Poetry
At night sometimes
I listen to the moon
shine.
I listen to the dogs
howl to the dark sky.
I see the stars form
into an arrow to show
me the way.
My mom tells me how
I'm smart. That's all I hear
her say.
Ja'la McClain
Golightly Educational Center
Article# 858, Created Jun. 6, 2006 :: Last Update: Jun. 4, 2009
I lift a fox into the air and throw it into the box
And pull out a
Little Red Riding Hood book.
I squeeze a gooey sticky black bat into the box
And pull out a nice little hamster.
I grabbed my mommy's sickness and put it
Into the box and pull out a well alive mommy.
I snatch a poisonous yellow spider and put it
Into the box and pull out a beautiful blue bird.
I throw a big sharp butcher's knife into the box
And pull out flowers.
Jaylnn Ragland
Golightly Educational Center
Article# 857, Created Jun. 6, 2006 :: Last Update: Jun. 4, 2009
The Blues are so sad
so blue so rainy blue
I just feel blue
I play my old guitar
in the dark blue stone room
When I lie down
I'm just covered with blue
Micah Grier
Hanstein Elementary School
Article# 856, Created Jun. 6, 2006 :: Last Update: Jun. 4, 2009
The wind whispers in my ear of a light
and this light fills my heart with life
a life of green soul
with the river calling my name
I follow the crooked path to the river
and the garden of souls
Justice Miller
Hanstein Elementary School
Article# 855, Created Jun. 6, 2006 :: Last Update: Jun. 4, 2009
I am from burnt chicken wings and hot water corn bread
I am from big houses and old shoes
I am from loud relatives and unplanned pregnancies
and hurt from the stupid males they call our fathers
from childhood therapy and first grade putting boys in headlocks
from sweet chocolate cake and nasty smells of the seats in my uncle’s car.
from puppies to dying dogs
from long walks by the water, late movie nights at my cousin’s house.
from the cries and screams of the telephone,
bags of chips at the store.
from old lawn chairs and front porch bears
from keepin’ it real and scrapin’ it out.
Jasmine Pratt
Detroit International Academy for Young Women
Article# 854, Created Jun. 6, 2006 :: Last Update: Jun. 5, 2009
Where do words come from? The ground,
the Earth? A plant or seed? What might
these words be? Where do we get the
words where, come, bring, go, far, near,
here or there? What might these words
need? Water, sunlight, darkness or dryness?
Who made up words like this? Could it be
Jesus? The first man on Earth? Could it be
dogs, cats, horses, or even rats?
Where do words come from? Do they need
toys, shirts, pants, shoes, socks or maybe even
clocks? Do they need nails, hair glasses, pencils,
eyes, fingers, heads, belts, strings, metal, gold,
plastic or even mold? Are they old or are they new?
Are they me or are they you? Do they need
eyelashes, noses, ears, teeth, mouths, headbands?
Do they need color, style? Do they need
a frown?
Where do words come from? Who
could they be? Is it you? Because
I know it’s not me!
Jayla Whitley
Bunche Elementary School
Article# 853, Created Jun. 6, 2006 :: Last Update: Jun. 5, 2009
The red cherry on the tree
takes the cold light
from the moon
sees the bat
disappear behind a big
black bird
with red eyes
and sharp claws
the bird
eats the red cherry
Bernard Harris
Katherine B. White Elementary
Article# 852, Created Jun. 6, 2006 :: Last Update: Jun. 5, 2009
