RIF's "I Love Animals" Writing Contest

Grand Prize Winner:
Ali R.
Age 15
Oak Hill, VA

Fabulous Filters
(fictional poem)

While strolling a beach of the Chesapeake Bay,
I saw a young girl who was spending the day
With a bucket, collecting all kinds of crustaceans
And mollusks, while shouting out loud exclamations.

"Look, mom! Here's another!" she cried with delight
as she clutched a small crab that was trembling with fright.
Then, "EW! What is this?" I heard the girl shriek.
Curious, I approached her to take a quick peek.

The object of horror was in the girl's palm
And was a small oyster, quite shiny and calm
"It's so slimy and gross!" The girl said.  "What's its aim?
It doesn't even move. How incredibly lame!"

I listened to her as she whined and complained,
And to tell you the truth, my heart was quite pained
To hear her insult a dear oyster so meek.
But just then, our oyster friend started to speak—

"Really, my dear, I think you should know
that an animal's function is more than just show.
I may not be fancy, fantastic, or swift,
But I still possess a most powerful gift.

This water around here is packed with pollution
But I am equipped with a simple solution!
I filter the water that passes me by,
Obtaining my food from this bounteous supply.

Oh, the things that I find in these waters so brisk!
So many pollutants—a terrible risk!
Nowadays, since so many pollutants abound,
Fewer filtering oysters are here to be found.

Overfishing has also reduced us in size,
Since fishermen never have seemed to realize
That the more oysters taken, the less that are here
And the outcome is worse than you humans might fear.

Why, at one point, us oysters could filter the Bay
In less than a week!  Impossible, you say?
At one point, it wasn't—each oyster alone
Could clean 60 gallons a day on his own!

But now, with the few of us oysters still here,
To clean the whole Bay would take nearly a year.
So embrace us, and make sure you all understand
The importance of oysters—we really are grand!"

The oyster had finished, and a long silence followed
As I reverently gazed at the oyster, now hallowed.
And the girl who had found this great oyster bent down
And placed him right back where our friend had been found.

As night fell, and sea spray grew colder and moister,
I pondered the marvelous skill of the oyster.
These creatures so diligent, peaceful, and wise,
Deserve lots of love, despite their small size.

Bay oysters aren't massive in stature or fame
But without them, our oceans would not be the same.
Of oysters our oceans should not be bereft
We must speak for them now...or none will be left.

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