Given and Found: 7th Grade Found Poem Anthology

GIVEN​ ​AND​ ​FOUND: 7TH​ ​GRADE​ ​FOUND​ ​POEM​ ​ANTHOLOGY Found​ ​Poems​ ​Inspired​ ​by​ ​The​ ​Giver​ ​by​ ​Lois​ ​Lowry

The​ ​Giver​:​ ​Page​ ​73

He​ ​hunched​ ​his​ ​shoulders Trying​ ​to​ ​make​ ​himself​ ​smaller​ ​in​ ​the​ ​seat He​ ​wished​ ​to​ ​disappear To​ ​fade​ ​away Not​ ​to​ ​exist He​ ​didn’t​ ​turn To​ ​look​ ​at​ ​his​ ​parents​ ​in​ ​the​ ​crowd He​ ​couldn’t​ ​bear​ ​to​ ​see​ ​their​ ​faces Darken​ ​with​ ​shame Jonas​ ​bowed​ ​his​ ​head Search​ ​through​ ​his​ ​mind What​ ​had​ ​he​ ​done​ ​wrong?

Libby​ ​Blodgett

Winter

Jonas​ ​is​ ​riding​ ​on​ ​his​ ​bike Gabriel​ ​on​ ​his​ ​back Into​ ​the​ ​depths​ ​of​ ​cold Animals​ ​hidden​ ​in​ ​their​ ​homes The​ ​sun​ ​unable​ ​to​ ​break Through​ ​the​ ​clouds​ ​and​ ​deliver Heat​ ​to​ ​those​ ​in​ ​need Pedalling,​ ​pedalling,​ ​pedalling Until​ ​Jonas​ ​can’t​ ​pedal​ ​anymore He​ ​crumbles​ ​to​ ​his​ ​knees And​ ​feels​ ​for​ ​Gabriel He​ ​looks​ ​back​ ​to​ ​see miles​ ​and​ ​miles​ ​of​ ​snowflakes Littering​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​like​ ​trash​ ​in​ ​the​ ​city His​ ​clothes​ ​are​ ​shredded His​ ​shoes​ ​missing He​ ​falls​ ​flat​ ​on​ ​his​ ​face To​ ​find​ ​tiny,​ ​tiny​ ​crabs Stabbing​ ​at​ ​him​ ​all​ ​over​ ​his​ ​body Then​ ​all​ ​the​ ​colors​ ​he​ ​learned Are​ ​gone

Nicholas​ ​Lubaev

A​ ​Dream?

A​ ​grasping​ ​of​ ​a​ ​thing and​ ​burdensome​ ​recollection It​ ​was​ ​true This​ ​was​ ​different A​ ​memory​ ​of​ ​his​ ​own Blurring​ ​his​ ​vision But​ ​somewhere​ ​ahead There​ ​was​ ​warmth​ ​and​ ​light

It​ ​was​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​them

​ ​Down​ ​seemed​ ​to​ ​lead to​ ​the​ ​final​ ​destination,​ ​the​ ​place he​ ​had​ ​always​ ​felt​ ​was​ ​waiting Elsewhere Downward Sliding​ ​downward Faster​ ​and​ ​Faster Suddenly​ ​joy,​ ​below,​ ​ahead Was​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​him He​ ​heard​ ​something​ ​that​ ​he​ ​knew​ ​to​ ​be Space​ ​and​ ​time, Perhaps​ ​it​ ​was​ ​only​ ​an​ ​echo from​ ​the​ ​place​ ​he​ ​had​ ​left

Maxwell​ ​Mullarkey

Taken

He​ ​forces​ ​his​ ​eyes​ ​open

Suddenly​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​certainty​ ​and​ ​joy

They​ ​were​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​him

They​ ​were​ ​the​ ​red,​ ​blue,​ ​and​ ​yellow

lights​ ​that​ ​twinkled​ ​from​ ​trees

He​ ​heard​ ​something​ ​that​ ​he​ ​knew​ ​to​ ​be​ ​music

Inside​ ​his​ ​freezing​ ​body,​ ​his​ ​heart​ ​surged​ ​with​ ​hope

It​ ​was​ ​a​ ​memory​ ​of​ ​his​ ​own

Felicity

Jonas​ ​Felt​ ​The​ ​Joy

A​ ​room​ ​with​ ​people and​ ​it​ ​was​ ​warm It​ ​was​ ​night and​ ​snowing

Red,​ ​green​ ​and​ ​yellow twinkling​ ​from​ ​a​ ​tree inside​ ​the​ ​room

He​ ​could​ ​smell​ ​things​ ​cooking And​ ​heard​ ​soft​ ​laughter

A​ ​golden​ ​dog,​ ​sleeping​ ​on​ ​the​ ​floor

There​ ​were​ ​packages wrapped​ ​in​ ​brightly​ ​colored​ ​paper and​ ​tied​ ​with​ ​gleaming​ ​ribbons

The​ ​people​ ​began one​ ​by​ ​one​ ​to​ ​untie​ ​the​ ​ribbons, to​ ​unwrap​ ​the​ ​bright​ ​paper There​ ​were​ ​cries​ ​of​ ​delight

Jonas​ ​opened​ ​his​ ​eyes

Mary​ ​Lee

Watch

He​ ​turned​ ​and​ ​opened A​ ​small​ ​bottle And​ ​a​ ​syringe Carefully​ ​he​ ​began To​ ​fill​ ​the​ ​syringe With​ ​clear​ ​liquid

He​ ​began​ ​to​ ​direct​ ​the​ ​needle To​ ​the​ ​top​ ​of​ ​the​ ​newchild’s​ ​forehead The​ ​newborn​ ​squirmed And​ ​wailed​ ​faintly He​ ​pushed​ ​the​ ​plunger​ ​slowly Injecting​ ​liquid​ ​into​ ​the​ ​scalp​ ​vein Until​ ​the​ ​syringe was​ ​empty

The​ ​newchild​ ​moved​ ​his​ ​arms​ ​and​ ​legs In​ ​a​ ​jerking​ ​motion He​ ​went​ ​limp His​ ​head​ ​fell​ ​to​ ​the​ ​side, His​ ​eyes​ ​half​ ​open

He​ ​was​ ​still.

He​ ​waited​ ​for​ ​something to​ ​happen.

Nothing​ ​did.

Ben​ ​Arthurs

Selected

Anticipation,​ ​excitement,​ ​happy​ k ​ inship Turns​ ​to​ ​humiliation​ ​and​ ​terror

I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​I​ ​have​ ​made​ ​a​ ​mistake But​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​what​ ​I​ ​did​ ​wrong

My​ ​heart​ ​sank What​ ​have​ ​I​ ​done

A​ ​bearded​ ​man With​ ​pale​ ​eyes Comes​ ​into​ ​my​ ​view

Discomfort Uneasy​ ​shifting

I​ ​don’t​ ​feel​ ​brave​ ​at​ ​all

You​ f​ eel​ ​I​ h ​ ave​ m ​ ade​ ​a​ m ​ istake

I​ ​have​ ​caused​ ​you​ ​anxiety I​ ​have​ ​caused​ ​you​ ​anguish You​ ​have​ ​not​ ​been​ ​assigned

You​ ​have​ ​been​ ​selected To​ b ​ e​ ​our​ ​Receiver​ ​of​ ​Memory

We​ ​failed​ ​in​ ​our​ ​last​ ​selection We​ ​cannot​ ​afford​ ​another​ ​failure

The​ ​training​ ​involves​ ​pain You​ ​must​ ​be​ ​brave

You​ ​have​ ​the​ ​Capacity To​ ​See​ ​Beyond

Kevin​ ​Taylor

Memory Found​ ​Poem​ ​from​ ​The​ ​Giver

He​ ​watched​ ​the​ ​landscape Glimpses​ ​of​ ​the​ ​green Embedded​ ​in​ ​shrubbery Flickering​ ​into​ ​his​ ​consciousness He​ ​focused​ ​upon​ ​it Darkening​ ​it,​ ​holding​ ​it In​ ​his​ ​vision As​ ​long​ ​as​ ​possible And​ ​he​ ​let​ ​it Fade​ ​away

Evalyn​ ​Lee

Coldness

He​ ​shivered in​ ​the​ ​chilled​ ​air Breathing​ ​in​ ​cold

Pinpricks​ ​soft Without​ ​pain Tiny​ ​featherlike​ ​feelings

Catching​ ​dots With​ ​his​ ​tongue

Rough​ ​damp​ ​rope See​ ​through​ ​closed​ ​eyes Bright​ ​whirling Crystals​ ​in​ ​the​ ​air Gather​ ​on​ ​his​ ​hands Like​ ​cold​ ​fur

Ground​ ​thick With​ ​the​ ​furry​ ​snow

The​ ​sled​ ​began​ ​moving Through​ ​the​ ​snowfall Frigid​ ​air​ ​on​ ​his​ ​face Free​ ​to​ ​enjoy Breathless​ ​glee Overwhelming​ ​him

Speed Clear​ ​cold​ ​air Feeling​ ​of​ ​balance Excitement​ ​and​ ​peace Total​ ​silence

Abby​ ​Trejo

Found​ ​Poem​ ​from​ ​The​ ​Giver

He​ ​forced​ ​his​ ​eyes​ ​open as​ ​they​ ​went​ ​sliding​ ​&​ ​all At​ ​once​ ​he​ ​could​ ​see​ ​lights.

He​ ​recognised​ ​them​ ​now.​ ​He​ ​knew they​ ​were​ ​shining​ ​through​ ​the​ ​windows of​ ​rooms,​ ​that​ ​they​ ​were​ ​red,​ ​blue, and​ ​yellow​ ​lights​ ​that​ ​twinkled​ ​from​ ​trees in​ ​places​ ​where​ ​families​ ​created &​ ​kept​ ​memories--where​ ​they celebrated​ ​love.

Sydney​ ​Frusher​ ​/​ ​Lois​ ​Lowry

Feeled​ ​of​ ​Sensation

Tiny Cold Featherlike​ ​crystals

Soft​ ​cold​ ​fur Decorated,​ ​like​ ​a​ ​bed​ ​covering

Bright​ ​whirling Torrent​ ​of​ ​crystals Peppered​ ​his​ ​body​ ​and​ ​face

Hard​ ​flat​ ​surface Rough​ ​damp​ ​rope

He​ ​begins​ ​to​ ​move

His​ ​face​ ​cuts Though​ ​the​ ​frigid​ ​air

Clear​ ​cold​ ​air

Came​ ​to​ ​stop

Panting Cold

OPEN

By​ ​Justinian​ ​Alexos

Found​ ​Poem

At​ ​the​ ​meeting Asher​ ​was​ ​discussed Remember​ ​Asher Asher​ ​nodded Jonas​ ​did​ ​too The​ ​punishment​ ​used for​ ​small​ ​children was​ ​a​ ​regulated​ ​system Of​ ​smacks​ ​with​ ​this discipline​ ​wand A​ ​thin,​ ​flexible​ ​weapon that​ ​stung​ ​painfully when​ ​wielded

A​ ​quick​ ​smack across​ ​the​ ​hands for​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​of​ ​minor misbehavior Three​ ​sharper​ ​smacks on​ ​bare​ ​legs for​ ​a​ ​second​ ​offence Poor​ ​Asher He​ ​said,​ ​“smack” instead​ ​of​ ​“snack” The​ ​mistake​ ​had​ ​been​ ​made The​ ​discipline​ ​wand​ ​held In​ ​the​ ​hand Of​ ​the​ ​Childcare​ ​worker

Elsewhere

Bitterly​ ​cold Snow​ ​blurring​ ​vision Ahead​ ​warmth​ ​and​ ​light

Knowledge​ ​inside Settled Sled​ ​waiting

Snow​ ​powdery​ ​soft No​ ​fall No​ ​pain Heart​ ​surged

Hope​ ​sliced A​ ​straight​ ​line To​ ​his​ ​final​ ​destination

A​ ​place​ ​where​ ​they Celebrated​ ​love An​ ​echo A​ ​memory of​ ​his​ ​own

Anton​ ​Walvoord

Never​ ​Ending

Voices​ ​of​ ​parched​ ​whispers Faces​ ​matted​ ​with​ ​fresh​ ​blood Colors​ ​of​ ​the​ ​carnage Red Green Yellow A​ ​boy​ ​sprawled​ ​in​ ​fresh​ ​blood Half-​ ​closed​ ​eyes Pain​ ​spoke​ ​and​ ​then There​ ​was​ ​blackness

Emily​ ​Nocella

When​ ​Flesh​ ​had​ ​Different​ ​Colors

Hack​ ​the​ ​tusks from​ ​motionless​ ​elephants And​ ​haul​ ​them​ ​away Another​ ​elephant​ ​emerges Its​ ​sinuous​ ​trunk​ ​strokes The​ ​huge​ ​corpse Splattered​ ​with​ ​blood

It​ ​was​ ​ordinary​ ​no​ ​longer The​ ​glimpse​ ​of​ ​green Seen​ ​in​ ​an​ ​instant The​ ​bright​ ​orange​ ​of​ ​pumpkins

The​ ​ripples​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rainbow Fade​ ​downstream Until​ ​it’s​ ​colorless Black​ ​and​ ​white The​ ​flash​ ​of​ ​brilliant​ ​colors Once​ ​again Returning​ ​to​ ​their Flat​ ​and​ ​hueless​ ​shade

​ ​But​ ​I​ ​want​ ​them

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Sophia​ ​Maggos

Maybe​ ​It’s​ ​Beyond

Now​ ​was​ ​the​ ​moment He​ ​would​ ​have​ ​to​ ​confess.

He​ ​looked​ ​across The​ ​sea​ ​of​ ​faces, The​ ​thing​ ​that​ ​happened Happened​ ​again: The​ ​apple,​ ​changed

I​ ​see​ ​something Maybe​ ​it’s​ ​beyond?

Collective​ ​murmur​ ​of​ ​his​ ​name A​ ​whisper,​ ​hushed,​ ​barely​ ​audible He​ ​did​ ​not​ ​know What​ ​he​ ​was​ ​to​ ​become Or​ ​what​ ​would​ ​become​ ​of​ ​him

People​ ​moved​ ​aside He​ ​felt​ ​alone A​ ​moment​ ​of​ ​uncertainty They​ ​waved​ ​back

She​ ​was​ ​watching​ ​solemnly Her​ ​thumb​ ​in​ ​her​ ​mouth

Anna​ ​Ferdkoff

Elsewhere

He​ ​hugged​ ​Gabriel to​ ​keep​ ​him​ ​alive The​ ​wind​ ​was​ ​bitterly​ ​cold The​ ​snow​ ​swirled,​ ​blurring​ ​his​ ​vision But,​ ​through​ ​the​ ​storm​ ​he​ ​knew That​ ​there​ ​is​ ​warmth,​ ​light A​ ​sled​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​them At​ ​the​ ​top​ ​of​ ​the​ ​hill His​ ​numb​ ​hands​ ​fumbled​ ​with​ ​the​ ​rope His​ ​heart​ ​began​ ​to​ ​surge​ ​with​ ​hope They​ ​started​ ​down Losing​ ​consciousness He​ ​clutched​ ​Gabriel​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​him​ ​safe The​ ​runners​ ​sliced​ ​through​ ​the​ ​snow And​ ​the​ ​wind​ ​whipped​ ​his​ ​face As​ ​they​ ​went​ ​downward He​ ​forced​ ​his​ ​eyes​ ​open

All​ ​at​ ​once He​ ​could​ ​see​ ​lights He​ ​knew​ ​they​ ​were​ ​shining through​ ​the​ ​windows Red,​ ​blue​ ​and​ ​yellow Lights​ ​that​ ​twinkled​ ​from​ ​trees In​ ​places​ ​where​ ​families​ ​created And​ ​kept​ ​memories Where​ ​they​ ​celebrated​ ​love

KB

Listening​ ​to​ ​Men​ ​and​ ​Animals​ ​Die

Listening​ ​to​ ​men​ ​and​ ​animals​ ​die

Extending​ ​his​ ​arm​ ​slowly

across​ ​the​ ​blood-soaked​ ​earth

His​ ​lower​ ​jaw​ ​dropping

With​ ​the​ ​cries​ ​of​ ​wounded​ ​men

The​ ​cries​ ​of​ ​thirsty​ ​men

“Water”​ ​was​ ​the​ ​only​ ​thing

​ ​to​ ​save​ ​them

He​ ​looked​ ​to​ ​his​ ​right

Then​ ​his​ ​left​ ​and​ ​saw

Everyone​ ​was​ ​struggling

He​ ​had​ ​learned​ ​what​ ​warfare​ ​meant

Olivia​ ​Barnes

A​ ​life​ ​Of​ ​Starvation

If​ ​he​ ​had​ ​stayed He​ ​would​ ​have​ ​lived A​ ​life​ ​hungry For​ ​feelings For​ ​color,​ ​for​ ​love

Weather​ ​was​ ​changing He​ ​became​ ​cold​ ​and​ ​wet

He​ ​cried​ ​because​ ​he​ ​was​ ​hungry He​ ​wept​ ​because​ ​he​ ​was​ ​afraid He​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​cared​ ​about​ ​himself

Night​ ​was​ ​approaching He​ ​heard​ ​no​ ​sound​ ​ahead Elsewhere​ ​was​ ​not​ ​far​ ​away

Sharp,​ ​cold​ ​air,​ ​standing On​ ​the​ ​freezing​ ​mound If​ ​he​ ​had​ ​stayed He​ ​would​ ​have​ ​lived

Lauren​ ​Berish

Journey​ ​To​ ​Elsewhere

Now​ ​the​ ​landscape Was​ ​changing The​ ​road​ ​was​ ​narrower And​ ​bumpy Harder​ ​to​ ​balance The​ ​front​ ​wheel​ ​wobbled Over​ ​stones

One​ ​night,​ ​jolted​ ​to​ ​a​ ​sudden​ ​stop Against​ ​a​ ​rock,​ ​Jonas​ ​fell Uninjured,​ ​only​ ​frightened The​ ​bike​ ​fell​ ​to​ ​its​ ​side

Painfully​ ​he​ ​righted​ ​himself But​ ​now​ ​there​ ​were Hidden​ ​dangers Unfamiliar​ ​landscape

Terrified,​ ​he​ ​looked​ ​up It​ ​was​ ​not​ ​a​ ​plane​ ​at​ ​all And​ ​soon​ ​there​ ​were Many​ ​birds Soaring​ ​over​ ​head

Lauren​ ​Berish

Sled

Cold​ ​air​ ​swirling Featherlike​ ​feelings

Dots​ ​of​ ​cold​ ​upon​ ​his​ ​tongue

Now​ ​he​ ​held​ ​rough,​ ​damp​ ​rope Could​ ​see​ ​through​ ​closed​ ​eyes Bright​ ​whirlings,​ ​torrent​ ​of​ ​crystals Like​ ​cold​ ​fur Thick​ ​with​ ​furry​ ​snow Poised​ ​atop​ ​of​ ​a​ ​long,​ ​extended​ ​mound The​ ​sled​ ​rose​ ​from​ ​the​ ​very​ ​land Face​ ​cut​ ​through​ ​frigid​ ​air Breathless​ ​glee Overwhelmed​ ​him

Motion​ ​slowed Feeling​ ​the​ ​balance Of​ ​excitement​ ​and​ ​peace

Open​ ​ordinary​ ​eyes Still​ ​on​ ​the​ ​bed He​ ​had​ ​not Moved​ ​at​ ​all

Do​ ​it​ ​again

By​ ​Posy​ ​Connery

Burnt​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Sunlight

Jonas​ ​felt​ ​the​ ​warmth and​ ​sunshine​ ​once​ ​again

This​ ​time​ ​Jonas​ ​was​ ​basking in​ ​the​ ​wonderful​ ​warmth He​ ​felt​ ​the​ ​passage​ ​of​ ​time

Jonas​ ​moved​ ​and​ ​bent​ ​his​ ​arm, He​ ​felt​ ​a​ ​sharp​ ​pain

“Ouch!”

Daniel​ ​Crawford

First​ ​Glance

Wave​ ​of​ ​pain Gasp As​ ​if​ ​a​ ​hatchet Lay​ ​lodged​ ​in​ ​his​ ​leg Slicing​ ​through Each​ ​nerve A​ ​hot​ ​blade Agony Fire

Sean​ ​Garrick

Close

Settled

Gabe​ ​Close Powdery​ ​and​ ​Soft Losing​ ​consciousness Hands​ ​numbly​ ​fumble For​ ​the​ ​warmth Heart​ ​surged With​ ​hope

by​ ​Finnian​ ​Harrison/Lois​ L ​ owry

Light​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Hearth

A​ ​room​ ​filled​ ​with​ ​people, Grandparents,​ ​children,​ ​parents.

A​ ​snowy​ ​night​ ​next​ ​to The​ ​warm,​ ​glowing​ ​hearth.

A​ ​tree​ ​with​ ​lights, Brightly​ ​wrapped​ ​packages, Gleaming​ ​ribbons.

Toys,​ ​books,​ ​clothing.

Cries​ ​of​ ​delight​ ​and​ ​happiness.

Smell​ ​things​ ​cooking, Firelight​ ​illuminating The​ ​polished​ ​golden​ ​holder.

An​ ​old​ ​woman​ ​sitting​ ​on​ ​a​ ​couch, Rocking​ ​a​ ​child​ ​in​ ​her​ ​lap, touching​ ​cheeks, Hugging.

Looking​ ​at​ ​yourself​ ​in​ ​the​ ​mirror What​ ​did​ ​you​ ​perceive?

Ava​ ​Trandel

Forgotten

A​ ​sudden​ ​hush Feeling​ ​dizzy Can’t​ ​focus Not​ ​at​ ​the​ ​ceremony.

No.

Heart

Jumped.

She

Skipped Me.

W

L I

T D

O H

G U

Call​ m ​ y​ ​name What​ ​did​ ​I​ d ​ o​ ​wrong?

Ava​ ​Trandel

T H

S

The​ ​Giver

It​ ​was​ ​colder The​ ​snow​ ​beneath​ ​the​ ​sled Was​ ​hard,​ ​coated With​ ​bluish​ ​ice

The​ ​runners Couldn't​ ​slice​ ​through The​ ​frozen​ ​expanse They​ ​skittered​ ​sideways And​ ​gathered​ ​speed

Speed​ ​took​ ​control From​ ​his​ ​hands No​ ​longer​ ​enjoying​ ​the​ ​feeling Of​ ​freedom

The​ ​sled​ ​hit He​ ​was​ ​jarred​ ​loose,​ ​thrown Violently​ ​in​ ​the​ ​air his​ ​leg​ ​twisted Under​ ​him The​ ​crack​ ​of​ ​bone

The​ ​first​ ​wave​ ​of​ ​pain Slicing​ ​through​ ​each​ ​nerve With​ ​a​ ​hot​ ​blade As​ ​if​ ​a​ ​hatchet​ ​lay Lodged​ ​in​ ​his​ ​leg

He​ ​perceived​ ​the​ ​word​ ​fire Felt​ ​flames​ ​licking

The​ ​torn​ ​bone The​ ​pain​ ​grew

He​ ​screamed He​ ​cried No​ ​answer The​ ​sound​ ​disappeared Into​ ​the​ ​empty​ ​landscape And​ ​into​ ​the​ ​wind

Brooke​ ​Mordini