Fifth-grader, Aiden Keane from Belle Harbor, New York, was celebrated at his school last Wednesday (June 24th) as the winner of Scholastic Reading Club’s Open a World of Possible Poetry Contest. With over 5,000 submissions from kids across the country, Keane’s poem “I Am a Daydreamer” stands out and truly reflects how the power of poetry and self-expression can “open a world of possible” for a child.
As part of the winning prize, Keane and students at P.S. 114Q (Queens, New York) won a visit from entertainer and author Nick Cannon. Cannon, author of the new poetry book Neon Aliens Ate My Homework and Other Poems, arrived at the school this morning and enthusiastically joined in on a morning poetry jam session held by students.
Be sure to check out Scholastic Reading Club contests throughout the school year and to learn more about open a world of possible, visit: www.scholastic.com/worldofpossible.
Check out Keane’s winning poem:
I am a Day Dreamer
By Aiden Keane
You’ve heard of normal sleepers
I sleep while I’m awake
Going through a portal
To a place that isn’t fake
My ears turn off
My brain shuts down
I go to a place
Where I have a throne and crown
I’ve had battles with monsters
I’ve solved hundreds of crimes
I’ve had incredible powers
The best of all times
The world is filled with candies,
Chocolate, cookies and sweets
There’s a pleasure coming here
An ultimate treat
A shield protects my happy place
Outside’s an awful war-
So many great dreams dying
So that depression takes the floor
Protecting this happy place
Is all that I know
Happiness must stand
And, darkness cannot grow
Childhood and happiness
Joyfully joined dream’s side
But those traitors, mad and grumpy
Make it a bumpy ride
This daydream is my castle
In which, I am King
I’ll never give my daydreams up
Not a single thing
Betsy Howie (for Scholastic)
