The city, Streetlights Full of hurt and fight Good and bad There’s much fun to be had Beale Street, Full of souls Some fun, cold and old Soul, soul food Good blues Blues being heard lyrics being felt Like cards being dealt Win or lose These streets tell a truth Your truth or mine They’re the same under bright lights That could be brought in dark times Times when many become wise And strong, Strong like black panther That roams the streets Streets, highway and alleys Places where some of the wrong people meet Blues being heard lyrics being felt Like cards being dealt Win or lose These streets tell a truth This is our FOURTH year igniting a poetry contest for high school students across the city. Students wrote their own unique pieces about what makes Memphis great using their own words and experiences as inspiration. Our mission is to create a space where everyone can celebrate together around this shared experience. Thank you to all of our sponsors and WKNO for making this possible. FOR MORE INFO VISIT: www.MemphisSoulPrize.org

Memphis rides in town The wind blowing in your hair as the music sways to the rhythm of the road Charming shops and eateries fill your sight Scrumptious smells of barbecue fill your nose Sounds of blues fill your ears Friends walking the streets delighting in all of its majesty The city of beauty Memphis rides in town The wind blowing in your hair as the music sways to the rhythm of the road Passing by spray painted bridges and buildings Smoke fills the air Lonely children roaming the streets no home in sight Gunshots or fireworks the game we play all night The city of brokenness Walking in Memphis Is a marvelous masterpiece Where Memphians gather sharing their dreams Festivals, murals, and concerts being the canvas While the colors of art, music, and food are the paint The city of beauty Walking in Memphis Is a broken shattered dream With stories of hurt That seems to be the theme Where kings and queens fight the fiery beast of poverty Where princes and princesses fight the beast of educational inequality A story that must be overcome The city of brokenness Memphis The city that is growing, changing, and breathing The city that brings unity and kindness The city that wraps its arms around you Memphis you are a Broken Beauty. This is our FOURTH year igniting a poetry contest for high school students across the city. Students wrote their own unique pieces about what makes Memphis great using their own words and experiences as inspiration. Our mission is to create a space where everyone can celebrate together around this shared experience. Thank you to all of our sponsors and WKNO for making this possible. FOR MORE INFO VISIT: www.MemphisSoulPrize.org

I walked down the path where rose blossoms tumbled in the wind. The city streets roared with wonder and excitement. Sweet musical jazz Filling the heads of this utopia. The city of Memphis Thriving with grandeur. Others may look with doubtful eyes, unknown of our culture. Even hatless strangers are filled with warmth By those that come to aid. All cultures hand in hand, United by invigorating music That baptizes the soul. From the hero Tom Lee To the boy wonder turned King. These are the people that make Memphis. Truth and revelation That Memphis is home. This is our FOURTH year igniting a poetry contest for high school students across the city. Students wrote their own unique pieces about what makes Memphis great using their own words and experiences as inspiration. Our mission is to create a space where everyone can celebrate together around this shared experience. Thank you to all of our sponsors and WKNO for making this possible. FOR MORE INFO VISIT: www.MemphisSoulPrize.org

Along the streets, cross a lane, Glimpse a child viewing through their windowpane I smile, she smiles. I am now here The heart of Memphis, Its beauty is clear And I can hear the trumpets sound The city lights dazzle all around The home of jazz In Beale Street found Will draw your mind and still astound I take a whiff of the crisp smoky air A barbecue Is grilling there The sun is setting, I'm in no hurry I must continue along this journey I cruise the streets and still I find The brilliant soul comely design A city of golden stars A world of beauty and Stax So much can inspire like the charm of Rock 'n Roll and sax Within the museum of Withers Collection I stand transfixed by history I see Ella Baker in my reflection, A resilient fighter that looks like me Out of the ashes this city transformed A world of hate to a city warmed With the love of our people We changed things around Our streets fill with laughter A euphoric sound The city of Memphis holds beauty like no other The city of Memphis holds my sisters and brothers. The city of Memphis It glows like a star In the City of Memphis you're free to be who you are. This is our FOURTH year igniting a poetry contest for high school students across the city. Students wrote their own unique pieces about what makes Memphis great using their own words and experiences as inspiration. Our mission is to create a space where everyone can celebrate together around this shared experience. Thank you to all of our sponsors and WKNO for making this possible. FOR MORE INFO VISIT: www.MemphisSoulPrize.org

Known as The City of Blues Memphis is prone to having many unique hues Some view this city as horrible But I say Memphis is not all trouble I love how Memphis lifts us up When I think of the city, I picture a place where beautiful people develop Here, you have just as many chances as you don’t The only thing to stop you is the use of the word won’t Behind the glamour lurks a problem, Memphis is prone to crime Crime that sticks to the streets like an ever-expanding grime This is all a part of the charm It has problems, but not too much as if to cause tremendous harm What do I love about Memphis? I love that Memphis is a place shimmering with potential you could kiss But underneath the gleaming surface Lies an expanding rift opening filled with everything except bliss. This is our FOURTH year igniting a poetry contest for high school students across the city. Students wrote their own unique pieces about what makes Memphis great using their own words and experiences as inspiration. Our mission is to create a space where everyone can celebrate together around this shared experience. Thank you to all of our sponsors and WKNO for making this possible. FOR MORE INFO VISIT: www.MemphisSoulPrize.org