California Coastal Commission

2004 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest Winners

Mighty Blue
Lindsay Walatka
Grade 11
 

Queen of the Water

Jasmine Moser
10th Grade

 

Sitting still, peacefully silent Awakened abruptly, harsh and violent Ripples sinking, until as before, The water is still, moving no more. The movement is gone before your eyes, A mirage you think a mask, a guise How could something so explosive and wild Turn back into something so tranquil and mild? Ever transforming, ever deceiving One minute calm, next minute heaving Quiet like cats, loud like thunder Full of life, beauty and wonder By Caroline Nattinger 8th Grade

Image of the Sea
Rieko Michelle Whitfield
Grade 6

 

Ocean Dreams

I go to the ocean when I need to cry
I know it won't tell
I spill my worries to the sand crab
though he scuttles away
I think he listens

like a stone, I lie in the sun
so I can be bleached white with time
share wisdom from the center of the earth
find a molten core made of chocolate

I long to discover secret caves
never before stained with human feeling or thoughts
meet mermaids and sea lions
the clean, kind beings who don't care if I'm crazy

I want to leave my clothes on the shore
swim with the dolphins and whales
I want to laugh
run and scream
with the wind
as I create my list of secret ocean dreams

--Melody Lester, 6th Grade

I was laying on the sand
I looked up at the moon
smiled
I saw sand
blowing forcefully in the wind
I picked up a handful
it slowly drifted away

Corwin Zelazny, 2nd Grade
 

Take a look also at the art and poetry which received honorable mentions!