The Sawyer Free Library proudly announced the winners of the 2024 Poetry Without Paper contest during an inspiring awards ceremony held on Tuesday evening, June 11, 2024 at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church. The event was marked by heartfelt readings from the award-winning students before a standing-room-only crowd of friends, family, and community members, all gathered to celebrate their achievements.
Former Poet Laureate of Gloucester, John Ronan, and newly retired Children’s Librarian, Christy Rosso, presented the awards. Christy Rosso, affectionately known as Miss Christy, was also honored for her 29 years of dedicated service at the Sawyer Free Library. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in developing, organizing and growing the annual poetry contest, fostering a love for writing among thousands of young Gloucester residents.
John Ronan, who co-founded the contest 22 years ago and continues to serve as its judge, shared some personal thoughts on Christy Rosso’s involvement in the program and years of service at the Sawyer Free Library, expressing the community’s deep gratitude for her unwavering dedication and nurturing presence. “Christy’s impact on our community’s children is immeasurable. Her passion and commitment have left an indelible mark on all who have had the privilege to know her,” said Ronan.
Celebrating its 22nd year, Poetry Without Paper has inspired thousands of the community’s young writers to express themselves through poetry and prose. This beloved annual competition encourages local students from kindergarten through high school to share their love of writing and connection to Gloucester’s creative spirit. Each year, the variety and depth of the student poetry range from expected subjects like the beach, school, and family to just as many surprisingly deep, mature poems from these young writers concerned about issues facing the world around them.
From over 500 submissions, winners were selected from each age group: high school, middle school, and elementary school. The talented young poets were awarded certificates and shared over $1,000 in prizes. Additionally, all winning poets received an invitation to appear on 1623 Studio’s production, The Writer’s Block with John Ronan, and their winning work will be published online by the Library.
The Poetry Without Paper contest remains a cornerstone of the Sawyer Free Library’s mission to nurture and celebrate the literary talents of Gloucester’s youth. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and participants for their outstanding contributions and look forward to their future creative endeavors.
For more information about the Poetry Without Paper contest or other Sawyer Free Library programs, please visit www.SawyerFreeLibrary.org.
2024 Poetry without Paper Winners
Elementary School:
1st: Helen Larabell, Plum Cove, 4th grade, “Believe”
2nd: Kat Rowe-Joyce, West Parrish, 5th grade, “Last Time”
3rd: Sophia Oliveira, West Parrish, 4th grade, “Perfect Life”
HM: Freja McLanahan, Beeman, 1st grade “The Angry Guardians”
HM: Adelia Crowell, Plum Cove, 5th grade, “The Cat of Lanesville”
Middle School:
1St: Vivian Payne, O’Maley, 8th grade, “Regrets”
2nd: Vivian Davies, O’Maley, 7th grade, “Pen to Paper”
3rd: Matilda Bruce, O’Maley 7th grade, “Silence”
HM: Iona Fishburn, Waring School, 6th grade, “My Cold Walk Around the Block”
HM: Alivia Deyeso, O’Maley, 7th grade, “Silence Poem”
High School:
1St: Johnny Sheridan, Waring School, 11th grade, “Elegy for the Impermanent”
2nd: Emma Wilt, Essex North Shore Agr. & Tech, “Not Quite a Dream”
3rd: Aleena Brown, GHS, 9th grade, “Ambcatcher31”
HM: Hope Castelucci, GHS, 10th grade, “Yellow”
HM: Phoebe Hone, GHS, 10th grade “What Redemption Feels Like”
Photo above of 2024 Poetry Without Paper Winners: Back row, left to right: Sawyer Free Library’s Christy Rosso, Vivian Payne, Vivian Davies, Alivia Deyeso, Matilda Bruce, Hope Castelucci, Phoebe Hone, Former Poet Laureate John Rosso; Front row: Freja McLanahan, Kat Rowe-Joyce, Adelia Crowell, Helen Larabell Missing from photo: Sophia Oliveira, Iona Fishburn, Johnny Sheridan, Emma Wilt, Aleena Brown
Good Morning Gloucester 