Bend Girl Becomes a Published Poet

Not many magazines publish poetry on a regular basis: The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine and CRICKET—the magazine for kids, on newsstands since 1973. CRICKET publishes the winning poems from its themed poetry contests in each issue, and the current one includes a submission from a Central Oregon girl.  

Featured in the May/June issue of Cricket is a poem by Sofia Bartlemay, age 8, of Bend. Bartlemay's poem, "Sea-Foam Horse" was the third prize winner in the February 2018 Cricket League poetry competition, in which the publication asked kids to write an original poem about a horse.  

"I love writing poems because it is fun to write about things that happened, things that will happen, and things that don't exist," Bartlemay told Bend Nest. "I have written some poems that are educational, and I have written some fantasy poems that are just fun to read." 

Each issue of Cricket sponsors a different writing or art competition, with hundreds of entries submitted. Winners receive a certification, recognition, and publication in the magazine and on its website.