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National Poetry Day was created in 1994 by William Sieghart to promote the “benefits of poetry using public performances by leading poets (National Today).”
This Friday, October 1st, is National Poetry Day (at least in the U.K.; some list Oct. 7 as the “holiday” but we’re going with the 1st!) and our Extra Inning Softball team realizes the talents of softball players extend far beyond the field.
We’re inviting softball players to write and submit a poem about softball! The winning entries will get published on Extra Inning Softball!
It can be about anything:
- your love for the game
- a favorite memory
- a winning moment
- something funny that happened
- a heartbreaking play or result
- what you love most about the sport
- an unforgettable day or person who inspired you
Criteria we’ll look for will be: originality, creativity, expressiveness, likability and, whatever we think well captures the essence of softball!
Poems will be published on Friday, October 1st so don’t delay, send your best poem in ASAP!
Submission instructions:
- Deadline: Thursday, 7pm EST/4 PST
- Email poem to Bonnie Eads at [email protected]
- Subject line of email: Include the word “poem.”
- In the body of the email include your poem, player name, age, coach’s name, team name, position, and a headshot photo. Send in an action photo too (optional).
We’ve recognized great poets in the past also; last year we did a feature on current Duke freshman Kennedy Barron who had her poems and writing published!
Check out the story and some of her works below…
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2021 Extra Elite 100 Honoree Kennedy Barron: Examples of Her Award-Winning Poetry & Essays!
Originally published Jan. 26, 2020 on Extra Inning Softball
Earlier this month, we told you about the amazing talents of Kennedy Barron, the 2021 Eiite 100 honoree, in an article detailing not just her athletic exploits in softball, basketball and even boxing, but also her impressive literary talents as she’s had published award-winning poems and essays.
In the earlier article, Kennedy—who is an outstanding pitcher and utility player committed to Duke—told us how she got to be published in regional literary magazines and is a four-time poetry and essay contest winner.
“I love to write,” the 4.0 student-athlete explains. “More often than not, my writings are random musings or thoughts that I am unsure others would enjoy reading, so it can sometimes be difficult to share such personal thoughts and feelings, but I’ve learned that writing can be a cathartic, deeply rewarding experience, which is an award in and of itself.”
In May of 2019, the Northeast Alabama Community College chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta, the English honorary for two-year colleges, announced its winners of the 2019 Writing Competition for students in area middle schools and high schools and not only was Kennedy’s poem “Words” published in the printed edition of the Aurora, the college’s literary magazine, excerpts from her poem where printed on the cover!
Here are three samples of Kennedy’s award-winning publications, two poems—Words & The Moon—and an essay titled The Different Cookie: An Essay on Being Uncommon, of which she says, “I wrote it when I was in 8th grade. Now, it may seem a little elementary, but I think the message still resonates today…”
Words
Words, brief flares of meaning,
Bold strokes, graphite kisses.
Words, sensory exploitations,
Fluttering into sentience.
Words, visual life on paper,
Captured by almighty pen.
Words, nuanced expressions,
Moving, breathing, living.
Words, contextual meanings,
All dancing, all rejoicing.
Words, born everywhere,
Fits of passion, labors of love.
Words, derived from Muses,
The works of divinity.
Words, soft, hard, warm, cold
Gentle, brash, subtle, bold.
Words, all beautiful,
All rejoice, communication!
Words, we speak! We feel! We grow!
All exalt the wonders of the pen!
— Kennedy Barron
The Moon
Deep in the darkness,
Above me flying high,
You are there, my beacon of the night sky
A celestial wonder
The stars make way for you,
Your guiding light, always steady and true
You weaken on a cycle,
Becoming small and frail,
Like me, gratefully, this is not the end of your tale
Through the tides of time
Again you become full,
Gravitating toward the light, I can feel your pull
You watch me learn and grow,
From a baby til now, how I’ve changed
My life flipped upside down and again, rearranged
You’ve seen me at my worst,
As a worthless broken girl
But your constant beam continues to envelop and unfurl
You are always here, both night and day,
I can’t see you, but I can feel your light
Do you ever get scared? If so, thank you for never ceasing to shine bright
In your cold glow, I feel alive
You see and know all,
With your lunar guidance, I will never fall
I’ve turned to you,
For lack of hope or a friend,
In you, I’ve found a comrade that isn’t pretend
Bathed in your brightness
You light my path as you wax and wane,
Gradually revealing life’s immeasurable gain
So thank you dear friend, my beacon of the night sky
For the guidance and love,
I know you can see me, from way up above.
— Kennedy Barron
The Different Cookie: An Essay on Being Uncommon
Who doesn’t love a delicious cookie? I know I certainly do! In fact, I consider myself somewhat of a cookie connoisseur. I assume even if you don’t like cookies (if these elusive creatures actually do exist); you are familiar with the many varieties of a cookie. Mmmmmmm… Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Chip, Sugar, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, Fortune, Gingerbread, and many, many more. Just thinking about the multitude of tasty options brings a smile to my face (and a rumble in my belly). Cookie possibilities are wonderfully and deliciously endless!
The single greatest attribute of cookies in my opinion is they are all delightfully different, which brings me to my main point, albeit it’s a bit more serious than the types of cookies in existence. The fact is, cookies are in many ways, like people. For me, it is really quite relatable to be a cookie. The possibilities and promises for both are literally endless.
In so many aspects of life, people are pressured to be a “cookie cutter” model, to have the same generic thoughts, values, and core beliefs. The pressure to be uniform or to “fit in” in today’s society is overwhelming. The desire to be exactly and precisely like everyone else or to be the “perfect” cookie is daunting, especially to a teenager. I know from personal experience that it is extremely difficult to be that cookie that just doesn’t bake quite right or has too much flour or doesn’t have the right amount of chocolate chips. In today’s culture, we are all looking for ways to be accepted and blend in when maybe we are really born to stand out. Maybe we are supposed to be the different cookie.
I would call myself a different cookie. In fact, if I were a cookie, I would probably be a gluten free pistachio pineapple cookie. Yes, I am aware this is a very” kooky” cookie. And that is ok. It has taken me a long time, more than a few tears, and too many double stuff Oreos than I can count to reach this conclusion. However, like people, not all cookies are made exactly the same. But it doesn’t necessarily make one better or more appealing than another just because they are different. There are many wondrous flavors to savor and appreciate, just like there are with people. I like to think that it doesn’t matter what the batter, all cookies are amazing if baked with love! The same is true with people. We are all amazing. Sometimes amazingly uncommon and that is perfectly ok. It is ok to be the different cookie.
While this teenager who just happens to be a pistachio pineapple cookie may not fit everyone’s flavor profile at first glance, why not be open to the idea of being uncommon? Why not open your mind and heart a take a” look-y” at the unique cookie? You never know until you try. So the next time you enjoy a delicious cookie, just remember, it’s ok to like the one that’s different. In fact, it may actually be the tastiest one of the batch if you are just willing to give it a chance. It is ok to be the different cookie.
— Kennedy Barron