The Bat

By day the bat is cousin to the mouse.

He likes the attic of an aging house.

His fingers make a hat about his head.

His pulse beat is so slow we think him dead.

He loops in crazy figures half the night.

Among the trees that face the corner light.

But when he brushes up against a screen.

We are afraid of what are eyes have seen.

For something is amiss or out of place.

When mice with wings can wear a human face.

 - Theodore Roethke

Pick an animal and write your own version of this poem.  Remember to research your animal and add some poetic imagery to your poem i.e., "His fingers make a hat about his head."

Tenley's Poems

Words That Make My Tongue Twist

Purple paper people.

Bitter butter, better butter.

Babbling baby Bobby.

Unique New York.

Red leather, yellow leather.

Stupid superstition.

Rolling red wagons.

Green glass globes.

Seven slimy snakes slithered.

Peppy puppy.

Fresh fried fish.

Nine nice nurses.

Sally sells seashells.

Sailor sails seas.

Toy boat, tow boat.

Fox in socks.

Freezy breeze blew.

Three tree trunks.

Nature is beautiful

Nature is beautiful:

The glimmering sun,

The brightness of day,

Flowers that bloom

In every way.

The grass that waves

In the bracing breeze,

The crisp morning dew

That glides off the trees.

And the universe is beautiful:

The Milky Way Galaxy,

The untouchable moon,

That circles the Earth,

Changing midnight to noon.

If you look into the sky at night

You may see some shooting stars,

And if you look into a telescope,

If you're lucky you'll see Mars.

Chloe's Poem!

Still Things Are Beautiful

Still things are beautiful:

The rainbow that is there

As the sad rain stops its cry,

The clouds at which you stare,

Or the trees that touch the sky.

The coral that stretches across the sea floor,

The diamond that sits so pretty in display,

The blue sky you see as you open the door,

Or the bright sun that shines in early May.

But things that move are beautiful too:

The flower that starts to blossom in spring,

The fish that swim in the open blue,

And as the sun comes up, the birds that sing.

The elegant swan that swims without a care in the world,

The butterflies you see while out and about,

That adorable kitty that just sits and says, “Purr!”,

And, of course, you, inside and out.

Chloe's Poem!

Words That Make My Heart Stop

POP QUIZ!                 Wake up!

                        Did you finish your homework?

                         Buying gifts

Are you ready to present?              Your turn!

Algebra equation

                                     Gelling.                                        Goggles off!

Five minutes left!

One more runthrough.                         UNDERS!!!!!

Free, no breathing.

                                   Pace time.

Hurry up!

  

Johann's Poems

Poems

Words That Remind Me Of School

By: Johann

Walk and talk.      Indoor recess.

Homework.   Detention.

Use your brain.                      Ask your peers.

Treat people the way you want to be treated.

Math.             Language.           Science.

Equations. Book.

Lunch.                         School bell.

                                                                     Check your work.

Classroom.         Geometry.

Test. You get an F.

Study.                   Learning.

French.             Lockers.

Gym.   P.A. days.

                                               Religion.       Binders.    Projects.

                                                     Get to work.         It’s a snow day!

Loud Things Are Beautiful

Loud things are beautiful:

Tubas and horns,

And elephants that trumpet

Like the crying newborn,

Clanging pots and pans,

Musical notes on the paper,

The volcano's eruption,

The concert’s front row seats.

Soft things are beautiful:

The soundless squeak of a mouse,

The howl of the wind

That silently brushes past you,

The quiet little boy,

The dripping of water,

The silent snowy owl

Preoccupied in flight.

Nathan's Poems

The Big City is Fascinating

The big city is fascinating:

The glow of the buildings,

The height of the skyscrapers

Towering above me,

The buzz on the never quiet streets,

The enormous hotels that seem

to touch the sky,

The expensive food in the restaurants that

seem to be on every corner.

But the country is fascinating:

The smell of the crisp rural breeze

Running through the wheat,

The winding hills,

The thousands of miles of open fields,

The dark forests that seem to lead to a different world,

The cows grazing on the bright green grass,

While the farmers lays sleeping

Under a big oak tree.

Words That Make My Eyes

Cry

Death. War.

Your friend is moving away.

You suck. Go away.

You didn't make the team.

Divorce. Hatred.

We lost in the finals.

Needles. Poverty.

You can't play. Stress.

Homework. Terrorists.

Deforestation. Climate change.

Animals’ suffering. humans’ suffering.

The day when it comes for me to say good bye.

Noah's Poems

Firm Things are Stunning

Firm things are stunning:

The trunk of a tree,

And the towering buildings

That are stunning to see,

The beautifully shaped mountains,

The rocks in the sea,

The shell of the crabs,

The coral they can eat.

And weak things are stunning:

The ripple of the water,

The bread of the Lord

Which is put in the altar,

The sand underwater,

The squishy eel,

The worm in the land

That eats your orange peel.

Words of What I LoveIce Cream       Video Games        Bonfires                     PizzaYoutube                   Camping      ChocolateBeaches      Marvel            Friends             Super HeroesNetflix                Electronics     My amazing classBasketball          Baseball                 FamliySwimming                 Engineering             Good DreamsPlaying      Nerf Wars            Fooling AroundChocolate Chip Pancakes          FOOD!    ParentsRelatives      Life         MathSUMMER              Einstein                    VacationCartoons                 Reunions     MoviesPlaying Guitar                Playing PianoBirthday Parties             LIVING LIFE

Refugee and Human Rights Student Poetry Contest

Poetry Contest Information - Links to Previous Winners

Words That Make My Stomach Plummet

by Mira McEwan

Committee Meeting.       Burden of Proof.

                  The Simple Truth.      Trying To Be Nice.

Honestly.   I Could Have Died.        I Almost Cried.

              It's Only a Cold Sore.

   It's My Night.     Trust Me.    Dead Serious.

I Have Everything All Under Control.

                I'm Famous For My Honesty.

       I'm Simply Beside Myself.      We're On The Same Page.

                Let's Not Reinvent The Wheel.

For The Time Being.   There Is That.

                      I'm Not Just Saying That.

   I Just Couldn't Help Myself.             I Mean It.

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Create your own version of this poem.

Swift Things are Beautiful

Swift things are beautiful:

Swallows and deer,

And lightening that falls

Bright-veined and clear,

Rivers and meteors,

Wind in the wheat,

The strong-withered horse,

The runner's sure feet.

And slow things are beautiful:

The closing of day,

The pause of the wave

That curves downward to spray,

The ember that crumbles,

The opening flower,

And the ox that moves on

In the quiet of power.

by Elizabeth Coatsworth

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Create your own Things are Beautiful poem.