Historical Poetry

EDITORS NOTE: The following poems were written by the students of Mrs. Taylor's 12th grade English Class, Period 2. The assignment was to write a poem that MAY one day be used as an original historical document. The assignment parameters were that the facts the poems are based on must be independently verifiable, and the historical significance can be personal or social. Any style was acceptable. I have edited for spelling only, and any errors remaining were at the request of the individual author. Appearance of the poems here constitutes first publication, and all authors retain all rights to the individual works. Matthew E. Forman

Untitled by Trevor Hancock

In the year two thousand and one

Allison cam ashore and flooded Houston.

She was a tropical storm

a little out of the norm.

She headed north for a while,

but changed her mind in unusual style.

I remember rain and a beer truck

Watching people swim out for beer to save a buck.

We watched the water rise

We saw it coming up the drive.

Over the sidewalk and in the yard

Mom was getting nervous - dad was out of town.

It rained, and rained

and lots more rain.

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UNTITLED by Matt Ahrens

A hot day in May
It was a good day
It was such a surprise
Mom happy with the look in my eyes
She told me with assurance
"YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE INSURANCE"
"We're going to look for another one"
"Don't get mad you're coming with me son"
"Be waiting outside"
"We're going car shopping"
Looking down the drive
My car was coming
The blue was shining
Windows down
First time I was driving
My own car now.

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Poem by Shanrekia Ward

My historical thing
Its outside sometimes inside
Its cold sometimes hot
Sometimes you win Sometimes lose
Sometimes you happy Sometimes sad

Its always part of a team or 1 on 1
Its like a little orange treat
Fits in your hand
It bounces it shoots
My historical thing is getting my first
Basketball game.
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3-22-08 by Ashley Rybinski

Heading back home today
Its nice out so Ryan and Lynne decide to ride
While Irby and I follow behind.

We've taken this route before
So why was it different this time?
I started to have a bad feeling
and the feeling came true
When Ryan could no longer see his mom
in the rear view.

Since we had fallen behind
We were the last to the scene
But we still saw it happen
All three of us part our ways and pace.

March the 22nd 2008
Was the day God took Lynne away.
The day comes very soon, it'll have been a year
But we're all doing good
'Cause we know she's here
Watching over us, protecting us, guiding us.
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The Dream by Maria Frebis

It was a historical day in the United States
People were chanting and screaming
To many people all of it seemed to be opening new gates.
This day ever surpassed Martin Luther King Jr's big dreaming

This day of January 20th 2009
Was a day history was made
It was a big day for President Obama to shine.
He did not have one moment alone in the shade.

This day was one of the biggest of them all.
The first African American president is now here.
They even threw him one big ball.
Everyone was filled whit cheer.

This day made history and never will it be replaced
Everyone will remember the day when a dream was embraced.
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UNTITLED by Esther G. Bell
The planes hit
The smoke so thick
People are screaming
People are jumping
Just to ease their suffering
Sirens sound in the distance
Bits and pieces flying in the air
People are buried beneath
Can't breathe, can't gasp for air
Tears are shed for the loved ones lost
People scattered, calling out
Calling out in hope and fear
For this tragic day is...9/11
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UNTITLED by Edgar D.

There she was shining during the day
All black
"Man I like your car" is what people would say
A 1997 Honda Prelude was my first car and that's a fact

Black rims with black interior is what she had
My pride and joy
When she wasn't clean it made me sad
My car was my favorite toy

My car was the best
and I loved her to death
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Untitled by Michael Filyaw

I received notification of a scholarship,
For those interested in business,
The application was really long
But I had a feeling that this was mine

Starting on the long application process,
I finally finished after 10 days
The first final copy looked like a mess
I was in a very big haze.

After all the corrections were made
I take it to the post office drop off box
Now I have to wait until February tenth.
I wonder until then, if they received it.

February tenth is finally here
I drive down to Manchester in a small church to wait
Unfortunately, I had to work so I had to leave,
but I received a call saying I won.

I had a feeling that this was mine.
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Historical Event Poem in My Life by Jen Allen

I wrote this poem when I was ten years old,
which was a real while ago.
Please don't make fun
cause I know I was really young.
So here it goes,
pay attention or I will get my friend Joes!

My Aunt Lisa died about three years ago,
They said she had a blood clot but what
the heck do they know?
I don't think anyone loved her as much as I
did although we had our fights every now and then.
We used to play games together.
Now all I do is wonder is this
a dream or reality?
It was funny to watch her play race car
It looked as though she was driving a real car.
She never quit at things
especially card games.
I wish I could go back,
back to the day when she died
and flew away. Flew up pass
the clouds to see God Himself
and where she prays down
here on us so we don't have to
live in a land of hurt,
we pray back that she loves us as much
as we love her.

I know it's not that good
but at least it doesn't sound like it's from the hood.
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My First Car by Cole

I drove my mom's car down the street
Mr. Hennessee I wanted to meet
My '09 Versa waiting on the lot
Man I must say that car was hot
I've waited all summer for this day
The only thing I could say is yay
The Versa handles like a dream
And rides as smooth as cream
The dealer handed me the keys
I'm so happy I just freeze
The first place I go is to the store
For my mats for my floor
My new car is so special to me
And it always will be
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Poem by Kristin Martin

I was sitting in Mrs. Hall's 5th grade class
When the planes crashed
My teacher was crying & explaining what happened
We heard people scream through speakers that were
old fashion
I watched a couple hold hands & jump from the building
In my heart I'd never known that kind of feeling
Feelings of terror & remorse
All from two planes that flew off course
So many children became orphans
left hungry & poor
I cried for them & their families
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Historical Poem by Rich Emslie

As the days count down
One would begin to look around
Four years has finally settled on this
Who's to say what all you'll miss
Friends who might join or leave your side
It is up to them to seek what they find
The distance we've traveled and then some
Will these memories mean something to anyone
Even though there's little to fear
I can't help but remember our final year.
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Untitled by Micah Randolph

I thought that Derrick would have rose to the occasion
but instead Kansas got a standing ovation
up by nine with two minutes left
bricking free throws would result in their death
my squad Memphis would win, that was the talk
but all I could hear was rock chalk Jayhawk
because their free throw shooting was so bad
in early May 208 I was sad
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9/11 by Kyle Summers

9/11 was scary for me
I was twelve years old
The terrorists' hearts was cold
I was young enough to not
Know what was going on
All that I knew was
that it was very wrong
Osama bin Laden has
been hiding One day
I hope that we find him
9/11 was scary for me
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Faith by Kate Burks

A five letter word that means so much
To have faith in someone, to believe in something
Growing up in a small town
Where Grandpa was a preacher
I went to church every Sunday
Until June of 2000
I had gotten in a wreck with my cousin
My best friend, my angel
Yet I was the one who walked away
She stayed
Never moved, never breathed, never again
I questioned God, why would He take someone so great?
But He did and I lost my faith

High school came along and I made friends
They went to church, I didn't
I wanted to believe again, to feel better
So I prayed and prayed
Last summer, I was saved.
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St. Augustine by Jessica Hatchel

Cobble-stoned streets of fading red,
The much older time frame of the city, in my head,
The aged architect of the old, tall, buildings,
The openness of the city, with no shieldings,
A vast gazebo in the middle of the square,
Sunshine, smiles, landscaping everywhere,
The smell of a hot August day,
The apartments sitting on a street way,
The feeling of exploration in my body and mind,
Imagination in things I would find,
The sun that day gazingly poured down,
You couldn't help making a smile from a frown,
I miss you.
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My Historical Life Poem by Alex Burbank

beating the Stars
what a glorious day
to see the sadness on their face
what a glorious day

how great it felt
to win the district and region champs
what a celebration we had
I loved beating the Siegel Stars
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Untitled by Brandi Hawkins

It was Christmas Eve of '99.
The family was heading out to the farm.
As we were puling into the drive,
I say a black tail from behind the barn.

I screamed and became very excited,
Because I just realized what we were here for.
I couldn't believe she was going to be mine,
Just for me, my very own horse.

I jumped out of the truck and ran through the gate
Walked up to the mare with a smile on my face.
A black quarter hours, the prettiest thing in sight,
She was my first horse, I named her Midnight.
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Untitled by Alice O'Brien

The sun is rising,
I jump out of bed,
it is Christmas morning.

Santa came to visit,
I run down the hall.
The presents are laid out nicely,
stocking hung on the mantle.

I reach up for my stocking.
I take a peak inside.
A set of car keys was on top.

I grab the keys, and run
out of the house into the garage.
There in the garage sat
a shinny, silver Honda Pilot.

A big red bow was tied
to the front, I couldn't believe
my eyes.
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Repeat by Cole
At the age of eight,
I learned something terrible
About war, life, our past, and our future.
We are doomed, to repeat ourselves
because people care more for their
deadly sins, than for family,
memories. Learning this I cried for
the poor children who suffer and
wish for the life, I live.
The parents I had,
Sadly, my cries go unheard, drowned by
the sounds of bombs and gunfire.