Georgia river of words : 2004 winning art & poetry journal

River of Words benefits Kindergarten through 12th grade students in Georgia schools and youth organizations by encouraging art and poetry as powerful communication tools in their commitment to environmental awareness. Students throughout the State discover their watershed and describe their observations through art and poetry.
River of Words is an international art and poetry project co-founded in 1995 by former U.S. Poet Laureate, Robert Hass and writer Pamela Michael, to nurture respect and understanding of the natural world. Since 1997, Georgia teachers have successfully incorporated this dynamic educational endeavor into their classrooms. Georgia has sent at least one Grand Prize Winner to the international awards ceremony each year.
When students' original art and poetry are returned from the international competition, they are entered in the State competition. National and State winners are recognized by Georgia Project WET, the Georgia Center for the Book, and the Starbucks Coffee Company at an Awards Ceremony. Art and poetry are on display in the Georgia River of Words Exhibit for one year. The Exhibit travels to libraries, schools, nature centers, conferences, water festivals, parks and State buildings. River of Words Teacher's Guides and Art and Poetry Journals are provided free of charge to educators.
Georgia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) trains facilitators and educators with water education workshops. Workshop participants receive the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide, which features more than 90 activities developed, field-tested, and reviewed by over 600 educators and resource managers working with 34,000 students nationwide. The activities provide young people with the knowledge and experience they will need to make informed decisions regarding water resource management.
The Georgia Center for the Book is a statewide program, which celebrates books, reading, literacy, book arts, publishing and Georgia's literary tradition. Forty-six states are affiliated with the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, a program created by an act of Congress in 1977. The DeKalb County Public Library is the host site for the Center for the Book in Georgia.
The Environmental Education Alliance (EEA) of Georgia is a network of 400+ environmental educators who work together through quarterly newsletters, a web site, an annual conference, a symposium for teachers on the development and use of outdoor classrooms and special workshops. EEA has spearheaded a number of partnership initiatives including: I)EEinGeorgia, the online guide to environmental education in Georgia; 2) EIC, the national school improvement process that uses the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning; 3) the Georgia Project for Excellence in Environmental Education, a certification program for environmental educators, and 4) Monarchs Across Georgia, a collaboration of teachers, students, families , communities, businesses and others, all working together to study Monarch butterflies and restore butterfly habitat across the state . For more information on EEA, visit www.eealliance.org.
Employees of the Starbucks Coffee Company have helped coordinate River of Words activities. They share their time and refreshments at the State Awards Ceremony, and display the ROW exhibit, and printed materials in their stores. Funding from the Starbucks Foundation, allowed the Dunwoody Nature Center in Atlanta, and the Oatland Island Education Center in Savannah to provide at-risk, economically under served students from Boys and Girls Clubs and Boys Homes with watershed discovery and poetry writing field studies. These students are recognized with the Starbucks Power of Literacy Prize at the Georgia River of Words Awards Ceremony each year.

Coordinated in Georgia by the Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) program and the Georgia Center for the Book, with support from the Environmental Education Alliance of Grorgia.

STARBUCKS f0UNDAT101'1
Sponsored by lhe Starbucks Coffu Company and The Starbucks Foundation.

When rain falls water travels downhill to the lowest point. There you will find streams.
Streams lead to rivers and rivers lead to oceans. A watershed is the land which water travels across on its
way to streams, rivers and oceans.
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Baron,Amanda

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Barrett, Joseph

9

Bernard, Bethany

5

Bragan,Alex

9

Brooks, Michael

10

Carrasco-Reed, Samantha 21

Choi, Jeanie

15

Clark, Connor

11

Comstock, Anna

16

Cromwell, Lee

5

Davila, Joey

12

Dortch, Killian

13

Duncan, Courtney

10

Froehbrodt, Elliott

14

Goldberg, Keith

16

Grivas, Nicholas

6

Handy, Craig

11

Halicks, Sarah

13

Hester, Stephen

8

Hewatt, Madeline

12

Jones, Tiffanie

4

Keys, Terry

7

Killingsworth, Maya

10

Killingsworth, Catherine 6

Korchan, Spencer

14

Lowe, Mia - Talia

15

Lancette, Michael

18

Milton, Sean

21

Mitchell, Camesha

7

Moore, Katy

6

Mullinax, Hope

16

Peavy, Misi

16

Perrine, Kristen

17

Pranayanantn, Nattima 8

Randall, Kelsey

19

Riordan, Megan

21

Sanders, Megan

17

Seay, Charlie

17

Smith, Henry

19

Stanhope, Kait

18

Tassopoulos, Luke

12

Walsh, Bridget

7

Wendorf, Anna Sophia

13

Wright, Sarah

20

Zelinski, Katie

20

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I Now is the silence, that cool last Silence before the mural's skewed, the music cut; before my ears are abused by the rough, vulgar beep (whirr click) of everything else. What sweet poetry is the spider' s web: life without fanfare and death without tragedy played among the deaf silver violin strings hung with dew so tightly strung beyond our understanding. The little septic pool flowing back of the house must babble and rush. For all the water we don't have it must be Styx, Nile, Yellow, Amazon- with it's extravagant filth.
II As I am teased, cajoled, ushered along the lifeless pavement toward home I am enraptu red, struck by the embrace of the late fog, I squint through the dense, muddled air of this grey winter and find I long for the fire of fall, and the fine noise. The neighborhood is a poor stage fo r this drama: the muted trees, dwarfed by closed houses, closed windows . A silent season.
Tiffanie Jones
12th Grade Chamblee Charte r Hi gh Chamblee Teacher: Lynn Farme r 2004 NATIONAL GRAND PRIZ E WINNER

"Wetland Friends"
Amanda Baron
2nd Grade High M eadows
Roswe ll Teacher: Brenda Major
NATIO NAL FINALIST

Lightning dances beneath the tumbling surface of furrowed , thundering clouds and suddenly, the fever breaks droplets pour and collect in my hands. Of all the words in the English language these have fallen together to form one small gift. Bethany Bernard
12th Grade North Gwinnett H igh Suwa nee Teacher: J ohn Bush NATIONAL FINA LIST
"Rain Drops"
Lee Cromwell
11th Grade D ru id H ills H igh
Atlanta Teacher: Betsy Eppes NATIO NAL FI NA LIST

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nd hushed just floating there) oon uiedy looming moving so slowly you even don't notice until it slips off in the morning) the sky
(pinned up at night by the little pricks of light)
the trees (bent piously under the glorious weight of it all) the water (slithering sinuously and gracefully light tickling its back) it's so easy to forget until one night you step out and the moon is a giant circle
punched out of paper by a four-year old
bold and grinning the trees reach and sing hallelujah skies soar up and the air is so still that you can almost see the little breezes that butterfly-kiss your cheek. for a moment the splendor is crushing.

"The Dlminl Effect"
Nicho/4s Gmas
12chGrade Druid Hilla High
Atlanta Teacher: Betay Eppes
NATIONAL FINALIST

CathtriM /(jllingrworth
12chGrade Chamblee Charter High Chamblee Teacher: L,,nn Farmer
NATIONAL FINALIST

"Dmwnlng tile Phoenix"
&tyMoore
!Och Grade Druid Hills High
Atlanta Teacher: Beuy Eppes
NATIONAL FINALIST

"Oblivious"

AFRICA
My hips have danced

Terry Krys
12th G rade Druid H ills H igh
Atlanta Teache r: Betsy Eppes

che rhythm of che Congo and

NATIONAL FINA LIST

From my womb

Have come forth empires and tribes:

Egyptians, che Ashanti, the Dinka, and che Ibo.

When I cried

my tears filled che Nile and

Upon my laughter,

birds sang

and lions roared

and locusts danced.

As my eyelashes beat, the grasses of the Savannah swayed.

TURTLE BEACH

My skin, in its beautiful brown, kissed by the heat of the Heavens, Created che sands of the Sahara and the fertile ground for growing yams. From my scalp came che chick, coarse roots of the jungles. These eyes Are che reddest suns in times of my wrath; Of the bluest moons when peace cakes me over. I am Africa Earth, Air, and Heaven. I am che Motherland; The sweet daughter of Nature. I am Africa.

1,000 megapixels of: taffy air, grandma sun-hats , pretty princess shovelspoised and ready co dig i.nto summer's snow. A butter pecan froth, hang gliding on gravity's good will, 238,606 miles below che source ; a mutual relationship : water and gravityg-force just beats me into the ground like the stake of a tent; I am the parasite. I could sec my watch by it, the tide, but time left me - - like a sundial after dark- ... back in some place called Kokomo I changed to a telephoto lens.

Camesha Mitchell
12th G rade C hamblee C harter H.S. C hamblee
Teache r: Lynn Farme r

NATIONAL FI NA LIST

Now, is it land on water or water on land? White on black or black on white? I can never remember. I switch co panoramic mode.

The horizon is a myth, anyway.

just a point where

my eyes end and the sea begins

to screech her quads.

Bridget Walsh
12th Grade North Gwinnett High
Suwa nee
Teacher: John Bush
NATIO NAL FINA LIST

POLLUTION
Don' t pollute the watershed, Because you will kill all of the fish. They deserve to live, So we can enjoy chem as a tasty dish. Factories chink watersheds , Are for dumping toxic waste. The companies that do it, Are a big disgrace . Many animals , Live off watersheds. If we pollute chem, They' ll all be dead. Fertilizer and DDT, Wash into the lakes and ponds. If we continue chis , All of the animals will be gone. When we're polluting, We 're destroying animals' homes . That's why I' m telling you chis, In chis licde poem. We can put a stop to this, But we have to act fast. If we stop polluting, Our watersheds will last.
Stephen H ester
6th Gcade Snellville Middle Snellville Teacher: Debbie McMichael
STATE WINNER

"Montage"
Nattima Pranayanantn
12th Gcade Druid Hills High
Atlanta Teacher: Betsy Eppes
NATIONAL FINALIST

Springs makes streams, Water is life for everything. Lakes are blue , Swamps are green, Lots of animals can be seen. Sometimes warm, Always wet, It's the best drink for your pet. S eas are cold, Oceans are clear, How many boats will sail this yea r? Swim in a pool, Fish at a pond, Water reflects the break of dawn. Take a bath, Wash a pan, Save as much water as you can!
J oseph Barrett
1st Grade Pharr Elemen ta ry
Snellville Teacher: Staley Smith
STATE WINNER

"A Dirty River"
Alex Bragan
1st Grade Huntly Hill s Elemema ry
Chamblee Teacher: Carolyn Cagle
STATE W INNER

You should keep our environment clean. If you don 't you' re really mean. Please keep ou r rivers neat, So our fish have something good to eat. Please don't pollute ou r air, Or we will think that you don' t care. Before you pollute our stream please stop and think , Because thi s is the water we all have to drink. To protect our environment, we should make a big fuss, Because our environment is important to all of us.
Michael Brooks
2nd Gcade Pharr Elementary Snellville Teacher: Staley Smith STATE W INNER

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"Looking Downstream"
Courtney Duncan
2nd Grade Pharr Elementary
Snellville Teacher: Staley Smith
STATE WINNER
"Elements of Earth"
Maya Killingsworth
6th Grade The Children's School Atlanta Teacher: Lisa Helsel STATE WINNER

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My mom says the rive r has memories. I think she's right.
Some me mories are bad... Like people putting trash and
bad chemicals in the water. I hope our river has good memories.. .
Like a deer or a bea r coming to visit A nd a boy or a fis h splashing in the water.
Connor Clark
Kinde rgarte n C hestaree Eleme nta ry
Gai nesville Teacher: Ca t Potte r
STAT E W INNT ER
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"Reflections"
Craig Handy
8th G rnde
J.C. Booth Middie
Peac htree City Teacher: Jennife r Rine r STAT E W IN NER

"Rocky River''
Madeline Hewatt
2nd Grade Pharr Elementary Snellville Teacher: Staley Smith
STATE WINNER

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A river is flowing, it's passing me by reflecting the birds and showing the sky. I look at the plants; they sway in its bed,
and I see the fish that swim on ahead. A river is going just flowing past me
It dampens the dirt and hugs the tree. It suffered a mudslide; it survived a storm,
and the people just let its beauty be torn. A river is flowing, its dead and forlorn
because we've been polluting since this river was born it no longer sparkles with a radiant glare,
we just kept polluting, we just didn't care.
Joey Davila
7th Grade Fon Middle
Columbus Teacher: Carmen Floris
STATE WINNER

"loggerhead Turtle Commemorative Stamp Design"
Luke 1ilssopoulos
2nd Grade Casa Montessori
Marietta Teacher: Hedwig O'Brien
STATE WINNER

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LAZY CREEK
Calm and peaceful throughout the night Waiting until the moment is just right Then, swaying gencly from side co side Bringing in the morning's sweet tide The growing light dances and sings on the top Oblivious to time screaming, pleading, "Don't stop!" Though life may seem busy Going from day to week All is solemn and beautiful
In chis one lazy creek
Killian Dortch
8th Grade Cli fto n Ridge Mi ddle Macon Teacher: A my Marlowe STATE WINN ER

THE RIVER
The river makes its way down the mountainside swifcly, boastfully showing off its spectacular beauty to the rest of the world. Its glistening water entrances all of the surrounding wildlife, making Mocher Nature marvel at its perfect, rhythmic pattern. Down and down it rushes, ridding the earth of its filch , cleansing and polishing the smooch scones until they shine like diamonds in a flawless glass case. It finally reaches the waterfall and tumbles down, down, down until it falls flat and begins meandering cowards the sea. It passes a buscling city filled with people and pollution. The river fights its way through the intoxicating fumes until it reaches another, more comfortable place: A vast field with a forgotten farmhouse, long deserted and fallen in. Bunches of yellow daffodils encircle the remains; their petals flutter in the wind. The river passes quiecly by chis peaceful place and continues on its way. All the way to the ocean it rolls, unstoppable. Finally reaching its destination, it joyfully spills in, its journey completed.
Sarah Halicks
7th Grade
J.C. Booth Middle
Peachrree Ciry Teacher : Jennifer Ritter
STAT E W INNER

"Light on the Water" Anna Sophia Wendorf
!Ith G rade Evans High
Eva ns Teacher: Pame la S egers
STAT E W INNER

A RIVER IS FLOWING
Imagine a scene of tranquility, Shady trees , lush grass, rich soil, A river is flowing . Now comes a family that builds a cabin, Sturdy walls , new beginnings , panoramic beauty, A river is flowing. A grandfather's death brings relatives near, Inherited land, a cabin demolished, a dream realized, A river is flowing. A country falls upon hard times, Bankruptcy looms, repossession of land, a dre am defeated, A river is flowing. An entrepreneur has high aspirations, Loans secured, land purchased, opportunities abound, A river is flowing. He builds a business from nothing, Jobs created, finished products , open market, A river is flowing. A large corporation crushes competition, Business sold, land desecrated, factories built, A river is flowing. Chemical runoff destroys, Water polluted, wildlife annihilated, nothing left, The river flows no more.
Elliott Froehbrodt
12th Grade Chamblee Charter High Chamblee Teacher: Lynn Farmer
STATE WINNER

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"Reflections of Me"
Spencer Korchan
6th Gcade Tritt Eleme ntary!
M arietta Teacher: Wendy Limerick / Tame ra N eal
STATE W INNER

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ALONG THE SAVANNAH
Billows of water rolling fast Faint aroma of honeysuckle nearby A shadow of Spanish moss is cast A seagull glides across the clear blue sky Two enchanted dragonflies whizzing past A sun-baked gator-by a Cypress-dry Mother Nature is music abou nds everywhere Purest beauty for all to share
Mia- Talia Lowe
9th Grade Da\l idson Fine Arcs A ug u s ta STAT E W INNER

"Nature's Jewels"
Jeanie Choi
8th Gcade JC Booth Middle
Peachtree City Teacher: Jennifer Riner
STAT E W INNER

NUMB
Stepping out Breaking away from all the other drops Out to the platform To tip of my index finger Not even feeling it.. .Numb About to fall It lingers there for a moment Like stepping on a stage for your first monologue Leaving your parents for the first time Having your first child Meeting every hardship life throws That brief second of surreal cloudiness When time slows in the muggy steam of the shower As other drops cry for their turn to take the next step Towards existence 'Lil Droplet fights the temptation of gravity Hanging over the abyss unsure of What to do Then, ' Lil Water Droplet breathes and takes that leap Into the big puddle and eventually Down the shower drain
Hope Mullinax
10th Grade North Gwinnett High S uwa nee Teacher: John Bush
STATE W INNER

16

"Sunset Play"
Anna Comstock
10th G rade Druid H ill s H igh
Atlanta Teacher: Betsy Eppes
STATE W INNER

"Untitled"
Keith Goldberg
5th Gcade Evans Elementary Martinez Teache r: Marchma n
STATE W INNER

TRAVELING RAINS
I fall out of the sky Onto a leaf,
Rolled down a tree, Landed on an umbrella,
Into a home, Into a sink,
Down the drain, Through the water treatment,
In the river, Flying in the air,
Into a cloud, To start my life all over again,
I fall out of the sky...
Misti Peavy
8th Grade C lifton Ridge Middle
Macon Teacher: Amy Marlowe
STATE W INNER

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I once went to the ocean, and what did I see? A blue plastic bag was in front of me! I took it and threw it away. Then I swam the rest of the day. And when I went back, I took a sack. It was empty when I left, And when I returned , it was full of trash. And I sold a couple of things for cash, And bought more bags for trash, And saved a ton of fis h. Because that was my greatest wish. I try to fight ocean pollution, For people are the solution.
Kristen Perrine
4th Grade Upson Lee South Elem . Thomaston Teacher: S he ryl Farr STATE W INNER
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"Spiders Awaken"
Charlie Seay
8th G rade Reidsville Middle
Re idsvil le Teachcr:Ocbbie Parhr
STAT E W INNER
Rain falling down from the lee, freezing hard on a Very beautiful crystal. Each crystal is different, Running down into the river when it warms.
Megan Sanders
10th Grade Tucker H igh Tucker Teacher: Susan Miller STARBUCKS POWER OF LITERACY PRIZE W INNER

You see me? Yea... try looking down, I'd bet you forgot me With your Dr. Scholls to protect your little feet I'd bet you don't even Remember the feeling of mud between toes You came from mud And now you act like you don ' t even know me. You think 4 inches of high heel is Enough to escape me? Not forever Because I'm here. I' m always here. When you ran barefoot all summer, And when your first pair of heels Squashed deep into the lawn, When you ate mud piesYou've moved on to the "five second rule " I can wait Have you read your Newsweek? Or what about mythology? Dirt makes you strong As if I didn 't know that I'll wait. I'll wait for the touch of bare toes Reveling in cool mud.

"Wading and Waiting"
Michael Lance/le
11 th G rade Druid H ill s H igh Atlanta Teacher:Bersy Eppes
STAT E W INNER

Kait Stanhope
II th Grade Chamblee Charter H igh Chamblee Teacher: D ia ne Shea rer
STAT E WIN N ER

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I used to go enjoy the lake, Sun reflecting in my wake. I could go play and have some fun, Sadly, now that time is done . No one goes in anymore, With so little water, it's an eyesore, Being refilled with every rain, When it's done, I'll have fun again. Canoeing almost every day, It will be lovelier than I can say.
Henry Smith
7th Grade
J.C. Booth Middle
Peachtree City Teacher: Jennifer Ritter STATE WINNER

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"Under aWatery Surface"

Kelsey Randall
!Ith Grade Hol y Innocent's School
Atlanta
Teacher: Renee Gracon

STATE WINNER

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THE FREEST ELEMENT
What does it mean To feel che rough of a wild tongue Imbibe pare of your being To be swallowed Down into a dark void To bead up upon fresh leaves In che early hours of Spring To become one with the clouds Then tumble co earth again To spatter upon che shoreline Bue never know che shore What does ic mean To not have co choose Bue lee Mocher Nature desire for you To flow about Into che unknown chasms of life To separate into two bodies , still one And cake both pathways To go nowhere in particular And end up eve rywhere all at once What does it mean To be able co become Coming together with what grasps co you To cake shape co whatever your surroundings To never have co breach And yet be che breach of life To be one with all things and become all things in nature

&tie Zelin ski
12th G rade N orth Gwinnett H igh Su wa nee Teacher: J ohn Bush
STATE W IN NE R

"Untitled" Sarah Wright
9th G rade Druid Hills
Adama Teacher: Betsy Eppes
STATE W INNER
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MV RIVER
A river of hope runs through me A lake of strength builds within me A stream of care trickles inside me A pond of love lies beneath me An ocean of kindness churns around me My river calls to me The lake begs my name My stream calls for help The pond cries out in anguish My ocean tugs for my attention The world is beckoning for my river
Megan Riordan
8th Grade Shamrock Middle Decatur Teacher: Chri s Kern
STATE W INNER

THE WIND

"The Lake"
Samantha Carrasco - Reed
5th Grade Fernbank Elementary
Atlanta Teacher: Jill Brown
STATE WINNER

The wind blows hard The wind blows silently I felt the wind I thought I was dying. I really was I really was I was scared head to toe I never felt something blow so hard before I was scared once I was scared twice The third time I thought it was very nice. It really was It really was The wind became my friend Now I have someone to talk to I know the wind now I know the wind

Sean Milton
7th Gtade Bethesda Home for Boys Savannah Teacher: Heather Merbs Gaeland Island Education Center
STARBUCKS POWER OF LITERACY PRIZE WINNER

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The Georgia River of Words 2004 Exhibit is On the Move February-May 2005 the exhibit will visit the following library systems:
February 21-March 7, 2005 Southwest Georgia Regional Library Bainbridge Susan Whitde, Director 229-248-2665
s_whitde@mail. decatur. public. lib. ga. us
March 7-21, 2005 DeSoto Trail Regional Library Camilla, Lisa Rigsby, Director Sylvester, 229-336-8372 Blakely
rigsby@mail. mitchell. public. lib. ga. us
March 21-April 4, 2005 Kinchafoonee Regional Library Dawson Frances Messer, Director 229-995-63 31
messerf@mail. terrell. public. lib .ga. us
April 4-18, 2005 Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library Columbus Claudya Muller, Director 706-641-4078 cmuller@cvrls.net
April 18-May 2, 2005 West Georgia Regional Library Carrollton Jim Cooper, Director 770-836-6711
cooperj@mail. carroll. public.lib. ga. us
May 2-16 , 2005 Chattooga County Library System Summerville Barbara Hutsell, Director 706-8 57-2 553
hutsellb@mail. chattooga. public. lib. ga. us
May 16-31, 2005 Decatur Library (for repairs) Alison Weissinger, Director
Bill Starr, Georgia Center for the Book 404-370-8450, ext. 2225 starrw@dekalblibrary.org
In July, the ROW 2005 Exhibit will begin touring. For more information, please contact the GA Center for the Book at 404370-8450. Georgia Project WET also has an exhibit that schools and other organizations can put on display. For more information, contact Georgia Project WET at 404-675-1762.