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SmileyStore.com announces the 2007
Smiley Spring Poetry Contest Winners!
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Meet the Judge
Contest entries were judged by Kimberlee Tyndall of Raymond, NH. Kim is a graduate of
Mount Holyoke College and has been a professional writer for over 25 years.
Judge's Review
"What a joy to be reading these entries on a sunny Spring day!" said Kim. "It is so very inspiring to see the efforts of such devoted poetry contestants!"
About Jennifer's poem, A Smiley Year, Kim said "A lengthy entry with a gentle cadence takes us through the year and around the globe following Mr. Sun's year of responsibilities. Jennifer has been submitting poetry to this contest for a few years now and always presents a well-phrased, descriptive poem with great images. Congratulations Jennifer!"
"With I Can't Stop Smiling, Diane took a different approach with a light-hearted, fast-paced poem explaining all the things that can go wrong on an ordinary day." said Kim. "As she explains, World Smile Day is the first Friday in October and no matter what might happen, you can still 'Smile - and Have a Nice Day.'"
"Tois Blankenship's poem, Keep on Smiling, is a heartfelt entry from the depths of a tragedy." observed Kim. "Tois explains that she lost her father during the past year... and her smile. But in the effort she made to write this poem, she realized that her smile meant more than just a reflection of an inner happiness. She expresses that sentiment clearly and simply in her poem. We wish you continued healing, Tois, and hope to see your smile again soon."
Honorable Mentions are awarded to additional poems that exhibit outstanding qualities.
Concerning A Smile for all Seasons by Bev Mathews, Kim said, "Great images of nature in a free-form style, make this poem a gentle reminder 'that each day is a gift.'"
Misty Gomez, the author of The Happy Box enjoys spending time with her husband, cats, and friends. "A simple colorful box that had a big smiley face inspired me to write this poem," said Misty.
"The Happy Box," said our judge Kim, "is presented in a prose format. Misty tells a story that surprises us with inner rhymes sprinkled throughout her entry."
Andrew Wendel dabbles in screenwriting, comedy, and poetry. "I had a smiley pin on my jean jacket in 1980!", said Andrew. "Andrew's poem is a light-hearted entry taking us all through a year, season-by-season with simple, flowing rhymes." said Kim.
"Finally, in her short, sweet poem, When Spring Begins," said Kim, "Tracie calls on the Smiley Face to awaken springtime for us all!
Tracie Belcher is a working mother and wife, and a volunteer with Special Olympics of Lincoln County, WV. "My daughter, who has Smith-Magenis Syndrome, is a true blessing to me," said Tracie, "she is my Smiley! As a child growing up in the 70's, I have always had a fondness for the smiley icon."
"I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Spring contest again this year," said Kim.
"As always, it was difficult to select the top three from so many excellent entries.
Best wishes to everyone, and keep writing!"
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A Year of Smiles Inspires
First Place Winner
Jennifer Short of Terra Alta, West Virginia remembers Smiley seems to have always been a part of her life. "I have always liked smiley faces since I was pre-school age and my aunt had a smiley face clock in her kitchen," said Jennifer. Jennifer studied poetry in grade school and the class published a book of class poems for their parents. In junior high, her poems were printed in the local paper.
A Smiley Year
I think of the sun as a smiley face
Beaming down on the whole human race.
In autumn, the sun gets a little shy
Hiding behind clouds as dead leaves fly
The weather starts to get a little cool
And children begin a new year of school.
The smiling sun goes on a trip each year
Summer now visits the southern hemisphere
While up north the temperature drops
And snow covers the tree tops.
Hats, mittens, and cocoa in a favorite cup
We wonder if the smiling sun will ever wake up.
But there he is each spring, back from his trip
Sailing through the sky on his smiling ship.
His passage is northward bound
Announced by flowers peeking from the ground
His arrival is greeted with great cheer
It matters not he makes the trip each year
People are glad to have him arrive
And the whole world becomes alive
Little boys play by nearby creeks
As the earth is warmed by smiling cheeks
Of the cheery sun looking down on us
But before too long we begin to fuss
“The temperature, it’s hot, its way too high”
And all Mr. Sun can do is sigh.
And sail back to the southern hemisphere
And complete another fun-filled year.
Jennifer Short, Terra Alta, WV
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Second Place Winner
Loves to Spread Smiles!
Diane lives with her husband and two sons in North Tonawanda, NY. "Although I enjoy reading poetry, I sometimes get inspired to write a little." said Diane, who has several Smiley collectables from the 1970s. "Each Christmas season I purchase a bunch of trinket Smiley items such as pencils, pins, stress balls, and antenna balls. When I am out shopping and running errands I see tired, stressed out clerks and bank tellers. I give them a Smiley item and it seems to perk them up!" Diane also enjoys traveling, volunteering, letterboxing, spending time with family and friends and spreading smiles!
I Can't Stop Smiling
When I got out of bed I hit my head
I see I am late, it's quarter past eight
Switched on the light, but the bulb was burned out
"What else can go wrong?" I said with a shout.
But I can't stop smiling
While I washed my face I felt my heart race
Combed my hair and wondered what to wear
Threw on a dress, some jewelry, and a hat
Ran into the kitchen, and tripped over the cat
But I can't stop smiling
Got out a coffee mug but dropped the milk jug
Just my luck, the toast is stuck
Grabbed my purse and my lunch - now off to the job
But while locking the door I broke off the knob.
But I can't stop smiling
Slid into my car but I didn't go very far
Had to search for my keys on my hands and my knees.
I'm out of gas and the bank is closed
And I notice a run in my pantyhose.
But I can't stop smiling
The rest of the day went quite the same way
Dismal at best I needed some rest
I left for home early to enjoy some quiet time
But the toll is twenty cents and I'm out of dimes.
But I can't stop smiling
In my yard I unwind to the sound of my wind-chime
Then I fell in the dirt and, of course, I got hurt
In a drawer I sought bandages for my bleeding arm
But all I see are pens, clips, bows, and a silver charm
But I can't stop smiling
See the reason I feel so great anyway
Is because this is World Smile Day
In the crisp Fall air on the first Friday in October
All my little "bumps" seem to smooth over
From the start of my day smiles are all that I see
And having a great day is quite easy for me.
My alarm clock was smiling and so was my lamp
Shower curtain, soap and towel - I felt like a champ
Looking great in my dress, earrings, bandana and shoes
Each one has a smile – I've got nothing to lose!
Cup, bowl, lunch sack, and the kitchen timer
Key chain and car seats couldn't look finer
Those yellow smiling circles all around here
Always ready and happy to spread some cheer.
So the next time you feel stressed in some way
Always remember to "Smile - and Have a Nice Day"
Diane C. Oship, North Tonawanda, NY
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Loving Father Inspires
Third Place Winner
Tois Blankenship lives in Marshville, North Carolina with her
husband Charlie and three children. Maintaining a perfect record, Tois has placed in the top three spots in each of our smiley spring poetry contests!
Keep on Smiling
I can not begin to imagine.
A world without any smiles,
Although for a little this year,
I misplaced mine for a while.
But, what smiles mean to me.
Is what slowly brought me back.
Although sometimes when life gets hard,
You don’t know where it’s at.
I had lost my father.
He was my hero and my heart.
But it was his great smile,
That had always set him apart.
I realized I had to carry on,
I had to smile for him.
He was always helping people,
And he did it with a grin.
I sat down and decided,
What a smile meant to me.
It meant I became the person,
My father wanted me to be.
Tois Blankenship, Marshville, NC
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Honorable Mention
A Smile for all Seasons
A Smile brightens all Seasons; for all the right reasons.
It’s easy to smile in the spring as you watch the grass and flowers grow and hear the birds sing.
It’s easy to smile in summer, too.
The days are warm, sailboats are on the water again, the sun is shining and the skies are mostly blue.
It’s also not hard at all to smile in the fall.
The leaves are turning, the weather is crisp and squirrels are busy scurrying about. So, there is still so much to be grateful for and to smile a lot about.
It’s not even hard to smile in the winter if you realize that each day is a gift.
Even when it’s snowy and cold it’s very, very pretty and a smile will warm your heart and give you a lift.
So, every season and every day smile and smile often.
Yours will be a face that is remembered fondly and not easily forgotten.
Beverly Mathews, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
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Honorable Mention
The Happy Box
Browsing in a store one day I spotted a bright
green and orange box with a big smiley face
staring right at me. I was as tickled as can be.
A friend’s birthday was coming up. I decided to
buy this happy box and fill it up. I went on a
search for happy, smiley things. I was so
excited about the joy it was going to bring. I
found some smiley quotes, smiley stickers and
colorful smiling flowers. I put them in the box
and increased the happy powers. My friends
and I are young at heart but not in years.
No matter our age we should all have happy,
smiley things to bring us cheer. Happy
Birthday to you my good friend! If you are
down and feeling blue, take out your happy
box and remember that someone cares about
and is smiling at you.
For my friend, Sheryl… Happy Birthday!!
Misty Dawn Gomez, Dacula, GA
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Honorable Mention
Smiley Poem
Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall,
I Smile all the while, I like
Them all!
Spring puts a Spring in your step,
the smell in the air
gives you lots of pep.
Summer brings temps that heat
the pool,
playing with Smiley Beach Balls
sure is cool.
Fall has leaves that Fall to the ground,
It brings a Smile to all that's around.
For Winter's just a cold snap away,
My Smile year round will always stay!
Andrew Wendel, Pensacola, FL
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Honorable Mention
When Spring Begins
Spring please awaken
Laughter ring the air
Flowers start your blooming
Spring feels oh so near
Come brighten yellow face
Grin from ear to ear
Spring can now begin
The Smiley face is here
Tracie L. Belcher, Griffithsville, WV
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Youth Division Winner
Laura Blankenship is 7 years old and in the 2nd grade. She is the daughter of Tois and Charles Blankenship (see 3rd place winner above). Laura writes poems quite often and writes a lot of them for her mother. "She wrote this poem for the contest because, in case I didn't win, she didn't want me to be sad," said her mother Tois.
"Keep a Smile on Your Face is excellent advice for us all!", said our judge Kim. "Laura is expressing her talent, like her Mom, with a well-formed poem about the power of a smile. I especially like her claim that
'It stays with me for you.' Sharing a smile is for both the giver and the
receiver. Congratulations Laura!"
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Photographs of Spring
I keep a smile on my face
And I hope you do too
I take it almost everywhere
It stays with me for you
So keep a smile on your face
Everyday and every place
Incase I need one too.
Laura Blankenship, Marshville, NC
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Thanks to everyone who sent a contest entry!
You brightened our day and were generous to share your talent with us.
Happy Spring to everyone!
Copyright © 2007 Bitwise Gifts LLC
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