I am 15 days into my 30 days of verse novels. The image of this post includes the covers of 15 great middle school verse novels that junior high students are reading right now. And there are many, many more. I will feature all of them at the end of the month with reviews from students.
It’s Sunday, and we are half way. Congratulations! And it is also the day when some families gather for church or a meal. Maybe your mom (or dad or gram) cooks for the family, and maybe you visit a cousin or aunt. Everyone one who attends has a story, so consider breaking any awkward dinner silences with one of these questions, which is our inspiration for today (and maybe you will share this poem during the karaoke portion of your family gathering).
Then, compose your conversation into poem form!
- How did you meet your friend or love?
- Who has been the most important person in your life?
- What was the happiest moment in your life?
- Who has been the biggest influence in your life? What lessons did that person teach you?
- Who has been the kindest to you in your life?
- What is your favorite memory of some person who is important to you? (Share the poem you write with him/her.)
- How would you like to be remembered?
Friendship (how my husband, Dan, met his friend, Brian)
“How did you meet Brian?”
I asked Dan.
“I was fourteen, I guess.
It was in the park–Brandywine.
It was summer, I guess.
It was right before freshman year.
Yeah, that’s right.
He’d moved there recently.
Jay met him first.
I met this kid, he said.
He lives by the other park, he said.
The kid seems pretty cool, he said.
That was in ’84.
Geesh, over thirty years ago.
We were interested in the same things.
We talked the same, too.
Easy, just easy–
not a lot of work to
communicate.
We could say anything.
Yeah, we basically did.
It was just a day, nothing remarkable.
I’m surprised I remember that much.
Brian had a basement —
that’s where we hung out
all through high school
until we had our own places
until we grew up.
Well, ‘got older.’
His best quality?
Geesh, I don’t know.
His humor.
Yeah, his sense of humor, his sarcasm,
and he was smart enough to marry your sister.”
one day i met you, i thought nothing of it
8 months later
your all i can think about
My best friend
I met her 2 years ago
Who knew we were going to be so close
I still remember the first day we met
At gym
The quote that I will never forget
the conversation starter that both of us didn’t know what was going to happen
The beginning of our forever lasting friend relationship
The time that you said “Hey aren’t you that Arizona kid”
I want to be remembered as a girl that always smiled,
That was Always positive,
A girl who was always there when they needed her,
She was shoulder for people,
A role model,
No matter how bad you hurt her still cared,
A weird goofy person,
A helper,
Kind but had strong things to say,
Saw the world of what it was a war,
A girl who was different
Unique,
Hard worker
Great friend
Good sister
I want to be remembered as…
Anette
I met you last year
It was love at first sight
I knew I wanted you to be mine
I talked to you and got to know you better
The more I knew
The more I liked
When you told me how you felt about me a year later
My heart raced
Lets just say my view of the world changed
To a whole new perspective
It all started when I texted you
You where just out of a relationship
I wanted to be there for you
You where there for me when i most needed someone
You made me feel special
Like no other boy had
I will never forget you
All I have to say is Thank You
Remembrance,
how one will be remembered,
in some shape or form,
no matter what,
anyone no matter their importance will be remembered,
from famous political figures to the most distant and short lived lives,
from artists to just a person who once smiled and said hello to you in the street,
each person has a part in other peoples lives,
and each person is remembered,
now the only things left,
is to decide how you yourself shall be
the start of my relationship
we started as “bullies buddy”
we made each other laugh and smile,
my heart was confused maybe she was the one for me
we dated…for two days..we were both confused
one month we start talking again and once again we’re best friends
then best friend turned into girlfriend and boyfriend
its been five months…maybe sometimes you have to wait.
Ashanti
Ima tell the truth, I could never see us as friends
until one day I got to talk to her
I swear I will never regret that day <3
It start at school one day
All my friends were talking about the new girl
So I wanted to meet her
Then when I sat at lunch she was to quiet
And I didn't like that
Then one day she gave me food
We started to talk more
Because she went on my bus
We would Face time every night
Still till this day we are rockin together
I like how you thought you two will never be friends just by how she looked and it’s nice that you two actually talked and liked each other and became best friends
i’m me
i want to be remembered as me
i want to be remembered as khari
i want to be remembered as:
creative
funny
intelligent
handy
athletic
and more i wanted to be remembered as me
Though you are the most annoying and irritating
person I know.
I don’t know what I would do without you.
One minute were arguing and pushing each other,
The next minute we’re laughing and playing.
We are always together,
And I can’t imagine being apart.
You are my one and only brother.
He is very special in my life
We started as best friends
Calling each other “best friend” in the halls
We told each other everything
We understood what we were going through
He made me smile and laugh like no other person could
He means the world to me
I guess you can say that
“The best relationships start off as friendships first”
There is someone very special in my life
She’s always there for me
She’s the person who I hold very close to my heart
Who I can trust anytime, any day, anywhere
She brings me happiness when no one else can
She’s my favorite person
I put her first
She is my family
Like a sister
But more
My best friend
I love you
I agree with you when you said, “She brings me happiness when no one else can, She is my family, Like a sister, My best friend,” because I also have a bestfriend that I treat like a sister and that I talk to when I need someone to talk to or even just to laugh.
Sitting down on the playground
all my friends are sick
bored and tired
while he walks up to me
“Hey wanna do something?”
“Ummm okay.”
best buds since first grade.
I like how you said ” Hey wanna do something” ” um-mm okay” this shows that it is easy to make friends and how a little conversation can make you be best buds since first grade. nice job
We met 4 years ago
Since then I knew I’d be with you forever
I knew I could trust you with everything
I knew you’d be there for me whenever
I knew that I’d end up caring about you more than I could ever care about anyone else
I knew that I’d always have that urge to protect you
Because you were perfect
And perfect things don’t stay perfect for very long in our world
You were my sunshine in a cloudy day
My breeze on a scorching hot day
My fireplace in the dead of winter
My blanket on a cold night
My compass when I felt lost
You were and continue to be my everything
My bestfriend
I like how you include many metaphors such as “You were my sunshine on a cloudy day” and “My breeze on a scorching hot day.” These metaphors make F poem go from good to great.
i like how you said “My blanket on a cold night and
My compass when I felt lost because it lets me know how much you love her
and how you feel about each other
One of the happiest moments of my life
Father’s day weekend
played in a wood bat tourney
went all the way
wanted to win for my dad
we won are first wood bat tournament
I did it for my dad
made me feel proud
I met them in first period first day of school
mysterious of who they were,next day I was their friends
They were kind to me
And they told me personal things
and I told them personal things
they let me in with open arms
one day me and my cousin went outside to play soccer
we were new
we didn’t now anybody in our neighborhood
we saw our neighbors awlso playing soccer with other kids
we were bored
because it was just me and him
so we went with the other kids to play
we asked then if we could play with them
they said “yeah sure”
they were really nice with us
they started to asked us what was are name and we asked there names
they were really good at soccer
till this day we still play with them every single day
i wont forget that day we meet them
Happiest moment of my life
April 5th 2016
I went over to my cousins house, they where selling puppers about 2 months old
I saw the perfect one, she followed me everywhere. I asked if we could adopt her
my mom said yes
we got her she is now 1 year old
and loves to play, but she does get annoying always stealing my socks
it’s a shih Tzu type of breed. just imagine a skunk that’s really playful.
I met you in 5th grade and since then you have been by my side
you are one of the few people that haven’t left me
you accept me by who I am
and don’t try to force me into something I’m not
I’m glad to call you my best friend
we have so many memories
some bad
some good
some embarrassing
and some sad
but we have never left each other and that’s why I love you
I promise to never leave your side
just like you said to me
best friend my ride or die
who knew we would be so close
who knew you would mean so much to me these 2 years
you’re actually pretty lit we had our up and downs
but we went through them
i thought you were mean when i first met you
but we started talking and we became so close
its fun having you for gym
and i love how we talk about our problems
and sometimes we even make fun of ourselves
for the dumbest problems we have
but we have our fights and we eventually get through them
Best friend
I never thought we’d even be friends
The first time I saw you
I thought you were way “cooler” than me
Until you walked up to me and introduced yourself
Might of started to have feelings
We started talking more and more
Telling each other secrets
We messed around a lot
Had fun and laughed together
But things changed
We changed
Slowly going different ways
Talked less and less
You meant the world to me
But we’re still young
So I guess this was a lesson
A harsh one
Christina
Who knew we would be friends?
But it happened,
Things just tend to.
But I would never change it.
4 classes together,
1st, 3rd, 5th and 9th,
To talk in:
History, Science, Gym and Writing.
But if it wasn’t for that,
I won’t know who you were,
(Which would be a regret.)
You taught me things I never knew,
And gave me advice,
I asked for.
You’re smart even if you don’t like to,
show it.
And definitely a savage.
I have a ton of funny memories of us,
Like staying after school,
& texting.
You’re beautiful,
inside and out.
And 100% an original.
Our friendship together,
Shall grow forever,
As I truly hope.
first love?
What is love to be honest
You really haven’t met your first love
Yeah maybe you loved the first person you were with
Sometimes you still love them right now
But you will always have feelings for that first person
That made you feel “love”
They brought you happiness
Maybe not all the time
But yet there is something about them…
You don’t know what it is
But it just pulls you back in
You try to escape
But you can’t
At least not right now
You tell yourself
Why do i love someone so much who don’t care about me
And probably never did care or “love” me
So nobody has met there first love
They have just met the person they had so much love for
And now they are just a thing in the past
I liked how you put “They have just met the person they had so much love for
And now they are just a thing in the past” we are too young to know what love is but at least we think we know how it feels to love someone and have the person not feel the same towards you.
The happiest moments in my life come from spending time with my family, in an awesome place, on summer vacation.
Going to Michigan, renting a house, and going to the beach.
The only problem I ever have is:
We’re leaving soon.
You never have to worry about the project due on friday, or the homework you had that day.
A flashback comes to my
brain.
A smile and a grin appear.
I look and laugh at my dog
who is
currently sleeping at my feet.
I remember how overjoyed I was
when I first laid eyes on my dog.
We had been told that he
was
ummm….
a LITTLE
bit aggressive.
Well he is a chihuahua
and I know that chihuahuas are sensitive and mine
had well been abused in the past.
I remembered when I first tried to pet him
and
he snapped
at me.
I was determined to not give up on this little dude,
who
literally,
hates
everyone.
I remembered waking up and walking to the living room
and seeing him
sit there,
looking so innocent,
wagging his little tail.
I ran to him and he licked me.
He really lifted my heart and gave me determination to
change his aggressiveness,
because I had witnessed what
it
was to
have a sweet dog.
I knew he had a good heart,
he just needed a someone,
to show
him,
that he
could act
good once more,
and that the world isn’t
all
evil.
I want to be remembered
As a confident person, but kind.
An accomplished person, but humble.
A smart person, but helpful.
A brave person, but protective.
Then people can think of me
And smile.
Will I end up being this way?
I’m not sure.
I’d love to be remembered like this,
And will certainly try.
I can relate to this because I also want to be remembered in that way. I like how you ended your poem off with,”Will I end up being this way?
I’m not sure.
I’d love to be remembered like this,
And will certainly try.”
Best friend
We met in kindergarten
As friends
Didn’t talk much
Until 6th grade
We went through a lot
You know what I mean
But we found our way
Back to each other
You are now
The closest friend
I have had
In a long time
I was just chilling on my bed (couch in the living room)
When all of a sudden I just wanted to listen to music
I don’t know why but that’s not a thing that i usually do
So I grab my headphones and my phone and I start listening
I still don’t do it often but at that moment
I Don’t really know what happened but I changed
I would always be bored and not want to do stuff
but now I just want to do everything
I remember that moment but I don’t know what song or how it happened
We were all huddled around a small cage,
Looking at the tiny puppy we wanted.
I was jumping,
Trying to look into the cage at the top of the wall.
As my mom signed papers to take the puppy outside,
I bounced around with joy.
As the door opened,
I ran outside while my mom carried a small bundle of fur.
Once we sat her down,
We realized that we want this little puppy in our family.
As she sat and licked my face,
We thought about what to name her.
“Let’s name her Bella!”
My mom yelled as we agreed.
As we went to the pet store
To get ready for Bella,
I happily ran around,
Even though I didn’t know at the time,
But I had just gotten a life long best friend.
The phrase ” I didn’t know at the time, but I had just gotten a life long best friend” got me thinking about how pets can be your favorite friend out of everyone, because unlike people, they always show that they love you (unless they don’t like you). Some people who don’t own pets might think that one can’t be your best friend, but once they get one, they immediately don’t regret buying one. I think this is just because of how friendly and open dogs can be.
I know what it feels like to get a dog and I also knew that I had a best friend as a dog
I was walking to class
It was the 1st day of school
Nervous than I had ever been
I walked down the hallway
Praying
Praying not to trip, or look stupid
I turned the corner into the classroom
And BOOM!
He was there
My blood began to race
By heart began to pound out of my chest
Look at his eyes
Look at his smile
I was frozen
Love-struck
I couldn’t move
Well, until someone yelled “Get out of my way!”
I then continued to walk to an empty seat
I passed by him
He said hi
I knew
I knew that he was going to be someone special ? ?
When I die
I want to be remembered
as a person
who was nice to other people
someone who
was never
mean to anyone
someone other people
want to be around
It all started in Writing class
I went up to her
We started a conversation
It was a good conversation
We felt a good connection
We laughed and smiled and I wanted to keep talking to her
So we did
The next day and the next day and the next day
It wan an amazing connection
She was an amazing person she was a beautiful person I mean she still is
We began to text for hours and hours
We began to call each other Best Friends
People were spreading rumors that we were going to be more then Best Friends
We ignored it
But not for long
The rumor got bigger and bigger
Until the rumor became true
They ask me how ive been
they ask me why i smile a lot
but the one question
im waiting for someone to ask me
no one ever do
but then i wonder to
why cant i ask myself this pacific question
and the truth is
its because i dont know the answer
i dont know the answer to any of there questions
but the question is why….
why dont i know
but soon i will find out
I won’t ever forget
The day that we met
For the last time forever
You didn’t know me
But I knew you
We didn’t know what to do
You couldn’t walk
Or really talk
But at least we could see each other
When I heard you had passed
I knew that the last
Time that I saw you
Would never be put to rest
You had very good play on words, making you seem clever. but straight forward, which I always don’t mind, that.
so many people ask me for answers to problems because they look to me as a nerd not a friend they always expect a answer or they say or else well i have a question for all of them. why don’t you pay attention and stop asking me for answers?
I agree with the part when you said, “Why don’t you pay attention and stop asking me for answers?”
It was a sunny day
And the clouds were away
The first time I saw you
We shared a smile
and talked for a while
The day I first met you
We both shared stories
As I basked in the glory
of what it felt like to be with you
The days went on
Dusk to dawn
I missed talking you
But then some way
On a chilly day
God brought me back to you
We laughed
We smiled
We talked for a while
And I remembered what it felt like to be with you
The days pass by
You’re still my guy
And I’m happy when I’m with you
People ask me
How did you get an A
how so good
why did you study
can you help me
My question to you is
Why can’t you do it yourself
What are you doing?
How have you been?
Boring.
I want a deep conversation
with somebody.
But, like someone
who understands me.
We should start asking
different questions.
What’s on your mind?
Are you doing okay?
I know you’ve been stressed, wanna talk?
If you’re noticing someone
upset,
ask them.
We all need a deep
conversation.
Even if you think,
“Nah, I’m not that type of person.”
Keep saying that.
Trust me.
You tell that to people so often,
they will leave and not ask if you’re okay.
Then when you really need
someone there,
they gonna say,
“I thought you weren’t the
type of person who needed a
deep conversation?”
i love this! poem and i like how you put a lot of your feelings in your poems
They ask me how is school going?
How are your sports?
What have you been doing lately?
Why aren’t you ever with your friends?
Why don’t you ever call?
Well maybe because I have a life
I’m busy half of the time
The other half of the time I’m either at school or in my bed sleeping
I’m not trying to seem rude or anything
I just have my own stuff to do
School is stressful
I get hurt at school
I’m in pain half of the time
Everything is killing me
Taking up my time
Whatever though
I will just say I’m fine and school is going good
I don’t really want to start a long conversation
A clever line is “The other half of the time I’m either at school or in bed” -its so true
Good job on your poem!
Treats me kind
Can be mean
Her forgiveness is something she always finds
Thoughts running through my head like beams
I don’t have anything in mind
” I’ll help it wont take much time,”
I knew I could trust her
She helped me day and night
In the end, she helped me get a good grade
People always ask me:
How did you get an A?
How did you make this?
How did you not study?
What you get on question 3?
well I´m tired of it
I want to ask you a question
can you not ask me all these things everyday?
Just after my second performance of “The Music Man,”
She was with someone else,
She told me how amazing I sang,
She gave me a hug,
In seventh grade,
Then It’s eighth grade,
And it’s picture day,
I’m wearing a short white dress,
My hair is engulfed in bobby pins,
She walks up to me,
She blushes……
Now we’ve been together for a month,
And I couldn’t be happier,
But something happens,
And I’m too afraid to tell her,
So i end it.
I get depressed.
I get really desperate.
I miss her, but I deny it.
Then after I preform in “The Little Mermaid,”
She asks me again.
I’m still scared.
I say no.
I say that I hope she finds someone.
I regret it.
After winter break,
I finally realize that I love her.
I try and get close to her again,
She tries to get close to me,
Then at the school dance she asks me out again.
I say,
Yes.
I don’t regret it.
I tell her everything, and she does the same,
And now we’ve been together 3 months on Thursday.
Will you remember me?
Am I worth enough to be remembered?
Or am I a failure?
Am I a hero?
Or am I nothing?
Am I loved?
Or hated by the world.
When you wrote or am I a failure I felt bad because no one should, or will ever be a failure
You’re worth the world to me, Gabe. I love you, man.
Who am I
where am am i from
why do you care
i have flaws
dont you
I like the line when you said “why do you care” because for me it felt like someone who talks down to you and that is a response that I would tell them.
How would you remember me?
is there something special about me?
There is a reason why i want to be remembered
as a helper in the world
as someone who gets people through the tough times
If I am gone
I want you too
tell
I was a good person
Not bad
I want you too remember me as a caring person
If I a m gone
what would you remember me as?
Did I make a deference in your life?
I want to be remembered
someone great
even through the hard times
I still manage to smile
when it was hard
to help others learn from mistakes
make their hard times easier
always be there for someone when they need me the most
I want to be remembered
If I died today,
I want to be remembered as a caring
loving
person
I listen to what people tell me especially when they most need it
Did you hear what I just said?
Or did you listen? Let me repeat
I said I listen to what people tell me
There is a difference between hearing and listening
Hearing what someone says is
when it goes in one ear
and shoots straight out of the other
Listening is when you process what the person is saying
You think about it
You understand
I want to be remembered
As a listener
I remember when I was five
We were all there
I was getting a puppy
I didn’t know
You all had such big smiles
That was my happiest moment in my life
The most important person in my life
Would probably be my mom
I have many important people, but my mom helps me out the most
In tough situations and she always makes me laugh
She makes amazing food and we watch TV shows like “Ranczo” together to laugh
We always have something to talk about and it never gets boring
My mom also helps me to not worry about huge things, to stay calm
And most importantly, to be a good person and realize the things happening around me
I want to be remembered as a happy person
even on a cloudy day.
I want to be remembered as a loving person
who cared more for other people then my self.
I want to be remembered as a great friend
who was always easy to talk to.
I want to be remembered as someone who didn’t care what people thought
as just did what I wanted to do.
I want to be remembered as someone who was brave
and would never back down from a challenge.
I want to be remembered for making a mark on this world
in someway or another.
I want to be remembered as a sister
who was kind to her siblings.
I want to be remembered as a kind person
who helped whenever someone needed help.
I want to be remembered forever
I would like to be remembered as an inspirational and kind person
who anyone can talk to
Who will always help
Will never be forgotten
caring to all
never exclude people
and always loving
I really like the line that says “Who anyone can talk to” because this is a noticeable trait in a kind person.
I really like how in this poem you are thinking of how other people will think of you when you are deceased. It shows that as a person, you want to make a good impression on people and you really care how others think of you. What I am trying to say is I can see that you care about others more than yourself through this poem.
I would like to be remembered as a great friend
who always helps out
and doesn’t really care
about what video game we play next
I would like to be remembered as a nice person
As someone who works hard
As someone that who is a good friend
But thats not the case
People are cruel
Unforgiving
Forever known as an idiot
Not known as a hero
or a likable person.
I want to be remembered,
As the kind of person,
That is compassionate,
And nice,
I hope that people will remember me,
When I leave this world,
As someone to look up to,
And that’s not because I’m tall.
One of my happiest moments (Maybe not at the time)
was when I was in second grade,
and I went the violin shop
to pick out an instrument.
I started playing the violin, (which I don’t really play anymore)
This was one of my happiest moments because
this was how I started my passion for music.
My parents always told me,
To never give up,
Because 25 years ago,
They came with 2 dollars,
In their pocket,
And nothing but a dream,
To live in a wonderful country,
With no limitations,
And,
To have 2 bright children,
Who had perseverance,
and would one day know,
That without trying,
They would never be where they are,
Without tenacity
I can relate to when you said “without trying, they would never be where they are,” because if someone doesn’t put effort into something, they won’t get anywhere.
When I pass I want to be remembered as a person who achieved their life goals, a person who didn’t color inside the lines, a person who made others think, a person who made life more joyous, a person. I want to be remembered as me.
Coincidental
Bouncing in a stroller
Smiling at the sun
Only 18 months old
But still having fun
Walking by Grelish park
My mom saw a figure
Off in the distance
Slowly growing bigger
A girl asleep in her chair
Her mom as her chauffeur
She smiled when walking by
But my mom stopped to confer
She asked how old
Of which I didn’t comprehend
But since just moving here
My mom wanted more friends
The fellow mother replied
Emma is 18 months old
My mom smiled happily
I was that age too, she told
We all went on with our lives
But little did we know then
That a year or so later
We would soon meet again
Hi Maddie! I love the way you end this poem with a little mystery, saying “That a year or so later, we would soon meet again.” It leaves the audience wondering what will happen in the future, but somehow know it has to be happy. Great rhythm and structure, and I could tell you had fun writing the story!
I think the most important person or people in my life is my parents
I know it sounds cliche but it is true
You don’t know how good you have it until it gone
They have been there for everything
Even in times of need
With out them I would not be here
Right now
In this very moment
wow very truthful and descriptive i think thats cool
One one of my favourite memories was with my dad. It’s the only memory I have before I was five.
I was with my dad at a small wooden table,
surrounded by puzzles and toys.
I was putting together a puzzle of the fifty states,
my dad try’s my to help me on the way.
But he didn’t have to, I knew where everything went.
My dad ran to get the camera, for I was three.
When I see started naming the states, my dad got my mom,
and we spent the rest of the day doing that puzzle over and over again.
That is probably my favourite memory, at least from when I was younger.
And to this day, I still have that puzzle.
One favorite advice someone gave:
My bestfriend
Not just someone
Helped me believe I was someone special to the kid that had no clue I was alive
Not to hurt me
But to show me I was just as good as I wanted others to see me as
They told me “he’s not worth it” and I felt relieved that the baggage I once had hanging over me like a cloud was gone and replaced by my most caring people alive
How would you like to be remembered?
Thoughtful,
Kind,
Intelligent.
Thoughtful;
Thinking of others,
Thinking of what people wonder,
“Will they get mad if I tell them this?”
“Will this person like this as a present?”
Kind;
Being nice to others,
Saying hello to those I may not be close friends with,
Helping someone with homework,
Being there for someone when needed.
Intelligent;
Being able to help someone on a problem,
Knowing what is right from wrong,
Getting good grades,
And being able to answer questions.
I really enjoyed how you listed the three traits you wanted to be “thoughtful, kind, intelligent” and then explained all three of them. It helped me as a reader to get a better understanding of what those words mean to you.
Stay in the moment.
Don’t worry about things that are not in your control.
I’ve been taught.
Do not be anxious because everyone else in the world is feeling like you.
Also, don’t try and please everyone else.
Because you’ll end up losing yourself.
You can do only your best.
Setting the bar too high leads to stress.
These are some of the lessons I’ve learned.
I like how it all came together in a story from personal to advice put in one
Inspiration,
Influence,
The human nature,
To help,
To care,
Is in our DNA,
Even if we don’t know it,
There is always someone,
Who is there,
Who is always supporting you,
Making sure,
You are making good decisions,
And most definitely,
Mistakes
hIf I asked a random question that got my family really thinking I think it would go something like this
“If you were able to move anywhere in the world where would you move and one more thing is that you can’t go anywhere else ever even for vaction or something else.”
If you’re wondering why that question probaly because it’s a simple question that really makes you think.
Easter egg hunting
Exciting
Thrilling
Competitive
Surprising
Each egg
Holds something different
Chocolate
Coins
Trinkets
What I love about
Easter egg hunting
Is that
Every Time you
Open one,
You always open
Up a little surprise
Part of Easter egg hunting is
Never knowing exactly
What you pick up
All you can do
Is run for it
And hope you get
Good prizes
Friendship
“How did you meet Brian?”
I asked Dan.
“I was fourteen, I guess.
It was in the park–Brandywine.
It was summer, I guess.
It was right before freshman year.
Yeah, that’s right.
He’d moved there recently.
Jay met him first.
“I met this kid,” he said.
“He lives by the other park,” he said.
“The kid seems pretty cool,” he said.
That was in ’84.
Geesh, over thirty years ago.
We were interested in the same things.
We talked the same, too.
Easy, just easy–
not a lot of work to
communicate.
We could say anything.
Yeah, we basically did.
It was just a day, nothing remarkable.
I’m surprised I remember that much.
Brian had a basement —
that’s where we hung out
all through high school
until we had our own places
until we grew up.
Well, ‘got older.’
His best quality?
Geesh, I don’t know.
His humor.
Yeah, his sense of humor, his sarcasm,
and he was smart enough to marry your sister.”
Why Don’t You Believe in God? (Or A True Tale of an Easter Past)
Holidays are an important time of year
When families get together to talk about loved ones missed
To see how the kids have grown another inch or two
And to listen to old stories with a new twist.
To receive hugs and kisses from a dear granny
Or some advice from uncles whose lives are an open book
To run and play with younger cousins looking up to you
Peeking in the kitchen to see what’s about to cook.
After what seems like hours of waiting, the food suddenly appears
The dining room table is filled with all kinds of salads and meats,
The vegetables and casseroles, the breads and other sides
Desserts and all…what a glorious feast!
As we gather in our chairs around the table so long
The squabbling of whom gets to sit next to whom
Suddenly the host, my uncle, appears in the doorway
And the silence is so deafening that it invades the entire room.
While my uncle is funny and very knowledgeable
His demeanor can be composed yet strict at this time of year
For those not knowing the quirkiness of my uncle
He can evoke an unsettling type of fear.
He sat down and said it was time to say grace
To put our heads down in reverence while the words were said
As time went on I could tell by the looks of others that were exchanged
That lengthy sermons were not expected, and tummies were waiting to be fed.
I am not saying this to be blasphemous in any way
But you have to know the backgrounds of the other people that day
Just because we were one, huge family enjoying Easter dinner
We were also a United Nations of religions with a lot to say.
So I guess it came to a head when the porcelain baby Jesus was passed around
Hand to hand, with kisses atop His head and blessings being stored upon the figurine
I had never seen this type of adventure at a family dinner gathering
And I guess this was also new to some of the others, no longer serene.
My uncle and his family were of the Catholic faith
Added to that we had a Southern Baptist, a Spiritualist, an Agnostic or two,
Episcopalians, a Buddhist, and a Quaker (Society of Friends),
Two Jewish believers and some Atheists…this is all true.
So you can imagine the look of surprise
As the baby Jesus was placed in some of those hands
Those not knowing what to do or say to please their host
Yet not wanting to cave in to religious demands.
Well, you can guess what happened next, embarrassing as it was,
My other uncle, an Atheist, burst out with a laugh and began to tease
The look of shock and horror upon those who did believe
Was something unforgettable as they squirmed with unease.
I sat there bewildered and wondered why
A table of loved ones could be so different and show no concern
Even though one might not share the same belief
We were there to be together, not to have faiths spurned.
I remember thinking at that time
Why the belief in God is so hard to accept
Easter is the time when God had to give up his Son
And as any father, He too could have wept.
I felt the loss of peace that day
And still think back to those unkind actions
To have said nothing at all would have been better
Than to break apart a family in different factions.
Our entire family has not had another Easter dinner together
Since that unhappy, fateful, and shameful day
But I wish I had brought up that question,
“Why don’t you believe in God?” so I could hear what he had to say.
There is no right or wrong in your belief
Everyone has their own faith or reason
Just as the world turns and a new day begins
So do we always have a new season.
Just give me an answer and not a jest
Because I will give you my response and can converse with you
As you have your belief, I have mine and when someone asks,
“Why don’t you believe in God?” I can say, “I do.”
This is a narrative poem — you tell a story with a beginning middle and end; you show us the people with their words and gestures; you tell us the meaning this had to you. The way you write allows me to bear witness to your life, to sit along side you as you ponder, and for that, I thank you!
I love this poem. Holidays and church are very big in my house, especially when they’re together. I can not believe that you were able to do an ABCB rhyme scheme because I always have difficulty with rhymes but you were able to do it throughout this great narrative poem. All of these lines hit me close to home but with that last line, you knocked it out of the park. Great job!
How could someone’s eyes
Tell a whole story
How could someone’s eyes
Have so much color
How could someone’s eyes
Have so much sorrow
How could someone’s eyes
Have so much joy
How could someone’s eyes
Make you fall in love
These are all rhetorical questions, which adds such power. Is there an answer? Would any answer suffice? Sometimes, it is enough to just ask.
Mother’s Day is coming up. It’s not in April, so it’s not a part of of this challenge, but I’d like to dedicate this poem to my mom.
My Mother, My Hero
When I grow up,
I am going to be just like my mom.
She is a wonderful woman.
She is one of my greatest heroes.
There aren’t too many woman in engineering,
But my mom is an engineer.
She is an intelligent woman.
She is one of my greatest heroes.
My mom refused to play “Here Comes The Bride”
Because its origin was anti-feminism.
She is a strong, independent woman.
She is one of my greatest heroes.
My mom has taught me many lessons
And has shaped me to be the person I am today.
She is a kind, compassionate woman.
She is one of my greatest heroes.
I will always love my mom
Because she is always there for me.
She is the greatest mother in the world.
She is one of my greatest heroes.
So beautiful, this ode to your mama! I hope you share this with her — or at least, let’s print it out for mother’s day!
The line where you said “when I grow up I want to be just like my mom” reminded me of the rhetorical question we did in reading class that asked what we wanted to be like when we grew up and if we wanted to be anything like our parents.
Lots of people wonder how I’m so good at playing an instrument.
It’s just perspective.
I played in a violin academy with really gifted young musicians.
It’s just perspective.
Some people my age were around the same level as I was.
It’s just perspective.
Others were playing five page songs off of memory.
It’s just perspective.
I still have a long way to go.
It’s just perspective.
I would love to hear you play. Will you play something at espresso self cafe on May 17th?
“Legacy, what is a legacy?
It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” – Lin-Manuel Miranda
I will be remembered.
I will be remembered for my humor,
all of those times I made people laugh.
I will be remembered for my smarts,
all of those times I aced a test or received an award.
I will be remembered for my compassion,
all of those times that I have empathized with people.
I will be remembered for my spirit,
all of those times it hung in the air, leaving my presence there.
I will be remembered for my life,
all of those memorable moments that will stay with me and the people forever.
I will be remembered.
Yes, you will be remembered. You write beautifully and with much emotion. I especially think that it was meaningful that you began your lines with, “I will be remembered,” because it stays with us. By the way, your quotation is perfect. I love Lin-Manuel Miranda. Never had a chance to see Hamilton, but you have to admit the guy is a genius.
Yes he is. I’ve never been able to see it either but that quote came directly to mind when I saw one of the suggestions. Thank you for saying that I will be remembered. It gives me hope and faith that you will be remembered by me for telling me this.
Well, you had me at Lin-Manuel Miranda! And, yesterday, you had me at Beyonce. I wish you were in Illinois so you could come to our open mic in May! I so appreciate your compassion that I see and feel in your words and comments to the other poets here. Thank you!
That would be so amazing to come to y’all’s open mic so that I could actually see most of these people. But alas, school. And I am glad that we can relate on a Lin-Manuel Miranda and Beyoncé level.
one of the influences that made me strong and thought me to never give up is my mom because she has thought me to always try my hardest and she supports me on my decisions even if there bad she always helps me correct them and she has made me strong enough to face obstacles in my life
I like the way you said that your mom made you strong to face the obstacles in your life. I feel the same way about my mom.
One of the influences that makes me play hockey is probably
My dad, because he used to play and he supports me
My mom, because she gets me where I need to go and also supports me
Also the fact I want to play pros for a living
and I want to go to Notre Dame for collage
why do i draw for fun?
most are not able to do it so therefor it ain’t fun for them
but just because you cant do it doesn’t mean its not fun
i do it because the thought of putting your ideas on paper in another way is special
its a way to show people who you are as a person
what you enjoy
what emotions are going through your head
most importantly it makes life easier for me and takes me to my happy place.
I can relate because hockey takes me to my happy place too
Why do we have a bunny for Easter?
I would tell my family not to use their phones,
Cause I want them to tell me from themselves,
Not a rectangle with only Wikipedia,
And cause my teachers say to not use Wiki.
I would expect some lazy answers like:
“cause why not” and “IDK”,
But I know that some people will answer,
with opinions like mine,
that truly have a reason.
I think we should switch to a Groundhog,
Cause it’s a better symbol of a new start,
And it will travel faster than a bunny,
Cause it can go faster underground.
Post Script I also think the easter bunny was really creepy
that’s a pretty good question i think we have one so that kids can have a little more fun on another holiday.
I can to relate to the creepy Easter bunny part
You are cracking me up here! Love it, especially the suggestion about the Groundhog. He only works once a year now, so I think he/she could take up another day of activity.
Malik I really like this poem because It’s funny and it has humor added into it like when you said “And cause my teachers say to not use wiki.”