More Great Poetry!

The class has been experimenting with a variety of poetic forms. Some of the following are "recipe" style poems; some are diamond poems. It has been fun to see what we can create even if it means getting out of our comfort zone! Enjoy!

Canvas

Blank, bare

Waiting, sitting, staring

Vacant, colorless, empty, white

Sketching, painting, thinking

Art, Creation

Portrait

by Hannah W.

Coffee

Dark, energetic

Aiding, electrifying, prompting

Morning, work, mug, heat

Quenching, relieving, needing

Clear, natural

Water

by Katie B.

Black

Chained, sad

Sweting, struggling, escaping

Poverty, darkness, liberty, wealth

Sitting, laughing, chasing

Free, happy

White

By Cole S.

Caterpillar

Small, young

climbing, running, eating

Food, water, trees, travel

transforming, changing, evolving

Flying, fluttering

Butterfly

By Ashley L.

Peace

Relaxed, no worries

Agreeing, loving, comforting

Harmony, friendship, pacifism, truce

Arguing, battlefield, feuding

Bloodshed, Blitzkrieg

War

By Taylor B.

The Comforting Light

Its brillant light captivates you.

The radiant beams move

quietly

and

swiftly

as they illuminate the floor.

Yiu look - you listen - you smile - you think.

A light wind begins to blow and whispers gently in your ear.

Chills run down your spine like a thousand shards of ice.

It feels like someone is watching you, and yet, it's comforting.

Turning around, you see a bright and joyful face.

The face smiles and shoots off into the sky.

As this light disappears, you hear:

I'm

always

with

you.

By Cory S.

Finding Bliss

Stop.

Drop everything

Drama, pressures, annoyances, hurt

Leave it.

Take in the sapphire skies around you.

Tonight you will smile.

Make it a goal.

You're surrounded by people you love.

They make you laugh so hard it hurts.

Tell yourself you're okay.

Realize that hard times don't last forever.

Be spontaneous.

Live in the moment.

Enjoy yourself.

Brush your worries away.

Have as much fun as you did when everything was fine.

Chase after that feeling like it had your life in its pocket.

Because life without bliss is worthless.

By Lauren A.

First Snow Day

Hear the scrapping sound of the snow plow

Turn the television on

School has closed

Crawl back underneath the warm covers

Wake up

Get dressed

Bundle in think layers

Sift through the white snow

Down the slippery hill

Icy snowballs

Graceful snow angels

Tall snowmen

Mom's calling

Stomp powdered snow off your boots

Go inside

Get comfy

Mix the rich hot chocolate

Add the fluffy marshmallows

By Deanna E.

Delusion Soup

Start with the joy

of new beginnings

and exploring someone,

something new

That is eye opening, heart pounding

Then turn the heat down to a simmer.

Don't be surprised

When all the impurities

Quickly rise to the top,

Making you see something different

So unlikie the perfect mixture

That brought joy at the start.

This new perspective raises hatred in your heart

You don't understand,

How you missed these obvious ingredients,

which were stewing all along.

Your heart feels deluded,

Betrayed

Loving all the bits and pieces

You swore you'd

Never love in anyone.

BY Katie B.

Fairytale Lie

Lay out the ball gowns

Choose a tiara

Roll out the carpet

And jump on the white horse

Arrive at the palace

I see the light blossoming up above

Sift through the crowd

To meet the eyes of the charming one.

My body shreds to pieces when the angelic smile is revealed

It turns out, it's not real

Once upon a time seems far away

My heart starts to scald

As it stays too long in the boiler

With your back turned and promise cut

Grate away everything and leave me at peace

Your combined deceit and immorality

To create a hopeful entity

Just stop -

I know I didn't get my happy ending.

By Ammarah S.

PROLIFIC POETS !

We have been quite a bit of poetry writing, so we thought we would share some of our recent pieces. Some will be printed so that you can read them as you scroll through our blog. Others will be linked because of length or format. Enjoy!

So Close

Tragedy can easily fall upon a family
It may only take one single slip
A loss of balance
And I quickly immerse into the cool water
I scramble my legs
But they will not stand firmly on the slimy rocks
With no adults around
And only my brother and sister nearby
I had to act quickly
To think of my own solution
I take a few gasps when I reach the surface
But immediately plunge back into the water
I begin to think this will never end
And if my parents are on their way
I feel a tug on my arm
And dip back down again
Another tug and I see the surface
As I crawl up on the bank
Everything is alright now
And I remember that terrifying fright

By: Deanna E.

The pale yellow glow of the moon reaches
d
o
w
n
gently kissing the frozen ground.
A million little stars wink playfully,
Their lights sparkle like an illuminated Christmas tree.
Soft, fair powder
t
w
i
r
l
s
in the air
and twinkles slightly
in their light
displaying its subtle beauty.
The contrast is breathtaking;
Bright, glowing white
against the never ending black darkness.

by Cassidy Z.

As I sit here and slowly close my eyes

I take another deep breath

And feel the wind pass through my body.

I'm the one in your soul

reflecting inner life

Protecting the ones who hold you

Cradling your inner child.

I need serenity

in a place where I can hide.

I need serenity

Nothing changes, days go by.

Where do we go when we do not know where?

How do we relight the flame when it's cold?

Why do we dream when our thoughts mean nothing?

When will we learn control?

By: Cole S.

THIS I AM

I am a freely given badge of courage that

Flies and flows through the battlefield.

I am Bravery, I am Glory.

Love am I and so is Lust.

I am Passion and Envy,

But I am contrary to greed.

I live upon the proud Robin's breast.

Bold is My Family, Warm is my

Climate and home. I am Life.

I glow, in anger and apathy.

I am Red.

By: Chris M.

The meaning of our very existence.

Through the innocent clouds,

A ray of light shines through.

Doves soar the way gracefully

with their angelic friends.

Peace envelops the earth.

Stars twinkle, glistening throughout the sky,

Sons and daughters of the mother moon.

A glimpse of hope, gives us fortitude.

Purity held within,

A God given gift.

We each are blessed with beauty,

The beauty of a white rose.

Darkness lurks ubiquitously

Shadows, the slaves of evil . . . follow

Hush in the hours of darkness,

Silence of death can be heard.

Bats, angels of the night heavens

Moments are dreamt,

Nightmares, dreams

Tainting our minds,

Whispering to our lonely hearts.

Chained to black and white.

It's all our eyes can see,

The petals of the white rose drop

Only to blossom

The black rose.

True Beauty

By: Claudia D.

Lost Emotions

I have lost all happiness

Every emotion has abandoned me

After the death of our beloved mother.

If you wish to know the current state I am in

Based upon my appearance, you will know

My hair is crimson like the blood that flows within me.

My eyes are empty like the universe

If it had no life, planets, or stars.

The black rings under my eyes are as dark as

A shadow stalking through the night

For I am one who does not sleep well

And as a result

I study books to pass my time.

My tattoo questions the meaning of life

However, tnhose who are not enlightened

Would believe differently upon seeing mt symbol.

I wear dark apparel so others can judge me

And . . . I will not care

I continue to exist only because of the love

My brother and sister share despite our tragedy.

BY: Andrew S.

Shades of Blue by Caitlin C.

MORE STORIES!

We have just completed another major short story writing assignment. Our next venture will be into the world of poetry. Take a few moments to read these stories:

"Chilled"
"Emilie"
"Blake and Me"
Of Unsound Mind

SHORT STORIES

The class has been writing short stories and are anxious to share them. The following are the first three that students would like you to read. Please feel free to comment on them!

Janelle and the Snack That Bit Back

The Paths We Choose

A Little Black Magic

AUTUMN POETRY EXERCISE

Last week the students spent some time outside observing their surroundings. Every few minutes we moved to another location to gain a different perspective. Trees, houses, leaves, acorns, and all sorts of objects were studied. Then students created a poem inspired by one of their obeservations. The following are photos of students "observing" and three of the poems inspired by this exercise.

Lost
Searching for something greater
Curious to see what’s to be found
Meandering around
Wondering in incessant circles,
one after another
Its pattern intricate
Its color bright
Looking lonely and friendless
Heading to find new adventure

by Ashley L.

Hidden Spirit
Behind the green covering there’s something there
Who or what is the question to ask
Is it only a spirit or is it an entity?
Hiding behind only a flimsy wall
Dwelling in the attic waiting to be heard or seen
Sooner or later it must come out, lurking in the daylight or
Even in the night
Every day I saunter by to see the cream shutters
Having a colonial flashback, thinking about the history
Having the urge to go explore

I’m waiting to be discovered
Some people see light, others see dull glowing
I have no idea where I am
I want to get out!
If only someone courageous would be brave and see
Only to figure out I’ve been contained all these years

by: Zaira G.

Majestic Tree

Wind softly rustles the majestic tree

It dances and sways gracefully in the autumn breeze
Leaves beg to be free.

Like a spider's long legs in the branches sprawl

Radiating with beautyit stands confident and tall

A sturdy golden wall

Wind softly rustles the majestic tree

Waiting proudly and patiently, wanting to be seen
Lovely as can be.

by: Cassidy Z.

Three Pieces of Student Writing - Enjoy!

This I believe....
by Claudia D.
I believe in kindness. “Kindness, a language deaf people can hear and blind can see.” (-anonymous) Kindness is a key part of our society; that sadly, some of us still seem to lack. It is vital to be kind to people, because you don’t know how it may affect them. It is important to be kind to unkind people; for the simple reason that they may be the ones who indeed need kindness the most. It’s a very effortless task; sharing a simple hello or even just a nod of your head may really have a positive impact on someone’s day. I believe the best way to be kind is just giving away a smile to a stranger. Often times, a smile can say so much more when the words do not seem to fall so freely from our lips.
My grandmother taught me how to always be polite with kind gestures toward others. She used to tell me it was displaying good manners, which in turn, others would notice. Therefore, I would always try to be as polite as I possibly could. Consequently, growing up I realized that being kind towards others is in fact not only good manners, but also so much more. Kindness is merely the right thing to do. There are opportunities everywhere around us to commit a small act of kindness; and it always makes me feel good when I perform a kind act. Just knowing that I might have made someone else’s day is reason enough to make a small gesture that can have such magnanimous effects. This is why I believe that showing kindness makes you a better person. After all who knows, maybe some of your kindness will rub off on someone else; thus, making them a kinder person. “By doing simple acts of kindness for others, we can’t help but lift ourselves up, too.” (-anonymous)

*click* by Chris M.
The digitized sound of the camera was barely heard over the gushing stream beneath me. The only reason I take pictures, is so my folks don’t worry about where I go. I left home right after High school, and decided I wanted to see the world, or at least my own country. I tried applying for military service, but due to my high blood pressure even the army won’t take me.

My biggest ambition in life is to be poor and happy, and I’m off to a great start, I get to see a new sunrise every morning, and gaze at the nocturnal stars in the sky. I love my life. The only issue I got is that I need to keep communications with my mother. So, now I have to find a town with a computer that’s willing to let a ‘homeless-looking’ man use it. I look down at my reflection in the water; my hair’s grown shaggy and after a quick dunk, has returned to its original brown, I could almost feel the blackness leave my head. My whiskers are growing in; my pack is getting low, and my deodorant is almost out. I mutter under my breath, not even a sigh heard above the stream “So much, for worry free.”

I walked down the path and spotted a busy road, pushed through copper leafs, and made my way over a guard rail. A trick I picked up is that, in the morning, most of the traffic is headed out of town, while later in the day people are either headed for food or home. Up In the sky it was around noon when an old VW bus slowed down to eye me, to see if I looked dangerous.
On instinct I smiled, another trick I picked up on. Once the van knew I was friendly he pulled over beside the ditch.
“Where ya headed, boy?”
“I’m” My voice cracked, it’s been a while since I talked.
“I’m headed into town, which one or which way I don’t really care” I grinned.
“Alright, I’m heading into Altoona, that good?”
“That’s great mister”, so, I hopped in.

As we drove on we talked, I told him about my life, and he told me about his. He told me, a complete stranger, about his family, his goals in life, even his fears. Originally I wanted to see the land that I was potentially going to fight and die for… but after I got turned away, I discovered an even better reason, the best reason in-fact to travel the country.

Not every man even has a chance to tell his story. Not many even consider the man has a story.
And to think, if everybody knew everyone else’s story, then the whole goddamn planet might get along. I really have trouble striking up a conversation most of the time; I’m not much of a talker. But if you don’t talk while being hitched, then you give off the “-I’m a killer hitchhiker, whose going to steal your car, and leave you for the buzzards” kind of feeling.

The man asks “why do you do, (he motions to the road, then back to me,) this?”
I pondered a minute, “I guess I just like the road, it kind of reminds me of a favorite record, ya know? Each rock, each pebble is a line on the asphalt, another song, if you will. And on the road, very few people play the same song, or drive the same exact line of dirt twice. So you have an infinite number of people who finally have one thing in common.”

“What exactly?” he gave me a bewildered look,
I paused, “The road itself, the journey from one place to another.”
When we got to Altoona he dropped me off a library, shook my hand, and said good bye, and good luck. When I walked in, I heard the usual, “Who is that? What does he want?” thing being whispered throughout the room. I approached the counter, throwing on a mask of shyness as a woman approached. She didn’t speak, so as humbly as possible, I asked to use one of the computers. She said no. so I left.

I know what you’re thinking, if I had just told her why, or said my story; she would have been more than glad to let me use a computer. But my rule is to never force a story on another that didn’t need it. I did manage to get her picture though, as I stepped out the door, my mother always likes story fodder.

Service to Humankind by Ammarah S.
There are two kinds of happiness in this world. One is replaceable, and the other will stay with you forever. You can have a big house, an endless amount of money, plenty of cars, an easy lifestyle, and be happy-but how long will it last? The other kind of happiness is void of material goods. It is a happiness you receive by helping others. It is the smile that spreads across your face when the elderly neighbor thanks you for shoveling her driveway that was previously covered with snow. It is the way your face glows and heart swells when you give an impoverished child some much needed food.
Volunteerism, in any form, is vital to the well- being of this world. Any type of good deed, big or small, can go a long way. While I took advantage of volunteer possibilities during my free time at a local hospital, an interesting incident occurred. I was in an elevator that was currently about to close its doors when I saw a gentlemen in a white coat running towards me. Consequently, I held open the door for him and patiently waited until he entered. Later on that day, I spotted this same man again. He came over and informed me that he was an obstetrician who had received a call concerning a patient who needed an emergency Cesarean section earlier that day. He continued to say, that me holding the elevator for him was critical for the patient’s survival. I could not help but feel proud, that my common act of courtesy helped save a life. It goes to show you simple measures, which are increasingly neglected in our society today, need to be revived again.
For me, I began volunteering at a local hospital, without knowing the countless benefits I would receive. I gained a feeling that I had never felt before. The sensation was authentic and cannot be matched. Each time I assisted a recovering patient, whether I delivered a drink to quench an individual’s throat, or I just sat down with someone to have a heart to heart talk, the response of gratitude was great. It made me feel as if I was making the world a better place, one patient at a time. This emotion can only be obtained by helping others.
The public as a whole needs to look at the big picture. The reason we were put on this earth was to aid others. The next time you contemplate whether to hold the door for a stranger, or to help a person deliver groceries to their car, remember that you might end up assisting them in more ways than one. The feeling that you will receive will be of true happiness.This I believe.

Mrs. Fegan's Poetry

To get us started on this new blog, I thought I would "break the ice" and post two of my poems. They say teachers should "lead by example!" So here goes - comments are welcome.

Solar Wonders

The moon reflected in the water’s glow,
Keeps hidden secrets I would like to know.
Its mystery cast in shadows from afar,
Can never hide its charm nor beauty mar.

Moon’s sister is the ever brilliant sun,
Who never rests until her day is done.
She glimmers, shines, and shimmers without shame.
Her beauty unsurpassed that none can claim.

These siblings never fight for time and space.
Complete their cycles with such timeless grace.
How constant is the ever changing moon
And resolute his sister’s climb at noon.

The moon and sun, the cosmos’ perfect team,
This orbital pair a poet’s perfect dream.

Standing Like Sentries

STONES

Surrounded by a lush forest . . .
Birds trill melodic harmonies
Butterflies dance in the breeze
The imperceptible sound of a leaf . . .
gently
falling

STONES
Unnaturally out of place
Thousands stand like sentries
Guarding the remaining memory of
Jewish men . . .

 women . . .

  and children

STONES
Monuments to vibrant lives
Full of potential,
dreams,
and love.

STONES
Standing like sentries . . .

At Treblinka