Haikus

Caterpillar

Caterpillar eats
So delicious is the leaf
Bite, chew. Munch, crunch. Lunch!

Sunflower

Sunflower gazing
Yellow face up, standing strong
Grinning at the sun.

Leopard

Leopard laps water
Reflection ripples away
Nature’s wet mirror

Caroline is a 10-year-old student at Tatem Elementary School in Collingswood, NJ.  When Caroline gets older, she hopes to be a scientist or a veterinarian. Her advice for writers and artists young and old:  Mistakes are not always the end. They are the bloom of new ideas.

Puzzles

two pieces fit together
more matches make it better
to complete the puzzle
you have to search for answers

Mairead is a second grader at Rehoboth Elementary School in Delaware. She loves to play lacrosse and basketball, and her dog, Violet.

A Little Temporary Peace

After the sun has made its rounds
and is slowly drifting to sleep
After the birds and squirrels have joined
the trees that wish and weep

The thoughts all slip away
into the world that lies ahead
Only colors in the distance
The sadness has finally fled

There is nothing to think about
Only things to see and hear
about the world it used to be
when it was without fear

A little temporary peace
before the day begins
A little temporary peace
before the hateful sins

Before the dark shadows come
Before the poison swallows all
There is beauty on the earth and sky
There is simpleness in it all

There is a little temporary peace
A tiny bit to share
A shield to the darkness
that threatens everywhere

The quiet has yet to retreat to its den
The beauty has yet to come to a cease
The tranquility has yet to go over yonder
And there is a little temporary peace

Mira Tensuan-Eli is a sixth grader at Haverford Middle School in Havertown, PA. She enjoys reading, writing poems and short stories, and staring off into space. She prefers quietness or soft music, but can deal with any atmosphere as long as she has an interesting book.

My Dog

You’re a weird one,
Whisky dog.
You really are strange.
You bark when no one’s out there,
You’re afraid of your own poop,
Whisky doooooog!
The three best words to describe you
Are strange, cute and loving!

 

 

Alexandra Murray is eight years old and in the second grade. She likes to read, write, and draw. She enjoys reading the Warriors series and playing Minecraft with her sister, Scarlett. Her jingle is a spoof on the song, Mr. Grinch, and is paired with her drawing of her family’s dog, Whisky. Alexandra produced these pieces at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s 2017 Comic Con event.

Tame the Beast

Tame the beast
He’s evil
He’s destruction
Tame the beast
Get him while you can
Or you’ll be the one at fault
Tame the beast
My brother is released!

 

Molly is 10 years old and attends Williamstown Middle School. In her spare time, Molly enjoys playing softball and Minecraft.

What Black History Means to Us

So I know what you think —
Three 8-year-olds don’t know black history.
But we know how to write a poem in three minutes.

As we looked up Black History, we found interesting people,
Like Maya Angelou.
Maya was a poet and she fought for civil rights.
Ruby Bridges was brave enough to step foot in an all-white school.

But we’re not just here to talk about heroes in Black History.
We believe you should not judge people by their skin color,
‘cause if you do, you can miss out on knowing a nice person.

If you judge a white person because she’s white,
how do you think that will make things be equal?
Many times, people judge others by their skin color —
But you should always be kind and
judge people by what they say and what they do,
not by their skin.

Kindal Way is a third grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA. She loves to do gymnastics, sing, write and dance. She also loves to help out in the kitchen with her aunt. Emma Zubairu is a third grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA. She loves to play the piano and bake with her mom. She also loves to do gymnastics with her friend, Madison. Madison Alexander is a third grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA. She loves to do gymnastics with Emma and play with her little sister. She also loves to bake with her mom and dad and play video games with her brother.

Major League

It was not until 1947
that African Americans were allowed to play Major League Baseball.
Jackie Robinson was the first to get the call.
The Dodgers’ manager called him and said
if you want to play for us, you need to ignore what everybody else says.
So Jackie said yes, but it was hard to ignore what they yelled.
So my message, is we can all break barriers,
if we work together.
Just like Jackie!
Stand up.
Speak out.
Together, we are stronger.

 

 

Henry Wasserman is a third grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA.  He loves to play baseball and football — any sport in general — and he loves to read. He also loves math, social studies, writing and research.

Colors, Why?

 I am black,
you are white
We are the same,
we have equal rights.

 In the Declaration of Independence it says
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal,”
But at that time, it only meant white men.
Not even white women, and
Not black men or women —
Just white men.
This is unfair.
And sadly, we aren’t much better today.
We are in better shape than we used to be,
but still not 100 percent.

 It seems easy enough
to make all women and men
have the same rights,
but our country can’t get this right.
Our country can’t get it right.

 We have to accept people for who they are,
and not judge them for what they are not.
Whether you are purple, green, black or white,
come join me in this fight.
But do not fight — just unite.
Yes, do not fight, just unite.

 Unite with us:
We the people,
who don’t nod our heads to segregation and racism.
We the people,
who don’t care if you are polka-dotted or striped —
Just if you are kind and nice.

 Take Marian Anderson
She had a voice —
a voice that made people cry
in joy.
But she never got a chance
at being in a music school,
and I’ll tell you why.
The people that worked there wouldn’t accept her
because of her skin color.
How rude!
So she had to get private lessons.
Like what?!

 So, let’s stop this age of judging,
and start embracing other cultures.
We can’t stop our country from being a melting pot.
So we can’t stop our  country from being cool —
With all the different colors.
So, what are you waiting for?
Go change the world!
I said,
GO CHANGE THE WORLD!!
Oh, and by the way —
You only have three minutes.

Helen Dugan is a fourth grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA.  She loves gymnastics and is on a competitive team, and she plays the guitar. She also loves to read, she loves Star Wars, she enjoys playing flag football and she has a youtube channel.

I Stopped Telling Lies on Facebook

I stopped telling lies on Facebook,
to show the world who I am.
I don’t have 50-inch heels,
or hair made out of ham.

I stopped telling lies on Facebook,
I don’t have a pet T-rex.
All my pets are lies,
like the octopus named Lex.

I stopped telling lies on Facebook,
Because I know where it ends.
Lies never turn out good,
even with amends.

I stopped telling lies on Facebook,
now my account is true.
Let the world know who I am,
even if it makes me blue.

Now my page is all honest,
and I still feel good.
I never tell lies,
maybe everyone should.

 

Janae Tinley wrote this poem in class. She has been writing poetry since second grade.

Lion-of-Fire

I walk through the piled up heaps of ash,
As a silent squirrel leaps by in a dash.
I think of the time when the ashes were embers glowing orange, red, and yellow,
Flickering flames were dying out, but no one thought of the bellows.
I thought back further,
Were there ever wolves howling at the moon?
Staying far back
From the leaping flames of burning-hot fire,
So that there wasn’t a reason to lack
Their once bushy gray tails,
Which would now just be a flimsy old-withered wire,
If they hadn’t stayed away from the bright-colored lion
Who jumps to reach the stars,
But always fails.
Only his black tail
Is trailing slowly up to meet the cloudy darkness of the sky.
The fierce crackle would make you jump
You would turn on the pump,
Fill up a pail of water freezing cold
And dump it on the lion of old.
He’ll hiss and snap in an attempt to fire back up
But he never will for a while,
Not until you light up the fire-bin
Will this creature of fiery flames and smoke come back?
This creature is the Lion-of-Fire.

Noel Freeman is in seventh grade and likes to write. She lives with two brothers and a sister in Burlington, NJ. Noel’s hobbies include acting, sketching, playing the piano, and raising ducks.