Two Roanoke Rapids Early College High School students took home top honors in the Native American Indian Heritage Month Poetry Contest sponsored by Halifax Community College.
Joslynn Smith was the first place winner with her poem "The Dream of a Child". She received a $100 gift card. 10th grader Dashanay Purnell received 2nd place honors and a $75 gift card.
The Dream of a Child
By: Joslynn M. Smith
As children, dreams were curious,
things we blew candles out for.
Never to tell a soul, lest it not come true.
Others whispering theirs to the stars, hoping one day, that blazing stone, would be the purpose for their fortune.
Now growing up there’s a push for this and that.
“You have to know what you wanna do.”
“What’s your plan?”
Not a single soul cares what you do,
unless you start bringing in gold.
Confused, alone, and burnt-out.
Dreams are a childish thing now,
something you’ll never achieve.
But the select few, remember those stars,
the candles, the dandelions, the late-night prayers.
They run, chase, and grab at every opportunity.
They push, achieve, believe,
even when others wavered.
People say, “it’ll never happen, an impossible thing!”
“Be a little more mature, or else you'll end up poor.”
Money is the essence of all corruption.
Dreams are the core of existence.
After all, the dreamers prevail,
they are artists, musicians, and scholars,
physicians, teachers, and doctors.
Doing things they love,
things they craved to be since adolescence.
Ask these folk, and they will tell you,
“Chase your dreams, listen to the ones that push you!”
They’ll explain the teachers, professors, and parents,
friends, family, and lovers that were there.
Behind the scenes of their success,
Support of every level, in youthful days.
A shove towards strategy, to achieve their dreams.
So think to yourself, ”Do dreams come true?” “Can I even fulfill my goals?” remember those, the ones who pushed, who shoved, who supported, Remember their kindness, their love, their names. Use them for hope, a nudge toward promising days.