Teen Poetry Contest – County Winner 2020

Congratulations to Sarah Mohammed for being selected as the county winner of our 2020 Teen Poetry Contest!

You can read the winning poems from all our libraries here

Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Janice Lobo Sapigao selected Sarah Mohammed's poem Citizen as the overall winner.

In Janice's own words: Sarah Mohammed writes with candor and desire for a country in the process of love and loss, “my home you / strip my rights like / thunder / splintering the aching / universe / my love for / you tastes like / softened copper like / tarnished loose pennies.” The poem “Citizen” is a ballad that holds close its people as they try to push away. This poem sings and splits, stings and digs. A citizen, I think this poem poses, is one who engages and questions their country, especially during political fracture. 

Please watch Janice Lobo Sapigao announce Sarah Mohammed as the winner at our recent teen open mic night and watch Sarah read her winning poem: