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  Young Voices,
  An Anthology of Poetry by Nassau County Students
  (Kindergarten through 12th Grade)

  Presented by Maxwell Corydon Wheat, Jr. and Edited by Judy Turek
  Cover photo by Ana Abejon 2009-2010.
  Cover design by Joe Camacho.
  192 pages, 6 x 9 - ISBN-13: 978-0-9818661-3-0
  Text is printed with soy-based non-petroleum ink on 100% recycled and FSC
  (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper which is processed chlorine free.
  Front and back covers are printed on FSC certified paper.

from the Foreword
I'm proud to present Young Voices, An Anthology of Poetry by Nassau County Students.
 
The poems in Young Voices were submitted to the Nassau County Poet Laureate School Poetry Contest by Nassau County school students. Young Voices is the result of the best poems from each grade, Kindergarten through  12th Grade. The book features the top three poems, Gold, Silver, and  Bronze and 12 Honorable Mentions per grade. All of the poems received were read and judged by a panel of poets.

These students have  proved that language is the flow of words that reach out to the reader, based on their creativity, experiences and insights, whether utilizing humor or intense emotion. Fresh language, inspirational combinations of words, and use of poetic tools have created this extraordinary volume of poetry.

I hope you will enjoy the artistic talents of Nassau County students in Young Voices.

Maxwell Corydon Wheat, Jr.
Nassau County Poet Laureate

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KINDERGARTEN
Frank Santeramo
Homestead School, Garden City, NY

I lost my first tooth in school
I was excited as you can see.
Then I really lost my tooth
I still wonder where it could be.

 * * *

7th GRADE
Yinny Chan
Great Neck North Middle School, Great Neck, NY

The Truth

Something you can run from,
But not hide from

Something you can try to forget,
But not ignore

The truth,
Will always be around the corner

It's time to face it,
It's time to know it

Keep running,
But it'll always be right behind you

 * * *
12th GRADE
Ashley Hill
Freeport High School, Freeport, NY

Where I'm From

I'm from the streets
talk real loud or not enough
I'm from slavery
picking cotton, being told
what to do and when

I'm from drinking coffee
Every single morning
I'm from church
Ten Commandments and all

I'm from gangs and cliques
If you're not in it then
You are "soft or nothing"

I'm from a single parent
Who raised me and my three brothers alone
I'm from friends
Who help you out the best they can

I'm from teachers
Who care how you do in school
From teachers who
Don't care at all

I'm from wannabes and snobs
I'm from good grades and
Readaholics

I just gave you the basics
But there's more from where
I'm from

* * * * *
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© 2009-2012 individual authors.

website ©2011-12 Walter E. Harris III.