Category Archives: student

Apr. ’12

Horse Barn

When we get there

the horses in their stalls

paw the dirt.

I cough in the dust.

We grab the feed,

and they whinny at me

when I pass by.

I get a brush; very tenderly

I scrape off the dirt.

They are as dusty and steamy

as a train when it chugs

down the track.

When we feed the mares,

their babies skip after us.

They run so fast

they fall.

by Isabella, 3^rd grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Gabriel Arnold, a 4th grade student at Parker Elementary in Houston.

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This poem is featured as part of the 2012 A Poem A Day campaign, a National Poetry Month celebration by Writers in the Schools (WITS) that features a different poem by a WITS student every day during April. Click here to learn more.

Posted by Marcia. Categories: animal, creativity, national poetry month, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: horse poem, Literature, national poetry month, Organizations, poetry, wits, Writers Resources. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

The Rock

I block

the feelings that beat

against my shell.

I have beauty inside me

longing to be shown

to the world.

I am stiff with

the emotions that swirl

in my body.

I watch the butterflies

dance around me

with flaps of pride.

When it rains, I show

my shiny shell to the

lady called the flower.

She drops a warm petal on me

to show that we are no

different in soul.

For what would life be

without soul?

It doesn’t matter

what you have within,

only the soul matters.

As the sun’s rays hammer

into me, my beauty

faintly shows.

I am a rock.

by Ioana, 3^rd grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Thomas Girardet, a 4th grade student at Parker Elementary in Houston.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: imagination, inspiration, national poetry month, nature, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: 2012 A Poem A Day, April, art, Literature, national poetry month, poetry, wits. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

I Wish I Was a Super Hero

I wish I was a super hero so I could fly

to see the earth,

to fight evil

so I could help the world.

Maybe I could be rewarded with something

if I fight the most dangerous evil villain.

I could be defender of my city,

and the most famous hero in the world

and everyone would know my name!

by Edwin, 2^nd grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Ella Dale, a 2nd grade student at Parker Elementary in Houston.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: Comic book, national poetry month, Roleplaying, Superhero. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

Bring Me the Happiness

Photo by Kate Brennan

The dream of freedom

Is the dream I seek

To escape these four

Walls which surround me.

To finally be able to dream

And think that I can make

All my dreams come true.

The dream of freedom means

No more threats

No more harassing words

No more “I am not the same.”

No more shame for not being like you.

This dream seems like it’s too far away

But bring me freedom!

Bring me the happiness of the day

When no living human will be ashamed

Of the way they look or feel.

Just bring me the dream of freedom

That one day is almost here.

Let it begin today.

by Kelly, 6^th grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Alex Puente, 4th grade, and Kennedi Foust, 2nd grade, both students at Parker Elementary in Houston.
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Posted by WITS Houston. Categories: creativity, inspiration, national poetry month, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: April, national poetry month, poetry, wits. 1 Comment

Apr. ’12

"Landscape with Birds" by Lucien Freud

Songbirds singing
Trees waving in the wind
The sound of people talking
The sound of cars zooming by
The smell of freshly cut grass
The vision of doves flying overhead
You can feel this dream making
More and more of itself.

by Ty, 4^th grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Cyrus Fontenot, a 4th grader from Parker Elementary in Houston.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: Houston, national poetry month, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: dream poem. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

Pond

–Inspired by the Cy Twombly Gallery

Cy Twombly "Untitled Parts III and IV" 1988

I feel the sorrow going through my veins

as I jump into the pond.

I sink, the crystal clear tree

reflecting in the lake.

I fall with my joyless life,

sink and sink into the green.

I land on a fish. We

swim into an underwater land.

My sorrowful face turns

joyful, like finding a smiling pot of gold.

There is no hole in my heart anymore;

gray rainy clouds suddenly break

into blue, a gold flaming sun.

by Malia, 4th grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Jasmin Rubio, a 4th grader from Parker Elementary in Houston.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: art, national poetry month, nature, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: 2012 A Poem A Day, cy twombly, pond, wits. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

Celebrate Earth Day with Writers in the Schools

Houston school children will celebrate Mother Earth at A Light in the Forest this Sunday afternoon at the Houston Arboretum. Please join us!

Who: Talented students from HISD schools

What: Come hear students from the WITS program read their nature-inspired poems, essays, and stories in celebration of Earth Day.

When: Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Where: Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive (map)

Cost: FREE and open to the public

Sponsors: Shell Oil Company, Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Kroger, The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation, Copy.com, and the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center.

Posted by WITS Houston. Categories: education, event, family, Houston, nature, poetry, Reading, spoken word, story, student, writers in the schools. Tags: earth day, Earth Day 2012, Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, Kroger, Shell Oil Company, texas. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

This Particular Memory

Happy boy at the beach (Photo credit: alobos flickr)

Where is the boy I used to be?

Is he still in my heart?

Is he living in my memory?

Is he where I used to be?

Is he happy?

Is he playing with friends?

Is he here or is he there?

I think the boy is with me.

I wish he didn’t grow up so fast.

When he smiles, he brings out

happiness in everyone.

We must never let anyone take away

this happiness.

by Alfredo, 10^th grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Parker Tagtmeier, a 4th grader from Parker Elementary in Houston.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: loss, national poetry month, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

Freshly Fallen Leaf

Autumn Leaves (Photo credit: blmiers2)

“Please let me fall

on top of the others.

Please let me fall gently

on top,” says the leaf

as he rocks back and forth.

The leaf has dreamed his whole life

of falling off the old tree.

He was the last leaf on the tree.

Now the tree is empty.

by Justin, 3^rd grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Som Gaeeni, a 4th grader from Parker Elementary in Houston.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: national poetry month, nature, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: leaf poem, tree poem. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

Freeze

The moment I would freeze

Photograph by Karen Sachar
ksachar.com

would be the moment I saw my newborn sister.

I would touch her soft and fragile

skin. I would see her intense brown eyes that when the sun

hits them look like caramel all sweet and soft that you

would love to eat but you can’t eat them. When the

darkness hits them they are like two big dark clouds approaching

you, trying to scare you. Her eyes are soft and scary

but still they are beautiful. I would look at her face and

try to make out her expression. If I see pain, I would

try to comfort her and make her happy. If I see joy,

I would play and play with her.

by Angel, 7^th grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Kiana Adoin, a 4th grader from Parker Elementary in Houston.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: family, national poetry month, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: Karen Sachar, little sister poem, new baby poem, sibling poem, sister poem. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

Going to Cuba

David reads his poem "Going to Cuba" at Discovery Green. Photo by Yvonne Feece.

I will leave Houston on

a very good note.

I will go to Cuba,

walk in the 90 degree heat.

I will go to Cuba,

dance in the streets for fun.

I will go to Cuba,

make beans out of scratch.

I will go to Cuba,

swim in the warm, brown water.

I will go to Cuba,

learn how to speak español.

I will go to Cuba,

eat plantains for breakfast.

I will go to Cuba.

It will be gorgeous at night.

by David, 3^rd grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by A’Viyon Robinson, a 4th grader from Parker Elementary.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: national poetry month, place, poem a day, poetry, Spanish, student, travel, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: Caribbean, Cuba poem, Havana, travel poem. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

A Dancer’s House

"el carnaval del arlequín" by joan miró

This house is very empty.

There are only cleared-out spaces.

But this house has

something special.

This house is a dreamer.

It wakes me up early in the morning

So that I can dance to its ancient

song of

praise.

This house is set where

two rivers meet and rush.

Have you ever danced until the

thieving sunset stole your light of day?

Because I have, in my house.

The blue stones in the rain

are the music that I dance to.

My house is made of brick and wood.

But my house has a soul. Believe it.

My house is old, but comfortable.

I touch the rusted pipes that still let me live.

My pliés and pirouettes are better

when I’m in my house on the top floor.

My blood, pumping out imagination until

the day draws to

its close.

I leap and bound on my garden path.

I skip across the quiet river.

A peaceful house,

a peaceful setting,

a dancer’s house.

by Anna, 3^rd grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Jaycee Jamison, a 4th grader from Parker Elementary.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: imagination, national poetry month, place, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: Dance, dance poem, dancer poem, performing arts. 1 Comment

Apr. ’12

Collage

The cage was covered in an

elegant cloth,

with a practical bird

inside.

The sign was actually a

picture,

with a person fleeing

in the forest.

To the villagers this was

common, as ordinary

as can be.

A miracle was

necessary, to have

a success.

A sound reflected

in the silence

from the shallow

water,

a ripple

made a gentle

sound,

an equal to the world’s

finest picture,

the freshness of justice

and the evergreen

scent of nature.

Fire never wanted

a truce with water

but thought it was

foolish otherwise.

Oh, the wonders!

by Camille, 3^rd grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Christine Bowyer, a 4th grader from Parker Elementary.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: animal, national poetry month, nature, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: bird poem, collage, justice poem. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

Singing Birds

In the morning a bird sings

“chirp, chirp, chirp.”

It sings about how it wants

to use words instead of sounds.

Soon there is a choir of birds

singing about what they want to do.

They will sing about eating good food,

about being grown.

They will sing about human things,

how they would want arms for wings,

and mouths for beaks, singing.

by Luke, 3^rd grade

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Alexandra Maynard, a 4th grader from Parker Elementary.
apad

Posted by Marcia. Categories: animal, creativity, national poetry month, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: Bird vocalization, Literature, national poetry month, poetry. Leave a comment

Apr. ’12

Wake Up

Image via Wikipedia

(inspired by Anis Mojgani’s “Direct Orders”)

Wake up like there’s no tomorrow

Wake up like you’ve had a bad dream

Wake up like there’s a tiger racing after you

Wake up like the sky is falling

Wake up like your house is on fire

Wake up like you’re being chased down the street

Wake up like you’re Batman beating the Joker

Wake up like you’re late for basketball practice

Wake up like you didn’t finish your homework

Wake up like you’re ready to start the day

Wake up like you’re happy to see your friends

Wake up before you fall back to sleep

Wake up like you have a fridge full of Dr. Pepper

Wake up like it’s time for the cheer competition

Wake up like the universe is ending and

you only have one chance to be yourself.

By Alyssa, age 11

Click the link (above) to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Laura Anawaty (4th grade) and Jacob Goins (2nd grade) from Parker Elementary.
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Posted by Marcia. Categories: creativity, imagination, inspiration, national poetry month, poem a day, poetry, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: Anis Mojgani, April, Batman, Dr Pepper, national poetry month, poem. 1 Comment

A Poem A Day

Writers in the Schools (WITS) Celebrates Kids–in their own Words

Category Archives: student

Horse Barn

The Rock

I Wish I Was a Super Hero

Bring Me the Happiness

More

Pond

Celebrate Earth Day with Writers in the Schools

This Particular Memory

Freshly Fallen Leaf

Freeze

Going to Cuba

A Dancer’s House

Collage

Singing Birds

Wake Up

Follow “A Poem A Day”