Cassie Thomson, a Langley Middle School student, was the winner of the recent slam at the Dog House in Langley.

Cassie, 13, penned her winning poem after picking the words “breeze,” “memories,” “Pepsi” and “independent” from the list of 12 words on the slam sheet.

The poetry slam was sponsored by the Island Arts Council, which has been hosting slams for the past 16 years.

Organizers say attendance runs from 20 to 30 people per slam, to evenings with upwards of 50 in attendance, and competitors come from all over the island and off-island, as well. At last week’s slam, there was a poet from Montana and a visit by Iron Eagle (Frank Sanchez), a Nakota elder visiting the island.

Rediscovered Memories

By Cassie Thomson

Memories,

Tangled and mixed up in the breeze

They show people drinking Pepsi on the beach

Laughing with the wind and at the wild sea.

As these memories grow stronger,

Faster yet, they come,

Independent, leading kings

Marching swift against the wild things.

A single memory stands amongst the rest

A copper chain, a glowing crest

Never before understood

But it had far more power than it should.