Winners announced in ‘A Moment in Time’ Poetry Contest

        The Wood County Committee on Aging (WCCOA) announced the winners for its 18th Annual Poetry Contest.
        Submissions were accepted from Wood County residents 50 years of age and over, with a theme of “A Moment in Time.” Twenty-two local authors submitted 28 poems. A Bowling Green State University associate writing professor Chad Van Buskirk reviewed the submissions and selected a winner, a runner-up and an honorable mention.
        Pam Day, of Bowling Green, earned first-place honors for her poem entitled, “A Moment to Dream,” winning a $100 gift card sponsored by the Manor of Perrysburg.
        Day enjoys writing and has entered the WCCOA poetry contest in past years. Asked about her entry this year, she said she wrote the poem because when she was younger she had a tree that wasn’t big enough for a treehouse, so her dad built a little seat under it for her to sit in. She felt special knowing he put the time in to it to make something special for her, especially with him having four children. “My father passed away in 2022 at the age of 101, so it was nice to write this poem and reminisce about our time together,” she said.
        Van  Buskirk stated that Day’s poem reminds us that life is the “stuff of moments.”
        Karen Wood, also of Bowling Green, was the contest’s runner up with her poem entitled,  “Eulogy.” She received a $50 gift card sponsored by Wood Haven Health Care.
        In addition, Mary McGowan received honorable mention for her poem, “I Only Did it for the Kids.”
        “Congratulations to Pam, Karen and Mary and thank you to everyone that participated in this year’s contest,” said Danielle Brogley, WCCOA director of programs. “We received many fantastic entries and look forward to sharing them with the community.”
        All of the submitted poems can be read on the WCCOA blog at woodcountycommitteeonaging.blogspot.com/.
        The winning and runner-up poems include:
       
        “A Moment to Dream”
        By Pam Day
        A battered tin bucket tied to a frayed rope allowed easy transport of a Nancy Drew book and Mom’s warm chocolate chip cookies, a spiral sketch pad, soft kneaded eraser, black charcoal stick.
        Mostly hidden behind a leafy screen, safely secure from the world below, moments alone in our backyard tree meant time to slowly savor nature, ponder shape-shifting clouds, gaze at cerulean blue skies.
         From my perch way up high, daydreams bloomed effortlessly into plans – ride my own horse, visit European art museums, contemplate Mona’s mystery, gaze starry-eyed at Van Gogh’s swirling magical night.
        Perhaps venture away from this rural place, pursue a degree, work as an artist, a teacher, opportunity climbing that tree became a reach for dreams.
        Many years later, college complete, I carefully climb to my wooden seat, there in our backyard tree, waiting to hold me in that moment, keep me safe still, allow me to contemplate all that I yet can be.
 
        “Eulogy”
        By Karen Wood
        He had been out of work for two years, but had only that very week snagged a new job.
        To celebrate, he invited her to a swanky and expensive Easter buffet at a luxurious big-city hotel.
        The brunch promised sublime Midwestern happiness: Shrimp. Champagne. Prime rib. Creme Brulé. Piano music.
        As they walked from the parking garage, an unhoused man asked him for money to buy a sandwich.
        She held her breath, as she knew there wasn’t much money in his wallet and he badly wanted to treat her to a feast.
        He looked at the dirty, lank-haired, and so very tired man living on a bench and smiled for a second. Then a twenty-dollar bill exchanged hands and they sealed the deal with a hand shake.
        Without a word, they continued onto brunch paradise.
        It is true that this man had never been a great dad.
        In fact, he was not even a good dad.
        But on that day, in that moment, he was the best dad.