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Writer's pictureJudah Newsroom

Judah Poets Published Three Years in a Row

Updated: Sep 13

Ali McGuffin of Judah Christian School.
Ali McGuffin

Published poets continue to roam the halls of Judah. 


Two years ago, senior Catie Henry published her poem, a haiku, in the CU Poetry section of Champaign County’s News-Gazette. Last school year, Judah saw two more haiku poets — juniors Keira Aardsma and Brelyn Riesberg — publish their poems in the CU Poetry section of the News-Gazette. Now, five more Judah students have become published poets. 


In fall 2023, sophomores Ali McGuffin, Amelia Kerlin, Ada Osaji, Sara Ingersoll, and Gloriana Bell all saw their poems published in the News-Gazette.


Here are their poems, each one a seasonal haiku. 



Ali’s poem, published September 24, elegantly expresses the shifting seasons of the year and subtly wonders if birds change their tunes to match the season: 


the birds are singing 

as the world changes colors

from green to gold to brown



Amelia’s poem, published October 1, plays with words to paint a from-the-ground-up picture of spring unsprung, of life freed from the bonds of winter: 


unsprung from the ground

nature paints a bright picture

petals, free, unfold 



Ada’s poem, published October 8, captures a from-the-trees-down moment at the end of spring and might suggest the end of other life seasons too:


petals in the wind

blown gracefully off the trees

this season is done





Sara’s poem, published October 22, illustrates the different things that bring the fall season to life and draws our attention to their shape and size as well as their color: 


bright orange pumpkins 

crimson and yellow trees

fall shapes and sizes



Gloriana’s poem, published October 29, tells a subtle story of the rush of Halloween, with excited trick or treaters sprinting toward (or away from) something:


fresh pinecone smells float

the bright jack-o'-lanterns smile 

trick or treaters sprint




More and more Judah students are exercising their creativity and becoming published poets. They are looking sensitively at the world around them and making meaning out of what they see. Senior Talon Fazio even remarked that, at this point, “we have a small army of poets.” 


Look out for more haiku soldiers from Judah marching toward publication once again.


—Grant Ipsen, class of ’24




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