Today I have a variety of poems from my seventh grade students. We had been writing Golden Shovel Poems, Pantoums, and Free Verse. For some of them poetry is very difficult. I am very proud of all of my students. They were definitely risk-takers by putting their writing out there for all to see. For some of my students you can feel their pain. When they tell me their writing isn't good, I tell them that when they write from their soul it can't be anything but good. Here are a few examples.
All of us remember summer days like the one Emma describes here.
Swimming by Emma J.
Jumping in the pool is fun
Splashing with friends
after a long hot day
the water cools you off
You splash and play all day
You throw water balloons
some may slip and fall
But they get back up
You spray them down with water guns
They spray you back
you're laughing and smiling
Your parents are relaxing to
The sun starts setting
that doesn't stop you
through the night
you laugh and play
A simple Pantoum that has such a deep message in it.
Why Me? by Barbara Vance
If you were to ask Why me?
When you're feeling really blue,
When the world has turned against you
And you don't know what to do
When it pours colossal raindrops
And you're feeling more confused
Then you ever cold express
Raindrops by Aryianna A.
Do you know that feeling when
you don't feel it
anymore and it starts to pours
Your headache is colossal
and your little thoughts are like raindrops
Knowing the story behind this I could feel the pain and wanted to cry with this child.
Mommy by Jasmine M.
Goodbye mommy
three years old
not ready to go
tears roll down.
Three years old
as I leave for good
tears roll down
I shall hug you goodbye
As I leave for good
no ready to go
I shall hug you goodbye
Goodbye mommy
This student described through her poem an accident she was involved in when she was younger.
The Accident by Jasmine M.
Boom, Crash, Sam
No glass, no blood
Sleep is all there wwa
Awoke I did in the hospital bed.
No glass, no blood
Scared I was
Awoke I did in the hospital bed
Crying and unable to move
Scared I was
Sleep is all there was
Crying and unable to move
Boom, Crash, Slam
Be Careful by Amari C.
My heart is like a package with a fragile label on it
be careful with me
I love you
can't you see
Be careful with me
love is patient
Can't you see
like the rhythm of the sea
Love is patient
I love you
Like the rhythm of the sea
My heart is like a package with a fragile label on it.
By using repetition of the phrase "Where is she" we get the sense of panic this child felt.
My Aunt by Amari C
Where is she
She was suppose to be here at two
It's been way too long
She's never late
She was supposed to be here at two
Somebody get the phone
She's never late
We're going to the hospital, she had a stroke
Somebody get the phone
It's been way too long
We're going to the hospital, she had a stroke
Where is she
Here is another Golden Shovel Poem
The Little Girl's Land by Emmeline Francis
Not so long ago
In a land closer than it seems
There lived a silly little girl
With a pocketful of dreams
She was as hated as was loved
It didn't matter what she'd one
But the one thing that she knew
Too fat and too ugly
Too judgmental and a fool
She could never be just perfect
And society was cruel
It carried on for years
and nobody could decide
Whether this silly little gilr
Should get to live or die
So the leader told his people
That something must be done
And the poor thing should be dealt with
So it couldn't hurt anyone
At first there was denial
But the umber quickly bloated
Soon even the voice of mother
Left the situation quite outvoted
But when asked who would do it?
As the people shouted blame
Not a single one would volunteer
And hung their heads in shame
A tiny voice right from the back
Suppressed by a nation's shouts
Announced that she could do it
No longer harboring any doubts.
Every single citizen watched
As a blade was drawn with care
The girl aligned it to the heart
To breathe she didn't dare
Instantly her dull eyes closed
A single push was done
Hushed whispers silenced throughout the land
Watching her smiling tear drops run
When mother found her in the morn
Dried tears still on her face
She knew with greatest certainty
She was not in a better place.
How hopeless she was lying there
With blood on the bedroom floor
The only thing to take comfort in
They couldn't hurt her anymore
Mother watched the coffin
Now the girl was quite stone dead
Such a pity, society sighed
That the land was within her head.
Take heed of this done story
For the many who ruin themsleves
Though words might seem so innocent
Our worst critics are ourselves
All of us remember summer days like the one Emma describes here.
Swimming by Emma J.
Jumping in the pool is fun
Splashing with friends
after a long hot day
the water cools you off
You splash and play all day
You throw water balloons
some may slip and fall
But they get back up
You spray them down with water guns
They spray you back
you're laughing and smiling
Your parents are relaxing to
The sun starts setting
that doesn't stop you
through the night
you laugh and play
A simple Pantoum that has such a deep message in it.
Why Me? by Barbara Vance
If you were to ask Why me?
When you're feeling really blue,
When the world has turned against you
And you don't know what to do
When it pours colossal raindrops
And you're feeling more confused
Then you ever cold express
Raindrops by Aryianna A.
Do you know that feeling when
you don't feel it
anymore and it starts to pours
Your headache is colossal
and your little thoughts are like raindrops
Knowing the story behind this I could feel the pain and wanted to cry with this child.
Mommy by Jasmine M.
Goodbye mommy
three years old
not ready to go
tears roll down.
Three years old
as I leave for good
tears roll down
I shall hug you goodbye
As I leave for good
no ready to go
I shall hug you goodbye
Goodbye mommy
This student described through her poem an accident she was involved in when she was younger.
The Accident by Jasmine M.
Boom, Crash, Sam
No glass, no blood
Sleep is all there wwa
Awoke I did in the hospital bed.
No glass, no blood
Scared I was
Awoke I did in the hospital bed
Crying and unable to move
Scared I was
Sleep is all there was
Crying and unable to move
Boom, Crash, Slam
Be Careful by Amari C.
My heart is like a package with a fragile label on it
be careful with me
I love you
can't you see
Be careful with me
love is patient
Can't you see
like the rhythm of the sea
Love is patient
I love you
Like the rhythm of the sea
My heart is like a package with a fragile label on it.
By using repetition of the phrase "Where is she" we get the sense of panic this child felt.
My Aunt by Amari C
Where is she
She was suppose to be here at two
It's been way too long
She's never late
She was supposed to be here at two
Somebody get the phone
She's never late
We're going to the hospital, she had a stroke
Somebody get the phone
It's been way too long
We're going to the hospital, she had a stroke
Where is she
Here is another Golden Shovel Poem
The Little Girl's Land by Emmeline Francis
Not so long ago
In a land closer than it seems
There lived a silly little girl
With a pocketful of dreams
She was as hated as was loved
It didn't matter what she'd one
But the one thing that she knew
Too fat and too ugly
Too judgmental and a fool
She could never be just perfect
And society was cruel
It carried on for years
and nobody could decide
Whether this silly little gilr
Should get to live or die
So the leader told his people
That something must be done
And the poor thing should be dealt with
So it couldn't hurt anyone
At first there was denial
But the umber quickly bloated
Soon even the voice of mother
Left the situation quite outvoted
But when asked who would do it?
As the people shouted blame
Not a single one would volunteer
And hung their heads in shame
A tiny voice right from the back
Suppressed by a nation's shouts
Announced that she could do it
No longer harboring any doubts.
Every single citizen watched
As a blade was drawn with care
The girl aligned it to the heart
To breathe she didn't dare
Instantly her dull eyes closed
A single push was done
Hushed whispers silenced throughout the land
Watching her smiling tear drops run
When mother found her in the morn
Dried tears still on her face
She knew with greatest certainty
She was not in a better place.
How hopeless she was lying there
With blood on the bedroom floor
The only thing to take comfort in
They couldn't hurt her anymore
Mother watched the coffin
Now the girl was quite stone dead
Such a pity, society sighed
That the land was within her head.
Take heed of this done story
For the many who ruin themsleves
Though words might seem so innocent
Our worst critics are ourselves
The Girl That Wasn't Loved as Much by Shaina S.
There once was a girl. She
didn't fit in. She was
always being picked on. She felt hated
a lot. As
this kept going on she was as well love.
As she was hated people said too
revolting or too fat
Things like you're too petty and
big to be sitting with us , or you're too
nasty, they said, you're too ugly.
This girl felt like she
had no one there for, or that she could
not count on anyone. Never
Be great. She could never be
good enough or just
like the rest. She could never be perfect.
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