This year marked WCCOA's 15th Annual Poetry Contest. Thirteen poems on the theme of "Your Legacy" were submitted by Wood County residents 50 years of age and older. In this blog post, you will find the announcement and picture of this year's winner and all of the poems that were submitted. Thank you to all who submitted poems this year!
Congratulations to our 15th Annual Poetry Contest Winner, Cindy Adcock!
The Legacy of Kindness
By Cindy Adcock
WINNING POEM
My Grandmother was kind.
My Mother was kind.
I used to be kind, but I'm not any more.
I'm too old. I'm too tired.
I'm 68, I don't like it.
Soon 69, but no better.
And 70, who wants to be a zero?
Maybe 71, maybe I'll be kind again when I'm 71.
My Amy used to be kind, but she's not any more.
She killed herself when she was 22.
She'll never be 71, she'll never be kind again.
My Amy used to be kind to Ashley, and Ashley remembered.
She named her baby "Amy," in memory of my Amy's kindness.
Thoughts on Leaving
By Dru Cunningham
HONORABLE MENTION
Inside of me is a story,
All the memories of my life,
A picture of all the events
Excitement...contentment...unwelcomed strife.
What shall I leave behind,
A story or a song?
Many things done "right"?
Or lots of things done "wrong"?
My legacy lives on
In the people that I know,
A living, moving stream,
A river with a flow.
Perhaps, the best I might leave
That I think of, might be,
An unwritten, continuing,
Story of...
Good times and laughter,
In spite of a fall,
A generous heart and caring strength
To answer the call;
To leave a mark on the world
That I did some good,
Just to be remembered
When I did what I could.
That the time I spent here
Was used in such a way
That I appreciated people,
And was thankful for a simple, ordinary day.
May I leave this world
Having shared a gift from above,
That my journey on earth
Chose the pathway of Love.
BOOMER LEGACY
By Rosemary Yanik
O Outgoing, open-minded, overcoming, other-directed, objective, original;
U Unique, upbeat, unstoppable, uniting, understanding, upholding;
R Responsible, respectful, reliable, resourceful, reassuring, rational, real;
L Loving, level-headed, loyal, likable, life force, leader;
E Energizing, earnest, enterprising, embracing, educated, empathizing, environmentalist;
G Giving, grateful, genuine, gracious, grounded, go-getter;
A Appreciating, accomplishing, affirming, accepting, adapting, allowing;
C Caring, cheerful, charitable, candid, civil, calm;
Y Yielding, yearning, yea, yes.
LEGACY --- AGAIN AND AGAIN
By Rosemary Yanik
To live,
Give;
To learn,
Yearn;
To receive,
Believe;
To share,
Care;
To succeed,
Read;
To improve,
Remove;
To convey,
Display;
To stimulate,
Assimilate;
To know,
Sow;
To go,
Show;
To achieve,
Perceive;
To love,
Go above.
THIS PEACEFUL TIME
By Carol Kinsey
I come from those who floated in the murky waters to belief
In the pew
I squirmed with doubts
The drip drip of those doubts finally flooded my reasoned, seasoned self
I found a forgiving shore
Wanted my own to think
to ponder
to not be stifled by fears or assurances that stole their own soul’s calling
To set up peaceful camp
with fire that would warm, illuminate
Their own fire
built to nurture their longings
and make them known to others tending such fires.
My time here has mostly passed
I feel surrounded by the glow of my loves
belonging and deep contentment are mine
Blessed be.
Your Legacy at Best
By Marty Hogle
Your daily life the way that you live it
That will be your legacy it will pass when you give it
When your life is filled with sadness and strife
When your heart is broker and feels like the wound of a knife
Do you carry on and shed those feelings
Do you look for the sunshine in all your dealings
When you share precious moments with a loved one
You are leaving a legacy when your visit is done
Are you a fine cook or a special baker
Your legacy could be a recipe a gift for each taker
Do you love to travel, the route as important as the destination
A visit close by or a longer venture you’re ready to go no hesitation
Did you try to bring happiness to everyone you met
A legacy to pass they will never forget
Was the worth of true friendship more valuable by far
Than possessions you leave; money, a house or even a car
Did your pleasure of giving to everyone while you were alive
Or to save for the future and to be wealthy did you strive
Accrued from hard work or an inherited stash
Will your legacy now consist of possessions and cash
Could you have shared your time and wealth wiser
For your legacy now reflects that you were a miser
When you leave at life’s end does your legacy pass the test
Cherished times together a fortune of memories, a legacy at best
Your Legacy A Memory Fortune
By Marty Hogle
The sunshine of your smile
The memories we’ve shared with each mile
So many adventures filled with fun
Will remain forever when time is done
Your kindness always when I cried in pain
Or the laughter we shared which brought tears like rain
Our times of great happiness will always remain
Truth in everything was always your lesson
Wealth seemed not important that was your confession
To share what you had gave you so much pleasure
The lessons you taught; such a great measure
Your sunny smile to everyone was such a treasure
Those loving deeds which filled someone’s needs
You taught me to appreciate all things of nature
The flowers, songbirds, hills, rivers and every creature
You taught me that good health required care
Good rest and nourishing food must be the fare
The lessons you taught through your example
They will be your legacy oh so ample
Far more valuable than silver and gold
Those fine life teachings will always hold.
They will be remembered for ever after
Your legacy will be the best way to complete life’s chapter.
Legacy, a Baton
By Marge Mair-Hansen
As in a relay, we are a team passing the baton
Sharing in the goal, in purpose and opportunity
A team representing the whole, in Wood County, Ohio.
We’ve a history of community, of unity
For the whole, not as us, but for all.
Legacy, the baton, handed on and on,
Taken on as a hat or cloak, an identity
As heredity and inheritance, values and visions
Passed along, a baton that is carried by you and me,
As a team, brothers and sisters, by blood or not,
Uncles and aunts, generations, migrations thus
Advancing, by school, at home or virtual,
Down the street, to BGSU we reach with Falcon
Pride inside, “Wood County Strong,”
Farmers and teachers, shopkeepers, diners,
Librarians, builders with brick and by word,
Readers and writers, by music and verse,
Widening the circle, adding in, opening space
Welcoming centers for dialogue and grace.
Building up, we heal, protect and provide, especially
In a pandemic, our state, worldwide.
Oh Legacy, Legacy, by gift you provide, and by
Gift we each add something from deep inside. By heart
And by mind, generosity we find, kindness today
As building tomorrow, legacy begins in the now.
In today we have our say about the ‘morrow,
About next year, and centuries away.
Our Legacy
By Marge Mair-Hansen
Legacy is an uncommon word, for the now,
About the future and from the past.
We create it accidentally or intentionally.
We brought it to Wood County long ago,
By walking and by wagon, as pioneer, explorer,
Passing through or passing by, a very few
Chose to stay, saw the Great Black Swamp
And said, “Why not?” Sure the mosquitoes
Are prehistoric mammoths, but “Why not?”
That black, wet swampy spot is fertile land
We’ve only got to make it grand! And that’s
How it must have all began. As an exodus,
We came between wars, during wars, leaving behind
Families and friends, jobs and land, to this
Northwest challenge where water is abundant
Though a bit too much, but we can handle that.
We are of persistent roots, like the vines and tangles
Beneath our boots. We like a challenge, bored we not.
And so it must have been, before the crops of soy and corn,
Before the barns and homes along the Dixie Highway,
Along the Maumee byway, between the floods and winds
That whirl around at 60 miles per hour, just as our
Crops begin to flower. But we have a legacy we carry and
A legacy to create and to pass along. We have to carry on
As the cemeteries are where we’ve buried mothers and sons,
Grands and Greats, and we’ve the task to carry on, keep
Digging in our heels, keep repairing the broken, creating new wheels,
Wind farms on the horizon, pandemic protections for sizin’.
That He Should Die
By John Calderonello
It tears me still that he should die
As only an apprentice to his trade,
The ultimate engagements not yet
made.
His gifts had been withdrawing
one by one
Even before their usefulness was
done:
This optic nerve would never be
relit;
The other flickered, soon to be
with it.
Unready, disappointed,
unachieved,
He knew he would not complete the
much-conceived
Much-hoped for work now, but
yet did help create
A love he did in full reciprocate.
In This Enormous Vault
By John Calderonello
In this enormous Vault
And step of stars
are you and I, our
backs against the planets.
Where exists, at least,
Two of all things.
Two hands to hold you
close in times of sorrow
and joy.
Two eyes, alone for you,
to drink of your generous
and loving nature.
Two hemispheres of brain,
to dwell on your depth
and wisdom.
Two feet to traverse
with you the splendor
of our temporary home.
Two of us, all ways,
Always.
What do you see when you look at me
By Darlene Berry
What do you see when you look at me
Can you see the young girl in pigtails skipping, hopping, giggling, skating, laughing
What do you see when you look at me
Maybe you can see my husband and I building our family legacy together, loving, disagreeing, growing, listening, respecting
What can you see when you look at me
Can you feel the joy when you look deep inside, do you see the sweet memories of my children, ever running to get it all done, tired, hopeful, proud, happy, patient
What do you see when you look at me
Do you dare go deep into my heart where I hold the babies that I have lost, sadness, numbness, shattering pain, hope for the next life to see them again
What can you see when you look at me
I bet you can see my large family tree with the young and old who lovingly surround me
Exceedingly great Joy, memories, hardworking, service, hope for the future
What can you see when you look at me
Now that my eyes are gray and the light grows dim, can you look past them deep within, determination, steadfastness, strength, charity, unwavering faith
What can you see when you look at me
My life was not so different from yours, open your eyes and look even more, possibilities, encouragement, peace, joy, heartbreak, forgiveness
What can you see when you look at me
If you cannot see it, then open your eyes, please oh please, look harder inside, my life was of worth, do not shed a tear, your time grows near, do not fear
What can they see when they look at you
When We Rise in the Morning
By Lois Blausey
When we rise in the morning
and the suns shining in the beautiful sky
It warms us both outside and from within
But we must always remember to give thanks
to our Glorious Jehovah, our loving, caring Father
for this our glorious day
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