Grade 9 Student Wins Mayor’s Poetry Challenge Competition

Chestermere, AB – At the April 20 Council meeting, Councillors were impressed by the excellent poetry of three student finalists in the inaugural Mayor’s Poetry Challenge Competition.

Kayleigh Weaver, a Grade 9 student from Chestermere Lake Middle School was chosen as the winner and Garret Ennis, a Grade 4 student from Rainbow Creek and Makenna Seely, a Grade 4 student from Prairie Waters Elementary presented strong poems and were runner ups.

“All three of our finalists really poured their hearts into their poems and it is very exciting to see such strong talent from our local students,” said Mayor Patricia Matthews. “The content and delivery of Kayleigh’s piece particularly impressed and inspired Council.”

Weaver wrote her poem, The Hunt to “allow my classmates to share the journey I went on and feel what it is to be a hunter.”

When she found out her poem had won the competition, she was thrilled. “I was very glad that I was able to share my experience with Council and the people that supported me to make it to this point.”

In March of this year, Calgary’s Mayor Naheed Nenshi issued a national poetry challenge to other cities in Canada.

Chestermere’s Council decided to participate and invited one poem 24 lines long to be submitted from each school in the community. The poetry presentations took place at the April 20th meeting of Council.

“As this is our first year as a city, we believed participating in the challenge was a great opportunity to expand and showcase our local talent. Our students certainly exceeded our expectations,” said Matthews.

Council plans to hold the competition again next year and open it up to other members of the community. Information on the competition will be posted on www.chestermere.ca.


The Hunt

By Kayleigh Weaver

I let the rich forest air fill my lungs and sigh

Perfection.

I am the only thing moving on this undisturbed mystery

The warm arms of trees greet me like old friends

I take comfort in knowing that I am hidden

They whisper words only known to us,

Secrets.

I find my favorite spot, hidden in the trees, waiting for me

I sink into the background, becoming apart of it

I watch the forest come to life before my eyes

It plays like a movie, and I a prop

Waiting.

As the performs begin to settle, I feel her arrive

I turn in anticipation, fingers inching towards my hidden bow

She feels my presence, but still she stays

I begin to draw, waiting for my moment

Stop.

A sight worth seeing, the true new beginning of the forest

I move my hand away and watch the fawn play

She knew before I did

Trust.

I let the moment linger, holding onto everything I could

As they melt away into the scenery,

I smile.

Peace.

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