It's a Letter

In the dark blue sea
I saw a letter, it was

very small and this
is what it said:

I miss you in the dark blue sea.

I love to read but I need help
with some of the words.

I need help but I usually
read alone. I read one book

about Marvin becoming a king,
another book was about a shark.

Every time he sees legs or an arm
he goes into a wave and nothing

is there. Sometimes when I am
sad, I say I hate my life.

I run away, hide under the covers
And nothing is there but my book.

---

Yalonda Lockett, age 9
Category II (Grades 3-6) 2009 Grand Prize Winner
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Fulton Elementary School
Teacher: Barbara Strasko
(2009 River of Words Teacher of the Year)