Felicia E. Foldes, 13, of Sedona, has been awarded Third Place nationally in the annual poetry contest sponsored by the National Garden Club. Submissions were judged on their title, content, creativity and style.
Last month, the Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., awarded Foldes’ poem, “Happy Birthday to Me!” first prize in her age group for the state of Arizona.
As the Arizona state winner, Foldes, a seventh-grader, continued on to the regional competition, rivaling against the top state winners from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii. There, the poem claimed first place in the club’s Pacific Region as well.
As the regional winner, her poem continued on to the national judging and placed third in the entire nation.
The 2018-19 theme for the National Garden Club’s contest was “Pop Goes the Seed” and Foldes’ poem may be described as symbolic of the cycle of life, using creative personification.
“I tried to imagine myself as the seed,” Foldes said. “What would it feel like to be born? What would I see? What would I smell? What would I hear? I really wanted to give it human qualities.”
This is the second year that Foldes has participated in the Garden Club’s poetry contest. Last year, she came in second among her age group in Arizona. “The contest sparked a curiosity in Felicia regarding the different forms of poetry,” Foldes’ mother, Annette Foldes, stated.
“Submission guidelines mention the acceptable poetic styles, and this year she wanted to try to write a blank verse poem, so she studied about it and began journaling her ideas.”
Foldes originally submitted “Happy Birthday to Me!” at the Sedona Public Library, which serves as an official entry collection spot and communication link for the National Garden Club’s annual competition. The contest is locally sponsored by the High Desert Designers Garden Club.
Member Elaine Gunderson says, “The national poetry competition encourages creative writing, and is meant to excite and encourage youth to express and explore their creative thoughts.”
Gunderson, along with other club members Cheryl Christenson, Marge Youngberg and Janet Mansoldo, presented Foldes with her state, regional and national awards at the library on May 21.
Read her winning poem below:
“Happy Birthday to Me!”
By Felicia E. Foldes
I hear raindrops falling down on the earth
I feel warming, comfort, inside the soil
How much longer? Who will I be? Waiting…
Pop goes the seed! Happy birthday to me!
Bursting; I see the sun, I smell fresh air
Extend, expand, enlarge; trunk, limbs, branches
I am a tree! Tender leaves, blossoms, fruit
Juicy cherries all growing in bunches
Luscious, tasty, healthy, being eaten
I will nourish animals and people
My roots deep in the ground help me stand tall
My shining crown, I’m queen of the forest!
My brother, Tree of Life, connects us all
His powers take care of all life on earth
I hear rustling, the soft whisper of wind
I see my friends near me: crimson, golden
The smell of summer is gone now; freezing
I will listen closely to the snowflakes
Resting, sleeping, dreaming, who will I be…?
Pop goes the seed! Happy birthday to me!
