Good news for me. I recently learned that my entry was placed first in the “Lighting of the Fire” Poetry Contest sponsored by Highland Park Poetry and the Ravinia Neighbors Association.
I have been invited to read it at the November 22nd Centennial Celebration of the Ravinia Village House (that’s Friday night).
Here’s an article talking about the upcoming celebration.
http://www.ravinianeighbors.org/ravinia-neighbors-association-blog/your-invitation-to-a-once-in-a-century-event
And here’s the winning poem.
http://www.highlandparkpoetry.org/home.html
My sincere thanks to the Ravinia Neighbors Association and Highland Park Poetry for this recognition. I’ve pasted the poem below in case the above link expires :-).
A Spark and a Fire
I often set to wonder why
We take the stands we take;
What makes us rise from where we lie,
And stirs our hearts to wake
When forth, the ever silent, speak
To light a tiny spark
That burns a flame by which we seek
To drive away the dark;
Like planters of the olive tree,
They never taste its fruit,
Which, like the one who eats from it,
Knows nothing of its root.
I think the answer might well be
The courage of a few
Whose grit, resolve, tenacity,
And other virtues too
Deliver us to light again
This fire that will burn
In honor of their service then,
An honor we return.
