOWS, FRESH IN OUR FACES, CLEANSING, ENTRANCING, AFTER THE HEAT AND THE FUMES AND THE FOOTLIGHTS, WHERE YOU DANCE AND I WATCH YOUR DANCING.

GOOD IT IS TO BE HERE TOGETHER, GOOD TO BE ROAMING, EVEN IN LONDON, EVEN AT MIDNIGHT, LOVER-LIKE IN A LOVER'S GLOAMING.

YOU THE DANCER AND I THE DREAMER, CHILDREN TOGETHER, WANDERING LOST IN THE NIGHT OF LONDON, IN THE MIRACULOUS APRIL WEATHER.

ABIGAIL DETRICK, NORTHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL ENOUGH BY SUZANNE BUFFAM I AM WEARING DARK GLASSES INSIDE THE HOUSE TO MATCH MY DARK MOOD.

I HAVE LEFT ALL THE SUGAR OUT OF THE PIE.

MY RAGE IS A KIND OF DOMESTIC RAGE.

I LEARNED IT FROM MY MOTHER WHO LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER BEFORE HER AND SO ON.

SURELY THE GREEKS HAD A WORD FOR THIS.

NOW SURELY THE GERMANS DO.

THE MORE WORDS A PERSON KNOWS TO DESCRIBE HER PRIVATE SUFFERINGS THE MORE DISTANTLY SHE CAN PERCEIVE THEM.

I REPEAT THE NAMES OF ALL THE CITIES I'VE KNOWN AND WATCH AN ANT DRAG ITS CROOKED SHADOW HOME.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE THE LIFE WE'VE BEEN GIVEN?

TO ACT WELL THE PART THAT'S BEEN CAST FOR US?

WIND.

LIGHT.

FIRE.

TIME.

A TRAIN WHISTLES THROUGH THE FAR HILLS.

ONE DAY I PLAN TO BE RIDING IT.

TAITE CLARK, THE SHARON ACADEMY ECOLOGY BY JACK COLLOM SURROUNDED BY BONE, SURROUNDED BY CELLS, BY RINGS, BY RINGS OF HELL, BY HAIR, SURROUNDED BY AIR-IS-A-THING, SURROUNDED BY SILHOUETTE, BY HONEY-WET BEES, YET BY SKELETONS OF TREES, SURROUNDED BY ACTUAL, YES, FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES, PEOPLE, SURROUNDED BY SURREAL POPCORN, SURROUNDED BY THE REBORN: SURRENDER IN THE CENTER TO SURROUNDINGS.

O SURRENDER FOREVER, NEVER END HER, LET HER BLEND AROUND, SURRENDER TO THE SURROUNDINGS THAT SURROUND THE TENDER ENDO- SURRENDER, THAT TUMBLE THROUGH THE TUMBLING TO THAT BLUE THAT CURLS AROUND THE CRUMBLING, TO THAT, THE BLUE THAT RUMBLES UNDER THE SUN BOUNDING THE PEARL THAT WE WALK ON, TALK ON; WE CAN CHALK THAT UP TO EXPERIENCE, SENSING THE BROWN HERE THAT'S BLUE NOW, A DROP OF WATER SURROUNDING A COW THAT'S BLACK & WHITE, THE WARBLING BLACKBURNIAN TWITTER THAT'S MACHINING MIDNIGHT ORANGE IN THE LIGHT THAT'S GLITTERING IN THE LIGHT GREEN VISIBLE WIND.

THAT'S THE TICKET TO THE TUNNEL THROUGH THE THICKET THAT'S A CRICKET'S FUNNEL OF MUSIC TO CORRECT & PICK IT OUT FROM UNDER THE WING THAT WHIRLS UP OVER & OUT.

EMILY KLAR, LAKE REGION UNION HIGH SCHOOL THE PROPERLY SCHOLARLY ATTITUDE BY ADELAIDE CRAPSEY THE POET PURSUES HIS BEAUTIFUL THEME; THE PREACHER HIS GOLDEN BEATITUDE; AND I RUN AFTER A VANISHING DREAM- THE GLITTERING, WILL-O'-THE- WISPISH GLEAM OF THE PROPERLY SCHOLARLY ATTITUDE- THE HIGHLY DESIRABLE, THE VERY ADVISABLE, THE HARDLY ACQUIRABLE, PROPERLY SCHOLARLY ATTITUDE.

I ENVY THE SAVAGE WITHOUT ANY CLOTHES, WHO LIVES IN A TROPICAL LATITUDE; IT'S LITTLE OF GENERAL CULTURE HE KNOWS.

BUT THEN HE ESCAPES THE WORRISOME WOES OF THE PROPERLY SCHOLARLY ATTITUDE- THE UNCEASINGLY SIGHED OVER, WEPT OVER, CRIED OVER, THE FUTILELY DIED OVER, PROPERLY SCHOLARLY ATTITUDE.

I WORK AND I WORK TILL I NEARLY AM DEAD, AND COULD SAY WHAT THE WATCHMAN SAID-THAT I COULD!

BUT STILL, WITH A SIGH AND A SHAKE OF THE HEAD, "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND," IT IS RUTHLESSLY SAID, "THE PROPERLY SCHOLARLY ATTITUDE- THE AYE TO BE SOUGHT FOR, WROUGHT FOR AND FOUGHT FOR, THE NE'ER TO BE CAUGHT FOR, PROPERLY SCHOLARLY ATTITUDE-" I REALLY AM SOMETIMES TEMPTED TO SAY THAT IT'S MERELY A GLITTERING PLATITUDE; THAT PEOPLE HAVE JUST FALLEN INTO THE WAY, WHEN LACKING A SUBJECT, TO TELL OF THE SWAY OF THE PROPERLY SCHOLARLY ATTITUDE- THE EASILY PREACHABLE, SPREAD- EAGLE SPEECHABLE, IN PRACTICE UNREACHABLE, PROPERLY SCHOLARLY ATTITUDE.

THE SCORES FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS HAVE BEEN TABULATED AND THE THREE HIGHEST-SCORING CONTESTANTS WILL EACH NOW RECITE A FINAL POEM.

THE SCORES THEY EARN IN THIS ROUND WILL BE ADDED TO THEIR CURRENT TOTALS AND WILL BE USED TO SELECT VERMONT'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE POETRY OUT LOUD NATIONAL FINALS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ON APRIL 25 FIRST TO RECITE: ALYESE CARUSO RANDALL - BELLOWS FREE ACADEMY, FAIRFAX.

ISRAFEL BY EDGAR ALLAN POE AND THE ANGEL ISRAFEL, WHOSE HEART-STRINGS ARE A LUTE, AND WHO HAS THE SWEETEST VOICE OF ALL GOD'S CREATURES.

-KORAN IN HEAVEN A SPIRIT DOTH DWELL "WHOSE HEART-STRINGS ARE A LUTE"; NONE SING SO WILDLY WELL AS THE ANGEL ISRAFEL, AND THE GIDDY STARS (SO LEGENDS TELL), CEASING THEIR HYMNS, ATTEND THE SPELL OF HIS VOICE, ALL MUTE.

TOTTERING ABOVE IN HER HIGHEST NOON, THE ENAMOURED MOON BLUSHES WITH LOVE, WHILE, TO LISTEN, THE RED LEVIN (WITH THE RAPID PLEIADS, EVEN, WHICH WERE SEVEN,) PAUSES IN HEAVEN.

AND THEY SAY (THE STARRY CHOIR AND THE OTHER LISTENING THINGS) THAT ISRAFELI'S FIRE IS OWING TO THAT LYRE BY WHICH HE SITS AND SINGS- THE TREMBLING LIVING WIRE OF THOSE UNUSUAL STRINGS.

BUT THE SKIES THAT ANGEL TROD, WHERE DEEP THOUGHTS ARE A DUTY, WHERE LOVE'S A GROWN-UP GOD, WHERE THE HOURI GLANCES ARE IMBUED WITH ALL THE BEAUTY WHICH WE WORSHIP IN A STAR.

THEREFORE, THOU ART NOT WRONG, ISRAFELI, WHO DESPISEST AN UNIMPASSIONED SONG; TO THEE THE LAURELS BELONG, BEST BARD, BECAUSE THE WISEST!

MERRILY LIVE, AND LONG!

THE ECSTASIES ABOVE?

WITH THY BURNING MEASURES SUIT- THY GRIEF, THY JOY, THY HATE, THY LOVE, WITH THE FERVOUR OF THY LUTE- WELL MAY THE STARS BE MUTE!

YES, HEAVEN IS THINE; BUT THIS IS A WORLD OF SWEETS AND SOURS; OUR FLOWERS ARE MERELY-FLOWERS, AND THE SHADOW OF THY PERFECT BLISS IS THE SUNSHINE OF OURS.

IF I COULD DWELL WHERE ISRAFEL HATH DWELT, AND HE WHERE I, HE MIGHT NOT SING SO WILDLY WELL A MORTAL MELODY,?

WHILE A BOLDER NOTE THAN THIS MIGHT SWELL FROM MY LYRE WITHIN THE SKY.

NEXT IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER: EMILY FRIEDRICHSON, CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL THE TABLES TURNED BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH UP!

UP!

MY FRIEND, AND QUIT YOUR BOOKS; OR SURELY YOU'LL GROW DOUBLE: UP!

UP!

MY FRIEND, AND CLEAR YOUR LOOKS; WHY ALL THIS TOIL AND TROUBLE?

THE SUN ABOVE THE MOUNTAIN'S HEAD, A FRESHENING LUSTRE MELLOW THROUGH ALL THE LONG GREEN FIELDS HAS SPREAD, HIS FIRST SWEET EVENING YELLOW.

BOOKS!

'TIS A DULL AND ENDLESS STRIFE: COME, HEAR THE WOODLAND LINNET, HOW SWEET HIS MUSIC!

ON MY LIFE, THERE'S MORE OF WISDOM IN IT.

AND HARK!

HOW BLITHE THE THROSTLE SINGS!

HE, TOO, IS NO MEAN PREACHER: COME FORTH INTO THE LIGHT OF THINGS, LET NATURE BE YOUR TEACHER.

SHE HAS A WORLD OF READY WEALTH, OUR MINDS AND HEARTS TO BLESS- SPONTANEOUS WISDOM BREATHED BY HEALTH, TRUTH BREATHED BY CHEERFULNESS.

ONE IMPULSE FROM A VERNAL WOOD MAY TEACH YOU MORE OF MAN, OF MORAL EVIL AND OF GOOD, THAN ALL THE SAGES CAN.

SWEET IS THE LORE WHICH NATURE BRINGS; OUR MEDDLING INTELLECT MIS-SHAPES THE BEAUTEOUS FORMS OF THINGS:- WE MURDER TO DISSECT.

ENOUGH OF SCIENCE AND OF ART; CLOSE UP THOSE BARREN LEAVES; COME FORTH, AND BRING WITH YOU A HEART THAT WATCHES AND RECEIVES.

OUR LAST RECITATION : EMILY KLAR - LAKE REGION UNION HIGH SCHOOL A NOISELESS PATIENT SPIDER BY WALT WHITMAN A NOISELESS PATIENT SPIDER, I MARK'D WHERE ON A LITTLE PROMONTORY IT STOOD ISOLATED, MARK'D HOW TO EXPLORE THE VACANT VAST SURROUNDING,IT LAUNCH'D FORTH FILAMENT, FILAMENT, FILAMENT, OUT OF ITSELF, EVER UNREELING THEM, EVER TIRELESSLY SPEEDING THEM.

AND YOU O MY SOUL WHERE YOU STAND, SURROUNDED, DETACHED, IN MEASURELESS OCEANS OF SPACE, CEASELESSLY MUSING, VENTURING, THROWING, SEEKING THE SPHERES TO CONNECT THEM,?TILL THE BRIDGE YOU WILL NEED BE FORM'D, TILL THE DUCTILE ANCHOR HOLD, TILL THE GOSSAMER THREAD YOU FLING CATCH SOMEWHERE, O MY SOUL.

AND NOW THE MOMENT FOR WHICH WE HAVE BEEN WAITING-I WILL TAKE THE ENVELOPE PLEASE.

OUR RUNNER UP: EMILY KLAR - LAKE REGION UNION HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THE 2017 VERMONT POETRY OUT LOUD STATE CHAMPION, RECIPIENT OF A TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR AWARD, AN ALL-EXPENSE-PAID TRIP FOR TWO TO WASHINGTON, D.C.,....I'M JUST STRETCHING IT OUT TO BUILD THE TENSION.....EMILY FRIEDRICHSON - CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL!