top of page
Writer's pictureJudah Newsroom

Judah Poets Published Two Years in a Row

Updated: Sep 13


Catie Henry, Judah Christian School Published Poet
Catie Henry

Published poets roam the halls of Judah.


On October 17, 2021, Catie Henry published her first poem, a haiku, in the CU Poetry section of Champaign County’s News-Gazette. She has since published a second poem, also a haiku, through the American Library of Poetry.


Now, Judah Christian School has two newly published poets: Brelyn Riesberg and Keira Aardsma. Their haikus were published in the CU Poetry section of the News-Gazette on February 26 and March 5.


Catie’s first poem touches elegantly on the image of a willow weeping and yearning for love:

crying in the wind the willow tree mourns for love cold words blow above


Her second haiku compares the comforting qualities of lanterns and stars:

lanterns float freely

bringing comfort to the lost

stars in the darkness



Brelyn wrote her poem on the infamous “no-snow day,” when students were promised seven inches of snow but got seven-tenths of an inch and a warm welcome when they arrived at school:

dreaming of sledding

down a big mountain of snow

school cancels the thought

Keira found inspiration on the no-snow day as well. Her haiku explores the way snow cloaks the world with its whiteness:

as the flurry falls

all the world obscured in white

a winter disguise



Jovona Neely, Judah Christian School Published Poet
Jovona Neely

Other published poets may soon be walking the halls as well. Jovona Neely was told by the editors of CU Poetry that her poem showed “keen observations and subtle humor”:

the snow falls down white

like the mind it begins pure

until a dog comes

Be sure to keep a watchful eye for Catie, Brelyn, Keira, Jovona, and other rising Judah poets in the News-Gazette.


— Grant Ipsen, class of '24


155 views

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Commenting has been turned off.
bottom of page