Spelling Champ Writes Amazing Thank You Poem to Scripps National Bee

Those who know Alia Abiad are already well aware that she’s brilliant with words—the McClure seventh-grader qualified last month for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

But now we’ve discovered that Alia is a poet, as well.

The Western Springs student wrote a poem using all the words she spelled correctly during her qualifying run in the Suburban Cook County Spelling Bee. She sent it to Scripps as a thank you for hosting her in the national competition, which takes place Memorial Day weekend.

Guys, this poem is good. Really good.

Read it in its entirety below and think back to what you were doing in seventh grade.

War of the Words

By Alia Abiad

we are facing off at the start of the war
lights are dimming, theater doors closing
phones flickering flickering out
from the balcony surges one last cheer
and then it’s just me
and the words. 

the first word edges forward
then pulls back
a recalcitrant child unwilling to move
she calls in speech after speech
to precede her
stalling           stalling for time.
she finally emerges
takes her place on the battlefield
not for long, though - i cut her down
BAM
just like that. 

vengeful, the other words tumble forward
endless black letters on an endless white page
dancing before my eyes
until they all blur into a median gray.
they are armed with weapons of all kinds
a spear, a sword, a broach
they come from all over
(a blonde, a black-eyed, even a Qatari)
but i know them all
fight them all off
until they retreat past the threshold
from whence they came.

i catch my breath
inhale, exhale
victory sugars the air
till it’s as sweet and soft as a tamarind.
(though somewhere deep inside
there is a hint of sour
a foul wind, a garlicky stench ruining a perfect cake
carrying the whisper
what if? what if?)

i shake it off
it must go.
time to move forward
time for the big finale.
the words return
rejuvenated and angry –
their end showing is spectacular.
but i am even more so
i pull forth the evenings of long practice
against never-ending rows of dummies
and let them dictate
i am rushing rushing to the top –
i am prabhu lord king of all

Until the curtains rise
The crowd roars
And my dreams have come to fruition.

Note: The bolded, italicized words are the ones Alia spelled Feb. 21 at the Suburban Cook County Spelling Bee.

- - - - - - - - - - - 

There are plenty of ways to keep up with local news:

• Sign up for our daily newsletter: La Grange / Western Springs
• Follow us on Facebook: La Grange / Western Springs

Earlier:

• McClure 7th Grader Wins Spelling Bee on Home Turf
• McClure 7th-Grader Defending Home Turf in Spelling-Bee County Finals
• Victory! Local Spelling Champ Wins Spot in D.C. National Bee