Assumption Students Place in Kentucky State Poetry Society Student Writing Contest

The Kentucky State Poetry Society 2021 Student Poetry Contest was held this spring and we are proud to share that two Assumption students placed in their categories. In the 11th-12th grade division, Ally Howard ’21 placed first, and in the 9th-10th grade division, Riley Hourigan ’24 placed third. Both students will receive cash prizes and Ally’s poem will be published in the Kentucky State Poetry Society’s journal, Pegasus. Read their entries below!

Veiled – Ally Howard

I’m walking  

down the street 

when the word  

gets spat at my shoes. 

Terrorist. 

Saliva that came  

from the man’s  

cocked mouth  

glistens on the  

hot asphalt. 

The young woman  

at his side flashes me  

an empathetic smile. 

She keeps her eyes down. 

My sister gingerly  

squeezes my  

clammy hand. 

A silent command. 

Keep your eyes down.  

A red-cheeked toddler  

steps in the spittle, 

smearing it  

like a stain  

on a blouse. 

He keeps his eyes down. 

At last, the word slowly 

sinks into the ground. 

The land of the free  

drinks it up. 

It keeps its eyes down. 

Masked – Riley Hourigan

When I was younger

I loved playing with makeup

Putting crazy sparkling colors

All over my face

But now it’s different

Makeup is my mask

Covering the eye bags

And everything that

Makes me unique

Just wanting to blend in