This year marks the 19th anniversary of Santa Barbara’s celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition to five days of commemorative programs, each year students enter poetry and essays. Takunda Chikowero received first place for his poem, “To Love is to Lead.” I asked Takunda some questions about his participation over the years in the MLK Poetry competition and his advice for fellow young poets.
Tell us about yourself: Your age, your hobbies. What school do you go to and how long have you been writing poetry?
I am 11 years old, and I attend Brandon Elementary. My hobbies include visiting museums, reading, building LEGO, and playing with my sister’s cat, Mowgli. I have been writing poetry since I was 7 years old.