Friday, April 17, 2009

Historical Poetry - 5th Period

EDITORS NOTE: The following poems were written by the students of Mrs. Taylor's 12th grade English Class, Period 5. The assignment was to write a poem that MAY one day be used as an original historical document.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

Rugby Poem by Brad Puckett

So powerful and great
You have to be aggressive and strong
Striving for the plate
We can play all day long.

Running down the field
Fast, swift, untouchable.
Don't even need a shield
We are unbeatable.

Now in the try zone
Sliding to place the ball
Now look...then gone
We score without a fall.

First place is really fun position
The opponents would pay a ton to be in our position.
-------
Untitled by Justin M.

I was watching the TV
And on came the news.
This guy jacked an airplane
Like he was drunk on booze.
He hit the twin towers
And caused a big scene.
The passenger of the plane
Was very very mean.
---------
Untitled by Matt Williams

My life has been wonderful over the past few weeks.
Since you came into my black and white mind things have grown color.
Love is a strong word but when directed toward you it's
Weak my feeling for you make tremble, and shake.
I'm not scared it's a feeling that I have never felt until
You came and brought color into my world.
I left my ignorant ways behind all the bad people and bad
Things I have done mean nothing anymore.
All that matters is your and me, not what I used to do with my old crew.
I guess it's true what they say the good prevail because
Since I left that world behind I came upon your trail
Life is beautiful in full color; you without me is like the
Flag with no stripes.
-------
Poem by Cody Messick

I was sitting there
Not paying attention
Just in my chair
Trying to achieve levitation.

Then like a flash
The principal called.
Told us to turn on the TV on quickly like a splash.
When my teacher had seen what had happened she bawled.

It was such a devastating thing
To see such a horrid sight.
The flames were as orange as Tang.
The terrorists acted as if they had much might.

I will remember this day always
For it is permanent in my brain waves.
---------
9/11 by Kayla Womick

Horror strikes when you least expect it.
In the blink of an eye everything can change.
You could see the thick black smoke,
But it was not over yet.
Again you hear another boom,
And look to see that now the second one was hit too.
Many deaths occurred, but none greater than the other.
Husbands and wives, sons and daughters, moms and dads,
All lost by this tragic unseen event.
It's a day of remembrance.
A day that saddens many
And reminds them of their losses.
This tragic day will be remembered for years to come.
It's a day that hit so many, so close to the heart.
--------
The Night Before Christmas Retold by Michael Palmer

It Twas the night before Christmas at the Palmers' house
Mother was asleep, and so was her spouse
There I lay in my bed, pretendint to sleep
Counting snores, instead of sheep
Hearing the sounds, from inside their room
"It must be safe!" I quickly assumed.
Slow and steady, wins the race
However, I picked up the pace
My door creaked, like a tree in a storm
While the choir in the floor, began to perform
Reassuring snores, from the room next door
As I slid along, the hardwood floor
The lights from the tree had shown the way
O how long I waited for this day!
The aroma of gift wrapping filled my nose
Just like a burger from Fat Moe's
A bright red box caught my eye
Bows and ribbons on it were tied
It must be good I thought to myself
It could have been made by an elf!
Toys R Us or an elf I didn't care
Just be sure that the maker beware
Halfway in, or almost done
My dad walked in with his gun
Scared me to death I almost cried
Christmas Eve I almost died
-------
Poem by Leslie Cope

My days used to be so bright
Everything had color, everything had light
Now I feel my lights growing dim
I have a feeling I'm going in.

Those lights that shone bright? Artificial.
Turns out the loved ones in my life are superficial.
Constantly lied to, constantly torn
Nothing had any value, nothing to adorn.

No one wishes to be part of the new family "statistic"
I wish on no one to feel the feeling of constant sick.
Society's "dream" is now forever corrupt.
What can people do to make this up?

Should teh dreams of future families perish?
Should everything just be thrown away and not cherished?
I will not be influenced of what I've witnessed.
I will grow up in life being shameless.
--------
Untitled by Quentin Beckwith

My grandpa died when I was ten.
He meant more to me than anyone knew.
He lived his life to better others.
Never thinking about himself.
So when that dreadful day came,
Christmas Eve ended in shame.
-------
Four or Five by Ali Gadd

It was early December,
She was fourteen years old.
Happy and playful,
"This is strange," I was told.

She was normally distant,
Not very nice.
It was her calico nature,
So it would have to suffice.

A few days later,
She began to bleed.
We thought she'd got a mouse,
It was her nature to feed.

The blood went away
So we thought she was fine.
A few days before Christmas,
Blood again I would find.

She became very weak,
She could barely walk.
More and more frequently,
She would painfully talk.

It's now Christmas Eve,
We know the end is coming.
While lying on the floor,
She slowly begins coughing.

It's now Christmas Day,
A time of joy.
Still lying on the floor,
She looks more like a toy.

A cat has nine lives,
But we believe this is a lie.
But before she finally left,
She had four or five.
-------
Untitled by Kalee Stefanski

My last pep rally was the best
My last time cheering "RHS"
Now I'll be yelling "let's go big blue"
Because that's the next step - "MTSU"

It's time to turn in the red and gold
Blue and white I will now hold.
This last pep rally is kind of goodbye.
On to a new path, my hopes are high.
--------
Personal Oregon Trail by Morgan Neal

I wasn't exactly part of the Oregon trail
But the same destination was in common
I didn't realize the long drive that would entail
Across the country I had never been, that journey was
about to begin.

We waved West Virginia good bye
And were headed for a new life
I said farewell to friends with a sigh
The homesick feeling cut me like a sharp knife.

Yet another move for the Neal clan
Anxious for the new year, in a new place
U-haul, dogs, and belongings were in the caravan
The fear and excitement of the move was written all
over our face.
---------
Historical Poem by Courtney Rogers

February 14, 2009
Recent date never will I forget.
Wake up to the now familiar site of an empty hotel room.
What the day was to bring I already new.
"Pack your things," so they said to me.
Driving home one last time.
"Do you need any help or extra bags for your things?" my father inquires.
Not the words I was looking for by a long shot.
"You know this is it, there's no coming back after you're gone."
Toothbrush, coat, a blanket or two, and of course my stuffed animal.
"Yeah, that's just about all of it," I reassure myself.
Step mom won't look. Dad won't speak.
Holding back those stubborn tears on last time.
No weakness in sight, just one angry & resentful 18 year old.
Silent hug to my father, & that was the end of it.
Driving away I take one last look...
At all I'd ever known, & all I'd ever regret.
Those silent farewells leave scars,
But that's just another weakness I shall never show.
-------
Standing Strong by Corey Crunk

It was a horrific day for the United States.
Warnings had gone ignored. Early in the morning,
near the time school had begun,
the first of the damage had been done.
The al-Quida had hit us hard, but even in the middle
of the tragedy, heroes had emerged. Damage
was done, lives were lost, but
our country had stood strong.
-------
The Two Towers and The War by Elliot Ralston

The president calls for war,
our military prepares to destroy.
Brave soldiers fight into the bloody gore;
They live men's lives even though they are boys.

To seek revenge of lives taken,
Thousnads of families all forsaken.

The world pacing in the dark,
as Americans live their lives in fear.
Enduring Saddam's burning mark,
We put our actions into gear.

Forever will our flag fly tall and strong,
as long as people hear our song.
-------
Began Like Any Other by Amanda Wendler

The day began just like any other,
I was brushing my teeth getting ready for school.
While from in the other room I heard...
My mom let out a dreadful gasp
I ran to see what was wrong;
My mom just stood there speechless
The tv reflecting in the tears in her eyes.
I looked and all I saw was smoke
I stood in a daze all puzzled and confused.
I looked at my mom and began to cry too
'Cause I had no clue what else to do.
---------
Untitled by Lidsey Davis

As I sat in my fifth grade class,
My teacher had this look on her face,
As though someone had hurt her.
We all wanted to know what had happened.
She wouldn't say, just out country will take care.

We we all got home that day,
We couldn't watch out favorite shows.
All over the t.v. was of the tragedy.
The Twin Towers and the World Trade Center
had been bombed.

Not one of us really understood, oh so confused,
They sent troops to their countries to
"fix" the problem, which started out war.
We all felt the effects of this day on 9/11
and we all still are.

One day it might get better,
But the pain and sorrow will never leave.
------
Scared
by Priscilla Perkins

I was scared to death when you told me the news.
I thought I was going to cry the blues.
I held your hand as we talked through the night.
You told me not to tell mom and dad because it would just start a fight.
I knew you were scared, because I was scared too.
I just wanted to hold you and tell you how much I loved you.
As time went by I knew what I had to do.
I had to tell them even though I knew you didn't want me to.
Even though I knew you would be really mad.
I hope you know it was for the best, so please don't be sad.
The time will come when one day you too will have to rat me out.
I just hope you still think of me as your sister and don't try to shut me out.
--------

Untitled by Kyl Lentz

The fires of war are burning,
Bigger and brighter with each passing second,
Soon the world will be covered;
Our path to self-destruction is laid.
In front of us it steers us
Down an ever changing path
to the worlds annihilation.
--------
Untitled by Lauren Collins

Who do we blame
for all this destruction
there's so much construction,
Who do we blame?

Who do we blame
Hurricane Katrina
destroyed homes and mannas,
Who do we blame?

Who do we blame
Louisiana's destroyed
troops were deployed,
Who do we blame?

Who do we blame
The one we call president
people are starting to resent,
Who do we blame?

Who do we blame
the nation's divided
instead of being united,
We're all to blame.
-------
My Haiku by Emily Haynes

My nephew was born
on a rainy April day.
That day changed my life.
------
First Day of School by Megan Marren

Big hair
dalmatian vest
purple boots

Sweaty palms
stomach butterflies
eyes with tears

Mom walks me into my first class,
teacher shows me my seat,
Mom leaves me alone by myself

The first day of the rest of my
school days.
--------
The Perfect Day by Lindsay Crawford

The start of a perfect day
with my friend in the hot
tub, we went for a swim.

We exercised and ate healthy that
day, which made it more fun
and easier to go to the Greenway.

The Greenway that day with
Myriah my friend was splendid
and fun with a Subway trend.

We ate our Subway under
the beautiful trees, by the river
with an oh so peaceful breeze.

We took a long wald down
the Greenway trail, all the way
to the dam and the rocks,
where we almost fell.

Into the water with all the
fish, who swam around and
went "splish-splash-splish".

As we walked back to the
start of the trail, me and Myriah
reflected on the perfect day where
we bonded so well.

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