Poem #1: WWI Poem
The Child’s Vengeance
RACHEL, JENNA, ANDREW, MEGAN, CONNOR
My daddy came home in a box today,
they say he died in war.
For so long he was far away,
it shattered my world, I’m only four.
Many years now have passed,
and our country is depleted,
to liquidate for our part in war.
We feel we’ve been harassed.
They treat us like intractable children,
but soon we will grow strong.
Our revenge will not be mild,
liberation will soon come along
They have leveled burdens we cannot bear,
in their delusion they abuse us.
They say we are the only ones to blame,
and claim our punishment is square.
This oppression has enraged the nation,
we are ready to attack.
Our leader gives us a solid foundation,
boiling in fury, we will not hold back.
Through all these unfair penalties,
our country has grown,
We were made flimsy paper,
but have proven we are stone.
Now on my way to war,
my father in my heart,
with hopes of evening the score.
I lift up my head,
and we eagerly depart.
RACHEL, JENNA, ANDREW, MEGAN, CONNOR
My daddy came home in a box today,
they say he died in war.
For so long he was far away,
it shattered my world, I’m only four.
Many years now have passed,
and our country is depleted,
to liquidate for our part in war.
We feel we’ve been harassed.
They treat us like intractable children,
but soon we will grow strong.
Our revenge will not be mild,
liberation will soon come along
They have leveled burdens we cannot bear,
in their delusion they abuse us.
They say we are the only ones to blame,
and claim our punishment is square.
This oppression has enraged the nation,
we are ready to attack.
Our leader gives us a solid foundation,
boiling in fury, we will not hold back.
Through all these unfair penalties,
our country has grown,
We were made flimsy paper,
but have proven we are stone.
Now on my way to war,
my father in my heart,
with hopes of evening the score.
I lift up my head,
and we eagerly depart.
Poem #2: Mood Poem
Happy
KELSEY AGAR
I’m happy
Not like jumping up and down happy
Not like delirious with a fever happy
Not like getting a new puppy happy
But happy like I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day
like seeing the good things in life
like smiling from ear to ear, wrinkles on your face, dimples on your chin—something within
Happy.
KELSEY AGAR
I’m happy
Not like jumping up and down happy
Not like delirious with a fever happy
Not like getting a new puppy happy
But happy like I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day
like seeing the good things in life
like smiling from ear to ear, wrinkles on your face, dimples on your chin—something within
Happy.
Poem #3: Where I'm From Poem |
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Where I'm From
KELSEY AGAR
I am from clocks
From an old farmhouse filled
with chimes, gongs, tick tocks, ding dongs and cuckoos
that pass the time
From 180 acres, half filled with pecan trees
And half filled with cow pastures
From those humid summer mornings running in the house, pants full of stickers
To those clear summer nights spitting pomegranate seeds off the back porch
beneath a crisp Alabama sky
From the wonder of twinkling stars in every direction for miles and miles and miles
…and miles
I am from accidental tradition
And unfinished business
From Uncle Sammy’s travelling purple irises
Uprooted just like my family
I am from the lone tomato plant outside the front steps that my mom never planted.
She replaced it with a new one every year after it produced as many tomatoes as an unplanted tomato plant could produce.
I am from that crocheted honeycomb blanket that my mom started when I was seven
And still hasn't finished.
I'm 23.
I’m from countless Christmas Eves spent sleeping on the floor in Mom and Dad’s room
Listening for Santa and his reindeer on the roof
Swearing I heard them a time or two
And from that short moment of bliss when I snuck down to see the presents at 3am
Every. Single. Year.
I am from big hipped, baby faced women
From my daddy’s gentle spirit and forgiving smile
I’m from blonde haired, blue eyed, German engineers
Who hold the answers to all the world’s problems
(Or so they think).
From "War Eagle" and tiger rags
From old John Wayne movies and "Life's tough, but it's tougher if your stupid"
I’m from a whole bunch of mistakes and a load of stubborn people who cannot look past the past
From a really strong lady who decided to beat the odds
I’m from the little gold wedding ring with the microscopic diamond fleck
The one that my great grandpa gave to my great grandma during the depression
The one the he could barely afford
The one that my great grandma gave to my mom when she turned 16
That my mom then gave to me when I turned 16
To remind me what it means to be unconditionally loved
Despite the hardships and the struggles
I am from courage, and serenity
And a cross I may have never found had my mom not found it first.
I am from no one place in particular
But from a grand staff that knows no bounds
From that old upright piano sitting in our living room
The one that could use a little extra love and a tuning fork
If only anyone could ever find the time.
I am from the blank spaces that fill my soul with endless melodies—endless possibilities
From “Heart and Soul” to Rachmaninoff’s “G Minor Prelude”
Trying to “attack that piano like it owes me money”
Just like Gilels.
Except not.
I am from the little snowflake box in the top of the hall closet where all my memories are stored
The letter my dad gave me when I went off to college
And the pictures that define who I’ve become and who I’m becoming
Where, in one tiny instant, joy was captured on glossy white paper
I’m from this box of faces
The faces of friends and family who’ve made me who I am
Who remind me to look beyond the lens
And find the moments that never made it into frame.
That five-year-old little girl in the sunflower dress staring up at the Alabama stars
In complete awe of the magic of the universe
Dreaming of the days to come.
KELSEY AGAR
I am from clocks
From an old farmhouse filled
with chimes, gongs, tick tocks, ding dongs and cuckoos
that pass the time
From 180 acres, half filled with pecan trees
And half filled with cow pastures
From those humid summer mornings running in the house, pants full of stickers
To those clear summer nights spitting pomegranate seeds off the back porch
beneath a crisp Alabama sky
From the wonder of twinkling stars in every direction for miles and miles and miles
…and miles
I am from accidental tradition
And unfinished business
From Uncle Sammy’s travelling purple irises
Uprooted just like my family
I am from the lone tomato plant outside the front steps that my mom never planted.
She replaced it with a new one every year after it produced as many tomatoes as an unplanted tomato plant could produce.
I am from that crocheted honeycomb blanket that my mom started when I was seven
And still hasn't finished.
I'm 23.
I’m from countless Christmas Eves spent sleeping on the floor in Mom and Dad’s room
Listening for Santa and his reindeer on the roof
Swearing I heard them a time or two
And from that short moment of bliss when I snuck down to see the presents at 3am
Every. Single. Year.
I am from big hipped, baby faced women
From my daddy’s gentle spirit and forgiving smile
I’m from blonde haired, blue eyed, German engineers
Who hold the answers to all the world’s problems
(Or so they think).
From "War Eagle" and tiger rags
From old John Wayne movies and "Life's tough, but it's tougher if your stupid"
I’m from a whole bunch of mistakes and a load of stubborn people who cannot look past the past
From a really strong lady who decided to beat the odds
I’m from the little gold wedding ring with the microscopic diamond fleck
The one that my great grandpa gave to my great grandma during the depression
The one the he could barely afford
The one that my great grandma gave to my mom when she turned 16
That my mom then gave to me when I turned 16
To remind me what it means to be unconditionally loved
Despite the hardships and the struggles
I am from courage, and serenity
And a cross I may have never found had my mom not found it first.
I am from no one place in particular
But from a grand staff that knows no bounds
From that old upright piano sitting in our living room
The one that could use a little extra love and a tuning fork
If only anyone could ever find the time.
I am from the blank spaces that fill my soul with endless melodies—endless possibilities
From “Heart and Soul” to Rachmaninoff’s “G Minor Prelude”
Trying to “attack that piano like it owes me money”
Just like Gilels.
Except not.
I am from the little snowflake box in the top of the hall closet where all my memories are stored
The letter my dad gave me when I went off to college
And the pictures that define who I’ve become and who I’m becoming
Where, in one tiny instant, joy was captured on glossy white paper
I’m from this box of faces
The faces of friends and family who’ve made me who I am
Who remind me to look beyond the lens
And find the moments that never made it into frame.
That five-year-old little girl in the sunflower dress staring up at the Alabama stars
In complete awe of the magic of the universe
Dreaming of the days to come.