Local student's poem on Gatlinburg fires earns nat'l award
An Oak Ridge student won national recognition for her poem about the Gatlinburg wildfires that occurred five years ago.
Brooke Kizzire won the Promising Young Writers Award in 2020 for her poem "I am Fire."
The National Council of English Teachers awards these recognitions annually. As explained on the organization's official website, Brooke was one of 52 students nationwide who received a certificate of recognition out of 131 students who were nominated across the nation.
Alicia Kizzire, Brooke's mother, told The Oak Ridger about her daughter's recognition shortly before the fifth anniversary of the tragedy. She said in an email that the contest's required theme was nature. Brooke, a Robertsville Middle School student at the time, wrote about the wildfires, in keeping with that theme. However, she had a personal connection.
Her parents, who own rental cabins, were in Gatlinburg for required maintenance of the cabins during the fire.
"With the neighborhood across the street from our neighborhood on fire, we were extremely lucky to have had only downed trees and other wind-related damage, but still had to evacuate since we didn’t know if the wind would help the fire jump the road," Alicia said.
"She used our stories, along with the other victims’ personal experiences of fear, worry and sadness as inspiration and wanted to honor all those that were affected. I am very proud of Brooke since this was a very personal story she wanted to tell," Alicia told The Oak Ridger.
Currently, Brooke is a student at Oak Ridge High School. Her poem and explanation behind the poem is published below.
I am Fire
The following is the poem and essay by Brooke Kizzire.
I am summoned by the will of children.
Their physique is of a man;
but children none the less.
Oh, how the spark of life is so addictive.
By the strike of a match, I have been born.
Now, I grow.
On this day of stillness,
a sudden wind comes from an unknown place,
as if to greet my arrival.
It is strong, but welcoming.
I slowly creep across the earth;
staining the world in ash.
The dry leaves dissolve at my touch
and the wind gets stronger, to show approval.
The swaying trees cackle tauntingly.
How dare they mock me.
I put the insult to rest.
I must continue on my path of expansion.
As I crawl, I feel my strength increase
and my capabilities broaden.
My heat radiates onto the surrounding wildlife,
causing them to scurry away in fear.
Can you feel my wrath?
Climbing up trees come easily to me,
as the branches that once mocked me burn to charcoal.
I grow, but I still want more.
Trailing the mountain range,
I peak over the horizon.
A sunrise in the middle of the day,
promising devastation.
As I look down, the people still underestimate my abilities,
as the trees once did.
I can bring a grown man to his knees;
have him cry out to his God.
I am destruction.
I am all powerful.
I am fire.
November 28th of 2016, started as a peaceful Monday. With the forecast of mostly cloudy and partly sunny, how could it not be? Later, in the day, however, it becomes anything but. There were Firefighters and Park Rangers working on a wildfire in the Chimney Tops 2 area of the Smoky Mountain National Park. The Park’s fire had been started by 2 juveniles that threw out a few lit matches while walking down a trail. Over the course of 5 days, the fire spreads past the park’s boundaries and into the city. With the assistance of extreme winds, fallen trees, and downed power lines, mini fires are created and spread throughout the area. Within hours, much of Sevier County is burning.
In all, the fire took 14 lives, injured over 600 people, destroyed 2,460 structures, and burned 17,900 acres. My family was a part of the thousands that were evacuated. The prompted writing, “My Nature,” reminds me of this tragic event, because it gives a deep example of the physical and emotional regrowth of both nature and its residence. It still prospers and flourishes even after it nearly is destroyed. That is what makes nature all powerful, in the end.
In memory of:
Pam Johnson, 59
John Tegler, 71
Marilyn Tegler, 70
Alice Hagler, 70
Rev. Dr. Ed Taylor, 85
May Evelyn Norred Vance, 75
Robert “Bobby” Alan Hejny, 63
Jon Summers, 61
Janet Summers, 61
Constance Reed, 34
Chloe Reed, 12
Lily Reed, 9
Bradley William Phillips, 59
Ellaine Brown, 81
And any other soul that was affected by the Gatlinburg fire.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Local student's poem on Gatlinburg fires earns nat'l award
