Poetry Contest Winner

Susan J. Smith, a senior at Mills College in San Francisco, has been named first place winner in the Summer School's Fourth Annual Poetry Contest. The winning poem, The Miracle of Creation, is printed below.

Tied for second place in the contest were Anne Eliot and Drew Stroud. Honorable mentions went to David Kahn, Robert A. Swennes, Jeannie Kitchen, Leo Pelkington, and Peggy Radin. Winners will read from their poetry at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Lamont Forum Room.

The Miracle of Creation

It was awhile before you realized,

only after watching others smile

humbly--

humbly because you were proud

when he saluted you after his master

had tugged and yanked at the long

leash hooked to the ring round his neck.

it was awhile before you knew,

only after asking others without interest,

casually--

casually because you were unsure

why he did it so jerkily

with his lids closed and fingers

shaking, shivering on such a hot day in the sun.

on the morning of the first day

the monkey was chained in a room

alone--

alone except for a stray in the other corner.

At seven exactly a man with a leaf-stripped branch

entered and saluted the dog, then

beat it for lack of response.

on the mornings of the following four days

the same grim was staged and

repeated--

repeated without fail, without change

save for one detail concerning the dog

who whimpered and cowered and whined now

at the sound of the young man's steps.

on the morning of the sixth day

the exercise was changed

slightly--

slightly for instead of beating

the dog for his lack of response

the gentleman carefully unsheathed his knife

and slit the dog's throat.

on the morning of the seventh day

the smell had filled the room

nicely--

nicely for the monkey who

saluted without hesitation

when the trainer opened the door

and squinted at the morning light.