By Sneha Rajaraman

I see you

lurking on the

brown, dusty

shelves.

The one

who provides

beautiful hallucinations

to one’s mind.

You are

the inspiration

to children,

laughing as

they hear you.

Your bright, vibrant

words, shown

With your

imagination,

your inspiring thoughts,

endless

as they turn

the pages.

For many,

you are their

elixir of relaxation

for their glum

is never

caused by you.

As alluring as

the most beautiful

lavender flowers

As soft as the

softest pillows

You are like

music notes

wistfully flowing

as our youths

fall asleep,

dreaming in their

somnolent slumber.

You help them

imagine,

beckoning to them

“Open Me!”

For what

you carry

is not just

a welcoming cover

but an offering,

the gift of story

You feel this,

the texture

of soft paper

flitting through their

fingers

as their

senses of imagination

come from

your felicity,

as your incipient,

conflating words

only lead to

A sumptuous ending,

one that calms you

for the satisfaction

of books.

Reflection

1.Which poem type did you publish?

I published an Ode.

2f. Why did you choose the subject of your ode?

I chose to write an ode about books because I feel that books should get a lot more appreciation than they currently recieve. Books are one of the main things that provide inspiration so I felt that this was a good topic.

3. What is the tone of your poem?

The tone of my poem is awestruck as I am explaining how books make people feel wonderful and in awe.

4. What is the theme of your poem?

The theme of my poem is to never forget about the small things in life that inspire bigger things. Books inspire people to write more or try new things. While they may not seem like something big, but in the long run, they make a big difference.

5. Choose TWO examples of figurative language in the poem.

a. Like music notes wistfully flowing

b. This is a simile.

c. This helps the reader understand how calm but wonderful this makes people feel. Music notes convey a sense of peace and satisfaction, also giving a person a sense of awe in the music, exactly what I am trying to say in my poem about books.

d. ‘…beckoning to them, “Open Me”….’

e. This is personification.

f. This helps the reader understand that books are somewhat appealing in the sense that what a person sees from the book lures or inspires them to take and read the book, therefore forming a sense of satisfaction as they go through.

6. What are two specific ways you revised this poem?

a. I changed “yelling” to “beckoning”.

b. I changed “feel” to “texture”.

7. How easy or difficult was it to write this poem? Why?

While writing this poem, I thought this was somewhat easy because I seemed to bounce off a lot of ideas based on what I already had and didn’t have to think a lot about them.

8. How satisfied are you with your final draft? Explain.

I am very satisfied with my poem because I thought this correctly represented the way I feel about books; illuminating and relaxing.

By Audrey Hood

I picked you up for the first time

When I was only five years old.

From the moment I started

I knew it was right, as if it was destiny.

You were with me when my father was trying

To teach me how to throw a ball for the first time.

You were with me when I had my first game

And was learning the ropes of softball.

You were with me all my years of house league and travel softball.

You were with me even when my team was

Constantly changing like a revolving door.

You were with me for all my games, even if I won or lost.

You traveled with me all over the East coast when I had tournaments.

You were there for all my late weeknight practices

When I probably should’ve been doing homework.

You were like the rock in my life

That was always there for me.

You were one of my closests companions

Who helped me make my plays and my outs.

You were the one thing I could look forward to everyday

like a toy to a kid.

Now you’re like an old family member.

You’re something I take for granted sometimes

But I will always love.

Even when I don’t have practice

I pull you out and grab a softball to throw with

Just because I love the game.

You have become a lifestyle

Not a hobby.

You are something I don’t ever have to doubt.

When I have a glove and a ball in my hand

I am my most confident and best self.

You’re one of the most concrete things in my life.

Softball has become my home.

1. The poem I published was an ode poem.
2. I chose softball as the subject of my ode poem because I have been playing softball for almost ten years of my life. I have also found that softball has been my best stress reliever through middle school because it is something I will always be good at.
3. The tone of my poem is a mix between heartfelt and appreciation because this ode poem is showing my gratitude towards my ability to play the game.
4. The theme of my poem is that if you find something you love, you should work hard to be your very best at it.
5. “You were like the rock in my life” is a simile that shows that softball was always something I had in my life and “Now you’re like an old friend” is also a simile that shows that I have grown comfortable with softball through the years of playing it.
6. I changed “tournaments” to “games” so that there wouldn’t be unwanted repetition and “friend” to “companion” for a more elegant word.
7. It was pretty easy to write this poem because I didn’t have to think about why I love the game of softball or having the ability to play softball.
8. I am very satisfied with my poem because it reminds me of all the reasons why I love softball.

By Matthew Hembrador

I’m dying inside

Everything inside is aflame.

There is no breeze as I descend.

I’m falling.

The feeling of neglect like a withering plant

Like an abandoned toy.

Was messed around with no care.

I’m falling

I was a sword being put to good use

Become dull and was discarded.

I forged a new blade

Only to be screaming as I shatter.

Thrown into a furnace

Only to feel the fire again.

Plunged into the dark abyss walking aimlessly

I want to get out

I can’t get out

But I go back to the start

Finally waking up with a sense of relief.

But reality cannot be remolded.

My soul is being corrupted.

My soul is at disarray.

I’m empty like a hollow shell.

I’m falling down

To see the fiery hell

Why can it not stop

It’s never ending

I want to rest

I want to be released from these chains

My life was twisted

Looping back to where I started

But now I can sleep

And be at ease.

CRACK

Reflection

1. I wrote an Emotion Poem.
2. I chose to write on depression because it gives me the feeling that life isn’t fair.
3. The tone of this story is melancholy.
4. The theme of the poem is that you can’t recover from everything.
5. “I was a sword being put to good use, became dull and was discarded,” is a metaphor comparing a person with a sword. This figurative language contributes to the poem because it shows that the person thought he had a purpose, to only find out that he was being used.
6. One revision I did was adding “I’m falling,” to show that the character’s problem is getting worse. Another revision I did was change “a mess” to “disarray” to deepen the vocabulary.
7. Writing this poem wasn’t hard or easy, because the poem was able to flow, but coming up with the story got me caught up a bit.
8. I’m satisfied with the final draft because the poem turned out a lot better than I thought it was going to be.

Nuvin Bazid

61 years of age

Six feet and sage

Thomas Jeffrey Hanks

I felt the need to say thanks

You have so much masculinity

You make me question my sanity

I’d travel many miles

Just to see your smile

You’re as iconic as Olivia Wilde

You are as pure as a child

You have no room in your heart for hate

You will forever be great

You have so many wrinkles

Your eyes are as bright as diamonds, always have a twinkle

You’re amazing from your big round nose

All the way down to your old man toes

I will always love your iconic movies

I love them like sweet strawberry smoothies

You are as cool as ice

Your attitude is always nice

Your smile is as bright as the sun

You’re as sweet as a cinnamon bun

You’re as unappreciated as milk

Your hair is as smooth as silk

I love your movie, “The Post”

Except, I love “Forrest Gump” the most

If I meet you one day

I know exactly what I’ll say

I will start off with a plea

“Please adopt me”

Poetry Publication Reflection

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