Winning Poems

(The following are the first place poem of Dwain Cromwell, and the fourth place poem of Michael Fiveash.)

Portrait of the Dog as a Young Artist

"I dream my genesis...vision of new man strength, I seek the sun." Dylan Thomas

The Sunday afternoons dogs sleep Sun, I suppose, warms and winds Within a collie's dream.

Path wandering, I muse...

What meadows grow golden beneath paw covered

Lids, and what Sabbath thoughts genesis

The mongrel's genuflection? Though secure

In man's blessing, his rational weaning,

Sweet would it be switching the crosses.

But enough; but path traces deeper woods

Warm and winding where subdued sunlight

Nestles in spots of crystal haze, where

The soft scent of stillness and the wind

Rustle of sedge whisper midst the wilderness.

There will I dream,

My senses sighing on a grassy slope,

The Sunday afternoons dogs sleep.

* * *

Epinician Ode To A Vice Presidential Candidate

Hail to thee, glorious scion of the Hellenic land,

you who rule in glory over the mother of cities,

violet-crowned Baltimore,

gleaming pride of your fatherland,

soon to ride in triumph on your great pachyderm

to the fabled palace of shining white.

The glades and groves of Hellas now sing your praises

as soon our own land, with joyous tumult,

will raise the paeon of victory

to the lofty stars:

DUM SPIRO, SPERO