Vegetarian Journal's 2010 Essay Contest Winner First Installment
BUT A POEM
By Hannah Rappaport, 10 yrs
Orange, CT
This is but a poem
As the naked eye would see,
But for those who can look closer,
It's a message broken free.
It tells the tale of people
Who decide not to eat meat.
Those called vegetarians
Are quickly earning quite a feat.
They've outwilled the others
Who say it's unhealthy
To be eating fruits and vegetables
Instead of pork and beef.
Instead of raising cows on fields,
Vegetarians just need grain (a ton)!
This gives quite a lot more food
To people who have none.
When using animals for food,
You're eliminating quite a few.
The fields they raise them on
could be fields of plants,
And with all this killing,
the next killed could be you.
Vegetarians love the wide, wide Earth
And all that inhabits it,
Bringing world peace to a start,
World hunger to an end,
An idea light bulb is surely lit.
This is but a poem
To the people who don't know,
But if you look much closer,
It's a world of love sure to grow.
Author's note: I haven't eaten meat since I was a toddler or fish since I was eight. I'm very proud of being a vegetarian. People are amazed that I don't eat meat, but I wouldn't eat my favorite food either if animals were hurt in the making of it.
Author's mother's note: We are very proud of Hannah. She is such a dedicated young vegetarian who, with her gentle encouragement, has made us a vegetarian family!
ANNUAL ESSAY CONTEST RULES
To enter VRG's annual essay contest, just write a 2-3 page essay on any aspect of vegetarianism or veganism. There are three entry categories: age 14-18, age 9-13, and age 8 and under. A $50 savings bond will be awarded in each category. All entries must be postmarked by Monday, May 2, 2011, for the 2011 contest. Entrants should base their entries on interviews, personal experience, research, and/or personal opinion. You need not be vegetarian to enter. All essays become property of The Vegetarian Resource Group. Only winners will be notified.
Send entries to: The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203 Please make sure to include your name, age, address, phone number, school, and teacher's name.
