Homegrown Verse of
Lee County Middle School, Leesburg, Georgia
Promises are sacred,
Promises should be kept,
Promises are dear friends,
Promises are tears wept.
Promises hold true,
Promises should last,
Promises are special,
Promises hold fast.
Promises will keep you living,
Promises close to the heart,
Promises are sweet,
Like a strawberry tart.
Promises will stay by you,
No matter what your friends do.
When promises are broken,
A lie is spoken.
Jessie, age 13
Perception
Understand what you see
when you see me.
Think of what you know
and what you don't.
These twisted eyes have no preset vision.
This mangled mind has no boundary.
My punctured heart has no equal.
So what about you?
Kimberly, age 13
Distance
Though the friendship lasts
she can't say or do anything
to stop the endless pain that
is hidden in the darkness
of
..life?
..death?
- Kimberly, age 13
Rainbow Souffle
I took a bite of rainbow,
and what do you suppose?
It tickled in my tummy
and it flew out through my nose!
- Sharon Rose Davis, adult
The Song of Peace
I sit on a quiet shore;
the waves splash against my feet.
The sun goes down,
the day grows dark,
and I begin to look around.
The grass, the water, the wind-
shhh...
A bird flies down upon the water.
It has caught a fish.
I start back home alone.
As I walk on the sand,
I remember the song I heard today,
shh...
Listen! Maybe you will hear it, too.
As I curl up on my bed,
I dream a dream of the song I heard,
with peaceful animals everywhere,
singing...
the song of peace.
- Sarah, age 13
(poem written at age 10)
Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein is very funny.
Some of his books seem bright and sunny.
I read his book, "The Giving Tree",
And I said to myself,
"please, let it be".
- Ryan, age 12
The Writer
I take out a clean sheet of paper;
I wonder what I should write...
Oh! I'll write of beautiful fairy tales
with pink ballerinas
and handsome princes with horses
that ride like the wind.
Or I'll write of a crook
who's sneaking
to the bank.
He twitches his moustache
and gives an evil grin.
He reveals a key he stole earlier;
he'll take it out,
turn the knob
and scurry to the vault.
He'll remember the combination;
slyly and cleverly he'll
take the money out,
but little does he know
the policemen are about!
Or, I'll BE the policemen
struggling in the night,
wrestling fiercely with the crook
to stop him
in his evil might.
They'll retrieve the money
that he might have taken;
they'll capture him;
he'll confess.
Whatever I decide to write
upon this paper,
whether a tale of a crook,
a pricess,
a prince--
my poem will reflect
my very best.
- Sarah, age 13
Far Away
In a different time
Over an ocean
Behind a mountain
In a cave
Under the stone
In a knight's hidden tomb
Beneath the coffin's lid
On hard stone
Lies a severed past.
- Rackley, age 12
Listen Up!
Listen up, all you.
Hey! Stop playn' that fiddle!
See if you can guess this
Enigmatic riddle.
I live in water,
Maybe a lake.
I breathe fresh air,
And I hate Mr. Snake.
My color is green;
It's a brand new fad.
I drink iced tea
On a lily pad.
I have a permanent wet suit.
My wife lays the eggs.
I play for the "Lakers"
With my powerful hind legs.
I ain't no cat,
And I ain't no dog.
Those two are scary to me
'Cause I'm a FROG!
- Adam, age 13
Mark Twain
He wrote a book about Tom,
Who lived with his Aunt Polly.
His life was not always calm,
But it was fun, by golly!
- Melissa, age 12
My Mama Told Me
My Mama told me
take out the trash
eat all your food
close your door
do your homework
brush your teeth
let go of your brother
fold your clothes
brush your hair
clean your room
and always, always
put the lid down on the toilet.
- Beau, age 12
Love
Love is blind,
Blind as can be.
It joins people together,
As the world can see.
Love is Heaven on Earth,
Filled with peace and joy.
Love is a special gift,
Not played with like a toy.
Love is a little twig,
Carried by a dove.
The twig is very small,
But filled with peace and love.
Love is like the wind,
Getting stronger as it goes.
To everyone on Earth,
lots of happiness it shows.
Love is a mighty rope,
When unraveled, very weak.
But when the rope is tied
Love's at its highest peak.
Love is the moon
Glittering on a pond.
Between two people,
Love's the strongest bond.
- Blake, age 13
Braces
Oh, woe is me,
These braces, they stink!
If given a chance
I'd get them off in a week.
I can't have bubblegum,
Though sometimes I do;
Please don't tell my mom
That's what I chew.
No popcorn, no suckers,
And no hard candies--
Yeah, right, and pigs
Fly higher than trees.
Don't tell my orthodontist.
He doesn't have to know.
That's one place
I HATE to go.
When I'm eating, please tell me
If something is "caught".
Oh, please tell me quick
About spinach, you ought!
And now I will end
On this final note.
On these awful braces
I surely don't dote!
- Jessie, age 14
I Have A Bellybutton
I have a bellybutton.
Do you have a bellybutton?
I think it's just the greatest thing
the way it gathers bits of string
and lint
and monkey hair.
Once I found a peanut there.
Well! There's no need to STARE!
- Sharon Rose Davis, Teacher
Georgia, Georgia, Georgia divine,
Your bright sun will always shine.
Your mountains are vast and your rivers deep.
The peaceful hum of crickets brings the lull of sleep.
Your ancient pines are so high.
They seem to brush the baby-blue sky.
In spring, you're so fair,
With the smell of honeysuckle in the air.
Cherry blossoms fall from your trees
As they sway in the gentle springtime breeze.
A deer steps out into the morning.
The crisp air brings winter's warning.
From your gentle seashore to your snowy peak,
Your scenic beauty is for the bold and the meek.
A mighty hawk seeks its prey.
A lark brings the promise of a new day.
You bring hope to all alive.
Your endless beauty will always thrive.
Georgia, Georgia, so proud and true,
You bring joy to the old and the new.
Your wildlife is so abundant.
To say "Beautiful Georgia" would be redundant.
- Brittany, age 12
Reflection
It is true
that a broken mirror
foretells bad luck
You see your life
in pieces
- Cristy, age 13
My Children
I am coming, my children.
I am almost in sight.
I am coming, my children,
Yet you run in fright.
Listen, my children.
I have seen the day.
Listen to me, children,
To what I must say.
I have heard the sirens;
I have seen the war.
I have feared the violence.
My children are no more.
The day has faded, children.
I must return again.
The day has faded, dearest children,
Another will soon begin.
I have seen the fallen others
Fighting for a prize.
But of the ones who have fallen, children,
None will ever arise.
I have seen the sunlight;
I will see the day.
I have felt the sunlight -
Let me show you the way.
Look there, my children.
Look upon the golden sun.
Look there, dear children.
This battle, we have won.
Follow me, my children.
The sunlight is ahead.
Follow me, my children.
Listen to what I have said.
You are unscathed, children.
I have told you true.
You are safe, my children.
I have done it all for you.
- Cristy, age 13
Insanity
Insanity is something
that stays with you
until you're old and gray
looking up at your coffin
wondering why you didn't
choose purple.
- Kimberly, age 13
Dark
What is the dark?
I do not know.
Is it a black cat against the night sky,
Or is it the head of a small housefly?
Could it be a witch's hat
Or a wildly flying vampire bat?
What is the dark?
I don't know.
Is it the shadow in pained, sad eyes
Or the quiet destruction of people's lies?
Could it be an onyx ring
Or a strange, black mysterious thing?
What is the dark?
I do not know.
Is it the bottom of the sea,
Or is it an old burned up tree?
What is the dark?
Yes, now I know.
The dark hides the light in the night sky.
The dark is the sad part of goodbye.
The dark is many things.
The dark is the tip of a crow's wing.
What is the dark?
Now I know.
- Haley, age 12
Midnight
a unicorn
rode on moonbeams
in the night sky
only at midnight
because she was happy
and free
- Savannah, age 12
Riddle
Hello, kids. What's new? What's up?
I gotta little poem, oughta mess you up.
It's really wacky and kinda fun;
You'll find that out when you're done.
I'm the king, and of course, I rule.
You might find me in books at school.
I'm a hit all over the land,
like some star in a rock-n-roll band.
I'm fuzzy, I'm mean, and really tough.
You might also find my manners are gruff.
I rip and shred and gulp it down.
Only the bones are left "lion" around.
My hair is big, and I'm fuzzy all over.
You oughta know I'm no pet named Rover.
I walk on all fours all day long.
I have a swooshy tail, and I'm very strong.
I'm almost done, but keep on tryin'.
By now you should know that I'm a...
LION!!!
- Savannah, age 12
Guess Again
Gray and sleek am I.
I hunt at night
And I'm very sly.
I have sharp fangs
And I love to growl.
When the moon comes out,
I have to howl.
I'm not a fox
and I have no hoof.
Guess what?
I'm a big gray WOLF!
- Rainey, age 12
A response to "Lyric 17"
A poem must be from the heart;
It must be happy.
It must be a dark sky, opened wide, like a door.
It must be a sweet, ringing wind
with dancing leaves upon its wings.
It must have a magic about it, like wingless bird
flying.
It must be very soft
Like a baby's first dream.
It must be able to cry,
Like a baby for his mother.
And over all, it must smile
Upon the face of it's master.
- Savannah, age 12
Walt Whitman
He wrote about me.
He wrote about strife.
He wrote about you.
He wrote about life.
- Jason, age 12
Halloween
Dark and spooky, no life to be seen -
When the ghosts come out, it's Halloween.
House to house, bag in hand,
Hoping to get candy anyway that you can.
Goblins come out to do what they do,
And witches are busy making Halloween brew.
When they get their fill,
The night goes still,
And everything's back to normal
Until...
- Brandon, age 13
If I Were The Moon
If I were the moon, what would I say?
Would I tell the sunlight to please stay away?
Would I take in all the sights in the sky up above,
Or maybe play rummy with the planets, which I love?
Maybe drink from the Little Dipper, a sight to see,
Or thank the stars for their good company?
If I were the moon, I'd have a smile on my face,
Because I know that there is no more beautiful place.
- Brandon, age 13
Moon
Smiling white beams
Like a gleaming white tooth in a gaping black mouth
Laughing, happy, light
Like a white eye on a dark face
Loving, caring watcher
Like a mother to the Earth
Ever-changing mother
Nothing, maiden, mother, crone.
- Payge, age 13
Mother
She's the most important woman in my life,
Not my sister or Grandma, but my father's wife.
She gives me advice, comfort, and joy,
And makes me fell like there's no luckier boy.
She helps me out in every possible way,
And brings light to my life each and every day.
She is strong and supportive, a role model and friend,
Like a tree in a storm that does not even bend.
She cooks, cleans, and combs my hair,
I don't know what I would do if she were not there.
She's like the first lady, princess, and queen,
And the nicest person that you've ever seen.
She is more beautiful than a golden sunrise,
And she is the world, in my eyes.
I owe her a debt I can never repay,
So I feel it's my honor and duty to say:
It's plain to see that there is no other
Who can take the place of my dear Mother.
- Brandon, age 13
Success
Success is a faraway mountain,
Surrounded by clouds of lost sighs.
And near it there is a fountain
That is there for all and no eyes.
Some will drink from the spouting thing,
For it is the fountain of lies,
Before their imagination takes wing,
Before truth sets in their eyes.
After you pass its winding path,
Before you reach its peak,
The mountain will release its wrath,
But past it you might sneak.
And once you reach its silent peak
You will most certainly find
That you aren't all that weak,
And that you are proud of hurdles left behind.
- Cristy, age 13
Earth's Final Wish
I find myself feeling pain,
and I sense a horrid sight,
Men hacking down tree and cane
on a moonless night.
The crystalline air has turned gray,
And the sun can't be seen,
All the animals seen to lay
as if they've never been.
The plants shrink and die,
The world has turned to nothing: gray,
there is no one to sigh.
No night or day.
I wish I could open my eyes to see,
And maybe I could stop,
That things they are doing to me,
But my eyes are clouded by a tear drop.
- Cristy, age 13
Go to KidzPage
Critter ABCs