Ode to Earth festival honors winners of Sacramento youth writing competition 

Photograph by Kelly Sikkema

By Khivi Singh, Irie Garrett 

During 350 Sacramento’s Ode to Earth festival on Aug. 18, winners of a writing competition put on in partnership with 916 Ink were honored for their environmental-themed works of poetry. 

350 Sacramento is a grassroots volunteer-driven nonprofit that works towards climate action in Sacramento, and 916 Ink is a nonprofit furthering youth literacy through its arts-based creative writing programs, workshops and tutoring.

The competition was open to writers in two categories: youth writers from 12-16 years of age and young adult writers aged 17-24. Below are the works of the two winners. 

“Mother Ganges” by Khivi Singh, Grade 8

None other is like her

She flows in the scorching heat of the sun

She flows in the pain of the pounding of the rain

She flows dutifully in confidence that she will never be slain

None other is like her

Her beauty is that of a goddess

The water glistening like her sparkling eyes

The waves like her satin sari flowing in the wind

The warmth on the water like her words

Soothing and comforting, like a mother’s gracious embrace

None other is like her

She crashes into rocks as she treads cautiously down dangerous mountains

Her determination is yet to cave

She toils on like a slave

She must not make any mistakes

As it is herself that she must save

None other is like her

Millions yearn to lay eyes on her mystique

They are unaware of her fatigue

They dirty her headwaters yet desire to cleanse in her soul

In her heart a gaping hole

However nothing taints her beauty

None other is like her

People roll in and out of her presence like the unpredictable tide

They show a face of devotion,

A façade of appreciation

They deprive her of her rest

But she knows that they are her humble guests

She must only provide them with the best

None other is like her

She knows she is forever here for them

She knows she originates from the infinite destroyer of sins

She is the embodiment redemption

Yet unsure if she herself is ever to be redeemed

None other is like her

“Oasis” by Irie Garrett, age 17 

An experience with nature that changed my life — I visited Yellowstone National Park on a

cultural exchange program, and met people who had lived there all their lives. I noticed how

different our Urban home was from their vast natural one, and how our lifestyles differed. More

importantly, however, I noticed how we were able to find a space between to connect, as

described in the following poem:

Gold ribbons swirl against the early dusk

The fading stars retain their sheen

As a feathered shadow soars high

The river persists, steady as the centuries it’s seen

A hooved path is paved in the dewy carpet

A mountain’s embrace holds a world of green

When flora and fauna join as one

Two worlds interlink, brighter together than they’d been

The weathered face of stone has watched lives pass

A million little footprints, in an ever-present scene

Though life’s one constant is relentless change

The river persists, steady as the centuries it’s seen

A bridge, spun out of gold, upholds beginnings and ends

In a busy world where living is a fling

The white gull’s cry is one of freedom

As sugar-spun clouds drift beyond the eye’s reach

Pavement tells the stories of generations lived

Leaves are interwoven, like the people all beneath

Even when memories are carried like the wind

The river flows on, steady as the centuries it’s seen

In the midst of swirling sand stands a pool of serenity

An oasis where two sides may find peace

Existence is turmoil, differences are inevitable

But we’ve all found a place to simply be

The river flows steady as the centuries it’s seen

Two world interlink, brighter together than they’d been

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