First Place: Harriet Do
Sunflower
How is it true
That I can see your eyes dance
Like the twinkle of stars
Or the Eiffel Tower in France?
How is it true
That I can hear your laugh sing
Like the staccato notes
Or the Liberty Bell’s ring?
How is it true
That I can sense your appearance
Like the meteorologist and his weather report
Or the Nutella Spread clearance?
How is it true
That I know the exact length of the Nile, but not be able
To ask you if I may be the flower to the sun of your smile?
Second Place: A. More
To that one person who I love to see
I wish I could speak and say what you mean to me.
We speak about hopes, dreams, and lives we seek
Yet I won’t say “I love you” or I’ll come off as weak.
You are a rose amid a field of daisies;
Different, new, and beautifully crazy.
You are more radiant than the sun,
Brightening my dim days when there is no fun.
You are like a breath of fresh air:
Refreshing, revitalizing without compare,
But because I couldn’t say this due to timidness and excessive pride
I thought I should say this indirectly, like an aside.
Whether it is to be or not to be
Thank you for your generosity, friendship, and company
Third Place: Vivian Nguyen
An Unlucky Fate
To meet you has been an unlucky fate,
To dream of you is how my time is spent,
The sound of your mere voice fills my whole pate,
Your gentle nature has no ill intent.
In truth, your wit mesmerize my mind still,
Ever single word binds my open heart,
Each line continues to chain my free will,
You controlled my life before it could start.
A small glance at your eyes leave me breathless,
The pounding of my heart leaves me in pain,
No medication could cure my illness,
Your simple presence drives my soul insane.
Perhaps one day, I will be your passion,
But I am afraid of your rejection.
Fourth Place: Lupe Soria
Love
Love is a feeling so soft and so strong
it can feel so right and so wrong
it can pick you up then bring you down
makes you smile or makes you frown
it’s a feeling that can last forever or for a day
makes you want to run or want to stay
a feeling that makes you see or makes you blind
the process makes you happy or makes you lose your mind
it can be going so good and suddenly fall
its a feeling you want to experience forever or not at all.
Fifth Place: Paral Bhogal
Human Medication
So clumsy was I,
for I tripped over your broken heart,
and spilled out my guts.
I cut myself when I picked your pieces up
but you left me bleeding,
couldn’t put me back together.
Instead you poured salt over my cuts,
in hopes that I would leave.
Although darling, you were medicine to me,
I cannot quit you,
like humans cannot admit greed.
I should have known earlier
Other people are not prescriptions I must keep.