COMMENTS FROM CONTEST JUDGE MARIE KANE:

This first place poem is unassuming in its aim, precise in its description, and captivating in its simplicity. In these ten lines, the speaker visualizes a quiet moment with haiku-like exactness.

The poem tells of the beauty of a crow in a tree - a bird we don't often associate with loveliness. The author's short lines and effective line breaks work well with the subject matter and pace of the poem.

I appreciate the first three lines in their brevity and openness. They present the crow in this way: "A big crow / Sat still on / A skinny branch." Notice the two adjectives, "big" and "skinny," and the adverb, "still." There is nothing startling or unusual about this word choice, (although I do appreciate the use of "skinny" to describe "branch"), yet these lines give the crow a rather imposing quality and suggest the outdoor scene with economy. Also, expert line breaks enable the poem to be read with ease.

The fourth and fifth lines introduce the speaker. Instead of having the speaker notice the bird, the poem has the crow do the noticing - or rather, not notice the speaker: "It didn't see me / on my bicycle." While this seems to be a minor difference, it is not. The bird controls the scene by not "seeing." The "still" crow is above the speaker not looking down, while the speaker rides a bike below and looks up, adding to the crow's importance.

The last five lines further define the crow. The speaker tells us outright that the crow "is beautiful," not because of its sleek, black appearance, but rather, beautiful by what appears behind it:

Because the cloud
Behind it was dark
Blue with pink and
Yellow on the edges.

This unexpected comparison elevates the appearance of the crow - and the competency of the poet. The contrast of the black bird and the "pink" and "yellow" edges of the "dark cloud" allows the speaker - and the reader - to appreciate the crow. And, notice the surprising line break of "dark / Blue." Many poets aspire to create unanticipated connections and line breaks in their poetry as this young poet does.

The poet of "The Crow" employs skillful diction, surprising subject matter, mature voice, and an imaginative approach - all in ten lines. Crows are usually ignored and even unloved; they also appear in advertisements and cartoons as a jokester. In this poem, however, the speaker appreciates the stately and beautiful nature of the crow with satisfying effects.

Thank you for the privilege of reading your work!

Marie Kane
Final Judge, Sarah Mook Poetry Contest
engmrk@aol.com