High School First Prize - Ranna Bansal

Not a Road Not Taken

One crimson, golden, autumn,
As I strolled beneath the trees,
As brittle, delicate leaves,
Fluttered briskly in the breeze,

As I gazed up at the branches,
I broke my reverie,
A peculiar fork split the road,
Leaving two paths in front of me.

Remembering Frost’s parallel,
Quickly, a decision I made,
Naturally it was down the wild,
Down the unused, which I strayed.

Having hiked that way a while,
I realized something was wrong,
The path did not suit my skills or style,
I would surely falter before long.

I returned to the curious fork,
And peered down the other way.
In retrospect, perhaps it was wrong,
To dismiss it quickly, for another day.

So stranded, indecisive I stood,
Neither path satisfying my need,
When suddenly a thought,
Showed me how to proceed.

Why should I be limited,
To where the paths may take me?
I stared off through the forest,
Past trees, past rocks, as far as I could see.

I set off through the brush,
For a destination known by none,
Someday I hope someone follows me,
Doesn’t take my path, but blazes a new one.


Middle School First Prize - Keerthana Krosti

An Ode to Peace

An eye for an eye will make them blind
Their suffering will leave us behind
Both not understanding why
Them thinking it better to die

An ear for an ear won't let them hear
Making soundless words from their near and dear
They might not understand their best friend
This madness taking down a bend

A limb for a limb will make them lame
Their sadness and pain making them lame
They will not wish to fight for life
And live it out in pain and strife

Violence for violence will only kill
Can only be stopped by our own will
We must stop all the pains and griefs
And combine all our separate fiefs

Stand strong against the urge to fight
Just let them try to hurt our might
We cannot let this weed thrive
Cut it at the bud, and we will survive

Then there is no doubt of the result,
There would be an end to the tumult
Our deed will be known by our scion
And for their sake, try on

An innocent's smile shall prevail
We shall have reached the Holy Grail
And the ache of hurt shall be dissolved
Because, you see, peace has evolved

Peace of mind, heart and soul
Has everywhere been foretold
Only we can make it true
Yes, only me and you

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