Tipp City Area Arts Council (TCAAC) announced the 2024 Holiday Anthology winners at an awards reception held during the annual Tippecanoe Community Band’s holiday concert on Friday, December 6.
The winners each received an anthology of the winning stories, poems, and essays. “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” anthology will also be available at the Tipp City Public Library for the public’s reading pleasure.
Part I
Poetry
Intermediate Division
The Most Wonderful Time of The Year
By Clark McGinnis
It's the most wonderful
Time of the year
With snow on the
Ground, children are laughing
Dogs are playing and
Christmas trees are glowing
Today, for this is
The long-awaited Christmas day
Wrapping paper is being
Torn, kids scream out
With delight at the
Sight of their treasures
Bells are joyfully ringing,
The choir is singing
Our favorite Christmas carols
To bring everyone cheer
Hot cocoa is being
Mixed, cookies baked fresh,
Happiness is all around,
Love is present here
Christmas feasts and treats
Are being enjoyed by
All the town’s people
Both young and old
“Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year!” echoes
As smiling people walk
Through the snowy streets
The Christmas season brings
Such joy, for it
Is the most wonderful
Time of the year!
It’s That Time of Year
By Logan Leigh Sierra
It’s snowing
And the wind is blowing.
Lights are strung on the houses,
Snowman tower over your head.
People are singing Christmas
Carols and it is truly the Most Wonderful
Time of Year.
Middle School Division
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
by Lucas McGinnis
When Christmas comes around it’s not about the presents
It’s about the love of your family and spending time with descendants
It’s when caring and kindness prevail
You can send Christmas cards to show love through the mail
Or if you have relatives that live close
Spend some time with them to show you love them the most
While wrapping presents and baking with glee
Then you can go for a drive and pick up a tree
Decorate the tree with ornaments galore
Arrange them all about for everyone to explore
Light a fire so toasty and hot
Throw up the stockings and fit them in their slots
Romp in the snow and have so much fun
Go inside and get hot cocoa but the excitement has just begun
Lay out the cookies and the carrots for the reindeer
Go to bed early, looking out the window you peer
For when tomorrow appears you’ll rush down the stairs
Everyone opening presents with care
People love this time of year
When the season fills with holiday cheer
Children count down the days
In this part of the season, they’re in the Christmas phase
Joy is spreading everywhere
Christmas lights twinkle with flare
Parents take time off work
They spend time with their children, another perk
As the kids sled down the hill in snow gear
It really is the most wonderful time of the year
High School Division
Poem
By Serenity George
People asking what,
What the most wonderful time of the year is for me,
I respond with spring,
Spring because that’s the time I met the person I love,
Spring because that is the time when I chose to stick up for myself,
Spring because of the colors
The most wonderful time of the year,
Was a whole new complete start so I didn’t,
Didn’t have to see the one who hurt me most I never knew,
Knew the freedom without them,
That doesn’t matter now,
Now I am happy with the person I am with now,
I pray that he is the one for me,
I pray he sticks right next to me for the rest of my life,
Because then that would bring me joy every day of the year,
The most wonderful time of the year is when,
When I caught myself staring for two months noticing everything,
Everything from his greatness to his flaws I saw it all,
I don’t care if he can’t see himself like I do,
I will remind him every day for the rest of my life of his greatness,
His greatness that’s been shoved to the side,
The most wonderful time of the year is when,
When I get to spend time with the one, I love even if it’s only for a little,
Or when I won with love I won and got rewarded,
Rewarded with someone who is caring, kind, and gentle,
I know I am only a teenager,
And I know people say that teenager love won’t last,
But I believe we will,
I don’t care what others think because he is my true,
My true other half,
The other half that I was missing
Adult Division
Tis’ the Season to Dance
By Reese Morgan
People walk through decorated homes,
A Tipp City tradition.
You can hear Christmas music if you stop to listen.
People smile genuinely as we share His love through movement,
Wearing tutus, fluffy and white.
Even though my hands are numb,
I happily do the “Dance of the Sugar Plum.”
But if no snow falls and the weather is dreary,
And if my feet are worn out and my soul feels weary,
I will still rejoice because God gave us His Son.
Tis’ the Most wonderful time of the year
When we all pause to remember why Jesus came here.
He calms our hearts and removes our fear,
And so even in the winter…
I dance.
NOTE: Part II, III and IV will run in the January 8, 15 and 22 editions of the Tippecanoe Gazette.