Milpitas Youth Wins Poetry Contest

MILPITAS, CA -- Voice of Youth Advocates magazine has selected a middle school student from Milpitas as a winner in its annual teen poetry contest.

Makenna Ma, 14, was nominated by the Santa Clara County Library District after receiving an award in its 2018 teen poetry contest.

“Milpitas Library is a big supporter of poetry, sponsoring semi-monthly Poetry Slams, monthly meetings of local group The Peaceful Poets, and other events where teens have a chance to share their work with peers and pursue their love of verse,” said Stephen Fitzgerald, Milpitas Community Librarian. “It’s great to see a member of our community honored by a prestigious publication like VOYA.”

Founded in 1978, VOYA is a library journal dedicated to the needs of young adult librarians, as well as the advocacy and promotion of young adult literature and reading. The winning, humorous poem is titled “Apology Poem to Teacher.” She received a prize and had her poem published in the April issue of VOYA.

Here's the poem:

This is just to say
That I’m sorry I knocked
All the papers off your desk
In second grade.

They looked like they had
A special order.
I don’t know if you are still holding
A grudge, now that you’re retired

Forgive me
I was in a rush
And those papers
Made the most beautiful rustle
As they slipped off the desk
One by one.

The Santa Clara County Library District has an annual teen poetry competition in April as part of its celebration of National Poetry Month. Information about the contest, including the entry form, list of last year’s winners, and copies of their poems, can be found at www.sccl.org/teens/contests/. Entries must be received by April 30.

One of last year’s two district-nominated VOYA awardees was from the Milpitas Library service area. The next Peaceful Poets open mic night is on April 17. Santa Clara County Poet Laureate “Mighty” Mike McGee, who is a friend of Milpitas Library and frequent host of Poetry Slam events, will host a Poetry Recitation contest on April 24. Both events are scheduled for 6 p.m. in the library’s auditorium.