Congratulations to Hooriya (eight), Blake (12) and Raahil (14), who each received a signed certificate and a gift of a poetry book.
The competition, which launched in March and closed in May, invited children from across the city to write a poem expressing how much they loved the City’s parks as Spring bloomed.
There were three age categories (six to eight, nine to 11 and 12 to 14), and the competition attracted over 380 entries.
The flowers bloom, the birds sing,
I know it means one special thing,
That spring is here with skies so blue,
And I can play the whole day through.
The swings go high, up to the trees,
The wind is warm, a gentle breeze,
I climb the slide, then splash below,
In water that feels cool and slow.
The grass is green, the sky is wide,
With butterflies that dance and glide,
I see a squirrel, a buzzing bee,
They love the park, just like me.
Spring is fun and full of cheer,
I’m glad it comes this time each year.
I smile and laugh, I skip and run,
Toronto parks are full of fun!
Toronto’s the best when spring comes around,
The flowers all bloom and the birds make a sound.
The CN Tower shines in the bright sunny light,
As the city wakes up, it feels just right.
There’s food on the streets, tacos and fries,
Ice cream in my hand as the sunshine flies.
We ride bikes by the lake, feeling the breeze,
Spring in Toronto’s the best, with ease!
The Raptors are cheering, the crowds are so loud,
We celebrate spring in the heart of the crowd.
The Blue Jays are playing, the stadium’s full,
And we watch from the grass, feeling so cool.
In parks, the trees start to turn bright green,
We play in the grass, it’s the best we’ve seen.
On the islands, we picnic and run,
The warm spring air makes everything fun.
The snow is all gone, and the skies are so blue,
The city feels fresh, with a bright, shiny hue.
The days are longer, the nights are so sweet,
Springtime in Toronto can’t be beat!
With people all around, from everywhere near,
Toronto’s a city that brings people cheer.
In the spring, we’re all happy, all out in the sun,
Toronto is home, where the fun’s never done!
The wind whispers through the tall, strong trees,
Sunlight dances on the autumn leaves.
Squirrels chatter, a jay takes flight,
Everything here feels just right.
The splash pad’s cool on a summer day,
In winter, the hills make the best sled play.
Skating, biking, running free
Every season’s fun for me!
Under the shade, I read and dream,
By the river, I watch it gleam.
Toronto’s parks are my escape,
A world of wonder, green and great!
The Children’s Spring Poetry Contest invited youth six to 14 years old to express their creativity and be inspired by the beauty of Toronto’s parks.
The City’s Poet Laureate Lillian Allen selected winners in three age categories. All winners received a signed certificate.
Young people writing poetry is a beautiful way to engage their hearts and imagination. Writing poetry is a gentle and powerful way for them to reflect and think about the beautiful gifts of spring and renewal and themselves and nature. They too can be creators! The world is kinda tough sometimes, but spring gives us hope! And hope springs eternal!
Poet Laureate Lillian Allen
Eligible poems met the following criteria: