Young Poets Receive Prizes
By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor —
When Marline Carter Lawson’s 91-year-old dad was dying, she and other family members asked him what he wanted them to do with the old family home downtown.
He replied: “Make it beautiful again and give it a purpose.”
And that’s what they proceeded to do. Known as the Maverick Carter House, the mansion had been the residence of Marlene’s grandmother, Aline B. Carter, a poet and philanthropist, who served as Texas Poet Laureate from 1947 to 1949. The author of two poetry collections, Aline was also an activist who always encouraged young poets and promoted and supported the art of poetry with both her work and her money. Thus, after her descendants – including her granddaughter and great grandson – recently renovated the old residence, they turned it into an event venue dedicated to cultural and educational programming. A poetry contest for young people was the logical early project. “I hope that fulfills my dad’s wish,” said Carter-Lawson.
The Aline B. Carter Poetry Prize for Young Poets was established last year as a joint project of the Maverick Carter House and the literary organization Gemini Ink, to honor the memory of its namesake and continue the tradition she started. Open to high school juniors and seniors, the first annual contest attracted about 50 entries, with winners celebrating their awards in a ceremony with teachers and parents at the Maverick Carter House.
But due to COVID-19, things have proceeded differently this year. No ceremony could be held but the submissions poured in from an expanded range of students that this time included high school sophomores in addition to juniors and seniors. More than 100 students sent their poetic creations to be judged by a highly competent panel of judges that included Octavio Quintanilla, the 2018-20 San Antonio Poet Laureate.
The 2020 overall theme for the city-wide competition was “The Natural World of Texas.” Six monetary prizes were awarded, ranging from $1,000 for the top winner to $100.
The Best Overall Poem, “Only Texas Knows.” was written by Jacqueline Halldorsson, a sophomore at the Claudia Taylor Johnson High School. Second Prize of $500 went to Devyn Moore, a senior at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy for “The Life of a Rock,” and the Third Prize winner was Thelo Lewis for “Odyssey of the Sonne.” Lewis is a senior at Health Careers High School.
The $100 awards were given for” Best of Category,” such as Best Free Verse Poem, Best Bilingual or Spanish Poem, and Best Form Poem: sonnet, villanelle, haiku or other recognized forms.
Below are the two top winning poems.
Only Texas Knows…
By Jacqueline Halldórsson
What happens outside while I’m asleep? Does the White-Tailed Deer still saunter? Does the Honey Mesquite still weep?
Does the Free-Tailed Bat still dangle? Does the Bigtooth Maple still drool? Does the Texas Frogfruit still tangle?
Does the Edwards Aquifer still vein? Does the Monarch still voyage? Does the moon still wane?
Does the Willow Oak still shade? Does the breeze still whisper? Does the Snow Goose still wade?
Does the Cicada still drone?
Does the Mexican Plum still ripen? Does the Woodhouse Toad still moan?
Does the natural world join my doze? Only Texas knows…
Only Texas knows…
Life of a Rock
by Devyn Moore
I wish I was a leaf.
I wish the wind could pick me up and let me soar past trees and buildings,
looking down upon bluebonnets, cows, and oil rigs as far as the eye can see.
But I am just a rock,
and not a pretty a rock:
a dull, jagged, boring rock.
I’m no collector’s item or work of art.
I wish I was a flower.
I wish someone would see my beauty and pick me to take home and put in a vase,
but no one ever plucks me out of desire;
the only movement I experience is a few feet away when I’m kicked by dragging feet.
I usually stay still and watch everything happen around me:
I watch the trees darken as winter comes
and the rodents burrow into the ground under the Texas sun.
The life of a rock is a lonely one.
I’m a part of our world but no one sees me as such.
Without me the ground would not be solid enough for longhorns to run upon
There would be nowhere for aquatic turtles to sunbathe,
And no way for bats to make their cavernous homes
Yes, being a rock is a thankless job,
but that is my important role,
Yes, I could be a leaf but if I were floating in the air
Who would be here on the ground
Making sure our earth stays together
Readings of the top three winners are available on the Maverick Carter House website: www.maverickcarterhouse.org