Tyler Ren Places Top 10 in Poetry Competition
This past summer Tyler Ren, a Warren Middle School student, submitted a poem to a contest that was held for student writers throughout the United States. Tyler was a 6th grader at the time.
Tyler’s poem, “A Game of Chess,” was selected from thousands of entries as one of the ten best in his/her grade division. The top ten writers in each division (grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9) each receive special recognition in the poetry anthology ‘A Celebration of Poets’ and receives a complimentary copy of the anthology and a $25 check. Poems are selected for their literary merit, creativity, and social significance.
About Creative Communication
Creative Communication sponsors poetry contests to offer a creative outlet that honors our youth. Too often the efforts of young writers are unrecognized and they lose their motivation to express themselves. Creative Communication awards thousands of dollars to schools each year in classrooms supplies with its Classroom Rewards Program to further encourage young people’s writings, and over the past 20 years has given over 1 million in grants and awards to students, schools, and teachers. For more information visit poeticpower.com.
A Game of Chess
By Tyler Ren
I move in formation with the rest of my troops,
waiting for the war to begin,
I am a knight, ready to lead my comrades to victory.
I am not the strongest, but I am powerful
in my own way with my brain.
The enemy sends out a troop in the center,
but we counter back with our own, and they are locked in a standstill,
we continue sending out troops,
and try to outmaneuver our enemy, but they are good as well.
After waiting for the right moment, I finally walk up on the battlefield,
and know that it is my time to shine.
With my trusty shield by my side; I execute smart plays,
taking out enemy troops one by one.
We are leading now, but just barely;
I can see the winning tactic in my mind,
but it involves a sacrifice: my sacrifice.
I know that this is the only way to win, and
I walk up to the enemy troops and sacrifice myself for the greater good,
letting my fellow soldiers win the battle.
But don’t feel too bad for me, it’s just a game of chess.
