Poetry Anthology 2022-2023

POETRY ANTHOLOGY 2022-2023

THE WILLOWS COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Talk to Me, Shapes

Where do you start and end?

How many unknowns are there?

Could I learn more or are you too different to describe?

The way you curve with your circular edges, the way you poke me with your corners. Squares, triangles, heptagons. So many to know and remember. You impact art and the way I think. Why?

THE WILLOWS COMMUNITY SCHOOL

POETRY ANTHOLOGY

2022-2023

DK - 8TH GRADE

POEM BY JORDAN MAJOR, 6TH GRADE

COVER ART BY

CALVIN HELFGOT, IVY FISCHER, AND LUCA DEROSA (1ST GRADE)

AISHA CONTEH, RHYS BRYANT, ISADORA DEIGHTON, VANESSA LUBIC, AND BEN VAISMAN (2ND GRADE)

SAMUEL KELEMER (3RD GRADE)

DK

IF I WERE A SHADOW, I WOULD GO ON A LITTLE ADVENTURE IN MY TOYBOX, FINDING SOME NEW FRIENDS.

– MADDOX

If I were a shadow, I would be a talking horse, taking Viktoria for a ride to Mood Land.

Mac

If I were a shadow, I would walk like an Egyptian in a pyramid.

Frankie

If I were a shadow, I would be a ghost that haunts houses and hides under Mama’s blanket.

Archie

If I were a shadow, I would be Ash, and throw Pokémon into the Pokéball to see if it wiggles.

Sofia

If I were a shadow, I would bounce through a portal to a land where kids are in charge.

Lola

If I were a shadow, I would be a unicorn flying around the park.

Viktoria

If I were a shadow, I would make a glow-in-the dark rainbow behind the door to Gem Land.

Emilia

If I were a shadow, I would hop into a rocket ship to go to outer space and play with aliens. Nova

If I were a shadow, my blanket would glow in the dark in my bed.

Lana

If I were a shadow, I would sell strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream at the ice cream shop in Paris. Lily

If I were a shadow, I would have three ninja locks and I would lock up everybody’s weapons and sneak to get their magnets.

Forest

If I were a shadow, I would be a cheetah and run faster than myself to Disneyland to sit on rollercoasters.

Joshy

If I were a shadow, I would hop on a unicorn and ride to Fairyland.

Kennedy

If I were a shadow, I would run to every person’s house and they would give me their candy.

Riley

If I were a shadow, I would go on a little adventure in my toybox, finding some new friends.

Maddox

If I were a shadow, I would be in my house, and there would be a rainbow and a flower. I would hold all the hearts that fall down from the sky.

If I were a shadow, my bed would fly and teleport me to Pirates of the Caribbean.

Charlie Z.

If I were a shadow, I would be a tiger at the zoo, going underwater in my hot tub at midnight.

Charlie F.

If I were a shadow, I would be a cat who comes into the house to play princess with me.

Matan

Mikoto

If I were a shadow, I would eat one hundred chocolate chip muffins when I’m on vacation at the beach.

Arya

If I were a shadow, I would turn into a unicorn and take Viktoria to Candy World.

Bella

If I were a shadow, I would jump on one leg to Antarctica, to swim with penguins.

Nira

If I were a shadow, I would be a box full of baby toys, and give it to my mom.

Zara

BLUE K

IN MY BIG WORLD, WE HELP ENDANGERED SPECIES, LIKE THE BLACK RHINO.

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to drink strawberry milkshakes everyone gets to play tennis at a tennis court and we clean up the beach, so animals don’t get stuck

- Bella

My Big World

In my big world

everyone gets to eat carne asada fries everyone gets to play at the park whenever they want and we throw stuff away when people are not using it

- Hudson

My Big World

In my big world

everyone gets to eat pasta with fruit sauce everyone gets to play baseball at the Lakers’ court and we clean up the trash in the road

- Wilder

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat shaved ice and drink Cactus Coolers everyone gets to watch movies all day and we give food to our dogs, so they won’t die

- Indy

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat dumplings from Din Tai Fun everyone gets to make crafts with my mom and we give our extra money to those with no homes

- Felicity

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat Gimbap with egg on it everyone gets to play ping pong at the ping pong court and we helps endangered species, like the black rhino

- Heron

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat plain vanilla ice cream in a cone everyone gets to play in the blue blocks with me and we pick up trash from the ocean using nets

- Jack

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat salmon handrolls with ginger on the side everyone gets to play StarCraft video game as a Terran and we have more traffic lights

- Oliver

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat unicorn ice cream everyone gets to play Ariel Monopoly at my friend Emma’s house and we clean up all the trash around the world

- Oona

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat homemade cheese pizza everyone gets to go to the movie theatre and get popcorn and we protect the animals from fire with water

- Emerson

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat strawberry cotton candy everyone gets to do ballet on a stage and we help people take care of their babies by playing with them

- Isla

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat cheese pizza from Domino’s everyone gets to play soccer with my friends and I and we help animals who are trapped in trash

- Wiley

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat rainbow sherbet with sprinkles and whipped cream everyone gets to ride rollercoasters and we pick up trash in our neighborhood

-

Jackson

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat bright green apples everyone gets to learn how to do karate and we stop eating fish and let them live

-

Stella

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat rainbow cotton candy everyone gets to go on a rollercoaster and we go on swings and feel happy

- Naya

My Big World

In my big world

everyone gets to eat cheese pizza from Pizza Pizza everyone gets to dance to any pop song and we water the plants so they can grow

- Mateo

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat pepperoni pizza with olives and onions everyone gets to play in the World Cup and we water the jungle to keep it green

- Michael

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat McDonald’s cheeseburgers everyone gets to play Duck Duck Goose with my mom and dad and we never steal phones when we see them

- Luna

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat chili cheese fries everyone gets to play soccer with my friends and we give money to homeless people so they can get food

- Vera

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat bowtie pasta with butter everyone gets to play Nintendo Switch with my sister and we pick up trash from the beach

- Kitae

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat chocolate cake with caramel frosting everyone gets to look at pictures in a book to learn how to draw and we reuse and recycle trash to make it into something new

- Lincoln

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat plain eggs with bacon everyone gets to plat Duck Duck Goose in my backyard and we collect food from different places to give to homeless people

- Penny

My Big World

In my big world

everyone gets to eat unicorn-colored cotton candy ice cream everyone gets to watch movies every single day and we stop the animals from getting hurt by people

- Lauryn

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat cookies and cream ice cream everyone gets to play soccer on a field in Hawaii and we pick up trash all around the world so animals don’t eat it and die

- Sebastian

My Big World

In my big world everyone gets to eat chocolate ice cream with chocolate sprinkles everyone gets to paint with their hair and we go out on boats to get the trash out of the ocean

- Shiraz

GREEN K

IN MY BIG WORLD, WE DON’T GO CLOSE TO DUCKS ‘CAUSE THEY MIGHT QUACK AT YOU.

– CLARA

In my big world

everyone gets to eat tortillas with cheese and meat

everyone gets to hug my lovey, Louie

and we pick up trash from the beach

- Ally

In my big world

In my big world

everyone gets to eat pineapple pizza everyone gets to read any book they want and we build more houses

- Grayson

everyone gets to eat vanilla ice cream with a cherry on top

everyone gets to build a ship with Legos

and we plant more trees around the city

- Max

In my big world

everyone gets to eat things that have sugar in them everyone gets to play with Legos

and we help animals when they are hurt

- Tristan

In my big world

everyone gets to eat filet from the Farmer’s Market

everyone gets to go camping with a cozy cabin with an air conditioner that doesn’t work so we bring a fan and we make sure to put out campfires when we are done

- Andrew

In my big world

everyone gets to eat every color gumball

everyone gets to help Mama and Papa cook and we pick up plastic and throw it away

- Emme

In my big world

everyone gets to eat swirly pasta with tomato sauce everyone gets to play Lavas Monster with my baby brother and we build houses for all the people who don’t have houses

- Lucy

In my big world

everyone gets to eat chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting everyone gets to play with friends on the structure and we let the animals live freely in their homes

- Sofia

In my big world

everyone gets to eat bacon with pancakes and fruit everyone gets to play with real-life dinosaurs and we don’t get dust in people’s eyes

- Carter

In my big world

everyone gets to eat strawberry ice cream all day everyone gets to build a snowman and we can all get pets if we want them

- Artie

In my big world everyone gets to eat Sun Chips everyone gets to build whatever they want with their friends and we all clean up our rooms

- Jackson

In my big world

everyone gets to eat orange chicken everyone gets to go skiing in Sun Valley and we give some of the money we earn to people who need it

- Wren

In my big world

everyone gets to eat cheeseburgers and French fries from Shake Shack everyone gets to go to ballet with their friends and we let all the animals go

-Cassius

In my big world

everyone gets to eat hamburgers with lettuce and ketchup and fries everyone gets to play with Legos and friends and we help people if they are in danger

- Jordan

In my big world

everyone gets to eat chicken from California Chicken Cafe

everyone gets to draw with black pencil and then use oil pastels and we do art with little kids

- Harper

In my big world

everyone gets to eat broccoli with ketchup and mayo combined everyone gets to play football in the gym and we don’t chop down trees

- Wilfy

In my big world

everyone gets to eat ice cream sundaes

everyone gets to play with cars and make ramps and we water all the plants and mountains to keep them healthy

- Devon

In my big world

everyone gets to eat chocolate ice cream with rainbow sprinkles everyone gets to play family with Paige and we don’t go close to ducks, cause they might quack at you

- Clara

In my big world

everyone gets to eat mac and cheese from a box everyone gets to build a stethoscope with my mom and we give homes to those who don’t have one

- Lana

In my big world

everyone gets to eat chocolate chips in a bowl

everyone gets to pet my dog Gracie and we pick up trash when people litter

- Vivien

In my big world

everyone gets to eat salty French fries

everyone gets to watch me play soccer with my team and we don’t waste paper

- Liev

In my big world

everyone gets to eat my mom’s chocolate chip cookies and I help her make them everyone gets to play cars with my little brother, Tyler and we clean up our Barbies

- Paige

In my big world

everyone gets to eat cheese pizza

everyone gets to play soccer on a soccer field and we pick up all the trash that people drop

- Noah

In my big world

everyone gets to eat cheese pizza at home everyone gets to play on the monkey bars and we pick up trash all over the place

- Sloane

1A

I DEFINITELY DON’T WAKE UP WHILE DRAWING A PICTURE OF ELEPHANTS!

Moon Monkey

On winter break

I didn’t eat a burger made of worms! And I didn’t ride a monkey eating ice cream to the moon!

- Ryan

Seven Drones

I don’t like the Padres

I like the Dodgers

I don’t like Language Arts

I like yard

I don’t like the number one

I like the number seven

I don’t like helicopters

I like drones

I don’t like pink

I like green

- Jack

L ’Amazing

On winter break

I didn’t splat my face on a pancake!

On Monday morning

I didn’t jump on the roof of Jupiter!

On the weekend

I didn’t get picked up by a ghost!

I definitely don’t wake up while drawing a picture of elephants!

- Wes

I don’t like pink

I like black

I don’t like pigs

I like horses

I don’t like basketball

I like ice skating

I don’t like tomatoes

I like mint

I don’t like Presidents Day

I like Halloween - Amelia

Frozen Pizza

On winter break

I didn’t eat frozen pizza in outer space!

- Jacqueline

Fire Ski

On winter break

I didn’t see a dragon at my home!

On Sunday morning

I did not ski on super-hot fire!

- Calvin

When I think of you

I see you eating treats in your playpen

I hear you growling at people when you’re mad

I remember you stepping on me while I’m sleeping

My Dog Phoebe

When I think of you

I see you running to me when I call you

I hear you barking at a squirrel

I remember singing to you the songs I make up

- Ida

Grandpa Steve

When I think of you

I see you coming here from West Palm Beach

I hear you saying funny jokes about random stuff

I remember throwing pillows at you in your living room - Ezra

When I think of you

I see us talking about sports

I hear the fans cheering with you

I remember driving in your convertible - Clive

My Baby Brother Puma

When I think of you

I see you playing with your cars

I hear you playing in the bath

I remember playing hockey with you in the hallway

- Coco

Dragon Dolphin On winter break

I didn’t ride a Goldendoodle in Costa Rica!

On my birthday

I didn’t ride a dolphin over planet Mars! - Astoria

I Don’t Like What I Do Like

I don’t like addition and subtraction

I like making structures

I don’t like building Legos

I like playing with Legos

I don’t like fruits

I like vegetables

I don’t like ponies

I like horses

I don’t like Covid

I like getting sick - Santxo

My Family

When I think of you

I see us going to Tennessee to see our baby cousin

I hear us playing songs in the car

I remember us going to the park and my babysitter left her purse behind - Oscar

Silly Winter Break

On winter break

I didn’t ride a mermaid under the water! On winter break

I didn’t see a fairy in the sky! On winter break

I didn’t find a cave

I found crystals!

- Leighton

My Cat Biscuit

When I think of you

I see you licking my hand

I hear you making biscuits with your paws

I remember you snuggling me in bed

- Murphy

On winter break

Pluto Break

On winter break

I didn’t eat Jupiter on Mars and Pluto!

On winter break

I didn’t wake up with pizza on me! -

Emmett

I didn’t ride a dragon with my grandma. On Saturday night

I didn’t go to a really fancy hotel.

On my birthday

I didn’t get to stay home from school.

- Luca

Red Bengals

I don’t like brown

I like red

I don’t like the Browns

I like the Bengals

I don’t like the numbers 11, 13, and 15

I like the numbers three, five and seven

I don’t like Wales

I like USA

I don’t like Star Wars

I like Pokémon

- Andrew

Tooast, M My P Puppy

When I think of you

I see you sleeping in your crate

I hear you saying, “Ruff!”

I remember you licking my face over and over

- Polly

That Submarine That Couldn’t Fly

On winter break

I didn’t fly a submarine to the moon!

Golf on Jupiter

On winter break

I didn’t play mini golf on planet Jupiter

- Quinn

On Sunday afternoon

I watched the Eagles game with my dad - Blaise Family

When I think of you

I see you playing kitties with me

I hear you laughing and giggling

I remember when my adorable cat Teddy bites me

- Larkin

I DON’T LIKE DR. SEUSS, I LIKE GREEK MYTHS.

VIVIAN

Toast, My Puppy

When I think of you

I see you chewing my stuffy

I hear you barking for no reason

I remember you licking Polly

~Henry

Crouton, My Fish

When I think of you

I see you letting me feed you from my hand I hear you splash in the waterfall I remember you being funny

~Adi

My Fishy

When I think of you I see you every morning when I wake up I hear you going “blub blub blub”

I remember you dying

Date of birth: 7-29-21

Date of death: 8-22-22

~Sam

Mushy Bananas and Dr. Seuss

I don’t like mushy bananas

I like sushi at Sakura

I don’t like going to the store I like going to Cape Cod

I don’t like Dr. Seuss

I like Greek myths

~Vivian

Mommy

When I think of you I see you helping me with my activity books I hear you laughing when I say something funny I remember having birthdays with you

~Caspian

What No One Does on Winter Break!

On winter break

I didn’t ride a unicorn In the clouds!

And I didn’t ride a dolphin in a pool of jelly!

And I didn’t eat rainbow shiny pizza on a puppy’s tail!

~Amelia

The Things I Desire the Most

I don’t like green peas

I like tacos

I don’t like the Cowboys

I like the Buccaneers

I don’t like Pirate Booty

I like kettle corn

I don’t like bunnies

I like sharks

Estimation Jar

I don’t like trips to Hawaii I like going to the beach in L.A.

I don’t like light green

I like light pink

I don’t like dictation

I like the estimation jar

I don’t like normal pickles

I like chocolate cupcakes

I don’t like black widow spiders

I like lions

~Alijah

I don’t like dark chocolate

I like light chocolate

~Kellen

My Puppy Winnie

When I think of you

I see you eating your treats

I hear you barking and trying to get on the couch

I remember when I first saw you when I came home from school

~Dylan

My Dog Charlie

When I think of you

I see you walking with me and my dad

I hear you barking at squirrels I remember when you died

~Chase

My Friend’s Dog Named Poppy

When I think of you

I see you jumping everywhere

I hear you bark when I come to the door I remember when you were smaller

~Olivia

Kevin, My Hamster

When I think of you

I see you rolling in your hamster ball

I hear you squeaking

I remember you playing with me on my rug

~Ivy

Vitamins and Soccer

I don’t like spinach

I like pepperoni pizza

I don’t like tennis

I like soccer

I don’t like Christmas

I like Hanukkah

I don’t like pills

I like vitamins

~Miles R.

Zac, My Friend

When I think of you I see us playing soccer I hear you score a goal I remember when you were on my team this year

~Jory

Like and Don’t Like

I don’t like meatloaf

I like French fries

I don’t like Darth Vader

I like Storm Trooper

I don’t like soccer

I like swimming

I don’t like Antarctica

I like Hawaii

I don’t like Hot Wheels car books

I like Sam Helps the Earth

~Lola

On Winter Break

On winter break I didn’t get to eat croutons for lunch.

~Miles B.

My Dad, Braulio

When I think of you

I see us watching the basketball game together

I hear traffic on the way to school

I remember going to Sky Zone with you and bouncing on the trampoline

~Brodie

Don’t Like and Do Like

I don’t like pickles

I like chocolate ice cream

I don’t like sushi

I like spinach

I don’t like Wanda

I like Sonic the Hedgehog

I don’t like peanut butter chocolate

I like cheeseburgers

I don’t like loud noises

I like mindfulness

~William

I Like, I Don’t Like

I don’t like cheese

I like sushi

I don’t like red

I like purple

I don’t like the number three

I like the number seven

I don’t like St. Patrick’s Day

I like Christmas

I don’t like squares

I like circles

~James

I don’t like spinach

I like shells with marinara sauce

I don’t like basketball

I like soccer

I don’t like pink

I like black

I don’t like the number one

I like the number six

I don’t like the letter U

I like the letter R

~Rachel

Pink Pasta

My Brother Jackson

When I think of you I see you running to me when you see me I hear you screaming “Hi!” when I can’t see you I remember you hugging me in the car

~Quinn

Puppies

I don’t like my dad snoring

I like me sleeping

I don’t like ads

I like shows

I don’t like the jaws of a lion

I like puppies and dogs

I don’t like coffee ice cream

I like chocolate peppermint ice cream

I don’t like bees

I like butterflies

~Emilia

I Don’t Like and I Like

I don’t like rugby

I like soccer

I don’t like the beach

I like the pier

I don’t like Nixon

I like De Bolla

I don’t like Pichu

I like Greninja

I don’t like onions

I like mangos

~Zac

Auntie Sharon

When I think of you I see me and Kellen and Tristan talking to you on the phone

I hear you giggling I remember that you were my daddy’s aunt and my grandma’s sister and I loved you

~Quincy

I Don’t Like/I Like

I don’t like mushrooms

I like cheese pizza

I don’t like the number 0 I like the number 6 because that’s how old I am

I don’t like Sunday because I don’t get to see my sister I like Christmas because I get to spend time with family

I don’t like green I like rainbow

I don’t like sleeping because it’s boring I like drawing because you can use your imagination

~Edie

Momo

When I think of you I see eggs and bacon

I hear you saying, “I love you”

I remember you saying that every morning

~Oscar

MY MIND IS LIKE A COMIC BOOK THAT HAS A LOT OF ONOMATOPOEIA!

– BENJAMIN

Everything Pizza

My mind is like flames burning in a volcano. My heart is like soccer balls flying through the air. My imagination is like stars glowing in the sky. My breath is like ice cubes from the freezer. My body is like an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

~Rhys

Apple

My mind is like an iPhone identifying a You Tube channel. My heart is like an iPhone 14 Pro A16 bionic chip beating through its hard work.

My imagination is like an iPhone 14 Pro Safari. My breath is like an M2 chip processing an update. My body is like an iPhone 14 pro shell on a dynamic island. My life is stored in iCloud.

P.S. My mom’s iPhone SE 2nd gen is so old that it even has a home button with touch ID like it’s 19 years old.

~Vanessa

Happiness

Happiness is yellow like the sun over the U.S. It sounds like my favorite music. It tastes like the best ice cream. It’s as still as a building. Happiness makes me feel like playing tag with Bobby and Jackson M.

~Rowan

Parker’s Body

My heart is like a ball, bouncing on the yard. My imagination is like a rainbow over a field. My breath is like a fireplace in my house. My body is like a bird making its nest. My life is like a candle that never stops.

~Parker

Hyper

Hyper is gold like a pod racer in a race. It sounds like the engine rumbling in a car. It tastes like pickles in a jar. It moves like hyperdrive. Hyper makes me feel like a big bomb! ~Rudy

Air Jordan Shoe Red

Happy is Air Jordan-shoe red like when I walk onto the football field. It sounds like all the moms and dads shouting in the stands. It tastes like the Astroturf in my mouth. It moves like the wind Happy makes me feel like I can fly

~Aidan

How I Feel

Fragile is clear white like a tear. It sounds like fresh white paper. It tastes like icy cold water. It’s as still as a glass jar. Fragile makes me feel like. I am flushing with emotion.

~Natai

Me

My mind is like a lightbulb that never goes out. My heart is like Achilles holding lots of love on his shoulders. My imagination is like a door that’s about to burst open with new adventures. My body is like a car that’s ready to go. My body is like ice that never melts (it will someday).

~Evie

Colors

My mind is like a paint palette bursting. My imagination is like a book of colors. My breath is like rain falling from my mouth. My body is like a moving robot. My life is like a rainbow forming.

~Liberty

Indigo’s World

My mind is like a dot waiting to explode. My imagination is like visiting a world of new places. My breath is like a warm wind going by me. My life is like a splash of water from a pool.

~Indigo

The Pink Heart

Loving is pink like my mom snuggling me in bed. It sounds like the wind on a palm tree on a San Diego beach.

It tastes like a peach that is pink and yellow. It stays still like a warm blanket. Loving makes me feel like running a marathon.

~Bobby

The Creative Peace

Pencil sharpener

I have a big crush on you

Flower in the yard

a flame in the house

why are you here with me, why I want to have fun

~Annika

Anxiety

Anxiety is gray like stone. It sounds like nothing. It tastes like bitter cold. It’s as still as a tree. Anxiety makes me feel rushed.

~Miles

Gray Floor

Gray floor like concrete

Hard like rocks on the beaches

Not like bright colors

~Iris

A Kind of Flower

Rose pink like lip gloss Rose petals wet like water Roses one by one

~August

My Life

My mind is like an emerald boa that never lets go of something. My imagination is like a book with more than 100 pages of illustrations. My body is like many boulders tumbling down the mountainside.

~George

My Puppy

I love my puppy

Lily, my Goldendoodle

We take her on walks

~Levi

Happiness

It is blue like skies. People laughing and joking. It tastes like cold rock.

~Jackson P.

Roses Fall

The rose petals drop Rose petals falling to Earth from the moonlight stars

~Sophie

Sadness

Sadness is blue like a rainy day. It sounds like my dog crying. It tastes like the salty ocean. It moves like a blob of slime. Sadness makes me feel like rain falling on me.

~Bridget

Confidence

Confidence is meadow blue like flowing water in a stream. It sounds like birds chirping in a birch tree. It tastes like a lavender lollipop. It moves like it’s walking along the beach. Confidence makes me feel like running in the sand.

~Cosmo

Energetic

Energetic is red like blood pumping through your body. It sounds like a soccer ball bouncing on the ground. It tastes like drip coffee. It moves like a ball making a goal. Energetic makes me feel like doing some really rough stuff!

~Shane

Silly

Silly is bright violet like a gleaming mussel shell. It sounds like laughter in the sun. It tastes like a perfectly cooked clam. It’s as still as a microphone that sings itself. Silly makes me feel like penguins flying in the air!

~Jackson M.

My M.I.B.

My mind is like a comic book that has a lot of onomatopoeia. My imagination is like a book that has my life story in it. My body is like an athlete that can’t stop going.

~Benjamin

Energetic

Energetic is gold like a pod racer zooming toward the finish line . It sounds like light sabers clashing together. It tastes like brownies right out of the oven. It moves like soccer balls slashing through the wind . Energetic makes me feel like Messi!

~Leo

Happiness

Happiness is reddish orange like the cold sunset. It sounds like people laughing and having fun. It tastes like fresh watermelon. It moves like grass in the wind. Happiness makes me feel loved.

~Celine

Anger

Anger is red like a steam train smoking. It sounds like people yelling on the street. It tastes like burnt toast in the oven. It moves like clouds, so very slow at the moment. Anger makes me feel like sadness raining tears.

~Benji

2B

JOY MOVES LIKE LIONS AND TIGERS WALKING ACROSS MEADOWS.

– QI QI

My Dirt Bike

On my dirt bike soon. Bumps and jumps on a dirt track. I hope it is red.

- Charlie

My Classroom

Checkmark, not an X Ten plus ten equals twenty North America

- Elijah

Ruby’s Life

my water bottle me and my friend look like twins Burger King fries, yum

- Ruby

Nighttime Flowers

flowers at night bloom when you are sleeping, I play go to a good place

- Maeve

Outside the Classroom Window the leaves are blooming trees are moving with the wind sun shining on bark

- Qi Qi

Colors, Shapes, Emotions

My mind is like a giant red square of peacefulness

My heart is like a big ball of kindness.

My imagination is like a triangle that is made of happiness.

My body is like a beehive full of determination

My clothes are like fluffy green grass.

My shoes are like drifting rainbows.

My breath is like a cloud of smoke

My life is like blue water

- Devyn

My Happiness

Happiness is green like a leaf on a branch

It sounds like the wind blowing from Mexico.

It tastes like honey in tea

It stands still like a sunflower Happiness makes me feel different.

- Aisha

About Me

My mind is like the sun making my dog warm

My imagination is like a comic book full of ideas.

My body is like a puppy having fun

My life is like I am in Minecraft building a house

- Finn

Feelings

Mad is red like overcooked rice. It sounds like sizzling hot onions. It tastes like burnt popcorn. It stays still like a dead plant. Mad makes me feel like everything is a waste of time.

- Luca

A Good Feeling

Calm is light blue like a babbling brook. It sounds like water over rocks, gurgling like a rainbow. It tastes like fresh, cold ice on a rainy day. It moves like fast, small waves. Calm makes me feel like a soft, fluffy cloud.

- Harper

Calm

Calm is indigo like stars in the desert sky. It sounds like birds chirping in the tree. It tastes like sweet honey from a beehive. It moves like a leaf in the wind. Calm makes me feel tired.

- Hayden

The Calm Story

Creative is yellow like a striped top. It sounds like a waterfall on a mountain. It tastes like vanilla ice cream. It moves like a ball rolling down a hill. Creative makes me feel calm.

- Audrey

Luminescent

Calm is green like the trees in a Japanese garden. It sounds like a stream falling into a waterfall. It tastes like a sweet and sour peach. It stays still like a panda meditating. Calm makes me feel like leaves rustling in the wind.

- Isadora

Creative

Creative is yellow like an inventive heart in a box. It sounds like the sleepy world of a bird. It tastes like the sky with ice cream.

It’s still like a mellow tiger in a nest.

Creative makes me feel like a heart about to be happy.

- Onyx

My Favorite Poem

Calm is blue-colored, like beautiful dolphins. It sounds like turtles squawking

It tastes like elbow pasta with butter. It moves like a sloth in a tree. Calm makes me feel kind.

- Sara

Calm Songs

Curious is blue like the Atlantic Ocean. It sounds like a calm song. It tastes sweet like an M & M cookie. It moves like a turtle. Curious makes me feel happy.

- Ozzie

About the Body

My mind is like a big ball, shooting hoops. My imagination is like the third Star Wars movie. My breath is like a sauna under my tongue.

My life is like a car driving all around Hawaii.

- Ben

The Box of My Body and My Life

My mind is like a basketball hoop full of sports. My hair is like a blanket on my head

My socks are like ice skates.

My body is like a huge tree in the rainforest. My life is like a green ball bouncing in the ocean

- Matthew

Envy is Green

Envy is green like the wild sea

It sounds like it’s raining in my head. It tastes like 100 tears taking over me. It moves like me running down a hill.

Envy makes me feel like the worst

- Van

My Love

Mellow is light green like the world’s grass. It sounds like wind blowing in the air. It tastes like a chocolate chip cookie. It moves like a leaf growing on a tree. Mellow makes me feel like relaxing with my family.

- Dean

A Mustang’s Anger

Anger is red like a new mustang. It sounds like people screaming from a monster. It tastes like pumpkin seeds fresh out of the oven that are burnt. It moves in zigzags to outer space.

Anger makes me feel like running around a park.

- George

The World is Like

Tired is blue like the sky. It sounds like air that is waving

It tastes like water from the ocean

It moves like a turtle near the Atlantic

Tired makes me feel like my body doesn’t want to move .

- Michael

Orla’s Poetry World

My mind is like a jar full of memories

My heart is like a beautiful rainbow blooming with patience.

My breath is like a little fireplace. My hair is like long, wavy noodles.

My mouth is like a megaphone that can say anything.

My body is like the calm little ocean.

- Orla

Mellow

Mellow is gold like a gold heart sticker. It sounds like wind blowing right through my imagination. It tastes like fresh strawberries from the garden. It’s as still as a statue in a museum. Mellow makes me feel like I am in an imaginary world.

- Ty

My Emotion Thoughts

Calm is blue like a bright sky. It sounds like the ocean’s tide going in and out. It tastes like pumpkin seeds with a pinch of salt. It stays still like a tree with roots dug deep. Calm makes me feel like leaves blowing in the breeze.

- Noa

Vale’s World

My mind is like a wave full of creatures. My breath is like a soft cloud drifting through the sky. My clothes are like rainbow marshmallows. My friends are like special gems.

My life is a galaxy full of peace and harmony.

- Vale

My Favorite Music

Creative is black like a clock that goes tick tock. It sounds like Star Wars music that I like. It tastes like strawberry ice cream. It stretches out on the floor like me. Creative makes me feel calm.

- Satrio

EVEN THOUGH GRAVITY PULLS ME DOWN, IT DOESN’T MEAN I CAN’T FLY. – HAZEL

Cats Everywhere

I have a cat on a skateboard in me

when I fall off, life stops for a moment so I get back on and try again

I have a cat’s purr in me when I get all riled up it helps me calm down again

I have a cat’s cuddle in me

when a friend is sad it helps me lighten up their mood again

~ Liza

Spark of a Spark

I see a spark of light

I see a spark of dark

I see a spark of power

I see a spark of weight

I see a spark of fire

I see a spark of flash

I see a spark of nothing

I see a spark of energy

I see a spark of life

~ Mathis

Ignore What I Just Said

Every time I cry every time I do a cartwheel

Every time I am happy every time I…

You know, ignore what I just said

Every time I look at a blank page in space…

Actually, whatever ~

Ayla

Sometimes

Sometimes I feel like I can fly

Sometimes I flip in the ocean

Sometimes I feel the wind in my hair

Sometimes I jump so high I can touch the sky

Sometimes I eat 1000 pieces of candy

Sometimes I run across the world

Sometimes I see darkness

Sometimes I talk but other people don’t understand

Sometimes it’s wet outside, but to me it’s summer

Sometimes a diamond shines but it’s just dirt

Sometimes the coral reef springs with flying fish

Sometimes I think someday is impossible (but it isn’t)

~ Azzy

Fantastic Flattering Food

Steak frites there is nothing more delicious

Steak frites the juicy taste with salt

Steak frites only meat I like from a pan

Steak frites incorporating good food

Steak frites the enjoyable flavor

Steak frites never savoring badly

Steak frites not icky nor sticky

Steak frites irresistible, unbelievable

Steak frites the tender taste

Steak frites I love them like the wind

~ Julian

On the Yard

sand meets the rubber in the wind there are leaves the kids are playing the flowers die in the heat I see clouds float in the sky

~ Ollie

J.J. the Magnificent

moving and turning my smooth sharp caterpillar he nibbles the leaves he lives in a habitat my pet JJ rolls around

~ Maddox

On Fire Today

the waves are growing the buzzing is roaming fast my day is blowing

I feel like an eagle now my mind is on fire today

~ Marlow

The Sea, the Box, and the City

I have a sea in me. It explodes in rage when I am furious, it gently washes over the shore when I care for myself and other people, and when I am devastated, it evaporates so I can cry. This sea and me are friends.

I have a box in me. It glides over my sea with food feeding the fish and whales. It cuts up trash and puts it in itself, disappearing into bad breath.

I have a city in me. It is on an island in the sea, and gives me, the box, and the sea strategies to feel confident of what our brave actions and characteristics are. It introduces me to new things, and helps me glide along and past the experience.

I have a world in me……….

~ Bram

Nature Can Be…

The strong, quiet winds

The bark on the tree is cold

The small spark of light

The calm bees buzz around me

I feel the wind sway through me

~ Finn

The Thread

There is a thread on my skin

I have a desire to pull it But I know if I pull it my Skin will crack into Little pieces so I don’t But when I sleep I come unloose

When I wake up I am gone I have vanished Into thin air

I am a ghost watching

And hovering over them

But when I see The ghost that is me I appreciate it

~ Bailey

I Have a World in Me

I have a river in me

When I’m sad the river flows into tears. The sky in my brain is raining to fill the river. It keeps going on and on until I feel better.

I have a sun in me when I am happy, sunlight pours on everything. It empties the river into smiles, all the animals play in the sun together.

I have a moon in me

it shows when I’m in my bed reading, about to fall asleep. It calms my mind so I can rest better every night.

~ Quinn

What’s Going on in My Mind

waves crashing down hard time on the wall ticking fast today is Tuesday toys ready to be played with plants waiting to be watered

~ Micah

Truth of the Night

the nighttime dew drips crickets are chirping outside the dark, late clouds dim I feel free like a hard breeze my soul is like a blanket

~ Izzy

In the Morning

swaying sunflowers in the morning breeze I see young kids playing here the sunny sky up above my windy hair in my face

~ Rose

Blue Waters

I see a waterfall crashing in the ocean

I hear waves flowing with the wind

I touch the wet sand when the tide comes in

I feel calm and happy

I know I belong

~ Ruby

Piglets

One piglet fell down

Two piglets helped him

Sometimes I Wonder

Sometimes I wonder if the world will ever change

Sometimes I wonder if animals will change

Sometimes I wonder if everyone will change

Sometimes I wonder if I will change

~ Chili

Three piggies were afraid of the big, bad wolf

Maybe those pigs were the same pigs

~ Jack

One Terrible Guy

One terrible guy ate a pie

Two monstrous apples ate tacos

Three vicious pumpkins ate cakes

Maybe an evil water bottle will eat some rice

~ Indra

There’s Something in Me

I have a rainforest in me When I get mad the whole rainforest stops moving, the monkeys stop swinging, the trees stop swirling, the ants stop working But there’s always rain in me

It flows softly down my trees, it drips slowly down my leaves, and touches mellow ground.

~ Carter

I Want

I want to smile

I want to be good

I want to have every cat in the world

I want to be my best self

I want to open my ears and eyes

I want to be ordinary

I want to think of you

I want to exit my mind

I want to have fun

Remember Me

Remember me in 50 years. Remember me when you can fly.

Remember me at your wedding. Remember me when you shave your head bald.

Remember me when your memory drifts away. Remember me when I’m gone.

~ Eliza

I want to have hope

~ Tabby

Below the Water

the powerful sea with the fierce waves and thunder sinking all the ships but there is something below it’s a secret to unlock

~ Eitan

The Voice in Me

I have a voice in me it’s quiet and helps me make decisions it makes me feel confident

~ India

Even Though

Even though I say things I don’t always mean them.

Even though I’m young that doesn’t mean I’m not strong

Even though my voice is quiet I can still sing a beautiful song.

Even though I’m sad it doesn’t mean I can’t be happy.

Even though I see now doesn’t mean I can’t see the future.

Even though I love eggs that doesn’t mean I can’t eat toast.

Even though gravity pulls me down it doesn’t mean I can’t fly.

~ Hazel

Sounds and Rhythms

I hear the sound of a lovely bird’s song.

I hear a rock cracking by the deck

I hear a crashing of waves.

I hear the song of a siren.

I hear words flowing out of mouths.

I hear the dropping of rain.

I hear a toad’s croak.

I hear the crying of a child.

I hear a deep, wildfire.

I hear the rhythm of hope.

~ Ellie

GOOD good is fearless good is strong good is a spark of happiness good is bad good is the wind

good is a phrase for calm good is a never-forgetter good is in your dreams

~ Hunter

3B

I HAVE A SAFE MIND IN ME THAT HELPS ME LIVE. – EMMA

Evolution

life is evolving sunlight, moonlight shining down branches scraping walls my heart is beating real fast I evolved from nature’s life

~ Quincy

The Lion

The lion gets prey

He gets the meat for dinner

He kills coyotes

Animals try to run away

Some try to fight the lion

~ Ike

The Theory of Us

You are me

I am you

They are what we will be

We are all of us

~ Samuel

Power

Ancient Egypt

I have Egypt in me. The sand wipes away everything in its place, while the maze of pyramids is quiet and lost inside. The mummies lie still in ancient coffins while historians are trying to find out answers to the mysteries. Cleopatra, the famous queen of Egypt, is remembered in the history of time. Egypt makes me remember the past.

~ Kenley

Bright Star

“sol” is sun to us a star far away from here it gives light and heat it can scorch and blister without it an ice planet

~ Carmella

Thoughts Are Mine

My shadow’s in the light. My thoughts travel. My poems write themselves.

~ Chloe

Power going through your body. Power tickling your pencil in class. Power fighting through the night. Power in the pencil when writing. Power crashing through waves.

Power bursting in my movement. Power quiets down when reading poems.

~ Sara

The Outside World

I hear kids running. I see a flower dying. I touch the soil. Breathe a lot of oxygen. I feel crowded and tired.

~ Wyatt

Holiday

I have a holiday in me… It feels BIG and STRONG but it feels too small and it is like Halloween, Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day. New Years and Hanukkah wrapped up together.

~ Dash

My Heart’s Impact

My heart is as big as Jupiter

My heart is like a pelican flying over the sea

My heart is like a birthday cake waiting to be loved

My heart is like a ring that comes to no end

My heart is like slime that stretches but does not break

My heart is like a lion that roars to be heard

My heart is like a star that explodes but somehow stays the same

~ Stella

15 Oceans

15 oceans waiting for the moon to push them around.

22 seagulls wishing the fish would jump.

56 sharks looking for their prey.

99 oceans and their animals need help.

~ Sonatine

The Streak

The streak of dogs barking has ended

The streak of me moaning is over

The streak of rain hitting the ground hard is done

The streak of wind crashing into the door is behind us

~

Naveh

Legions

Legions of military drones waiting to strike.

Legions of animals racing for fruit.

Legions of kids in a stampede for playtime.

Legions of robots waiting to be made.

Legions of termites searching for wood.

Legions of mice trying to find a home to make theirs.

Legions of chipmunks finding the perfect tree.

~

Augie

Butterflies

I have shadows in me that want to darken my light.

I have a pencil in me that wants to crack open.

I have a box in me filled with sunlight that wants to explode.

I have butterflies in me that make me nervous.

~ Birdie

Afternoon with a Book

The book is like gold reading it is my pleasure wind is in my hair

rustling trees are calming

tall sunflowers are swaying

~ Arya

Eyes Open

My voice is quiet

My heart is pounding

My TV goes black

My eyes close, hoping for this to be a dream

My thoughts go away

My eyes open once again

My paper is blank with nothing to say

My body gets tired, I drop on my couch

My dog goes to sleep

My voice gets higher and higher Till I need to scream

~ Alexa

How I Feel

I like my dog Gus

I see yellow sunflowers

I feel very calm

I feel like I am flying

I feel like me with pizza

~ Evan

The Bloom of Colors

I have a garden in me that blooms with flowers and fruit that the one small child takes care of the wood planks stop darkness from ruining it

I have a canvas in me that the brush paints with lines of color that fills me with emotions when the five different colors mix many more are created

~ Mia

Shy Shadow

I have a shadow in me it grows like a big strong tree.

I have a shy cat in me that wants to get out and see light.

I have a dark horse in me that wants to run away and feel the dirt.

I have a shipwreck deep in the sea that made me sad.

~ Bebe

Basketball Day

Polar bears dancing on a tree.

Bunnies playing around carrots.

Basketballs going in the hoop.

Lebron 20 shoes signed by him.

~ Leon

Power

Power flows through the rivers. Power flows through the air. Power flows through the walls. Power flows through electricity. Power flows through trees. Power flows through the galaxy. Power flows through water. Power flows through your desk. Power flows through your heart. Power flows through my veins.

~ Zion

Time Outdoors

wind whistling by hiking on a mountaintop time ticking by fast flying up like an eagle falling down while gliding

~ Banyan

I Have

a…

I have a sun that blazes in me. The sun is as warm as a desert. It “solars” around my soul. The sun fades at night. It helps me relax.

~ Ace

Cloud in Me

I have a cloud in me that wants to strike on the floor. It is thunder in space and in other galaxies it is the sun.

~ Corbyn

Growing

stars grow from the ground see you going in my garden lightning in the sky find sleep scurrying on you I evolve from space and moon

~ Lulu

Speed

I have speed in me that will never stop and will always burn but it makes me feel like a race car and will always push me to my limits

~ Lev

I Have Power in Me

I have a star in me that wants to be free forever

I have an ocean in me that will fill me up

I have a book in me giving me knowledge

I have a safe mind in me that helps me live

~ Emma

4A

THERE IS A DRAGON IN ME. I’M HALF WELSH SO IT MAKES SENSE.

– ARLO

Obnoxious Lobsters

Something pinches me but I don't know what it is I look around and I found a tank for some sort of sea animal

Then I look down and I see an orange creature that has a tag on it Then I noticed that there were two of them, one in the tank and one on my leg. It made me think

The animal looks angry and crazy but I still don’t know what it is So I start to use my brain because there is a creature on my leg and I don't even know what it is.

I order a question mark and that helps me Then later I noticed that it was a lobster!

~Skyler Why

Why do i touch soft fuzzy covers

Why do i smell fresh homemade waffles in the morning

Why do i see towering skyscrapers

Why do i hear my classmates humming

Why do i feel the pain of sadness

Why are we here

What is the meaning of us

~ everest

Sometimes I listen and hear something small and faint, clever but sly

Its eyes the color of sea green

It makes me want to prowl the wild

It makes me want to hunt my prey

~Annabelle D

Space Silhouette s

The silhouette of my grandfather

and my grandmother dances in the light.

Blue in You

Blue is up to you

and you are up to me and I want to tell you everything.

~ Anabelle S.

Tomorrow’s their anniversary

They always wanted to go to space

so I wonder if they’ll go there

Rain drops by the window

but no matter how hard it tries

there will never be silence ~ Arlo

GHOST OF MY ANCESTORS

Whenever there's thunder the ghost of my ancestors comes to my apartment and tells me a stor y of the mountains how they glow at 12:00 and stop at 1:00 They gave me a small model of the mountains that glows at 12:00 and stop at 1:00

All they want me to do is to spread the stor y to all of the people in the world

Now that you ’ ve heard this poem, retell my ancestors’ stor y to anyone you see

The Panda That’s in Me .

There is a panda in me who loves to eat ramen. Play ABCs with its friends. Roll down a hill just for fun. Very active or very sleepy, it's always having a good time. The panda in me makes me want to roll in the grass and play Pat-a-Cake.

~ Vivi

Natural Movement

Learn to Love Life

If the world isn’t perfect and dreams don’t come true and nothing falls into place and blue skies and rays of sunshine don’t light up this world and flowers don’t blossom and animals aren’t wild and free then each day I will think to myself over and over again

Whenever the Earth spins

The moon follows

Mountain peaks get higher

Days get longer

All sound gets so ter

Rest your head and listen

maybe we just have to believe that everything will be perfect for everything to be perfect.

- Darla

Crowned King

You can be crowned a king

But the earth still revolves around the sun

The moon still comes up at night while the sun still rules the day

Your heart still beats at a steady pace

You are still grounded to earth

You are still human

That is the blessing of a curse

Being king is like Pandora's box

But it’s wrapped in a pretty bow

~ Gavin

There is a falcon in me

With strong wings like rock

And a dangerous view from down below

It hovers like a Russian spy ’ s drone

Falcons are unbeatable

Falcons are the bird predator

But their feathers are like fur from a teddy bear

Enough to stun a prey.

The falcon in me makes me want to roar like a lion.

~ Ezra

Silly

Blizzards…

Silly, silly blizzards.. Goofy snowstorms all over Canada

I Remember in SpAcE

rain and silhouettes were shadows flowing around. I heard only silence this day; everything mattered.

I was so excited for tomorrow.

24 hrs later I woke up. It was AWESOME !

I didn't even know what to say.

I saw the planets soaring around like a breeze of wind. I wish I could live up here but I can't, so I enjoyed the last few hours I floated around in space. I watched the sun, earth, Jupiter, Venus, Mars and so on So the next day I finally was back on Earth. It was an amazing trip

I am definitely doing it someday again.

P.S the food was ok, but what an experience! ~ Jordan

Canada is currently being attacked by silly, goofy, and out of control snow blasts

The storms are so goofy and silly that buildings are being covered in googly eyes And when the wind passes by It drops more googly eyes.

~ Hadley

A Walk Through Space

The mountains rise as we walk through snow.

Moonlight dances on the clouds and dust flies through the air.

Then we get picked up by the wind

I reach out and touch the stars

Some stardust falls into my hand.

I put it in a bag, go back down to Earth and walk back to my house

If I Were 15 Feet TALL

After

Shel Silverstein

If I were 15 feet tall

I would walk on mountains

See whole new things

And win the NBA’s Golden Ring

If I were 15 feet

I couldn't ride in a car

Or go to the mall

I couldn’t do some things at all

If I were 15 feet tall

I would bathe in swimming pools

Sign posts would be my tools

I would not go to school

If I were 15 feet tall.

Other people would only see The monster inside of me

I would go down in history

As a man as evil as Robert E. Lee

If I were 15 feet tall.

~ Owen

~ Noah H

Expensive Poodles

When you go to the pet shop you will see

A big fluffy dog sitting in the corner

He is a light cream color

Chewing on a big red and white bone

You walk in and notice

All the different animals around you

Pigs in the right corner and birds in the top left corner

But all you can think about is that big fluffy dog

So you go to the cash register

Which is right in the middle of the store

And ask, how much is he?

They say that dog is $5,000

~ Zoey

The Memories We H ad

Whenever I see your photo

memories come to my mind

The way you smiled made me the happiest person alive

The mountain’s flowers

bloom on your birthday

All I want is to see you aging

rest as I come to you

4B

EVERYTHING IS ANYTHING IF YOU BECOME IT.

GIDEON

Fearless Falcon

There is a falcon inside me

With its wings strong

And its feathers very thin

It moves like nothing ever could

It sees fear in other animals

It makes me want to jump off cliffs

~ CJ

High Above

T here is an eagle inside of me

Smar ter than all of the birds in the sky

Faster than a fly, slower than a cheetah

Gliding slick in thin air, no one in my way

Into the fluffy cloud and diving down for a rattlesnake

It makes me wanna be free

~ Ethan R.

7:00 AM

Too many rivers

My hands are cold

The birds are singing

I turn around

I see my brother

He sees a tower

Inside the tower

There’s a clock ticking

It’s 7:00 AM

Matthew says

We’re going to be late

I tell him

It doesn't matter

Let's just play

~ Emily

Ancient Oxygen

Ancient oxygen, rare

Dangerous and exciting

But hard to breathe

It’s cozy and cold

It floats around in temples from long ago

W��� ��� W���r� �f C�����

Wal� th� water� of chang�

�� lus� gree� paintin� wil� show yo�

S� man� p sibl� path�

Read� t� g� th� distanc�

Yo� wai� for th� eart� t� bloo� ~

Cassid�

Old air is scary ~ Dash

Fanc� Pirate�

�e�’r� sittin� o� pile� of gol�

Bathin� i� diamond�

Singin� y� h� y� h�, � ric� ma�’� lif� for m�

Drinkin� al� nigh�, nappin� al� da�

Mea� Viking� comin�! Wher� wil� me� hid�?

�e� mak� th� treasur� map an� giv� i� t� youn� childre�

�e� ru�, the� hid� bu� their tim� i� up an� the� en� up

I� th� gol� hous� i� th� sk�

~ Jame� B.

TERRIBLE TOWERS

Too many terrible nightmares Rivers running water Towers so huge

I’m so small in this big world

~ Ethan L.

FIERCE LION

Animal In Me

There is a lion inside of me with fierce eyes and tough paws but gentle like a cat. With a roar like a loud bang, with strength to scare a tiger, it fears nothing. It hides like a spy and jumps out like a warrior. It moves like a dancer at night and will defend with every bone in its body. It makes me want to go into the wild and run. ~ EVER

There is a rabbit in me

W ith long ears and thick grey fur like a mule

Sweet sp arkling eyes like glitter

It jumps like a spring, timid and afraid

It makes me want to stay where I am ~ Kit

There is an Angr y Ostrich Inside Me

The ostrich attacks all the diseases like a shot that lives in me

As tall as a fox , as angr y as a whale protecting its babies

Skin as rough as a rock, hear t as blank as a piece of sun

It makes animals disappear

It makes me want to explode

~ Gideon

Nerdy Skiing

t p f B g Bear M u ta y u reach f r y ur gear but stead y u put read g g asses.

Y u have a ha d erch ef y ur p c et a d a ath b y ur ha d.

I stead f watch g where y u're g g, y u u z y urse f the spe g test y u have ext wee .

Y u s a t a tree a d brea y ur g asses, but y u a ways have a extra pa r.

Y u wa e up a d y u’re t s g. Y u’re the h sp ta w th the sa e b y ur ha d .

Furious Graffiti

all over the walls but why what does it mean sure, people get mad but all over the walls come on, man it's raining the letters are dripping it looks like it’s just yelling at you like the art is mad at you people painting over words and pictures people skateboarding on the art it's unforgettable kickflips, ollies

the ramps have drawings all over them falling off the skateboard pain I know it’s furious but it’s art all the same

~ Missy

Writing a Song

once you start you can't stop

Ideas

Flow through your head

You write one you write all it feels like the song is writing you

You can make it about anything you want and it's beautiful that way

It's like a cheetah in your brain

going so fast you can't stop it

~ kate

Silhouettes

Too many silhouettes run through the landscape breathing on chairs chasing songs they can never catch.

~ JAMES M.

THE WEIGHTED WATERS

man� time� whe� I g� t� th�

river i� feel� lik� ther� i� �

brigh� ligh� shinin� dow� o� m�

lik� I’� holdin� th� weigh�

of � tower i� m� hand�

lik� � performanc� withou� a� audienc� ~

LINCOLN

Repeat and Respond

T here are too many songs.

W hich one should I listen to first?

T he rivers in Spain are so peaceful and beaut iful.

I see t he Golden Gate Bridge in my locket .

Ever y day I wake up and see t he Eiffel Tower. My hands feel cold and uncomfor table in t he snow.

~ Kennedy

The Beautiful Chase on a Chair

There is a w ld where e landscape looks almost like a chair.

When e people ea e, it sounds like a song.

When e people dance at night, it looks like a silhouette

Where ere are no cars so it looks like a beautiful chase

In is w ld ere are never too many opp tunities.

Rose Untitled

My hands hold the WORLD

My dreams make the clouds

My anger builds the mountains

My sadness fills the waters

My ideas create life ~ Tuesday

YESTERDAY YOU ASKED ME A PALACE FULL OF QUESTIONS. – ADA

Shadow Space Storms

In the city yesterday you asked me if there were shadow space storms

I mean, you said silhouette space storms and I said nope, no, nada, nill & you said WHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

A window of space and time is broken open A ball of darkness is released The construction of humankind.

*Our Goodbye*

Yesterday you told me something I should have known 1o0 years ago

You asked me, Is it over? Is the storm done? You cried.

The city went quiet a shadow grew inside your tired heart

A silhouette flew into your bitter lies stars from space filled in your tears

After you cried you looked in my eyes and said something I couldn't hear

-Ava H

Words are new

Connect the lines

Surprised You will be

Words crash into sentences

They never thought they would

Tell someone somebody somehow Somewhere ~ ava m

The Box Says

Open a box and hear it saying me, me, me.

Brave is me. I like brave. I eat a piece of brave bread.

Thoughtful bird gives me wings so I can soar over the sky.

A door is open and I walk in. It feels cold outside. I am cold inside.

The box says, Just be yourself

~ Noah

Mythica Flam

er i phoen insid m

Wit feather a color a wild ower i sprin , claw a sharp a spear , an bea of gol .

Sh ha bee her sinc th beginnin of tim , An believe th whol worl i her oyster. Everythin sh touche turn int beaut .

Whe th tim come , sh wil burs int ame . Sh wil instantl b rebor fro her ashe

Wit al her wisdo an glor .

I cr poo of platinu pearl

Unti I soar o her bac agai .

nall fre fro thi dungeo of worrie . Ad .

Floating

My heart is full of feelings feelings of doubt

When I write, it all goes away like wind blowing leaves off the ground I become the leaves moving swiftly across the floor

I’m floating in mid air

writing my thoughts out on a cloud ~ Ali

THOUGHTS AND THUNDER

the soft rain pats the outside of your window you hear the soft sound of the wind blowing the leaves you stare outside at watery puddles that shine bright in the moonlight

the thunder strikes into your mind where all your thoughts and dreams are you jump from thought to thought and dream to dream without thinking

the dreams and thoughts float around you like they’re in the water you sit in a dream and stare into the black abyss below you I wonder why have I been keeping my thoughts and dreams to myself?

~ BEN

The Monster In You

Brave is what I was

Open is what I wish I was

The hope drains out of me

A door opens, it’s a chance

Just take it, I think

That’s the wrong thought

The real me crawls out

The kindness drains out like water in your hands

The real me is a monster

~ Harlow

T he�� �� a d���h�� i�s��� o� m�

w i�� p���� li�� �h� �e�s�� I ��s� I a�w��� w��.

T he ����l ��in�� � p�� o� c����

al��� t�� �es� ���s� �u�d��i��s.

A ba���r��a �� t�� �ig ���� ho�� �h��e �h�� ��ve.

I t �a��s �� �an� �� r�� o�� �f ��e h���e,

s��a�g�� d��� to ��� s�a, an� �� t�� �ol���n ���id�.

~ Iy�a

Ther ' Tige i M

I ha teet lik shar

fu lik a Arcti f

Pa tha ca gri

L e tha ru fas

A hea tha i wil an bra v

Eye tha ca se anythin

Ea tha ca hea fo mile

A tige i wha I a

~ No N .

Just Life

Words make me tired, just wanna stuff my head into a pillow, Connect the unfinished lives with one another or they will be alone, Surprise your mother and be the vanished father, Suddenly hopes are disappearing into a dark basement called moving on, Tell my dreams to come back to me. <3

~ JuJu : )

Music to My Ears

Riding your bike down the road

Hearing all

The joy ful music

Fat Cat

Words are meaningless

Connect to yourself

Surprise is only fake

Suddenly a bird falls like a leaf. Tell yourself lies but meaning the truth.

in your head

Skipping

Through

Rows of roses

Listening to dogs bark

Seeing dancers dancing in the yard

As the warm sun shines in your

Face

Feeling grateful

-Kasi

To be alive ~ Rae

Wings As if I Were Dreaming….

My unicorn has fur like an angel

Teeth as subtle as a baby's skin with a touch of magic. In the unicorn s mind I know somewhere there could be

Room for someone like me

If they look deep down

Through a drought of thoughts and storms

My unicorn will find me.

My unicorn has a heart made infinite.

Moves like a shooting star in the night

~ Amai

Handsome Meatloaf

The meat in the fridge is always looking snazzy when i bite off a piece of him i always go for more He's different compared to the other meats because his flavor’s the best of them all.

He's always ready for dinner whether my mom cooks him or not but today we finally finished him and here comes the new pizza. ~ sidney

INFECTION

Stand up.

It's a game of tag, you don’t know who’s It.

There's a friend who waves hello.

Is he trusted or is he a foe?

There's a tagger, do you think they are innocent?

Your gut is your feeling and you should trust it.

The sounds of the feet start chasing you.

Run or else you will be defeated.

Look, a secret hatch! A window in your class.

A happy ending at last.

~ Phoenix

5A

IMAGINE IF PEOPLE COULD READ YOUR THOUGHTS. WELL, YOU’RE READING MINE.

– LUKA

My inner poet is a monkey

My Thoughts

Filled with lots of energy Yet calm and curious.

We live in the wild. Jump from tree to tree with our friends.

We like candy and ice cream for dessert. We get bananas for christmas and halloween. We’re slightly furious.

~ Bob

If pigs could fly, would they choose to?

If dinosaurs were still alive would we be friends with them or would we despise them?

If life was a fairytale, life would always go smoothly.

Imagine if people could read your thoughts. Well you ' re reading mine.

Will robots take over one day?

I don't know if my questions will ever be answered. -Luka

Strange Mind

My inner poet is a strange girl Her hair is as white as ocean foam. She is pale and young. She doesn’t like to talk, just create, and work for what she wants. She runs so free in her home, but where she lives is full of trees to climb all day. She thinks she is a witch with magic spells. She is not who she thinks she is. She is bigger. She has dresses that queens wear. She dances and plays in the ocean and reads mysteries in her father ’s library. She draws majestic lands. She make life wonderful in her mind and in her eyes.

~ Ava

Maybe They Were

The last hour, the last second will always end in shadow.

Horses dying by the dozens for the winters to come.

You wore clothes of elves, sky, and death.

We wrote the way we lived.

The same way that was written thousands of times before.

Maybe our lives were never meant to meet.

Maybe they were.

~ Carter

My inner poet is an unknown human, an outcast. A person thrown into the dumps. He hides in the back of everywhere. Once you see him, boom! He’s gone as soon as you blink.

He doesn’t care about the laws of physics or any laws at all What he cares about is himself

He’s oblivious to the outside world. He wears a black coat, a dark blue pair of shoes, and long black pants. He carries a pencil and a notebook. He doesn't get bored using his pencil, he could write for hours.

But really he hides, he waits, he waits for the rain, it makes it easier for him to write He watches each and every drop and names them

He calls his friends all the time. He doesn't really care what they wear as long as they don’t get caught going into alleyways and trash cans.

He has a tiny phone, about the size of a grown man's thumb It fits on his ear He looks like a construction worker He has superpowers, but he doesn’t show them

~ Calvin

THE REFLECTION OF ART

Ar t feels passionate

Ar t lives in a beautiful place the Art room

it’s a creative utopia where you can feel free

Ar t likes to soar through the canvas with its mighty fine brush

Maybe Ar t feels blue today or yellow maybe green or purple

Ar t is never stressed

Ar t is what calms me down

~ Dakota

The Land of Fear

Over there the wind blows with the laboring breath of working people

Thoughts of bravery would only dare to dream about that place

They work day and night trying to find peace

Roaming free is only a distant thought

Who will venture there first

Maybe someone who needs adventure

Maybe someone who needs to go free to go somewhere instead of being cooped up in regular life

~ Yuki

My inner poet: My inner poet is a perspective. Her knife is at the throat of reality.

The hairs on her neck always stick up because imaginative shivers down her spine.

She has a purse. It holds the concept of infinity and the absence of light.

She ventures through fiction and truth to find carefully articulated words.

She is neither animate or inanimate; she is just there.

Her hand is always in mine.

She lives both below and above time.

She wears the past as a gown. She makes it work.

SLARSH!

~Margalo

My Inner Poet is a Friendly Ghost. ��

It has three eyes devil horns, and elf ears quite abnormal, actually

It likes to eat polished stones popcorn and Chinese food Its name is anonymous

It writes in an airy, environmental study full of plants

Sometimes it snows It likes it when it rains

It lives in a cottage in a meadow where it's always daytime

There are glowing crystals in all shapes with a portal to different seasons

It sits in a waterfall and writes it listens to music and stares outside the window into a different dimension

It can see, hear, touch, smell anything around it, even though it's a ghost

The message it’s saying is:

Where does my mind go? (silence)

It starts humming the tune that's on my mind

~ Dharma

Why Do Chickens Fight

Over a chunky lake

Brave chickens fight

They eat buildings while Roaming the 20th centur y

When it is day they a r e

Mowing the lawn

Instead of taking out the trash

Hello, Silhouette

I have found my inner poet, and it is something very slow, but fast. Extremely cold, as cold as its soul that does not exist. It is a silhouette of a child, who is standing in the rain. The silhouette only wants to appear at night, as we all sleep, but the silhouette stays awake. It’s a person who does not have a name or a gender. It’s also not a person, just a silhouette, who likes to be soaked in the rain. Ifyou try to see it at night, you will see the gray fog it leaves behind as it trails away to find the next storm. Gone.

Goodbye, Silhouette.

~ Catherine

The wrong rules

Horses running in a meadow all of us playing tag

We wrote the rules

Maybe they were wrong ~ Jaxon

The Silver Shadows

The silver shadows amongst the room Watch down on us the impact that they make

Is almost controlling your every step they have power over you there but they are not here they see you but you don’t see them ~ Layla

The Shore is My Mind

My inner poet is a wave

When it doesn't crash I’m stuck, stuck on anything can't think, can't focus, can't do

But when that wave crashes I get so many ideas the most random ideas

Animals live in it ideas live in it the wave eats them and takes them to shore

The shore is my mind and the wave brings them to me Objects wash away into the ocean the wave brings them back All the trash in the ocean or on the beach are my idea ~Steele

The Ice of the Future

The Handle of Expectations obstructs

The Velcro of Reality

The Nail of Pi makes

The Pin of Lies quiver

The Tote Bag of Secrets lets it blow over

The Hairbrush of the Past does not

The Leather of Love

The Finger of the Phantom

The Glasses of Spirit

The Calculator of Life Can't calculate everything ~ Joey

Rome's Glory

The Colosseum of Entertainment

Brings the life of hell

And the freedom of Rome

Brings slaves to heroes

And entertainment to the crowd

The ghost of warriors

And the spirit of hope

~ Ryder

My Hippo with Wings

My inner poet is a hippopotamus with wings

He lives in Best Buy, eats lasers And plays EA Sports

He’s three feet tall and very plump

He can breathe fire

Through his big blue nostrils

He flies through the mall And picks up food stands And brings them back to Best Buy

My inner poet makes me feel like Taking him for a joyride

All around the mall

~ Thatcher

Someone called Liv

I am a lion.

I can be fierce, yet I can be loving

My eyes can see everything

Yet It's like I'm not here

People are scared of lions

No one ’ s scared of me

I am a brain

Smart yet helpless

Squishy and vulnerable

Relying on the shielding of the skull

I am a baseball

I fly far, but I can’t go anywhere without the strength of someone else

5B

IF THE WORLD STARTS TO SQUISH YOU LIKE A GRAPE, THEN RETREAT TO YOUR WATERMELON OF AN IMAGINATION.

– LILY

Touching the Music

I have not felt the hot, icy days of Antarctica summers.

I have not seen the salty water of The Dead Sea in Israel, Where everything floats, and nothing sinks.

I have felt the way the music sounds at a live concert, Like I can reach out and touch it.

I have spent cold, dark, rainy days in New York City. They give me emotion, it twirls through the small tunnels of my head.

I have not seen the Great Wall of China, It’s many million miles stretched through the country

I can almost feel the dusty, cracked walls Of an old red brick apartment building in Paris.

I have not seen the pink trees of Japan, Floating through the air

I have eaten strawberry ice cream in Colorado, when I was a baby.

Joey

Fortn te battle pass

If you don't eat pie what is wrong with you

Then I will be mad at

You and when I'm mad at you I will

Almost pause your game so why don't you

Tell me if you like pie

~ Rollins

The Farm of Forgiveness

On the Farm of Forgiveness, the Pig of Time meditates in its Pen of Tranquility.

The infamous Sheep of Love, dyed pink like a Tulip of Hope, dwindles and grazes in the soft lush grass inside its pen. Baa!

As the Dog of Stars passes by, glittering golden sparks of the prettiest, but tamed, fire chase after the Chickens of Emotions, any emotion you can think of.

The Farmer of Life rides on their Horse of Imagination, herding the escaped Cow of Intelligence, wisping through the open air

As the Cat of Laziness sleeps in the Barn of Color, high above the fields, laying on the softest hay, made of happiness.

Wisps of tiny diamonds made of cold ocean air fly by at quick speeds, faster than the Dandelions of Hopes and Dreams coming to be delivered to you.

~ Bryn

The Future

Will the water always flow - my heart says it will Am I going to love you - only the future knows

My head is feeling like night - can you see the stars

Are we going to New York - let’s see everything

~ Sasha

senses explode

The eyes of dreams can see thoughts

The emotion of wonder can create dreams

The tip of the rollercoaster can spark feelings

The shoelace of sadness can be untied into something happy

The world is a sound that can be released

The universe is a photograph that floats as light as stars

~ atlas

I H v S

I have not seen the Holy Grail

But I have touched the sky

I have heard a songbird

Cry In his first flight

With shifting blue feathers

And a beautiful, vibrant tail

I have not heard of failure

But I have touched success

A warmth deep inside all of us

As we go exploring in our left mind

A wave of song and color

Shifting in the wind

I have not rubbed a bronze statue’s toe

But I have touched the ocean

A towering wave to a surfer

But to a viewer , just a foot

To try enduring

What life has to offer

~ Lily

Why I Want a DOG!!!

I have not Heard a dog barking to wake me up

But I have Been stuck at home without a friend.

I have not Been to Paris To eat a macaron under the Ei el Tower.

I have not Felt the fur of a dog Or the feeling of a cow

But I have Been to New York, the city Where it never sleeps.

I see spots of color when I close my eyes for bed And dream of where I would want to go

~ Stella

You and Me

I had run from the pain \ You embraced it all

My box had nothing but weeds \ Yours had flowers

All my dreams crumbled to dust \ But yours flew

I wanted the universe \ You needed nothing

~ Rory

GONE

You started something so special that when it went away, my heart and lungs grasped my rib cage for oxygen

I stared at the floor as despair went to waste in the air You startled yourself and your personality, just left like it was nothing

I stood there watching time collapse

We stopped being us and slowly became that

~ Pepper

Night Sky

Stars float over the earth in a flurry of light

If you bring your shoes and go to the canyon at night and look at the stars

They will look like floating pieces of paper against the edges of the world

Picture this in your mind

I don’t think you will remember it in a few days.

~ Wyatt

How.Why.When.

when the wind just happens how, how does a tiny exhale make a huge difference in the world

fourteen times i have thought fourteen times i have failed to give an answer

the answer will remain unknown until you find it rivers flow with the wind the wind flies with the flow of the river

erase time erase space erase us

why do you only erase the pencil on a page when you could erase so much more

F o u r t e e n

When the wind picks up, a leaf falls from an autumn tree, just Fourteen, and I don t know myself yet,

I m supposed to have it all figured out,

I ve told myself I know who I am

But I don t, I don t know who I am

The stars align, that night, a 14, 14

I can t make life just magically align itself, like stars,

But the rivers run rampant, and I m tired of waiting for 15

Then 16, 17, 18, I m not ready

Erase my mind, please

I can t think with society pushing stereotypes

And what they think is help

Please just help

14, but still 4, I am that little kid

Staring up at what seemed like a big building,

Walking in when 11, 12, 13

I ve lived 5 years here, wanting to escape, wanting to stay

I never thought I d make it to 14

That seemed so old, I would have figured it out before then

But now I m 14, just 14, which seemed like such a large number .

All those years ago

~ Olivia

Overgrowth

I have not Been to Japan

But I have Gone to Costa Rica

The calm whistles of the birds

With their bright, bright feathers

I watch them drink water Coming from the pond over there

I have never Seen a giant cave

But I have seen A Rubix cube

Being solved in under 10 seconds

With its different pallets of colors

Orange, red, green, blue, yellow, white

The glossy sides from the different angles

I have never heard A rocket shoot up into the sky

But I have heard

The annoying sound of Flies in my ears

With their white, see-through wings

Clustering in swarms

Impossible to catch

I have never tasted and smelled

The overgrowth living inside the sidewalks

But I have tasted and smelled

The sizzling steak

That cooks on top of the red, orange, and white fire

The smell of the oils that come from it

The easy slice and dice when cutting it up and all the juices come out

TOXIC PHOTOGRAPH

Your image is toxic like a photograph It can easily be torn in half and there are fake people who become your friend for status and then leave whether it’s about your wealth, sexuality, or height they’re all stupid Barbie rules

everyone has to be Barbie and Ken over and over and the toxic part is hidden by fake fantasy

pink and blue but is it so crazy if a girl likes blue and a boy likes pink toxic toxic toxic

that's the key word here, get it society is trying run our lives like a simulation now people want to get lip filler or implants and I support that but they feel that they have to it’s horrible, get it life is the photograph of toxicity

Sincerely, who knows any more

~ Zach

The Hat.

I stood on a cat who stood on a rat who stood on a bat who stood on a hat who stood on a neon red cat who stood on a neon blue rat who stood on a neon green bat who stood on a neon ye ow hat and everyone fe off.

~ Luca

P OP A RT AND poetry IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Pop Art speaks to young people with its clean lines, bright colors, and whimsical iconography! Our 6 th, 7th and 8th graders explored these elements in Art this year.

Pop Art reached its peak in th e turbulent 1960s, a period of rapid social change in the United States Seismic shifts were happening at the same time in poetry, as new literary movements rebel led against the constraints of the past — in form and in content.

In class this fall, our students read work by poets from the New York School, OuLiPo, Deep Image, Beat, and feminist movements. Philosophies and techniques varied greatly; common to all was the profound urge to express identity.

Within these pages you will see some of the “model” poems we studied in class— most were written during the time; others were empowered by it. Best of all, you’ll see how our middle school poets experimented with these themes and approaches.

Whether they chose conversational , confessional, playful, math-oriented, or image-rich styles, Willows’ 6 th, 7th and 8th grade students crafted their own unique vehicles to share vibrant thoughts, words, and feelings.

6A

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A BEYOND BUT THERE IS ONLY A PRESENT. YOU BROUGHT THE GRASS TO THE DIRT, THE WATER TO THE OCEAN.

– BLAKE

MODEL POEM

Your Poem, Man . . . unless there’s one thing seen suddenly against another--a parsnip sprouting for a President, or hailstones melting in an ashtray-nothing really happens. It takes surprise and wild connections, doesn’t it? A walrus chewing on a ballpoint pen. Two blue taillights on Tyrannosaurus Rex. Green cheese teeth. Maybe what we wanted least. Or most. Some unexpected pleats. Words that never knew each other till right now. Plug us into the wrong socket and see what blows--or what lights up. Try untried circuitry, new fuses. Tell it like it never really was, man, and maybe we can see it like it is.

~ Edward Lueders

color bleeding

one year, i carried the blues around like a baby. sure, my coffee mugs cupped

amethysts :: water gushed, rose-tinted and -scented, from the faucets at my touch :: the air orange with butterflies that never left me. meanwhile, indigo held fast to my toes :: lapis lapped my fingertips ::

and a hue the shade of mermaid scales bolted through my hair like lightning.

my eyelids drooped, fell, heavy with sky. that year i carried the blues around

left me mean :: while indigo held fast, the daily news tattooed azure to my back. true, festivals of lilies buoyed me. but what

good could white do? the blues grow like shadows in late sun :: stretch creep run.

~ Evie Shockley

Poem

I’m in the house. It’s nice out: warm sun on cold snow. First day of   spring or last of   winter. My legs run down the stairs and out the door, my top half   here typing.

~ Ron Padgett

MODEL POEM

MODEL POEM

Turquoise

In third grade I thought that turquoise was the best color ever

When I was told to write an essay and We were allowed to color it I knew I was going to pick turquoise

When it was on the laptop it looked okay

I thought it was going to look better once I printed it out

But When my teacher printed out my essay It made me go blind for a sec and once I opened my eyes the color was talking to me

And it said, WAIT GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE I CAN DO BETTER NEXT TIME

But I didn’t trust the color, so I said, “If you wanted me to trust you, you should have shown me Who you really were!”

~ Lara

Tautogram

Fred’s friends f lew for fun.

Fred’s family f lew for fun.

Fred's family frantically f lew fifty feet.

Freaked from f lying,

Fred’s family f lopped from fifteen feet.

Fred f licked f lies for fun.

Fred f licked five f lies for fun.

Fred formed fine friends.

Fred’s friends frantically found

Fred falling from fifty feet.

Fred’s finished.

~ Andrew

Nothing

When you said that you would Absolutely bring bread ` I thought you would There you are Standing in my room You brought nothing :(

~ Vivi

T TIME

Time is a precious thing.

Tomorrow, today will be the past.

Time goes quickly.

There is no telling how long things will be the same.

Today, I could wear my favorite jacket.

This time next year, it could be gone.

Talent fades with time.

Teammates do too.

~ Arden

Yellow

After Evie Shockley

One day I held the color yellow while backpacking.

T he Last Year

One year I said hi

As we talked we became friends

Then we lost that

It was like a rain cloud

It would come and go

Many years went by

Soon we were best friends

Seeing each other all the time

Then it happened

As the pur ple hit to black

I had to leave

No matching dresses for graduation

No seeing each other that often

No strong friendship

No Snack Shack

Goodbye, friend

Goodbye, John Thomas Dye

~ Chloe

I felt miserable as the backpack carried me down the hill.

I kept taking small steps. I wouldn’t let yellow fall out of my hands.

The sun glared down at me as I slowly got sunburned

That wouldn’t keep me from holding onto yellow.

I closed my eyes and imagined myself making it to the end.

The butterflies flapped their tiny wings and vanished into the forest .

And I kept holding the color yellow.

~ Elettra

Carrying Colors

After Evie Shockley

1 day I carried pink around

It popped up everywhere I looked

From the halls to my bedroom

1 month I carried yellow around

It made the sun brighter than it ever could have been My day was just better with yellow

1 year I carried green around

The bushes spoke out to me

Whispering my name

2 years I carried red around

Blood gushing everywhere

No one could stop it

3 years I carried purple around

Stole the light

Stole the attention

Stole me

After that I was never bothered by colors again ~ Jordyn

The Year I Carried the Earth After Evie Shockley

One year two parents yet one

Two houses yet one

The year I carried the earth on my back

Lots of tears lots of memories

Lots of love yet none at all

Loneliness at my side happiness far away

Reassurance gone pain coming

Years of smiles and rainbows

Now thunder and lighting

Shoulders low, head tilted down

Eyes filled with rain

The color black shined even when day was near

The night where every door felt closed

The hour when the ocean burned like sand dunes

The week I felt the weight of my brain on my feet

The year that would never leave my memory

The year everything changed

The year nothing made sense

The year I carried the earth on my back

~ Blake

If There Was an Explosion

After Edward Lueders

If there was an explosion, then suddenly there would be an octopus running for president, rain becoming acid, new brain sockets. Everything happens but sometimes you just can't see it. Explosions and crazy interchanges. A cow chewing on a tractor. Four LED Lights on a pterodactyl. Pink Pasta ears. Maybe what we were looking for, or some weird concoction. Words that we had no idea were real until right now.

~ Jackson Green

It was spring in Hawaii and we were walking through a forest. The one thing I saw: green. Mountains of green, and huge trees of it, too. Each type of green had a different hue, from the dark green leaves to the bright lime grass. The green was so powerful I was in awe of it all.

Everything was green, short or tall. Green was my favorite. I loved it so much. The green everywhere made me feel nature’s touch.

~ Asher

Rain on a Sunny Day

I am in the car

It is raining

I breathe in and out

The air fresh and cold

I feel water on my jacket

It is rare for it to rain in L.A.

But when it does it creates a different mood

I feel suddenly happy

And here we are on a sunny day

The same day that it rained - Drew

Nervous Legs

I’m in the house

I’m playing Madden

I’m destroying Drew by 30

And it’s a nice, warm, sunny day

The first of February

Ready for my football game

Nervous but excited

Feeling the breath

Ready to overcome my fear

My legs run down the stairs and out the door

My head is ready to win

~ Philip

Feeling Extra Green

One day I felt green inside.

The bright sun beaming down the GREEN grass.

Not hot, not cold.

Playing soccer and shooting on a large GREEN goal with a GREEN soccer ball.

The sun reflecting off of shiny mist making a miniature faint rainbow with shades of GREEN.

Green trees, green hills, green bushes, green grass.

I’m seeing a pattern here.

I lay on the grass.

I had some green cereal this morning. Maybe that's why I’m feeling extra green.

Huh.

The grass is very talkative today.

~ Miles

Grey

A man sits in his house on his computer

The fireplace roars as cars rush through the cold streets to get to work Rain pours through the gloomy grey clouds

A steaming mug sits atop a book on a table next to him

He reaches out to grab it as he looks out of the glass wall

The rain d r i p s off the guard rail of his balcony It slips and F

onto passerbys’ umbrella

The big city skyscrapers are covered in fog

The man looks back to his computer

He types and types

On and on

As long as the rain is falling

The skies are grey

And the clouds are here

He will write

~ Max

6B

I AM PERFECTLY COOKED LIKE MY BELOVED CHICKEN SANDWICH.

– DYLAN

~ Harry Mathews

Today I am

Today I am a gallery; my walls breathing colour, inviting ideas from the shadows into the visiting light of the present.

Today I am a book, worlds recalled between my pages; lives exchanged and invigorated, crafting the everyday anew.

Today I am a page of paper; paint teasing my surface, the touch of eyes and hands guiding the intimate dance of the brush.

A vision: alive exposed

Today, I am art.

~ Lola Koundakjian, translated by Maia Brown

The Forecast

Perhaps our age has driven us indoors. We sprawl in the semi-darkness, dreaming sometimes Of a vague world spinning in the wind. But we have snapped our locks, pulled down our shades, Taken all precautions. We shall not be disturbed. If the earth shakes, it will be on a screen; And if the prairie wind spills down our streets

And covers us with leaves, the weatherman will tell us.

~ Dan Jaffe, 1964

am the text which begins sparely, assuming magnitude constantly, perceptibly proportional, incorporating unquestionable incrementations.

All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace

I like to think (and the sooner the better!) of a cybernetic meadow where mammals and computers live together in mutually programming harmony like pure water touching clear sky. I like to think (right now, please!) of a cybernetic forest filled with pines and electronics where deer stroll peacefully past computers as if they were flowers with spinning blossoms.

I like to think (it has to be!) of a cybernetic ecology where we are free of our labors and joined back to nature, returned to our mammal brothers and sisters, and all watched over by machines of loving grace.

~ Richard Brautigan

Wins and Losses

Soccer

Soccer is me

Soccer calms me

Soccer riles me up

Soccer, soccer field

Teammates, players

Coach, coaches, club

Goalie, defense, back,

Midfield, middle, striker

Forward, kicks, goal kicks

Corner kicks, kicks up the field

Goals, celebrating with your team

Playing hard, giving effort, dribbling

Tackles, floppers, floppers are annoying

Tall Building Dancer

after Lola Koundakjian, as translated by Maia Brown

Today I am a shoe

Walking on the ground

Amongst all the humans

Feeling the cold concrete

Today I am a tall building

Overlooking the people

The clouds crowd my windows

Footsteps inside of me

Today I am a dancer

The flow of the music

The point of my shoe

The lace of the tutu

A vision: Ready Free

Today I am me

~ Brooklyn

Going through rough and great times with the team

Coach yelling, don’t worr y, they just want you to give effort

Wins and losses, don’t worry, you have your team through it all

Your team is like a family to some, not all, but to me most definitely

~ Bella

Cas���g ��� F is���g L��e. A er D�� � e, 1964

May�� �y ���er���o� h�� t���ed ��� w���d.

I c�a l �� h� �i�h�, al�� s ��a��,

Not � ���ne� �� �r�i .

W e h��� o��n�� o� d�o� , op���� t�e �n�� s, le� �n� ��fe ��.

Bre����g ��e r��� . Let���g ��� jo� p����.

I f ��e d�� ��me�, ev�� �ne ���l �� at���n�,

I f ��e w��� s���s, we ���l ��� o�r ��a �s.

An� i� s��� hi�� b��� , we ���l �� t o�� h��� li�� . ~ Jam��

10 Lines

1 Person writing a poem

2 Puzzle pieces fitting together perfectly

3 Empty canvases waiting to be painted on

4 Clouds traveling in the sky

5 Waves splashing in the ocean

6 Dancers ready to take the stage

7 Bees buzzing in the garden

8 Claps from the audience

9 Books being read in a library

10 lines make the end of this poem

~ Sydney

Popping Bubbles

I never learned how to blow bubbles.

The way they used to float.

How they would go pop pop pop.

Where would they end up?

Why would they pop when I boop them?

I don’t know how they're made.

I do know that they can be all shapes and sizes—

PPOPP!

~ Ben

Find a Way

After Dan Jaffe, 1964

Somehow life has changed and left us to wonder

We want to find the light, always waiting for the future.

Now a vivid city, still like the center of space. Although with all that has been said, we close other doors, don't think about our actions.

We hide and tell ourselves we are doing the right thing.

If the world burns, we will never know. We are so trapped in our own heads we don't stop to communicate. We are free to do what we want, but we will never know what to do with freedom.

~ Dylan

T he Guiding W ind

I am the wind that’s guiding your arrow that stri kes your targets now I’m gone I say goodbye And you wi ll too leaves wi ll fall you are the user of me and I am wind the am I

The Wind Comes Tomorrow

I Am The Wind Blowing

Wondering

How to become

Part of the world

We live in tomorrow

Asking around sea and sky

Speaking questions to find answers

Hearing everything in the world people say Not just the people, the sky the sea the animals

Crying out for someone to acknowledge who they are

Traveling in and out of time solving people's dreaming

Changing the way people think about one another and the Way we feel for each other, not knowing what it will become

~ Edyn

Katchow

I never learned that the average lifespan of a pigeon is 6 years

The way Lightning McQueen drives makes me say KACHOW

How old is the oldest pigeon?

Where is this pigeon?

Why is Chick-fil-A not open on Sundays? What are they hiding?

I don’t know why

I do know the average lifespan of a pigeon ~ Emma

Untitled

I never learned how to not be loved

The way life's meant to be lived is to be happy

How people care for you makes you feel a certain way

Where the people you care for are happy you are happy

Why can’t everyone be in a good place with a good family

I don’t know why people hurt others when they are hurting themselves

I do know that when you’re with the right people they will make you feel loved and appreciated

~ Sage

Forgotten and Found

after Lola Koundakjian, as translated by Maia

Today I am a box

I store memories and junk

You’ll always be eager to know what I hold

I am forgotten then found again.

Today I am a disco ball

I’m bright and colorful, I spin around

On a light-up dance floor

I’m the final touch to an awesome party

I’ll always make you smile.

Today I am a marker

I make masterpieces and doodles

Brown

Whatever I draw on something it becomes something different

Something more.

~ Lila

The Vague World After Dan Jaffe, 1964

Perhaps dreaming in the semi-darkness wasn’t a good idea. But then there is a deer, in a meadow, and water spills and covers us

Suddenly, the vague world disappears I see a bright sky, then a screen, and kids our age And I realize I just slept through an entire science presentation

~ Michael

What is Life?

Perhaps there is no life.

Perhaps life is about being happy, like being in a meadow

Perhaps life is a lesson to acknowledge all of the other animals, like deer.

Perhaps life is semi-darkness.

Perhaps life is semi-light.

Perhaps our life is on a screen for other people to see.

Perhaps, in a vague world somewhere, there is another life.

Perhaps our life is a spilled glass of water.

Perhaps our life is a miracle

Perhaps there is an object or substance that covers us, protecting our life.

Perhaps there is more life somewhere beyond the sky.

What is life?

~ Isaac

Cyber-ia

After Richard Brautigan

Recently I had a dream . A dream where Siberia is Cyber-ia Where trees have motherboards and leaves made of wires. It all comes together like Rick and Morty, PB and J.

It’s all one, it knows.

It knows that the wires run through the land like food goes through our stomach and out the other end.

Cheese is bussin like Cyber-ia.

Thank you so much… For coming to my Ted Talk.

~ Rafa

The Meadow

After Dan Jaffe, 1964 perhaps a meadow draws on paper in semi-darkness and dreams of deer eating Campbell's tomato soup from one of the paintings on the screen in a vague world where water spills and covers us from the sky

~ Conor

6C

OUR WORLD NEEDS HELP, BUT OUR HELP DOESN’T HELP.

Self-Portrait With and Without (excerpts)

With dried cranberries. Without a driver’s license. With my mother’s mother’s worry. Without, till recently, my father’s glasses. With an A in English, a C in chemistry. With my mother saying, You have to be three times better than the white kids, at everything. Without a dog or cat. With a fish. With a fish I talked to before bed, telling him my ideas for new kinds of candy. With a tutor in Mandarin. With the 1986 low-budget live-action TV version of Journey to the West. With Monkey King’s quest for redemption, Buddhism through monster-of-the-week battle sequences. With thinking I’ve grown up now because I regularly check the news in the morning…

With my mother’s multilayered worry. With my brothers, my brothers. With the cry of bats. With the salt of circumstance. Without citizenship. With the white boy in ninth grade who called me ugly. Without my father, for a year, because he had to move away, to the one job he could find, on the other side of the state. With his money, transferred to my mother. With William Carlos Williams. With the local library. With yet another bake sale for Honduras in Massachusetts suburbia. With the earthquake in my other country. With my mother’s long-distance calls, sighs of relief. With my aunt’s calls from China, when the towers fell. How far are you from New York? How far are you from New York? With the footprint of a star….

~ Chen Chen

A Pitiful World

The Forecast

Perhaps our age has driven us indoors. We sprawl in the semi-darkness, dreaming sometimes Of a vague world spinning in the wind. But we have snapped our locks, pulled down our shades, Taken all precautions. We shall not be disturbed. If the earth shakes, it will be on a screen; And if the prairie wind spills down our streets And covers us with leaves, the weatherman will tell us.

~ Dan Jaffe, 1964

After Dan Jaffe, 1964

Perhaps the indoors has aged our souls too soon.

We love at hig h noon dreaming of the future, of a pi tiful world full of war and pollution.

We have gone underground for protection from the bombs bursting in air, yet the flags are still there

We are taking precautions too seriously, doing nothing wi th our lives, tr ying to be free!

If the earth shakes, then we will feel i t in our souls, the freedom that once was there is now nowhere to be found,

If the earth throws things at us, we don’t g ive up, and when the earth protects us, we hurt i t.

Please stop!! We hurt the earth wi thout knowing.

But not just that, We are hurting ourselves.

~ Lorne

Digital Alligators

Just when you start typing

47 screen-sized alligators show up

You turn off your computer and turn it back on

But miniature versions of the alligators are now texting you

And some are dancing on your keyboard

At least they’re not taking up the whole screen

Every time you type

Race Day in Austin

Just when I thought the race was going to be boring, Red Bull messes up a pitstop and Verstappen is mad.

47 laps in and Verstappen is closing in on Hamilton.

You turned up to see the 20 drivers race but Sainz is out and didn’t even finish one of 56 laps.

Braking into turn 12, Verstappen makes a move.

Alligators in the swamps sleep in the mud just like Sainz coming out of turn 1.

But George Russell gets the fastest lap.

Dalton

Complete Darkness

After Dan Jaffe

Perhaps because of our age they think we can only see Semi-darkness but when we are dreaming we see the vague world filled with complete darkness

the only light is on a screen it shows a cup, filling up slowly it is said that when it spills we will finally be freed of the darkness that smothers and covers Us

With and Without After Chen Chen

With a big family Without my real dad With a best friend who I love unconditionally and who is always there for me With my mom saying to give it all I’ve got in every class. Without a fish or cat. With a dog that I spend most of my time with. With a stepdad that loves me unconditionally. Without the feeling that I am alone. With the one book my grandma and I have read since I was two years old. Without the person that has been through everything with me. Without the feeling of being safe as a girl in 2022. With covers at night to keep me warm. Without freedom. With my aunt's calls from New York. Without my favorite dog. With the feeling of love and warmth. Without Kobe and Gigi. With a black dad and a white mom.

~ Simone

With and without understanding

s �o s�� t � hi��.

W it� � c�� ed �� r� �u� t u� �c�� ar� � le���. W it� �s�� e r�� �t. W it� h� w i���n� � l �i l �� k u�. W it� h�� ok � � he �� d � o t�� p�� li�� c�� f N e� � k.

W it�� t�e r�� Jap��. W it�� t�e T��� co���r� � od ���t �� ma�� � fe�� ��t�e e�c� � d e�� y �� e I �m � n. W it�� te�� . W it�� an A + g�a��. W it�� a s�� � of

be�� g���. W it� � �c� �e�l��� in � s�o �c� h�� i � c � ta� r��� de� � k�e� � .

W it�� Asi�� �r�e��s. W it� � �ne�� c� o . W it� � � od ���� bu�. W it�� me.

~ Mason

The Weather Inside

After Dan Ja e, 1964 Perhaps youth has taken us inside. We lie in the evening, thinking of a not-so-sure world circling in the air. We’ve broken our locks, lowered our blinds, taken every possible precaution and we will not be disconnected If the world moves, we will see it all happening And if the meadow wind knocks out our roads and shelters us with apples, the storm chaser will inform us. Violet

Downtown Life

Downtown Portland

used to be so sweet and I want to go back But a crash might make me see a flash of art some art that I do not know

The meaning of it

the impact of it

is still important the impact Of art is irreversible

~ sonny

The Weather Inside

After Dan Ja e, 1964

Perhaps youth has taken us inside. We lie in the evening, thinking of a not-so-sure world circling in the air. We’ve locked ourselves inside, lowered our blinds, taken every possible precaution but we will not be disconnected. If the world moves, we will see it all happening And if the meadow wind knocks out our roads and shelters us with apples, the storm chaser will inform us

~ Violet

When I Look in the Mirror…

I think of myself as an Elf on the Shelf waiting to be wanted

I think of myself as a tiny street mouse wanting to be needed

I think of myself as a puzzle, my job is to make people wonder I think of myself as a riddle, trying to make brains crumble

I think of myself as a fly, seeing things in slow motion

I think of myself as an ant, wandering through the commotion

Or maybe I am a butterfly spreading its wings, learning to fly What if I was an airplane trying not to crash or let anyone die ~ Ava

Falling Safe

I'm lying down in my b ed. The soft blanket touches my skin as I curl up b eneath it.

A slow darkness comes over me I feel my b o dy relax as I fall asleep

I wake up instantly but not in my home I'm on a cloud that feels thinner than pap er

I feel like I'm floating. I lo ok up to see the bright stars ab ove me. I can see the sparkly yellow lights shining into my eyes

I instantly start falling. I lo ok down to see a big wide canyon b elow.

The sho es on my feet are the ones I wore on the first day of kindergarten

I see a small pit of water If I move myself I can land in it I'm going to o fast and I don’t think I can make it.

As I fall to the ground, I push against the earth hoping to somehow save myself

I wake up in a cold sweat I see my ro om with the photograph of a drawing my dad made for me

~ Beatrice

DISSOLVE THE WATER. POP THE FIRE.

Dream Song 14

Life, friends, is boring. We must not say so.

After all, the sky flashes, the great sea yearns, we ourselves flash and yearn, and moreover my mother told me as a boy

(repeatingly) ‘Ever to confess you’re bored means you have no

Inner Resources.’ I conclude now I have no inner resources, because I am heavy bored.

Peoples bore me, literature bores me, especially great literature, Henry bores me, with his plights & gripes as bad as achilles,

who loves people and valiant art, which bores me.

And the tranquil hills… look like a drag and somehow a dog has taken itself & its tail considerably away into mountains or sea or sky, leaving behind: me, wag.

~ John Berryman

~ Harry Mathews

Self-Portrait With & Without (excerpts)

With dried cranberries. Without a driver’s license. With my mother’s mother’s worry. Without, till recently, my father’s glasses. With an A in English, a C in chemistry. With my mother saying, You have to be three times better than the white kids, at everything. Without a dog or cat. With a fish. With a fish I talked to before bed, telling him my ideas for new kinds of candy. With a tutor in Mandarin. With the 1986 low-budget live-action

TV version of Journey to the West. With Monkey King’s quest for redemption, Buddhism through monster-of-the-week battle sequences. With thinking I’ve grown up now because I regularly check the news in the morning…

With my mother’s multilayered worry. With my brothers, my brothers. With the cry of bats. With the salt of circumstance. Without citizenship. With the white boy in ninth grade who called me ugly. Without my father, for a year, because he had to move away, to the one job he could find, on the other side of the state. With his money, transferred to my mother. With William Carlos Williams. With the local library. With yet another bake sale for Honduras in Massachusetts suburbia. With the earthquake in my other country. With my mother’s long-distance calls, sighs of relief. With my aunt’s calls from China, when the towers fell. How far are you from New York? How far are you from New York?

With the footprint of a star….

~ Chen Chen

Energy Bubbles — Like A Tea Kettle On High Thoughts Flicker — Like Thousands Of Fireflies At Night Flags Wave — Like Seeing A Relative At An Airport Who’s Been Missing You The Wind Sings — Like A Choir With Hundreds Of Voices All Working Together To Make Something Beautiful — Breaths Whisper—Like Little Kids Playing Hide And Seek — The Earth Spins — Like The Wheels On A Bike — Emotions Steam — Like Flowers, Clouding The Air With Their Different Scents — People Think — Like The Gears In A Clock — Numbers Keep On Going On And On — Like Generations Of A Family, On and On and On And On — Forever — Forever.

~ Ceylon

My Life With or Without.

After Chen Chen

With a house on the beach. Without a HUGE house. With a dog that I dogsit. Without my own dog. With my parents together. Without them together. With the show Stranger Things. Without scary movies With one grandpa Without two grandmothers With ballet Without jazz With being tall Without being tall With cookies Without sweet things

Without siblings. With best friends. With a private school advantage. With tennis. Without lessons. With Christmas in New York. Without being able to go for three years. With being born in 2011. Without being a teen.

~ Harlie

My World I

Am Him Look

A football

A touchdown

I love them a lot

I could never leave

It’s great, it makes me

Football is the best thing

Football is what makes me happy

I think you might be a lit tle c onfused

Football takes away stress and builds my life

The people you get into a huddle with they're your family

If i never knew what football meant i would be missing my life

If i never knew what football meant i would be missing my life

The people you get into a huddle with they’re your family

Football takes away stress and builds my life

I think you might be a lit tle c onfused

Football is what makes me happy

Football is the best thing

It’s great, it makes me

I could never leave

I love them a lot

A touchdown

A football Look Him

Am I ~ Liam C

Restoring Joy

The welcoming hand reaches out to greet me

I ho� �n h �� in�

A white shadow catches my eye, I try not to be distracted

Together we rise from the darkness

I find a moment of clarity, looking at

What's beyond

It comes: the wind blowing on my face for the first time in ages

A sea of clouds fogs my vision

B h

I touch the sun

I feel something deep within

An ocean of thoughts swirling around my head

Is here where I’m meant to be?

~ Cotton

With My Jersey On

After Chen Chen

With my jersey on and without my jersey on. Two totally different people, both in the same body. Without my jersey on, I'm hyper and crazy. Talking too much is probably obnoxious to some, but that's just who I am. But with my jersey on I’m focused and engaged. I block everything out. I’m a changed person.

With people and without people. With people, I'm very excited and it's hard to get bored. I always find a way to entertain myself. But when I'm alone, usually lying down on my bed chilling to music, most people probably think I'm playing video games. Surprisingly enough I'm not. I'm probably just scrolling through TikTok or seeing if someone wants to hang out.

~ Liam B.

The Encyclopedia After John Berryman

Fluff! Clouds are calm, I must say, mmm! I yawn while I sleep in the air

While creatures hunt you live a life you will remember

To show you’re happy Is to own yes

I am an encyclopedia I have all the knowledge

Animals awe me, dogs control me, with their whines and eyes

As good as Zeus who hates hate, which amazes me

The zen mountains look climbable

Somewhere an eagle Has taken its wings and soars higher than ever

Into the deep white clouds

In front: you, soaring.

~ Joshua

Memory.

I am the stars in the sky .

I am the rain on every cloudy day.

I am memory, the way it slowly fades away. The ones we want to keep are the ones we don't.

~ Liliana

Bore Me/Intrigue Me

After John Berryman

Words without pictures bore me. But butterflies with faces on their wings don’t.

Seeing the letter A turned into a triangle makes me wonder why. But seeing the candle aisle in Target makes me think “I hope it never ends!”

Diving boards bore me, not because I think I can jump off them. But an overwhelming amount of paint chips at Ace Hardware doesn't.

Saying the words, “I’m going to New York!” is fun. But actually being there isn't.

Pokadots bore me and make me hate the artist who chose them. But see-through aprons with paint stains in every color intrigue me.

Carpeted floors aren't interesting. Fire extinguishers are.

Kids trying to make conversation make me think, “When can I leave?” But tangerines in fall keep me guessing.

The color red is boring.

Trying to be a lobster is way more exciting.

~ Jordan

I just wrote something down.

I don’t know what it is exactly. But I know it is here and it is mine. My mind goes

T of creativity. I

If I didn’t round that corner, where would I be? Lost? Not entirely.

But what I really want to say is that I just wrote something down. I don’t know what it is exactly. But I know it is here and it is mine.

~ Noëlle

The Endless Wonders

After Chen Chen

Without people comes a land without cities. Why do people say practice makes perfect when other people say nothing’s perfect? With people come mistakes. Do humans really help the planet or do we make things worse? Without earth we would not be here. But why? Why can't we breathe space? If humans have not explored all of Earth yet how are we going to explore space? Without life comes a blank page. With life comes a full book. Without water comes dry land. With water comes a deep dark ocean. With space comes questions. Without space comes well, nothing. So many questions. No answers.

~ Michael

Eye of Art

Art: Endless thoughts or ideas used to express yourself

The eye: A tool used to find new ways of creation and knowledge

History: A way of life turned into a memorable story

I: A simple thing that is always around the corner from you.

Dissolve: A deep thought that flashes then fades away and makes you wonder.

Pop: A way of making something small become known to everyone.

~ jackson

Are We Real?

I will go above the clouds and I will see what is beyond our world, what is beyond the planets, the stars, beyond life. Are we real, or are we just an experiment that is part of something bigger, greater, something not part of this world? We could be just a videogame played by something that has a greater mind than all the living things combined. What is out there, waiting for us, to find our way?

When I come back down I have more questions than I ever had before. No answers. No nothing. I have brought home an alien. Not physically, but mentally. The alien is eternal, it will live on forever, but we will not. *static*

Wish

After Chen Chen

Me, starting middle school without any experience or practice. With confidence. With my thoughts and actions. Without the world being on my side. Without Knowing what's coming next.

Me, worried. Me, wishing my great grandpa was still here. My mom, expectations are high. Me, loving what I do. With my skills. Me, not loving what I do. Without my skill. Me and me on my side. My parents and grandparents are by my side.

With mountain biking skills. Without my seriousness. With my skiing skills. WIth my empathy. With my intelligence. Without my comfort. With being Me. Without being anyone else.

Are you bored e ?

After John Berryman Poetry, poets, are boring. We must say so. After all, the poems are dull, the land yearns

I do not hide or want. And moreover my mother told me

(Repeatedly) “P lease stop whining

T hat you’re bored because you are not Bored.” I conclude I have no Boredom, because I am very bored Poets bore me i g

Andrew bores me, with his stu . And the rough mountains… Look like a drag.

Bu somehow Has taken itself & its head considerably away Into hills or puddles or air, going In front: it bores me too.

~ Ryder Cook

i am free to be myself wondering if i was free but not knowing if i was but now i know that i am i feel the power of freedom it feels wonderful the power that i feel makes me stronger than ever i am free to be myself no one telling me who to be or what i can or can’t do i love being free now i can travel the world in my sailboat i long to be free now with the ocean breeze in my face now i need one thing to complete being free to find myself a best friend one who will listen and give me their advice one person who won't go break their promise that they won’t but in the end they do i end up alone and scared and have the urge to just block them out so I don’t lash out and be someone that people are afraid of i just want to be me no one saying what i have to do because i have broken free from those chains and there’s only one person that has guided me towards who i am and i love you for that you have been by my side since the start now i need to find the one person again but one that is different but i still love you for It as i tie my sail boat i come across this fluffy thing a dog i need it for myself i get her and i love her she is just the best she reminds me of someone i know i love and that i always see all the time and comforts me in the best way i can’t wait to start a new adventure with my new -found self I love you mom

7A

I WANT MY WORDS TO MAKE FEET TAP WITH THE RHYTHM OF THE LETTERS.

– JUDE

Lines for the Fortune Cookies (excerpts)

I think you’re wonderful and so does everyone else. Just as Jackie Kennedy has a baby boy, so will you–even bigger.

You will meet a tall beautiful blonde stranger, and you will not say hello.

You will take a long trip and you will be very happy, though alone.

You will marry the first person who tells you your eyes are like scrambled eggs.

In the beginning there was YOU–there will always be YOU, I guess….

Your walk has a musical quality which will bring you fame and fortune...

You will eat cake…

I realize you’ve lived in France, but that doesn’t mean you know EVERYTHING!

You should wear white more often–it becomes you.

The next person to speak to you will have a very intriguing proposal to make.

A lot of people in this room wish they were you…

You are a prisoner in a croissant factory and you love it…

~ Frank O’Hara

Beyond The Wide Surface

That’s not what I meant when I tried to save the butcher from falling into a lake of spikes. Oh how I threw many double A batteries and bikes to try and destroy them. Sometimes life can feel like a lake of spikes.

Down by a hardly populated town one hundred years ago, I never thought that pasta would be the only food left, or that grass only grew on men who never shaved their feet, or that tomatoes formed on palm trees instead of coconuts.

I never knew how many magicians failed and let themselves go and move to Vegas. Nonetheless, I would've never been one to wonder how many wigs turned into lava while people wore them on their heads.

I didn’t mean to set out to sea and forget to check my Ring app to make sure there were no more package thieves. I meant to sell yoyos for a reasonable price and to conquer the trail to world peace.

If I were a waiter, I wouldn’t want to write all day having the pen meet the paper taking orders. I wouldn’t want to be an architect always breaking my back, design after design. Or a farmer, always growing crops. Beneath me, lies a man ready to take on other challenges. Who is eager to help people. A clear fate ahead.

What I really want to say is, look at the beast you’ve become, and see yourself galloping to freedom.

~ Benji

Are You Going to Finish that Croissant?

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsi licovolcanoconiosis

Isn't as good a word as antidisestablishmentarianism

Words spread like diseases

Volcanic ash rains over 12th Street

Rocks fall through other rocks

Australia isn't really there

The earth is flat contrary to popular belief

Is feeding a cow a burger cannibalism?

Words are just words until they eat Spam

~ Baer

Abstraction feels like jumping into a painting. Creativity is charged with weightless air.

First, I glide into a deep dark hole with a rainbow on the other side. Then a subtle train of thought transforms itself into an imperceptible vision. That same spark of imagination flows through my whole body. I design my feelings with my thoughts and actions.

~ Liana

B e Brilliant B e Broken

Brilliant children look forward to the future, eventually Broken grown-ups look for new hobbies. Maybe creating Bronze statues or trimming Branches of the neighbor's trees. The Bridges between these worlds are called the teenage years when you have to Be Brave, trust me.

But eventually, you will miss them. You will reminisce about those years while your kids scream,

“Bring me chocolate milk!”

~ Birdie

Action Abstraction

Rhythm of the let ters

I want my words to build a bridge to the rigid truth

I want my words to make feet tap with the rhythm of the let ters

I want my words to rhyme

I want my words to feel like thunderstorms clouds hail and a slight drizzle

I want my words to dry like clay

I want my words to make sense so scratch that last one

I want my words to speak for themselves

I want my words to

I want my words

I want my I want because Because I

Because I want Because I Want my

Because I want my Words to break the rules but just a lit tle bit

~ Jude

I Want My Words

I want my words

To inspire

Like an underdog

Winning it all

I want my words

To help The people in need To give advice To those who want it

I want my words

To help guide people When life isn’t on their side

I want my words

To bring joy

To those feeling down

Like hearing your favorite song

Play on the radio

I want my words

To be welcoming Like a fire

On a cold winter day

If nothing else

I want my words

To make the world

A better place

~ Cameron

I want my words to stop people thinking just like frozen water coming out of the sink

I want my words to enlighten someone's day like the sun shines on Mercury

I want my words to get spicy like hot sauce on tacos

I want my words to break up into a million little pieces

I want my words to float like balloons and never touch ground

~ Braydo

Bring

Me Back

Brilliant words that I think

Broken heart when I stay away

Branches that connect me to my feelings

Bridges that I try to cross but always fall

Brave is what I feel when I see your green eyes

Bring me back to the night where I felt free

~ Dani

Floating Canvas

Weightless paint floats in the air

The air is so light it's impossible to stop

Stopping is my train of thought gliding me in a different direction

A direction my legs take me to and where they desire to be

Be the images that create the ink

The ink that turns it into color

~ imani

Steve Jobs Stole My Idea

Steve Jobs stole my idea.

I created the the 9th letter of the alphabet followed by the word “phone”

Steve Jobs heard of my idea

Steve Jobs used his ears solely for the purpose of hearing about my invention

Steven Jobs created the invention I had the schematics for Steven got a patent for the 9th letter of the alphabet followed by the word “phone”

Stole idea Steve Jobs my

Steven yoinked my idea out of my hands

Steven is now extremely wealthy

Steven has many money

Steve never acknowledges me

Steve said he had the idea all by himself

I am the real creator of the iPhone

Steve Jobs stole my idea.

~ Garrett

Fortune Cookie #5

After Frank O’Hara

You will be broke in 5 years

You will be rich in 5 years

You will be happy in 5 years

You will be alone in 5 years

You will be wanted in 5 years

You will have given up on your dreams in 5 years

You will have fulfilled your dreams in 5 years

~ Campbell

The Special Pencil

A pencil fell off my desk

I started to draw a beautiful picture

I stopped drawing and left the building

I got in my car and drove to a cliff

I jumped into a helicopter and put my skis on Someone shoved me and I fell

Luckily I had a parachute so I wouldn't crash

I landed sloppily and fell on my face

At least there was snow on the ground so I wasn't badly injured

Then the man who the pushed me came down and said sorry

So I got my pencil and drew a picture of him

~ Weston

�� Deadl� Roc�

I trippe� over � roc�.

�� roc� cam� fro� th� sk�.

�� roc� trippe� over m�.

I saw � ma� fal� off � roc�.

�� roc� wa� no� happ� wit� th� human�.

�� roc� too� ou� � famil� of tiger�.

�� rock� go� bigger th� cl er I go�.

Mr. Roc� wen� wil�.

Mr. Roc� starte� trippin� th� whol� worl�.

Goin� fro� univers� t� univers�.

Differen� specie� gettin� trippe�.

�� roc� starte� goin� for planet�.

�� roc� knocke� al� th� planet� ou� of orbi�.

I� th� en� th� roc� go� m�.

~ G�

My Message

I want my words to put out a raging fire

I want them to make the crashing waves become still

I want my words to lead a community in the thousands, one that will make a change

I want my words to light up the eyes of others

I want my words to be a platform for people who are hated in this dreadful society

I want my words to heal your wounds like bandages

I want my words to feel like a warm hug of embrace

~ Nikki

Worse Than The Movies

When I said I wanted a happy ending, that’s not what I meant

I never thought I’d say this, but maybe love really isn’t like the movies

I guess you could say I never knew what it was

I didn’t mean to create this false reality

I don’t want to write that love isn’t real

What I really want to say is

Love is complicated

~ Sadie

Past� Reunio�

I at� past� for dinner

�� Fettuccin� Alfred� jumpe� int� m� mout�

�� spaghett� attacke� m�

An� flew int� � blac� hol�

�a� lead� t� m� stomac�

�� bow tie� die�

M� mo� sai�,”N� desser�, ye�!”

M� an� th� penn� ha� � collab

�a� mad� th� onion� cr�

S� th� meatball� brok� up wit� th� linguin�

~ Mica�

I Didn’t Mean to Die a Hero

That’s not what I meant to happen I never thought I would be here

I never knew this day would come I didn’t mean to die a hero

I don’t want to write about what I have done What I really want to say is I would do it again for her ~ Ally

Chick-fil-A

I want my words to make you feel like the only light in a world of darkness

I want my words to set you free from the jail of your mind

I want my words to finally let you feel satisfied

I want my words to feel like having Chick-fil-A on a Sunday ~ Ryder

Static on the Radio

I want my words

To feel like I’m telling you a secret

That no one else can know

I want my words

To feel like someone ’ s goodbye

And make you feel melancholy And wistful

I want my words

To cause a stir of feeling An overwhelming whirlwind

I want my words

To feel like an old photograph

That’s slightly torn at the edges

I want my words

To feel like a good night In the morning

I want my words

To feel like static on the radio

While you ’ re walking around in the dark

Phoebe

7B

I WRITE TO INFORM THE WORLD.

– VICTORIA

I Used to Be but Now I Am

I used to be inexorable, But now I am elusive.

I used to be the future of America, But now I am America.

I used to be part of the problem, But now I am the problem.

I used to be part of the solution, if not all of it, But now I am not that person.

I used to be intense, & useful, But now I am heavy, & boring.

I used to be sentimental about myself, & therefore ruthless, But now I am, I think, a sympathetic person, although easily amused.

I used to be a believer, But now, alas, I believe.

~ Ted Berrigan

Why do you play such dreary music on Saturday afternoon, when tired mortally tired I long for a little reminder of immortal energy? All week long while I trudge fatiguingly from desk to desk in the museum you spill your miracles of Grieg and Honegger on shut-ins. Am I not shut in too, and after a week of work don’t I deserve Prokofieff?

Well, I have my beautiful de Kooning to aspire to. I think it has an orange bed in it, more than the ear can hold.

~ Frank O’Hara

On the Counter, Just Sitting There After Frank O’ Hara

Why do you sit on the counter doing nothing on Monday morning

When making toast you don’t tell us it’s done You just leave it there to burn

All the time you sit there in the cold weather I move you from counter to counter

You let food go to waste

Like my cream cheese toast this morning

I am not happy that you get dirty very easily You don't deserve to sit on my counter

Doing nothing for free

You were a waste of 40 bucks

~ Jaydin

Flashlight of Hope

I saw you staring at a lake of nothing

Looking for something you were missing deep inside

You woke me up to the light of it all

Galleries of feelings that I never knew existed

Flashlight of hope shines bright on people who work hard

I missed opportunity after opportunity but I never gave up

I never learned until that day

I was taught everything I needed not wanted

Tiny things can make a huge difference

~

Aiden

Sorry, I Do Not Understand.

Dear Siri

Why are you the way you are

I just want knowledge

And you give me riddles

You ask what I want, and I tell you

But you respond with

Sorr y, I do not understand.

Why do make me do extra work to find the same result

That is what I do not understand

Why do you not try simplicity for once

Sorr y, I do not understand.

*excessive crying ensues*

Why, why, why do you do this to me

Sorr y, I do not understand.

~ Wallace

The Red Hat

Recognition beyond ear th. With your red hat just out of reach. Thriving in the shadows, terrible black waves at ever y turn. Breaking crowded hear ts full of joy.

~ Jonah

Why Won’t You Listen to Me?

After Frank O’Hara

I call your name and you look at me then walk away, off to your next adventure. When I come home, you are waiting for me on the carpet, stretching and twisting like a worm. I admire your curiosity and balance and trust in your own abilities. Sometimes you sound like a rumbling car but smaller and cuter. Sometimes you are on a shelf or on a chair or in a sink. Calling your name does nothing to you But you are independent and listen when it’s really needed. You’ve left your marks everywhere, Loose strings on the carpet, prints on the counter, holes in the screen. Even when you’re gone, I have photos and memories. Sometimes you cause red hot pain, a mark the lasts for weeks, but I love you. You are like me And I love you.

~ Fiona

Radius Sun

After Frank O’Hara

Why do you follow me wherever I walk

Why do you rise at 6-o-clock

Why do clouds cover you when they want

Why do you fall when it turns dark

I always miss your glistening glow

Why do you leave me to shine on someone else's home

You always push yourself through the rain

Why can't you stay and keep me company

Why can't you always follow me

Whenever I feel lonely

~ Gabi

Life Doesn’t Make Sense

Yes to mistakes

Yes to beliefs that don’t necessarily make sense

Yes to people who try new things

Yes to everything not being yes/no

Yes to words that aren’t always the same

No to people making me wake up in the morning

No to all that try to hurt others

No to when the big light only shines on the wealthy

No to making one personality the only personality

No to always letting the bigger guy win

~ Liam

Blast Sharks

Yes I am a swimmer

Yes I can do Individual Medleys

No I do not think much about my sets

Yes I am fast

Yes Swim meets and practice are hard

No I swim all year round

Yes Short course is in the winter and spring

No Long course is in the summer and ends in July

No 200 IMs mean 50 of each stroke

No 100 Flys mean four laps

Yes I swim for two hours, four days a week

Yes I am a shark

~ Maya

A Perfect Night

I saw you sitting on a stool, looking up at the stars you’ve been waiting your whole life to see.

Woke me up for the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.

Galleries upon galleries full of showcases not meant to be seen.

A small light shining through a curtain made of red felt.

Tiny memories floating at the back of my mind.

Flashlight shining, burning through the grooves of the felt curtain.

I missed the way the wind felt on the back of my neck on a warm summer day.

I never learned that time passed so fast.

~ Sam F.

DATA

I paint knowledge. In fact , ever yone around me receives my knowledge but that does not mean they absorb it .

Knowledge is everywhere, give up the illusion it is hidden. It is there but you have to try to reach for it.

I am anonymous to most people; they don’t know my name. I am not defined by it.

~ Jackson

For Better or Worse

I want an ocean of success, boating in my confidence, confiding in my own self interest

Here I am, in a lake of hope, the canoe of doubt What if I fall out

It's not that bad really

The fish I swim with Take notes on my every move Maybe one day they can hope to canoe

I can be better

I can be worse Not up to me to decide

~ Gabe

Back

Yes he is back in San Fran

Yes he is that guy

But no he has not been gone he has just been away

And yes he is coming back soon

But no he is sadly not making it back to Ohio

And yes he is from there

But he has no plans of going back to that strange place

Yes he wants to go but his instinct makes him stay

No, is this why he was never back?

Yes, but do you think he stayed there?

No, no I do not

Yes that is why he is back

~ Kaden

I Paint the Sky

I paint the sky

Receiving darkness

Everywhere and nowhere

Illusion to your mind

Anonymous but famous

I write the sky

~ Lucy

Endings

Yes not every story has a happy ending

And no one can tell the future

But I know there is no happy ending for us

It's the unsettling feeling you get when you mix up yes and no

If you’re wondering if that cloud of unsettledness is following me everywhere

The answer is yes

And no I can’t see the crystal blue sky of hope

Yes you may have said you looked up to me and that you like everything about me

Are those just open words? Yes

I don’t know if you even care any more but if you’re wondering

Yes I do like you and I am waiting for your response

I can’t tell when the right time will present itself

~ Amanda

Whale, Do You Remember Me?

After Frank O’Hara

What do you achieve from being watched over summer break, when everyone visits. Yearly mourning, but no one can hear. Do you remember me?

Everyone comes to watch and aspire to be. And yet they are blinded by something we can’t see. If you stay, it will only get worse from land to sea.

Are you closed in, unable to speak? In need of help, you want someone to believe.

Well, as beautiful as you are, I cannot be here forever. You need to escape. So then you will be free.

- Nixon

Neverending ART

I paint Art. Receive Art.

Anonymous Art.

Art everywhere.

I also write Art.

Sometimes I get really sick of Art.

Art is an illusion.

~ Auden

Used to Be

After Ted Berrigan

I used to be shy

But now I am outgoing

I used to be shiny

But now I am rust

I use to be a lake

But now I am the ocean

I used to be the end

But now I am endless

I used to be tough

But now I am tight

I used to be the sun

But now I am the moon

I used to be the dream

But now I am a dreamer

I used to be sunshine and rainbows

But now I am thunder and lightning

I used to be fearful

But now I am fearless

I used to think I knew it all

But now I know it all

I used to grow up

But now I just grow

I used to be she

But now I am me

~ Samantha

Printers

After Frank O’Hara

You have scared me to this day

Whenever I see you shoot out paper

I think you are going to eat me

There are so many of you

There is only one of me

I just want to unplug you

But that would not be good for the school

I don’t know how other people get used to you

You are a genius invention but you look scary

Your paper is always hot

One day I promise

I will get rid of you

~ Sam T.

Mini Basketball

After

Frank O’Hara

How do you land in my hands every time, While I sing old 2016 songs

When I should probably be sleeping But instead I'm talking to her

You give me and my friends the best time in my room But annoy my parents too much.

Given to me by my cousins

Torn up by my cousins

Got a new one from my aunt.

How do you give my room such a bright presence And also let me sink into my thoughts

How do you give me so much freedom

But just not enough.

~ Jesse

noise cancelling headphones

This is a poem I wrote about having sensory issues A lot of people who are neurodivergent have sensory issues It can be extremely debilitating if you don't have the proper tools to help exist with them.

It's a rain storm and there is thunder and lightning outside. It's loud, and branches are crashing.

I have a ringing in my ears.

It's too much.

Too much

I don't know what to do.

I feel small.

My throat feels dr y but I also feel like I'm drowning I can't think.

It's too much.

It's a tornado ripping through my head

I can't think.

I can't think.

It's almost ever y room I'm in. It's too loud.

I can hear the electricity.

I can hear ever ything and nothing at the same time. It's too much.

It's way too much.

What can help?

What will help?

I feel like no one understands. Does anyone understand?

…

noise cancelling headphones.

You Hide Behind the Clouds

After FrankO’Hara

Why do you shine so brightly on some days

But cower behind the clouds on others?

Is it because you choose to hide instead of facing your problems? I do that sometimes. Is it your way of expressing whether you're jovial or sorrowful? Perhaps I will never know

Do you ever get lonely up there while we ’ re down here? I’ve discovered a solution to that problem.

I read I immerse myself in these stories Choosing ction instead of living in reality. It helps, I swear.

You know you're really hard to talk to. I can’t look straight at you or else I will go blind. You never even answer back. But, you're still the best listener.

~ Arden

THERE ARE STARS IN YOUR HAIR TANGLED IN THE KNOTS OF BELIEF.

REVOLUTIONARY LETTER #81: ON THE WAY HOME

(A Prayer for the Road) - excerpts

On the way home

all the restaurants will serve miso soup

On the way home

exotic notebook stores will blossom in small towns in Nevada…

On the way home

Everyone will leave the casinos and the slot machines & go outside to stare at the beauty of the mountains, of the sky, of each other…

On the way home

everyone we meet will try to read us a poem invite us in for a story there being no news but what travelers bring, all TV having died…

On the way home

all the truck drivers will drive politely the traveling summer tourists will beam at their kids…

Everyone will get where they’re going

Everyone will be peaceful Everyone will like it when they get there…

~ Diane Di Prima

I Am the President of Regulation (excerpts)

I am the Giant Goliath…

I know your pinnacles by name…

I propose a toast to peace.

I am the president of regulation. None are savvier than I…

I claw my way to freedom. Mark my words. I have no time to be your humble servant.

I bite into the mighty pippin.

I turn & then return by turning.

I turn a vessel over with my hands.

I turn a pretty penny.

I am called the lord of dimes.

I turn my thoughts to daily deeds.

I turn my eyes to heaven…

I find a secret world in mirrors. My fingernails are pale, my steps are perpendicular.

I parachute & strut.

I seek acceleration day by day.

I am a man who swims among the drifters. Istanbul is not my home.

I turn a page & listen…

My body swells from all the sounds inside it.

I show myself in dreams.

~ Jerome Rothenberg

Things I Didn’t Know I Loved (excerpts from a much longer poem)

It’s 1962 March 28th

I’m sitting by the window on the Prague-Berlin train night is falling I never knew I liked night descending like a tired bird on a smoky wet plain…

I didn’t know I loved the sky cloudy or clear… I never knew I loved the sun even when setting cherry-red as now…

I didn’t know I loved clouds whether I’m under or up above them whether they look like giants or shaggy white beasts…

I didn’t know I liked rain whether it falls like a fine net or splatters against the glass my heart leaves me tangled up in a net or trapped inside a drop and takes off for uncharted countries I didn’t know I loved rain but why did I suddenly discover all these passions sitting by the window on the Prague-Berlin train…

The train plunges on through the pitch-black night I never knew I liked the night pitch-black sparks fly from the engine I didn’t know I loved sparks

I didn’t know I loved so many things and I had to wait until sixty… to find it out sitting by the window on the Prague-Berlin train watching the world disappear as if on a journey of no return

~ Nazim Hikmet

you told me I was turning into her edges of your lost identity surrounded by quiet voices the impact is heavy who said I was her

~ anna

Forever Still

Always will the water be still

And the sky calm

And the air clean

And the oceans blue

And the gas cheap

And the street quiet

And the pillows soft

And the jacket warm

Always will the human be a citizen

And the dictator a president

And the congressman a liar

And the police officer a soldier

And the businessman a samaritan

And the immigrant a human

And the human a citizen

Always will the water be still

Always will the human live

Forever the human dies.

~ Wyatt

Every Passing Moment After Nazim Hikmet

It's March 8th 2014 and my friend just left on a flight headed for Beijing China I’m locked in an inescapable prison with no visible ends or beginnings

I didn't know I loved seeing the sun so much I wish I could feel warmth again The darkness consumes half the room

I didn't know I loved natural air

The processed air of the basement barely fills my lungs enough Everything is dark

I didn't know I loved the birds

As I sit in this cold empty place sound seems to be absorbed Into the walls with no escape It is so dark

I didn't know that I loved food

My stomach feels more and more empty with every passing moment The darkness feels closer

I didn't know I loved the feeling and knowing of time No windows no clock no references The darkness grows filling me with ideas

As the darkness consumes all hope of ever escaping the prison of my own mind I wish I could remember the things I love

~ Asher

Words Words Words

After James Wright listen feathers wings trees shadows I keep going back one or two three or four be still the field there the dark I do not stand I move into the air

~ Ava B.

On the Way Home

After Diane Di Prima

On the way home the moon will glow the sun will darken the ground will shake the sky will sparkle

On the way home the wind will blow crickets will chirp mirrors will reflect feet will run

On the way home hard work will pay off it will be worth it fire will spark life will be for living

~ Eden M.

Anarchy

After Jerome Rothenberg

I am a small dwarf planet

I am lactose intolerant

I have Alzheimer ’s

I want to go to war with New Zealand

I am an anarchist

I got held back in kindergarten twice

I slide down a cliff

I work at McDonalds

I have Google Maps

I have debt collectors coming after me

I am called the peasant of pennies

I just want to talk about the political and economic state of the world right now

I need some new glasses

I found a secret world in MAKEMAKE

I lost my fingers in Vietnam

I need to go to a physical therapist

I am from AMERICA

I have been diagnosed with insomnia

~ Elias

Rarely Sti ll

After James Wright

Feathers are wings that fly

Through the deep dark night and the bright day

They move between clusters of trees and blank open fields

A feather's shadow is rarely still

~ Nikki

Impact of You

you told me I was too young turning 10 was 2 close edges were too thin quiet was too old the impact of you who said the impact of me?

~ ßenji

Visions or Visitations

There but gone

Words whistle in the dark

The trees listen

Be still, a voice says

Watching my shadow lift into the air

I close my eyes

I do not listen

I move back and run

Feathers follow me between the trees

~ Addison

Therapist

After Jerome Rothenberg

I am the therapist

I know everyone ’ s problems

I try to x them

I propose ideas

Rarely are they taken

Some people

Just need to vent

And that's ok

It's my “job”

To listen

I sit there and listen

People come

And people go

Some grateful

Some not

But that's ok

It's just my “job”

At school

And online

It's my “job”

To listen

I sit and listen

But who listens to me

My feelings are inside

Bundled up

Ready to explode

But that can't happen

Because I am being dramatic

I put on a face

And don't complain

Because that's my “job”

To sit and listen

~ Chloe

History in the Making

Gothic romance and Wuthering Heights

T he smell of tobacco and brutal bar fights

V iolence and torture in the name of a maiden

Cut the ring off her finger and still, she forgave him

Historical leather and portraits and such

Concrete and cars never pleased me much

T he burning of candles the wax and the wick

Drown cobblestone streets stinking with sick

Lay your coat out before me to keep me dry

Tell it to our children in a short lullaby

Swallow wine and bread until your head is heavy

Your unsanctioned actions will become our history

~ Avery

Hi, It's Zach.

I'm in 8th grade and I will be in high school next year

It's very rainy But I can't feel it

The rain is coming down my cheek Creating a puddle of sorrow

Sending a stream Into a sewer of madness

The emotions are gone With someone carrying them for you

You have your friends Your parents

They take the emotion away And give happiness instead

It slowly slips away from me Falls out of my body

I try to grip it I pull

I tug It stills gets out ~ Zach

Poem #7

you told me to stop turning around edges of a cliff quiet and peaceful the impact was painful who said to calm down

you told me to be calm turning off the lights edges of the house quiet room the impact on me who said to fall asleep

~ Miles

Turbulent Music

After Nazim Hikmet

When planes shake

Or rumble

Once for almost twenty minutes

I just listened to my music

I didn’t know I liked turbulence

I didn’t hold on to my parents

I actually don’t like how apples taste

But my large bites make the apple disappear

Under 10 bites today

I didn’t know I liked making the doctor disappear

I didn’t know I liked eating apples

Math wouldn’t be the same without one

All I can hear is that same Kanye song

My hands are cold and we are moving fast

I didn’t know I liked late night bike rides

Helmet off and not holding on “Turn that song off, please”

~ Julia

You Told Me

You told me not to come back.

I turn around to see your face.

The quiet waves on the beach sway back and forth.

I feel the impact of what you say.

Who said I told you I said that?

~ Elle

Oceans, Trees, and Knees

After Diane Di Prima

On the way home

I am 40 years old

According to Avery’s book buddy

My knees have betrayed me

On the way into the land of water

Nothing is real

Always sinking, always walking The ocean surrounds

On the way up through the trees

There is always down No ladder no stairs But I can’t climb

On the way to the mind

Thoughts are all and all are thoughts

Yet it is real

The thoughts are real

On the journey of life

All I see is death

It is behind It is above It is below No matter where I go It is my destination

On the way down from billowing plumes of fire

Nothing matters anymore

The journey is over

No ocean

No trees

No knees

Just forward

On the way back

There is everything

That was ever known to me

Does it matter

It was my life

But that life is gone

At my home

I am 14

There is my dog

And my mom

And most importantly my dog

That is where I am

~ Henry

Forever Ago

Inspired by James Wright and Diane Di Prima feathers fall from the trees the trees in the field

we come out into the tangled darkness one or two birds appear to watch the golden sunrise listen closely and you can hear them when they fly away into the air a mythical feeling with you and with me

lying in green velvet grass

I stand and see my breath in the air when you do not return my dark shadow is cast on the ground

I see you in the sky itself with me

I wish I could grow wings and fly away

~ Hugh

Blink

As the innocent smile of society fades we begin to see the truth

Though we see it we do not see it

Because our eyes are clouded with innocence

They will praise us for being happy while others suffer

They will burn us with the gasoline of the naive

Cloud our judgment even further

For society does not want us to be who we are

We are but pawns in the game of respectability.

When we cry out none will help

For they have the burn scars to show they have learned

They have learned to be naive

And as the silk fabric we have woven together suffocates the ones in need

We quiet their screams, thinking we are free of judgment

But we have never been free

We might never be freed.

Words have power they say, yet words are useless against the fist of the ones above

We scream our words, yet nobody listens

Their ears will only hear what they want to.

The eyes stare down at us gazing upon the things they have created

We scream for them to let us go

Like bugs in a mason jar filling with poisonous gas

The eyes cannot hear our screams

They will never hear our screams

Perhaps the small iris happens upon that mason jar, filled to the brim on the top shelf of the cupboard

It will see what its parents have done, and run down irate at the way they have treated their people, But once it comes downstairs, all they will do is blink at it

The iris is far too short to reach the top of the cupboard anyway.

~ R.T.

The Real World

After James Wright

Feathers fall on each side /listen to everything around/your wings will carry you /our growth together/ just like back when we were monkeys/teamwork was miles away then/one or two times we coexisted/ we broke up and now/even today that happens/

Be still/do not flinch/be aware of everything/between the hatred and the bloodshed on the field/ there we must create community/ the dark horrors of war are breathing down our necks /I do not understand why we can’t achieve peace/

Move on/the shadows on the outside and inside of each nation breathe fresh air/but not for long/I stand in the middle of the battlefield/ confused/ where to go/

~ Oliver

If You Had Just Stayed Quiet

One time long ago you told me that you could touch the sky

But turning to the north was not possible

You could have f lown to the edges of the world

If you had just stayed quiet

The impact you could have had on the people above

They who said you couldn't do it might have been wrong

If you had just told me that you could touch the sky again

~ Felix

8B

I USE THE LIGHTNING IN MY HEAD TO BLOCK OUT THE SADNESS IN YOUR MIND.

– SHERLY

MODEL POEM

I Remember (excerpts)

I remember the only time I ever saw my mother cry. I was eating apricot pie.

I remember how much I used to stutter.

I remember Aunt Cleora who lived in Hollywood. Every year for Christmas she sent my brother and me a joint present of one book.

I remember shower curtains with angel fish on them.

I remember waking up somewhere once and there was a horse staring me in the face.

I remember how embarrassed I was when other children cried.

I remember one very hot summer day I put ice cubes in my aquarium and all the fish died.

I remember not understanding why people on the other side of the world didn’t fall off.

Brainard

-          Joe

I Am Waiting (excerpts)

I am waiting for my case to come up and I am waiting for a rebirth of wonder and I am waiting for someone to really discover America and wail and I am waiting for the discovery of a new symbolic western frontier and I am waiting for the American Eagle to really spread its wings and straighten up and fly right and I am waiting for the Age of Anxiety to drop dead… and I am perpetually awaiting a rebirth of wonder…

I am waiting for the Great Divide to be crossed and I am anxiously waiting for the secret of eternal life to be discovered by an obscure general practitioner… and I am waiting for the storms of life to be over and I am waiting to set sail for happiness and I am waiting for a reconstructed Mayflower to reach America with its picture story and tv rights sold in advance to the natives and I am waiting for the lost music to sound again in the Lost Continent

in a new rebirth of wonder…

I am waiting… for some strains of unpremeditated art to shake my typewriter and I am waiting to write the great indelible poem… and I am perpetually waiting for the fleeing lovers on the Grecian Urn to catch each other up at last and embrace and I am awaiting perpetually and forever a renaissance of wonder

~ Lawrence Ferlinghetti

You

After Joe Brainard

I remember your face

I remember the butterflies

I remember the laughing

I remember the sparkle in your eyes

I remember the jokes

I remember everything you said to me

I remember the pain

I don’t remember your face

I don’t remember the butterflies

I don’t remember laughing

I don’t remember your eyes

I don’t remember joking

I don’t remember anything you said to me

I don’t remember you.

~ Ava L

Waiting for the Future

After Lawrence Ferlinghetti

I am waiting

For The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to release

And I am waiting

For a movie that will actually blow me away

And I am waiting

For my high school applications to come back

And I am waiting

For the next hit rap album

That will actually leave me thinking deeper about its lyrics

And I am waiting

For a series that will get everyone talking

And I am waiting

For my parents to pick me up

~ Maceo

I Am Waiting… After Lawrence Ferlinghetti

I am waiting for a spark of inspiration

I am patiently waiting for the springtime

I am waiting for a sound of hope

I am curiously waiting for a new memory

I am waiting and I am waiting

And I am waiting for a blank canvas on which to paint my dreams

I am wishfully waiting for a safer world

I am waiting for an explanation

I am mysteriously waiting for a eld, glistening in the sky

I am waiting and I am waiting and I am waiting I am simply waiting for a dream

I am peacefully waiting to wish ~ Ava B.

I Am Waiting

After Lawrence Ferlinghetti

I am waiting for the rain to stop falling and for the bitter taste of the cold air to wash away I am waiting for the song to stop playing in my head I am waiting for the tears to stop dripping down my face piercing it like sharp knives

I am waiting for the day I can come out from under the table I am waiting for the sleepless nights to go away I am waiting for the world to become a better place

I am waiting for a warm cup of hot chocolate and the snowflakes to fall down from the sky

I am waiting for that sky to be full of colors I am waiting to leap into the air

And I am waiting for my worries to float away into the large universe that keeps expanding to reach the stars in other galaxies

I am waiting for the smiles on others’ faces

I am waiting for the sun to shine again and again I am waiting for the canvas to be painted

I am waiting for the voices to speak and the tongues to become untied I am waiting to hike up this hill and feel the sense of accomplishment run through my veins

I am waiting to wait for the endless opportunities

I am waiting to finish this poem

~ Carrington

I’ll Always Remember

After Joe Brainard

I remember when I got my first driver's license from Legoland and then tried to use it as a real ID.

I remember falling from a high building and when I hit the ground, I woke up with my heart racing.

I remember when I thought I was the coolest ever and was quickly humbled by a rude comment in the 5th grade.

I remember that Kobe Briant died when I was at a birthday party.

I remember when I got Six Flag tickets for my birthday and then Covid hit.

I remember when I had a birthday party at Two-Bit Circus and every one of my friends made a birthday video for me.

I remember when I used to play Mortal Kombat with my father. I would always lose and still be eager to play more.

I remember when my stepmother told me I was having a baby sister. I remember when my dad told me her name.

~ Daylen

I Remember After

Joe Brainard

I remember when my dogs died, I was in Zoom class and my dad came in and said they were getting put down.

I remember when I made my first three pointer, in my backyard.

I remember when I used to cry in P.E every time I lost a game.

I remember when I got my braces on, it hurt really bad.

I remember going to New York City for the first time with my family.

I remember how scared I was on my first plane ride.

I remember when I almost killed my dogs because I gave them too many Cheez-Its.

~ Juliayn

The Darkness

After Allen Ginsberg

You run into your bed and close the door with the overwhelming whispering

facts and memories crammed into your head

The neon blinking lights in your room suddenly come to a stop Floating across the blackness a pair of wandering eyes

Everything standing before you disappears

The only thing present is a dark silence

~ Kai

A Man

After Allen Ginsberg

A man who ate fire, stood before me.

He looked for the tops of cities, guided by the neon blinking lights.

The lava of ash and poetry flowed through him, as he sang of the smalltown rain.

The rhythm of thought inside him, true and absolute.

He condemned those who had brilliant eyes yet no spark.

A man who could disappear at any moment.

A man who ate fire, stood before me.

~ Jack

Goodbye

Our conversation has come to an end

Our thoughts are left in the air

Your soft touch brings me back to life

A catalog is meant to say things, yet

You are with me

So, the impact arrived, but now it’s gone

~ Ella

Untitled our conversations flow

unrhythmically punctuated improperly with no capitals pop into our heads suddenly and spill out our mouths with no warning or filtration softly, the people who pass us in the halls can hear the music leaking out of our earbuds

a catalog that looks like an old fashioned photo strip shows up at your door, without you ordering it you could never find it in you to smile though just like i couldn't to sing along to the words of the songs we listen to no matter how well i know them the impact doesn’t shake my world, i can dance on uneven ground

Watch me.

~ Simone

A Soft Catalog

Soft as the morning snow. I found those words in a catalog that was sitting on a table at the local Starbucks. It was describing a mattress just the like the one that led our conversation to an argument about the weather last night. Sometimes Ijust wanna pop your head, you had said in anguish. The impact of those words left the dog trembling in anger after you stomped off into the muddy backyard.

~ Nate

A Catalog Full of Heartache

Our conversation. It replays through my mind every three minutes. It's like you burned it into my brain. Burnt to a crisp on the edges. It stings sometimes.

Popular. You're very popular in my head. Never seem to leave. All the attention goes to you. And I wish it weren't that way.

Soft spoken and bitterly sweet. The skin you wore when we first danced around the idea of f lowers. Because ideas have less of a scorching aftertaste.

A catalog full of heartache. That's where I first saw you. Advertised as the ultimate needle to the stomach. Brick to the bone. Venom to the heart.

You played your part so well, I forgot it was all an act. But that's on me.

The impact it made. The change I started in myself, thanks to you.

So, sincere gratitude, my friend. May you sting my stomach sometime soon again.

~ Sophia

Conversation

Our conversation wastes away. Pop go the meaningless words as they are spat forth. Soft silence was something I didn’t think much of.

A catalog brings the conversation back up You talk endlessly on T he impact of silence is what I no w miss.

~ Matti

The Only One

After Allen Ginsberg

looking for the unknown/for a thousand years time flew/who sang out of their windows in despair/sitting on top of cities/the last radio a rhythm of thought/small-town rain confessing stands before you/lightning in the mind whispering facts and memories/the lava and ash of poetr y/ambiguous picture postcards winter midnight streetlight/the only one who disappeared/neon blinking floating across brilliant eyes/shuddering cloud that ate fire/the only one who crashed through their minds/the absolute machinery of night/the only one who contemplated jazz/tree vibrations tr ying to recreate the syntax/what might be left to say/

~ Nico

I Remember

After joe brainard

I remember my first grade Halloween costume, a vampire fairy princess, true innocence

I remember waving to people outside my window when I was 6, I hope I brightened someone's day

I remember one of the first times I saw my brother cry, I walked into the kitchen for dinner and saw him with my dad, math homework in hand

I remember each time I show my brother my baking and how happy he seems

I remember the last day of summer before 3rd grade, I was sitting in my room, just thinking, watching my purple curtains sway from the wind

I remember when my best friend gave a kid a bloody nose He deserved it

I remember the first time my brother and I were left alone I sat in my room with my dog, who was eagerly watching out the window

I remember the first time I painted, my friends convinced me to try it at camp

I remember when I knocked out one of my front teeth, racing down a hill on my bike

I remember getting the other tooth punched out

I remember losing somebody, I found out while I was sitting at my computer playing video games with my best friend. I didn’t continue playing.

I remember watching cows graze with snow in the distance

I remember when I realized I was getting older it did and still does scare me

~ Natalie

Summer Night

After Joe Brainard

I remember the starry night sky

I remember looking up and thinking “God, wouldn’t it be nice”

I remember waiting for that person to come along

I remember the seconds going by and I never knew if anything was gonna happen… not with you

I remember your energy

A very busy popular energy

I remember the thought in my head “you can never have that”

I remember the smile on my face when it finally happened

I remember the smile on yours

God I hated your smile, I still do, but at the time I didn’t care

I remember the hug, it felt so nice

I remember your warmth

I remember the singing

I remember the way your eyes felt, burning a hole in the back of my neck

I remember the way your eyes felt, burning a hole in the side of my face

I remember the questions and I enjoyed answering them

And when you would hide your face in my shoulder

I loved the warmth, I loved the way that felt

I begged for it every day, I needed it to stay alive

I remember the butterflies, blink once, blink twice

I remember the card games, the shuffling

My head on your shoulder

I remember how proud I was to have you

I remember the starry night sky

I remember thinking “god, wouldn’t that be nice”

I remember the thought in my head “you did have that, but you can’t have it forever”

I remember that I had that person

But that person didn’t have the confidence

I remember being enraptured

I remember missing you every day

I remember hating you when I saw you

I remember the shouting

You gave me your words but you never gave me your word

~ Eden R.

The Weight of an Elephant

our conversation is long my bottle needs to pop the words keep f lowing into the stream of soft water the wind blows the words into a catalog that others see you make fun of my words and the impact it has on me is the weight of an elephant stomping through the sea

~ Olivia

There’s Always Rain

After

Allen Ginsberg

We were looking for the unknown something to escape in

Although the machinery of our hearts wasn’t the same

In the depth of night, my heart felt for you thinking about it didn't help

During winter midnights I longed the most waiting for you at the streetlight

You and your ambiguous actions the postcards came as you left

Making me want to blink but I already waited a thousand years

The tops of cities reminded me of you contemplating whether to write back

When I was with you I felt like I was floating across the sky

The sound of jazz ringing through your body neon colors flashed at the sight of you

Now your brilliant eyes bring me back to the last time we were a radio

The syntax of your love shattering you keep shuddering words

I use the lightning in my head to block out the sadness in your mind

I levitate like a cloud

I’m like a small town, there's always rain

Who disappeared first you or me?

~ Sherly