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Thank you to all of the students who have made this possible.

2022 FINALISTS

The Broken Beauty (A Poem by Cadence Yarger)
02:01

The Broken Beauty (A Poem by Cadence Yarger)

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
Memphis, City of Magic (A Poem by Isabela Etido Akpan)
01:50

Memphis, City of Magic (A Poem by Isabela Etido Akpan)

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

2022 WINNER

Tree Shadows on Wall

"The Broken Beauty"

Written by Cadence Yarger

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