A. Merriam Conner Wins First Honorable Mention

Mrs. Wclter C. Johnson" chcrinnqn oI the 1940 Albertq Ncrture Poem Contest, sponsored by The Chcttcnooga Writers Club oI Chcttcnoogq, Tennessee, hcs trdvised A. Merriqm Corurer of North Scn lucrn" Ccrlil., Poet Lcurecrte ol the lumber industry, thct her poem, "Worrying Worm," was the winner of the first honorcrble mention in.more thcrn 800 entries lrom crll over the United Stctes, qnd severql loreigm countries.

Clement Wood oI New York, cuthor qnd critic, wcs the fincrl iudge, with Gloricr Goddqrd oI New York, poet crnd naturcrlist, co-judge.

The \(/orryins \(/orm

The poor worm crcwled crs crll worme must, Through ihe cool, green ltrcst cnd ihe warm, brown dust, But he lecrred and &eaded the uaiverse And the etqte oI his ego grew stecdily worse. He lecred the birds in lhe lrees cboveCornivoroua robin cnd trim white dove; He locthed the Iishermcn's springtime code And tbct horible monater, the gcrrden tocd' He Ieqred lhe broom in the hands oI the mcid, And likewise the hoe, lhe rcle cnd the spcde, And the lecrsome hen with her creeping brood, When they gcrctched in the soil lor their doily lood.

But hie greatesl lecr wae ol hurncn leetWhether hecvy cnd holiing or light cnd lleet, Whether big cIrd clumsy or tiay qnd trin, Feet were <t conatcnt menqce to him. Discourcged, he crqwled to the barn one doy Aad hid in c dusky corner crwcyi

He builded q cradle dnd urent to bed,

Crying, "Now thcnk hecven l'm comlortobly decdl"

But something tugged ct hie wee hecrt slrings And insisiently whispered to him oI wings.

"Stuff and nongense," he gniffed with <r equirm, "Whoever heard ol c llying worm?"

Bui presently he wcs tr butterlly

With lunay new leet cnd c roving eye, Winga on his bcck cnd c rtrong derire

To lest their strength in the dcrwa's pale fire.

So he sciled right out through the old btrrn door, High over ihe sill where he'd crept belore, lnd winged his wcy through the realmg ol light, In the wild cnd exultcrnt ioy ol llight.

Then a cloud cppecrred in the sLy ol blueA tilmy cloud thqt the sun sbone through, And the butterlly ghivered cnd mocrned ia pcin, "My lile is ruined, it'r going to rcinl"

Then clong ccme q siae old bumble bee

AIrd bumbled, "Whcrt bo, here'a trouble, I see."

Said the butterlly, "I ccn live but c dcy, And it's going to rqin, how ccn I be gcY?"

*Oh, it won't rqin," boomed lhe wise old bee, "Thct cloud is melting, lool up cnd eee. Whct's more, you're c loag lived butterlly, It will be gome monlhs ere You hqve to die."

The butterfly thcnted him cad flew crwcy, To lrolic qnd aocr through the long bright doy, Aad then ct the hrilight's ecrly close, He lluttered lo rest in the heart oI q rose.

And there crs he swcryed on hig hcgrtrai bed, lll thought popped into his loolish hecd, And, "OI cll the thinge I hqve dreqded," said he, "Not a single one ever hcppened to me." _A.

MERRIAM CONNER.