By: Jason Taylor

Seeing the towering mountain of steel and hard labor

We walked the year long que to the ride

My stomach tightening as we came closer to the front of the line

The cart finally came a stop

The sweat collected on the handle from the previous riders

Sitting in those semi-warm seats from previous roller coaster goers

Listening to the bright red handles clicking in place

The countdown clock slowly ticking down

The faces of my terrified friends all around me

The concerned voices of my friends exclaiming that we made a mistake

The whistle of the wind in my ears as we approached the climax of the hill

The sudden temperature change at the top of the hill

As we fell at rapid speeds straight for the lake

Screams coming from all around

At the end the rush I felt

Exclaiming to go again and again

Reflection questions

1. I decided to publish a sensory detail poem.
2. b. I chose this event as the basis for my poem because it happened recently and I remember it vividly.
3. The tone of my poem is anxious.
4. The theme of my poem is don’t be afraid to face your fears.
5. One example of  figurative language in my poem is “towering mountain of steel and hard labor” The type of figurative language  is metaphor. This figurative language contributes to the tone and theme development because it refers to the roller coaster as a mountain which gives an anxious feel. Another example of figurative language in my poem is “Walked the year long Que.” The type of figurative language is metaphor. This figurative language contributes to the tone and theme development because it tells the reader that I am not looking forward to the ride because it is referred to as taking a year long.
6.  One way I revised my poem is I changed fast to rapid. I made this change because fast is a pretty basic word so I used better vocabulary.  Another way I revised my poem is I changed large hill to towering mountain. I made this revision because it better adds to the tone of the poem.
7. It was pretty easy to write this poem, because it happened recently and I knew what I was going to write before I started.
8. I am very satisfied with my draft, since this was my best poem I wrote and I feel like I captured the tone well.

By: Rebecca Cherian

—–

I noticed her leaving

knowing exactly where she’d be

I waited a few moments

and then went to see

I was right of course

as I spotted her,

Sitting under the emerald green tree

I watched as the golden sun smiled down on her,

And the bright blue sky embraced her

As the water in the lake sparkled

like the gleam in her eyes,

And the dandelions,

a glowing bed that hid all the flies

I tiptoed quietly as I approached her

Realizing how peaceful it seemed

I felt a sense of calm,

the outside world slipping from my palm

I fell into her eutopia,

A world of unimaginable serenity

She turned suddenly,

sensing my presence

But it was me who smiled and spoke first

“Hello sister”

—–

Reflection:

1. I chose to publish an emotion poem.
2. I liked the idea of a serene, peaceful environment and I liked how there were many different ways to describe this emotion.
3. The tone of my poem is serene. Word choices and phrases such as the lines in stanza three, express this tone.
4. The theme of this poem is that a calm environment can help you relax and forget about other problems for a bit. The last two stanzas specifically helped me identify this theme.
5. “As the water in the lake sparkled like the gleam in her eyes” is an example of a simile. This phrase can help the reader to better visualize the picture and also contributes to positive tone. “I watched as the golden sun smiled down on her” is an example of personification. This line can help the reader recognize the tone to be serene, or at least a tone close to serene.
6. I added emerald green to my description of the tree to add more sensory detail. I also changed a line in stanza three. The line used to be “And the dandelions that hid all the flies,” but I revised it to “And the dandelions, a glowing bed that hid all the flies,” making it not only more descriptive, but turning it into a metaphor as well.
7. I think writing this poem was somewhere in the middle because poetry is not something that comes easy to me, however considering that this was a free verse poem about an emotion, it wasn’t too difficult.
8. I think my poem turned out pretty neat, especially after I added more figurative language. I’m pretty satisfied with the final draft of my poem.

by Tim M

Fresh roasted beans

soaked in scalding water.

Passing off their character

to a dark mixture

Bitter,

yet pure.

Through the gate,

fragile and thin-

and into the mug.

Add sweets to taste,

the feeling is as warm as a hug.

Easy to make,

yet easy to fail.

It carries an intriguing history

and akin to music,

universally understood:

Americano,

Black,

Iced,

Frappe,

Cappuccino,

Each related.

But unique,

like humans.

1.) I chose to publish an ode.

2.) I wrote an ode to coffee because it is very helpful in keeping me awake during the day.

3.) The tone of my poem is appreciative.

4.) The theme of my poem is that coffee is as unique as ourselves.

5.) a. An example of figurative language in my poem is “passing off their character to a dark mixture.” The type of figurative language in this sentence is metaphor because the taste of coffee beans is being compared to the character of a person. This contributes to the theme because it relates to the idea that each person is mystery. b. Another example of figurative language are the lines “akin to music, universally understood.” This is also a metaphor because coffee is being compared to music, the latter being regarded as a universal language. This adds to the theme because it implies that coffee is prevalent across the globe.

6.) One revision I made to my poem is adding the line “fragile and thin” to visualize the coffee filter, which is referenced as a gate of sorts. Yet another revision to my poem is removing a line that read “only to be discarded.” This references the coffee beans that would be thrown out with the filter, but I chose to delete this line because it contradicts the tone of my poem.

7.) My poem was relatively easy to write because I frequently had ideas pop into my head, however I struggled to translate said ideas into text.

8.) I am satisfied with my final draft because it meets the requirements in the rubric for the assignment and because the message it conveys can be interpreted in multiple ways.

By: Sophia Thota

A sensation.

Overwhelming joy.

Leaving a spark on your tastebuds.

A bright color.

A message of bliss.

A youthful pleasure.

It’s the extroverted friend.

Plainly humerous.

Spontaneous.

Like a zealous child.

Bursting and fizzing.

A pop.

In the rays of sunlight.

Bathing under it’s power.

A statement so profound.

Found in a pepper

An orange.

Likely in a lemon

A unique feeling.

Unlike any other.

1. I published an Ode.
2. I chose “zestiness” as the subject of my Ode because I feel it’s a unique, but an underrated flavor that people don’t acknowledge as much.
3. The tone of my poem is “euphoric.”
4. The theme of my poem is describing the uncommon, yet unique flavor, which is “zestiness.”
5. Two examples of figurative language are, “It’s the extroverted friend,” and “Like a zealous child.” These two examples of figurative language contribute to my poem by enhancing a lot of enlightenment into it.
6. The first way I revised my poem is rephrasing “Youthful joy” to “A youthful pleasure.” Another way I revised my poem was rephrasing “It’s the spicy friend” to “It’s the extroverted friend.”
7. It was a little hard to write this poem because so many interpretations could be made to one flavor depending on how people approached it.
8. I am satisfied with my final draft because I used a lot of elevated vocabulary.

By Sloane Helmick

My abyss and my home
More comfortable in it now then before
I knocked on the door and I was greeted by a strong embrace
I slipped as it constricted me and pulled me deeper

It’s intentions were clear as it threw me around and took the me out of me
It had a sweet inviting scent
That turned metallic and sour when it kissed me
Like a fairy tale with an unhappy ending

I was willing to give in to it
For it had stolen my heart
It would soon steal my legs, my eyes, my senses
And eventually my mind
A slave to the familiar despondence

Cold and slow as the day moved on
My mind was floating off
“Come with me!” It said, but I was held by lead shoes
Reaching out for something that I could not grasp
I was lost in a sea of my own demeaning thoughts

I walked with chains around my wrists and ankles
I couldn’t escape from it because I got shut down when I made too much noise
“Let me free, let me free,” I cried and plead
It took me and cut me
And set me free

1. I chose to write and emotion poem.
2. I chose to write an emotion poem because it is fun to put deeper meanings in poems for me.
3. The tone of my poem is hopeless.
4. The theme of my poem is that depression is a very real and sad thing.
5. Two examples of figurative language in my poem are, “I slipped as it constricted me and pulled me deeper,” which is personification, and the second example is, “I was lost in a sea of my own demeaning thoughts,” which is a simile.
6. Two ways that I revised my poem were that I changed, “getting away,” to, “floating off,” and another way I revised my poem was that I changed, “depression,” to, “despondence,” and I changed these things because I felt that they made the poem better and added to the deeper meanings that I was trying to convey.
7. This poem was fairly easy for me to write because writing about sad emotions is very easy and enjoyable for me.
8. I am very satisfied with my poem because I think that it carries a lot of emotion and depth.

by Shreya Krishna

From the tender age of five

I had always admired you

Your rich sound

Like voices singing

Resonating so magnificently

Your gentle melody

Which can illuminate any darkness

Just like glowing fireflies

Your texture is so familiar

Of smooth and polished wood

Smooth like obsidian

Yet bright of cherry wood

And when my bow glides over you

Like a majestic eagle soaring

Everyone’s breath stops

Awed by your beauty

You are precious like a feather

From a rare peacock

Always bringing joy

To all in your presence

You have always been with me

Through my wins and losses

Reassuring me to try harder

Just like a friend who only wants

The best for me

You help me fulfill my dreams

Achieve my goals

And dare me to reach for the stars

Like a rocket shooting into space

You are my safe haven

My outlet to relax

You will always be there for me

And me for you back

1. The type of poem I published was an ode.
2. I chose my violin as the subject of my ode because it means a lot to me. I have been playing it for a long time and it has become an important part of my life so I feel it should be appreciated.
3. The tone of my poem is heartfelt, admiring, and appreciative. This is because throughout my poem, I express my gratitude for my violin. For example, in the phrase “Resonating so magnificently,” the word “magnificently” shows my admiration for it. The phrase, “You have always been with me,” is very heartfelt because it shows that I have a deep connection with my violin.
4. The theme of my poem is that when someone does something for a long time, they form a special connection and bond with it. For example, the phrase “Just like a friend who only wants the best for me,” shows that I have a special bond with my violin. The phrase “You will always be there for me and me for you back,” also expresses a similar message.
5. One example of figurative language is, “And dare me to reach for the stars like a rocket shooting into space.” This simile contributes to the tone and theme development because it brings the sense that with my violin, I have endless possibilities and have no limits. It also compares my violin to a rocket. Another example of figurative language is, “Reassuring me to try harder just like a friend who only wants the best for me.” This simile contributes to the tone and theme development by relaying the message that my violin makes me want to improve and do the best I can. It also compares my violin to a friend. One more example of figurative language is, “And when my bow glides over you like a majestic eagle soaring.” This contributes to the tone and theme development by giving the reader an image of a bird flying as well as comparing my bow to an eagle. The word choice “majestic” also gives an admiring feel to it.
6. One revision I made to my poem is by removing the line, “Which can put me to sleep,” that was originally after the line, “Your gentle melody,” and replacing it with, “Can illuminate the darkness just like fireflies.” This is because I thought the use of figurative language would improve that stanza rather than what was previously there. Another revision I made to my poem was adding, “like voices singing,” after, “Your rich sound.” I made this revision because I thought that appealing to the sense of hearing would be a nice addition to that line. One more revision I made was to add the line “And dare me to reach for the stars,” before the line “Like a rocket shooting into space.” I made this revision because I felt it sounded better with it there than before. I also thought the use of figurative language seemed more complete with that line added.
7. It was both easy and difficult to write this poem. At first, I could easily brainstorm ideas and get a general sense of what to include in my poem. It then got more difficult as I tried to incorporate effective figurative language into my poem because I wanted the figurative language to smoothly fit in.
8. I am pretty satisfied with my final draft, because writing odes are new to me and I think I have done a pretty good job conveying my overall message.

By Heather Sakmyster

Ode to Family

The rainbow after a storm

All the colors come together

Producing a whole relationship

Like the pot of gold that lies at the end

Your family is there always waiting for you

They are like the blanket

When a child is crying

The sun peeking out

After a long treacherous storm

While there is comfort

There is also competition

Each person like a poker player

Trying to win as many hands as possible

But in the end they come back together

There is also love

The love of God

The love like a ray of sunshine

Radiating and spreading onto everything

From the mother’s hug

To that crack of a smile

A family

Always by your side

Has a special bond that is unsurpassable

1. The type of poem I typed is an Ode.

2. I chose family as the subject for my ode because my family is very important to me.

3. The tone of my poem is compassionate.

4. The theme of my poem is family is a very important part of a person’s life

5.

A) “The rainbow after a storm” is a metaphor that shows that family helps calm you after a hard time just like a rainbow is calming after a bad storm

B) “They are like the blanket when a baby is crying” is a simile that shows that a family is like a blanket in a sense that it calms you when you are feeling down.

6.

Revision 1) One revision I made was changing “reaching” to “radiating”.

Another revision I made was changing “wonderful” to “unsurpassable”.

7. It was a little difficult writing this poem because it was hard coming up with comparisons for figurative language.

8. I am pretty satisfied with my final draft because I feel like it represents my tone and theme pretty well.