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SmileyStore.com announces the 2008
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
"The signs of Spring," said Kim, "are the warm weather and the delightful poetry sent by such talented writers! As always, I take great pleasure in reading them."
About Ann's poem, Yellow Smiley Face, Kim said "Great pacing, great rhyming, very lively, and uplifting. A tribute to the smiley face symbol and all things yellow! Congratulations Ann!"
Shirley's poem is "short and descriptive, a survey of faces and features with well-formed rhymes," said Kim, "Shirley’s poems have delighted us in previous years too!"
Jennifer's poem, Green and Yellow, is "an unapologetic advertisement for the Bitwise store!", said Kim, "Jennifer rhymes her way through the product lines better than any marketing team!" I hope she inspires you to explore our collections.
Honorable Mention is awarded to an additional poem that exhibits outstanding qualities.
"Tois Blankenship's poem, My Collection of Smiles, is a heartfelt, gentle poem in tribute to her father," said Kim. "Tois writes well about a happier time, and we hope she finds comfort in her poetry. We miss your smile, Tois!"
"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!"
Contest Rules
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Family Name Inspires
First Place Winner
Ann Smiley of Santa Cruz, California collects everything smiley, even her husband! "I've always enjoyed writing poetry," said Ann, who is a first time entrant to the smiley poetry contest.
Yellow Smiley Face
I love that yellow smiley face.
For me it pops up every place!
I see it in the flower bed,
A daisy’s pretty golden head,
A ball we play with just for fun,
The happy, golden, summer sun,
My sunny-side-up breakfast yolk,
The punchline in an e-mail joke,
The highlight that means, “look at me!”
A creamy yellow wheel of Brie,
My cat’s eye in a certain light,
The lamp that guides my car at night,
A bright and fragrant Texas rose,
My cozy socks with yellow toes,
The road that Dorothy took to Oz,
A street sign that means I should pause,
The buttons on my favorite coat,
A sticky-backed reminder note.
And each time I see one of those,
My inner peace just grows and grows.
And for the Smileys, I suggest,
That face should be our family crest!
Ann Smiley, Santa Cruz, CA
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Second Place Winner
Enjoys Smiley Faces!
"My kitchen is full of smiley faces!" said Shirley. "Everyone comments on them and they always cheer me up." Shirley has published small items in Guideposts and in Reader's Digest. "I think of smiley faces as fun," said Shirley, "and I just had fun writing the poem."
Faces
Some faces are lean, mean, and rarely seen,
Others, Like Kermit's, are green as a bean.
Some faces are adorned with curly hair.
Others are bald or with hair barely there.
For some the feature is an upturned nose
Others, sleepy eyes as their owners doze.
A face is fine, fancy, fundamental
With smiles fervent, fiery, sentimental.
My favorite face is not like a clown
But sunny with an upside down frown.
Beaming and round -- funny and yellow
Smiley Face is one swell mellow fellow!
Shirley Short, Terra Alta, WV
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Smiley Collection Inspires
Third Place Winner
A child of the 1970s, Jennifer Short of Terra Alta, West Virginia has seen smiley face items through her life. "My mother collects smiley face items," said Jennifer, "and I was inspired by her collection to write this poem." "Many of her items are from the Bitwise store (SmileyStore.com)," said Jennifer, "and people often comment on the array of smiling items in the kitchen. There are so many fun and useful items at the Bitwise Store!"
Green and Yellow
I've heard green is the way to go But for me,
I'd rather go YELLOW!
Bitwise Store is a great way for me
To buy neat things and save a tree.
I can get a Smiley Bottle for my drink,
Save some plastic, don't you think!
Don't forget the smiling totes they sell too,
Perfect for groceries, I'll buy a few.
The Smiling folders are a favorite of mine,
For storing papers they work just fine.
A little planter I can use for herbs to grow
While I curl under a Smiley Face throw.
When I get up, there's a lunch to pack,
Tucked inside a Smiley lunch pack.
Don't forget yellow if you want to go green,
Yellow plus a smile is the greenest I've seen.
Jennifer Short, Terra Alta, WV
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Honorable Mention
My Collection of Smiles
I have an extensive collection
Of smiles I keep around
I pull them out for comfort,
Whenever I'm feeling down.
Some of them are fragile,
To be handled with great care,
But all of them are special
And most of them are rare.
My smiles have great memories
With stories to be told,
They remind me of a happy time.
That I carry in my soul.
My heart takes a picture.
Of every smile I got to see.
And even though you may be gone,
Your smile is still with me.
Tois Blankenship, Marshville, NC
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Youth Division
Sadly, there were no youth poetry submissions this year...
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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 © 2008 Bitwise Gifts LLC
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