Poetry

The poetry page is one of our most popular pages. Kids from around the country, and around the world have sent poems about their lives and experiences. Read the poems and then go to the response page to give feedback or to the write page to create your own. To see some featured poetry from the book "Things We Are Already Saying" By the kids from PS/MS # 330 and MS 390 in the Bronx, Click here!

Do you know me?
By Raquel, 15, Chicago IL

Do you really
think you know me?
How I am?
Do you know me?
You think you know me
because I act funny.
Do you know me?
How I feel?
Do you know what I am thinking?
Do you cry
when I want to cry?
Do you know how I feel
about some people?
Do you take out my fear
when I want to take it out?

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Words Left Unsaid
By Margarita, 13, Chicago IL

I come to you day, and night.
Why don't you answer my cries?
Down to where I'm red with fury or
Drowned with my lonely tears.
No one.
No one will understand me like you do.
No one and I mean no one can ever
give me the silence you give me.
But I forgive you for that.
Because when you answer me
You give me the comfort I need to feel secure.
But I ask you now,
What is my purpose on this earth?
I know if I go people will cry.
But if I feel like I don't belong,
Why can't I leave?
If I hide my pain, and tears
with laughter, and smiles,
Why should I suffer by staying on this earth
with no purpose in this world?
I need to know!
Am I wasting my time on nothing
on something can stop at any point?
Because when I'm there no one,
and I mean no one can stop me!
Because I'm the only person on this earth
that can control that one decision in my life!
But today I have only one more question for you.
Is it all worth it?
All this agony, pain, misery, and suffering
that living with lies puts me through;

Is it all worth living for?

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The lake shimmers under the setting sun.
A unicorn drinks its water peacefully
as a phoenix flies gracefully in the air,
leaving a shinning gold trail behind.
A golden griffin walks proudly while a
dragon watches with its mean eyes.
Darkness envelopes the endless forest.
Faraway stars start to glitter like crystals.
A centuar gazes at them from down below,
but I alone in my bed, imagine it all.

A new season,
Leaves crunching under your shoes.
Red, gold, and yellow leaves.
People raking their gardens.
Your breath rising in a white mist.
The moon slowly appears behind the clouds,
in the cold, crisp night.

I think about you
When I'm with him
You never think about me
when you're with her
How did you forget all the things we had together
You were with me when my friends stopped talking to me
you danced with me at the parties
you were with me when people lied to me
how did you forget so fast?
why did you throw it all out
like it was nothing
you hurt me
when you told me it was over
now all you think of is her
now all you look at is her
all your fellings are for her
How did you forget so fast about me?
and I'm still here waiting for you
and thinking of you
with out forgeting you.

Flowing softly past the rocks, shimmering with the sun.
Fish whisking by.
A slight breeze ripples the water.
Cordgrass swaying with the rythym of the water.
Small pebbles litter the bottom.
Cattails growing on the muddy banks.
The wind blows and the stream whispers its many secrets.

The fire burns.
The flames flicker.
We forget our worries.
Time slows down.
The smoke rises up like a comfortable spirit.
Shadows cross the room.
The fire is burning, burning
but then it fades away...
and I suddenly remember
I need to do my homework.

Now I fall.
I'm the dumb rag doll.
The darkness is overwhelming,
enveloping me like a dark spirit.
I want to lie in bed,
eternal rest,
but then I wake up screaming.
You know things are bad,
there's a war going on,
there's hunger in the world,
you know that i don't like you,
but you ignore it and laugh it off as if it were nothing.
I crawl through the darkness looking for light,
almost drowning in my own tears.
I'm huddled up in a corner,
in my ugly little world.
And I suddenly see the light and we both laugh it off.
I walk towards it, with my arms outstretched, my heart swelling with happiness
but then the light fades away.
And so I fall again...
and I'm once again the dumb rag doll.
The darkness is overwhelming and I wake up screaming.

Funny and shallow I may seem,
Get to know me better
and you shall soon see,
The serious, understanding side of Sandy.
Beneath the layers,
you'll have yet to look,
Stranger,
flip the darn pages of the book.
Turns out I'm but a faker,
For the deeper you trek, the more I'll be
the opposied of my look.
I have deceived you for the better...
C'mon be a seeker,
dig down and deeper.
Poke around,
Prod if need be
for sensitivity
awaits, sequestered for safety.
WHere only few have dared to venture,
like those dreaded mines
little light shines,
for it's not a commonly attempted adventure.
Many know the cherry I am on top,
yet the chocolate fudge,
works its way down
to where it'll always be snug.
Where the real taste,
has at last,
truly been found.

One stands alone
Her face not shown.
No one able to find
Why she's become so blind
To all those around.
Her head always down,
She refuses to speak,
And always seeks
An unknown treasure.
She shows no pleasure
In even a small success
And her life means less and less.
So don't leave her there
Alone with no one to care.
Give her life again
So she will not be slain

Please tell me about the moon!
Why is the moon out there?
how did the it get so far,far out there?
Is the moon the stars' fater, the sun's husband?
Is the moon a big star, a different kind of planet the night's sun?
It shimmers,
It glimmers.
Does this mean the moon is a big star, gathering lighth from the sun?
Or how about a night's sun?
Unlike the sun, the moon is cold, not hot.
The Moon

Please tell me about the moon!
Why is the moon out there?
How did the moon get so far far out there?
Is the moon a big star, a different kind of planet or perhaps the night’s sun?

It shimmers,
It glimmers.

Does this mean the moon is a big star, gathering light from the sun?
Or how about a night’s sun?

Unlike the sun, the moon is cold, not hot.
The sky is cold, then warmer from the sun, then cold again toward the evening.

So,
Why is the moon out there?
How did it get so far, far out there?
Why not here?
O, please, please tell me about the moon!

Its a winter blizzard
and it's cold and dark.
The snow's high,
but the tempature is low.
The light's gone,
but the dark is in.
The heater has stopped.
Suddenly a knock at the door.
It's papa!
He brings firewood.
We light a fire.
As the fire burns before us,
we fall asleep.
As I sleep I could still hear the fire crackling,
like fireworks on the Fourth of July.
At dawn we wake.
The sun has risen,
the world is once again bright.

Please tell me why
Special people have to die?
Why did he die so young?
We know someday we have to die
We know a lot of people are going to cry
We know we have hopes and dreams
But he never got it.
He never got what he wanted.
Just by him smiling
He made his day brighten up
But now we can't see him anymore
But only in my dreams.
Now he can't be there when I need him.
He was so special to me
But now he's gone to a better place!!
Please tell me why you had to die??
It's just hard to say good bye!!
The only thing I could do is cry
So please tell me why??
!!Bye!!

The candle stands tall,
and strong and so do I.
The candle's light frightens
the darknes away, and hides it.
I hide things too
but I hide dark sad memories
of my father's death
which still burns inside of me.
A tear runs down my cheek
just like the wax runs down the candle.
The candle grows short,
and weak, and is failing.
Not me. I will stand tall, and strong forever.

The candle is an instrument.
When the wind blows, it sounds like a flute.
The candle can dance.
The flame goes from side to side.
The wind makes it dance.
The night makes it sing.

Silent noise softly blurs in my head as I ride. the call of a Bob White in the distence. A fears breeze sturse every one of my hairs yet warm suripy sweet drips down my spine. I see color on all sides of me: yellow, blue, white, purple mingleing with greenery. the soft colors of brown eyed susans, Chickory, yarro and echenatia whisp past me in a blur of ranbows. Behind them I can see a border a green forest meeting a blue horraizan hem. This truly is why I live.

The thunder betrays its approach
Breaking through the silence of the platform
Heads snap to attention
People are stirred into life
Bags are lifted, weary bodies rise reluctantly from the hard plastic seats
And they walk slowly forward
Acknowledging the arrival of the approaching train
In an instant
The train is there
Carriage after carriage whizzes past
Endless as the sea
Filling the platform
The doors slide open
Beckoning you into their world
You allow yourself to be jostled forward
And drop, relieved, into a seat
Doors slam shut and the train
Picks up speed as it spirits you away
On the train you are alone
Your only companion your own thoughts
But that is enough
As the train continues its
Headlong rush into darkness

What have I learned in high school?
By Elsbeth, 18, New Jersey

What have I learned in high school?
My head is number one, or more accurately, zero.
everything below can be negated;
and all that’s above is low numbers,
just within reach.
The stars, I’m counting on them being high,
counting the days, ofcourse,
couting earth’s swings till this makes sense.
Now, I settle for naps,
waking beautifically, so blissfully sweating
noting that I feel so really me and here
then,
“Miss! Miss!” Already,
I miss myself. “Stop gazing” I make myself
“out that window.” “Yes.”
But there are trees and roads and what is more
a flag was standing and punching the air.

: i love my shoes
i can tie my shoes
i can lick my shoes
mommy says do not eat them for they are nice
and expensive
my mommy is saying what letters to put on da page
my mommy is 55 years young
she is old (ii typed that my selfs)

OH BLUEJAY
Caeli, 9, Philadelphia, PA

Oh, Bluejay
your beautiful coat
and wings and beak
cover up your real self
your old, mean self
that ugliness, that hideousness
that you use to eat the
eggs of the sparrow, the robin,
the chickadee, any other eggs
that you can get your beak
on. Oh, but you are so so
beautiful.

6 fish are swimming in a fish tank—
I walked up the stairs nervously—
1 red fish dived into the bubbles—
I opened the door—
1 blue fish and 2 orange fish hid in the fake seaweed—
I stepped into a purple room—
There are 1 green fish, 1 silver fish, 2 timberwolves, 1 blue, 2 orange—
It hurt, but it was none of my business—
And 1 red fish—
I made that up a year ago—
Fish don't die—
Eggs are rolling, everywhere—
My fish died—
It's not my fault—
Listen to me—
No, listen to me—
It was beautiful, she said, smiling.

i know many stories:
of love lost and regained,
lost and regained and mistaken
(or just mistaken, just lost.
not all storytellers believe in second chances.).

i know of dreams
(so like and so unlike the ones we cannot share now,
as we are seperated by too many days,
each night wishing for telepathy)
during which the dreamers speak
in native tounges and coherent words,
and from which they wake slowly.

i know of dreams that flow like stories,
from one night to the next
(and i know i’d love to choose your dreams,
to see them, to see you, to choose you),
with storylines and punchlines,
but not happy endings, as they never end.

Sharks are gray tornados,
A whirlwind leavind a path of destruction,
Riping and tairing
With teeth made out of chunks of rubble
They have picked up on their way.

laughter
smiling, happy, dancing
chating, comforting, moaning, sad,
sighing, tears, calling
crying

A lake of love,
A joyous heart,
brings things together,
close or apart,

A friendly glance,
A warm smile too,
Brings us together,
just me and you,

A warm memory,
A heart warming gesture,
really does,
bring us together,

FOREVER

Love is a light
shining bight from the
darkness of depression
up up it goes
over your head
for you cant jump
high enough to
get it. For don’t you
wish that this unmistakable
feeling would shine right
down to your level
cause then you could see
the shining light get brighter
but never burns out. I love
this feeling most of all
because it makes you feel
good inside but if you
are alone look very hard
for one day you will see
the light that will guide
you out of depression but for
me my light has been up
high forever it seems to
be and how I beg it to
come down but still it doesn’t
budge some other lights have
come to my level but I
shoed them away for I am
after this one one shinning
light the one that shines
so bright I may or might not catch this light for
that is up to the light
to decide.
Maybe this light
shall fall into another
hand another better that I
and I shall be alone
once again in my darkness of depression

Put your hand out, hold onto mine, dont let go.
I hear you when you say that you feel like you're falling.
I know what it feels like to have your heart drop into your stomach,
you can tell me anyway.
I know what it feels like to be rejected by a so-called friend.
I know how it feels when you try as hard as you can to reach your goal, and still can't make it.
Dont feel discuraged, talk to me, I can help you.
You dont have to feel like you're falling, I'm here, I can help you.
Put your hand out, hold onto mine, dont let go.

changing times call
call for you
and the times had changed
you didn't bother to notice
or had you
that the black eye
was a sign of death
and the black spot
was for you
and that
black and blue on my heart
was just a momentary pause
in what I knew was too good for me
too godly for my hands to hold
an apology to the almighty
and hope that my sting
is not
worrying

there is a calm
after every storm
and in every storm
I hide
my distaste for your actions
distracted by your
just being
and just being silent
while watching you
walk away
in this raining
of tears
I can feel
and no longer
see
I wish I could
have the right words to
explain myself
to you
for all I've done

It was snowing
when I saw him
head bowed to the swirling white
white so think he was but a glimpse
to me.

When I got home the snow
melted on my sleeve
like tears.

A blurry dream and blurry vision,
Silky hair and routine movements,
Twinkling above the starlit shadows,
Scarlet curve and blemish free.

Stretching knot of shining elegance,
Fading, slowly, out of sight and...
Replaced.
With nothing but an empty feeling,
In the cold pits and roomy dungeons,
Ears alert and eyes aware.

The crowds that follow, tasting sorrow,
Varying lines of true emotions,
Sickening squelch against the splintered wood,
Echoes, a split and turn in conversation.

A snap and crackle, sunset's sparkle,
Shattered soul and wrinkled bond,
Folded stripes of smiles and back,
It is floating, drifting towards the open sea, never to return.

It came from the East River
submerged and saturated as it was
looked like rusted, knarled, twisted metal

The age, it was old
and burrowed in with holes, as if by a small animal
found it below the river's floor that would stop right here but doesn't
cause the caverns, yeah
the caverns they sink deeper
The inside, it was covered in sediment like
the stuff that they wanna pump out of the Gowanus Canal

The structure, it was tilted as if by the
wind which dominated the
Southwest at one time,
but it was underwater, not in the wind

The horrible sinking feeling,
Of slushy, draining sand,
Helplessness at its deepest,
A downward pulling hand.

Whirlpool of thoughts and matter,
Swirls of sickening beige,
Fingertrap that smothers all,
Barred within its cage.

Signs of risk and warning,
Jammed firmly in the ground,
Sudden spate of cold and gurgling,
Never to be found.

But from the blinding light above,
A hero's hand to reach,
Fuzzy feeling of undaunting love,
A stroll along the beach.

I got the inspiration for this poem from a book I was reading (On the Edge). There was a story about a visit to a cemetery in Normandy, France and along the beach en route to the cemetery, the character is stuck in quicksand (sables mouvants). The struggles of the character remained in my mind and I decided to write a poem about it.

I used to be a fairy.
but now I am a human.

I used to swirl in the depths of the
blue sky.
But now I just walk in the
grayness of cement.

I used to soar and play melodies with the stars,
but now I play tunes that are sad on the recorder.

I used to ride the winds that were like lions,
but now i ride a bus
a slurping,slimy,slowslug.

"Always" is the song of the ocean,
"Always" is the whisper of rain,
"Always" is the breeze
And the sound of the trees
That were here before ever we came.

But now that we're here it is different,
We made "whose"'s and "why"'ses and "when"'s
And now the earth's changed
A new sound to its name,
It's the sad song of "Never again".

Where's your habitat?
Mine's beyond the bushes, in the gurgling river,
Where los arboles sway with music,
and the berries ripen

My habitat is low in the water,
safely beyond the bridge,
where los pescadores fish,
The habitat near the garden of Narcisco,
the garden of the sweet carrots

You see her?
Yeah, the one in the corner,
that girl,
reading.
I do not listen to their comments;
but they sink into my conciousness.
I press the book into my face,
and breathe in the scent of words.
The book is pulled away
and I am alone,
vunerable,
unmasked
and terrified.
What am I doing here?

time,time.
Helps create beauty
and destroys it.
time makes the
creatures grow
and kills them.
time can go slow
and goes fast.
time helps create
and destroy almost
everything
time,time. Time
time,time.
Helps create beauty
and destroys it.
time makes the
creatures grow
and kills them.
time can go slow
and goes fast.
time helps create
and destroy almost
everything
time,time.

It was a beautiful sunny day. But then a looming shadow. loomed over me. It was an alien space ship! Wow!
CCCOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLL! Then it turned stupid and uncool when this average kid named Josh tractor beamed my
4 book essay/reports/ratings or whatever they are. That's why I don't have it. And I never will again.
(Maybe.)

David was a very famous hobo.
He was digging up the trash and found a noiybo*.
He had very big plans for this stick.
With it he could even crush a brick.
Instead he auctioned it on-line.
The people at e-Bay found it fine.
So people bought in a hurry.
To get this noiybo*, there was quite a scurry.
With his cash (a sum of a million.)
He bought a dragon by the name of Scillion.
With his new dragon friend,
David threatened the world would end.
To the President he made a demand.
Please calmly forfeit your land.
So the President left without a fight.
He'd die if he didn't right?
With David as ruler and the President gone,
Everyone became the David's pawn.
With David's new awesome power,
All the other nation's diminished to cowards.
He took these lands and their riches and jewels.
In the end every=0 cknew, David rules