Student Poems of the Month

Cherry Blossom Tree

Under the ground,
Through the earth,
Towards the sky;
During spring,
In the rain and wind,
Under the sun,
Behind a field,
Grows a beautiful cherry blossom tree.

(c) 2013 Lena S.
Commack High School
Commack NY
Grade 10

State of Mind
By Kaylee M.

There’s this place I go in my head sometimes
When I try to focus and someone’s talking
I just lose myself in my own mind
And I disappear
I become nothing … I become nobody
I float around in the air
You can hear my voice echo in the wind
My laughter coming down with the rain
My tears accumulating in the snow
My anger setting in the summer sun
I become the world
I lose myself completely
And I never want to come back
In my trance
I’m always warm and never cold
I’m always happy and never sad
I’m always free and never caged
I can actually breathe there
In my state of mind
Lost in some enchanted place
Becoming everything around me
Becoming everyone around me
Getting trapped in their hearts
Getting lost in their minds
Never having to be alone

(c) 2013 Kaylee M.
DeLong Middle School
Eau Claire WI
Grade 7

Trees-Personification

Crunch! Crunch! I look beneath my feet. The dry old leaves look at me. The fiery colors around them seem to have fallen off. Swish! Swish! In the evening air. I look around me it’s so bare. Slowly, when the illuminous moon snatches the sun, I watch the gentle giant bow down to me. I look up to see its crazy hair, no color. I swiftly climb the giants back and sit on the shoulder. When I hear my name being called, I jump off, say goodbye, and trudge off into the misty woods.

(c) 2013 Jai G.
Palm Lake Elementary School
Orlando FL
Grade 4

Fish, fish in a dish.
Fish, fish can you wish?
Fish wish in a dish!!

(c) 2013 Bridget B.
Ferguson Elementary School
League City TX
Grade K

A Withering Flower

I

What am I but a sorrowful grin
Living life at last
But what have I…
A fish monger, a bird, or even a flower

My Heart yearns to stop
As though my life is not cherished
I am the unseen, the forgotten, the dead
I am just a shadow in your eyes

II

All dressed and pressed to impress no other
With only a smile and a few odd flowers
Without the crowd gathering ‘round
My feet move forward, barely on the ground

With the sweet whisper in the air
Emotions of love, fear, and anxiety come clear
My body aches beneath you
Waiting for the one and only, that one’s kiss to clutch

My breath catches, my tears fall
Our shadows are one amongst them all
I used to fear what others would say
But no more, no more today

Now here I sit forty years later
The voice of others are all but a whisper
Through thick and thin we carried together
And even though my one is gone, we shall always love forever

III

What else is this love of mine
For I am sure it is true
Like a rolling hill or a winding river
What else is this love of mine, but for you

As pleasant as nature and dark as death
My love for you is a withering flower
Only a heart beat and the warmth of your body…
You offered me

What do I have to offer but my love
Alone and swollen is my heart as it aches
Your torture, your death
What else is this love of mine, but a withering flower

© 2013 Matt M.
Sequoyah High School
Madisonville, TN
Grade 12

Poetry alive

Poetry is alive
With its snapping jaws and roaring breath.
Poetry dances
With power in each step
Shaking the ground
In a never ending rhythm.
Poetry glides across the floor
With such grace and elegance
Not even the best dancer can look down upon it.
Poetry is happy
Yet sad
Poetry is alive
Yet so still and lifeless on paper
waiting to be read
Poetry is always waiting
Standing there, in the corner
Silent
Waiting
Waiting for the right moment to
Shine!

© 2013 Claudia Z.
International School of Beijing
Beijing, China
Grade 6

The Little Ballet Dancers

Bushy-tailed climbers,
hopping lightly on the tree branches,
wearing a fur coat,
Squirrels.

Scurrying up a bush,
twirling tango fashion,
in a shiny tuxedo,
Beetles.

Loop-the-loops in the air,
keen eye, looking down,
with their own feathered skirt,
Birds.

Flipping, gliding,
floating silently,
a beautiful scaly dress,
Fish.

© 2013 Camille S.
Stoney Point Elementary School
Fayetteville, NC
Grade 4

Warmth

Although the bitter winter freezes cold
Those wondrous lux’ries of the springtime past
Close to our hearts, a warmth -lovely- we hold
With hope, the frost won’t too much longer last.

Years, it seems, have passed since the sun last rose
And ever since, we’ve become youth of frost
But, I suppose, that is how it all goes
Confused, lacking hope, and so tempest tossed.

Dreaming- which is all that we now can do
Of days in that star’s arms, warm and complete
When shivers, by warm hugs, are easily soothed
For the sun’s love, there’s no need to compete.

But of all these things, I simply want more
Warmth- because here it is not in our store.

© 2013 Junysia J.
South View High School
Hope Mills, NC
Grade 11

Valentine Bells
By Suzzie K

Hear the rhythmic golden bell,
Singing in the peaceful air of night,
Chiming under sparkling brilliant stars,
And dancing under sun light.

Hear the notes swirling in the air,
Twanging with a sweet delight,
Singing tunes higher than the birds,
And ringing love with all its might.

Hear the melody it plays for all,
Like a rose and a dove,
Singing mellow and calm,
As sweet as love.

© 2013 Suzzie K.
The Carey School
San Mateo, CA
Grade 5

‘Twas The Night Before Valentine’s Day

‘Twas the night before Valentine’s Day, and all through the house
The children were working, even the mouse

They went no place
And made valentines with paper, glitter and lace.

They made ones with faces and hearts
Sugar and spice and sugar sprinkled candy darts

There were bags with candy and treats
Lollipops, gumdrops, stamps, and tweets.

It was Valentine’s Day, and kids went to school
Kids were hungry and happy and started to drool

They played funny games, and won cool toys
And girls ran away from kissy face boys

There were heart shaped ice cubes in fruit punch
And they had snacks to munch and munch

They started to dine
And had a good time

The art teacher, Miss Riley, painted kids’ faces
With hearts and nice faces

There were valentines with red, pink, and white
All the colors were very bright

Then someone knocked on the door with a big sound
There were flowers, but everyone knew it was Mr. McHound

Then the principal came in with a small box
There was a hamster as small as a baby fox

Surprise! Happy Valentine’s Day!

© 2013 Jenna L.
San Gabriel Elementary
Atascadero, CA
Grade 2