Kaleigh Belle Smith, a senior at Timber Creek who plays a crucial role in both the theatre and creative writing departments, has recently won a national poetry contest. Less than 25 esteemed poems out of the hundreds submitted were chosen alongside Smith’s to be published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Just Poetry!!! and Live Poets Society of New Jersey publication. After winning this contest, Smith is now in the running for a $500 scholarship opportunity. She anxiously awaits news of who will receive this scholarship.
“My poem is entitled Poor Mother Hen,” Smith said.
Her emotional poem illustrates a mother’s struggle in watching her son grow up and leave for war. When the boy she raised so tenderly returns, he is a different man than before, both mentally and physically. Her poem can be read on her personal blog The Daily Belle, along with many other short stories and poems she has posted there.
Smith explains that the inspiration for this particular piece came to her while she was writing something entirely different.
“I had to stop doing that immediately and go to this,” she said.
Smith delved into her thoughts and put to paper all the words flowing through her mind until she had completed the poem that would soon become a contest winner.
Having a strong admiration for the art of writing, Smith eagerly partakes in Nona Kummell’s Advanced Creative Writing class and has previously been published in the Timber Creek Art and Literature Magazine. Smith said she is always inspired by the things she has seen – whether they be people she happens across or television shows that spark a new idea in her mind, she is always thinking of new topics to write about.
Kaleigh Belle Smith hopes to continue in both her writing and acting careers, constantly striving to improve her work and construct new creations. This national poetry accomplishment is only one more step along her path to success.
