Although I write a fair
amount of poetry, I read even more. For
the past few years poetry has been trendy, which is good and bad. The more
people read it is wonderful. Those of us who write it have to begin somewhere.
When I read something that to my thinking is not memorable, I take into
consideration that the poet may be starting out on his or her poetic journey. Some
poets have become friends, and I enjoy seeing what they create. Among poets no
longer with us are the classics, however one wishes to define that, and those
who are discovered.
But the real joy for me is to read
something that amazes me. Sophia Smith’s poem Gilded Land is one of them. Carol Worthington-Levy is a close
friend from my early teenage years. She is an award-winning artist and does the
covers for my poetry books. In addition, she is a member of the prestigious
Schola Cantorum in the Bay Area. Each year that group sponsors a poetry contest
for youth and arranges for the winning poem to be set to music and to be
performed. In this case, Eric Tuan composed the music.
My first thought when I read the poem was
that I would be glad to have such a student in one of my classes. The structure, vocabulary. (undulating,
gloam) and the tone are outstanding. The best part of it is that she was a high
school sophomore when she wrote it.
Here’s
the poem, and a little bit about the poet herself. Brava!
Gilded Land
Wisps of wind carry the
songs of our dreams
From ripened grapes that
turn to wine,
To otters wrapped with
wreaths of kelp
That float on shining
waves supine.
Granite bluffs bejeweled
with green
Watch hawks paint halos
in the sky;
White-capped witnesses
to our state--
Their soaring hopes will
never die.
Undulating hills of
gold-crested grass--
Rivers of clouds around
them roam.
As the sun stipples the
bay in slow descent,
Copper spires shine in
the approaching gloam.
Sophia Smith, © 2019
About Sophia Smith
Winner of the Schola
Cantorum, Silicon Valley 2019-2020 Poetry Contest
“I am a sophomore at Mountain View High School
who works as a copy editor and photographer for my high school newspaper.
In my free time, I love drinking tea, reading the classics, tutoring,
volunteering at my local history museum, taking poetry classes, writing, and
working for three online magazines.”
