The DC Center is pleased to announce the winner of the $50 third place prize for the 2011 Smokin' Words Poetry Competition: Will Silberstein!

Will is a paramedic in the greater Philadelphia area. Will is planning to further his education in the coming fall at West Chester University, concentrating on preventive medicine. The "Smokin' Words" event marks Will's first, and probably not last, venture into poetry.

Will's winning poem is reprinted below by permission of the author.

The Little Engine that Thought It Could

Puff... Puff...,
Puff... Puff...,
Heavy load today, where y'all goin',
Over the hill, you done loadin'?
That's a hard trip, you got enough coal?
I've been feeling pretty down, on the whole,

I better get going, I have a long day ahead,
I should be fine though, my coal is burning red,
Hang on tight, you're in for a ride,
I'd sit in the dining car, there's no smoke inside.

Puff Chuga Puff Chuga,
Puff Chuga Puff Chuga,
Three hundred more miles to go, I've done Three,
Three hundred to go, and I'm home free,
Two cars of coal, that's all I ever need,
Since the day I took track, two cars please.

Puff Puff Chuga Puff Chuga
Puff Chuga Puff Puff Chuga
Burning Away, My coal is totally gone,
I just don't know, What could have gone wrong,
The top of the hill is in sight, I can't go back,
But with no coal, all I can do is sit at this switchtrack,
PFFfffffffff....

Puff Chuga Chuga Chuga,
Puff Chuga Chuga Chuga,
Hey is everything alright, can I help you?
You're just sitting here with nothing to do,
This is a tough route, but we're nearly there,
I've said too much, I'll get out of your hair,

No please wait, don't go just yet,
I burned all my coal, now I'm cold and wet,
I'm stranded here, and feeling way too glum,
Hey! You've got coal, can I bum some?

I used to burn my coal, from here to madrid,
But not so much anymore, now I'm hybrid,
Half a car today, It's part of my step program,
I had my doubts at first, But now I think I can!

You can have my coal, if it'll help you,
I don't need it, and I think you do,
Seeya on the other side, I gotta go,
You should hurry, The station says it's gonna snow.
Chuga Chuga Chuga Chuga
Chuga Chuga Chuga Chuga,
I'm hoping to be full electric next week,
I think I can, I think I can,
I think I can, I think I can,
I thought I could, I thought I could,
SHUT UP!

Thank you to all who entered the competition! Brought to you by The DC Center and Split This Rock.