Finalist

 

History of a Cornfield

 

pale winter

a barren field with broken stalks

wilted, a faded cream—

like whey and curds strained from milk

budding spring

the cool breeze whispers over the dead field

bringing it back to life

and upon it a soft green carpet of leaves spreads

thirsty summer

rain rushes from the saturated clouds

and flows into the sun parched ground

in the porous ground the roots of the corn plants

soak up the water,

quenching their thirst

and as the leaves grow greener

the kernelled bounty slowly forms

harvest fall

the sun shines over the golden leaves

as the corn is gathered

the leaves dance their final waltz

twilight casts a curtain over the last act of the play

and the dawn signals its beginning again

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Priyanka Bose, age 14

Jacksonville, Illinois

Entered individually