Sacramento Teenager Wins California Poetry Competition

Chigozie Maduchukwu's recited "Let the Light Enter" by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

"More light for death is weaving shadows round my waning sight. And I fain would gaze upon him through a stream of earthly light."

He also recited "The Filling Station" by Elizabeth Bishop and then he recited "The Bad Old Days" by Kenneth Rexroth.

Chigozie won $200 for himself and $500 for Pleasant Grove High School to purchase poetry books.

Caitlin Fitzwater is with the California Arts Council. She says this is the first time since 2006 that a Sacramento student had won.

"We're so excited that Chigozie is going to represent California at the 'Poetry Out Loud' national finals in Washington D.C. this May," says Caitlin.

If he wins the national competition in May, he wins $20,000 and his school would receive $500.

Here are the top two recitals.