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National Poetry Month
Join the Fun@ NMS Library
Poetry Challenge Number 1
Mrs. Henderson read the poem , "The Kitten and Falling Leaves" by William Wordsworth to her family. She thought the kids would appreciate it because they have a cat that they they enjoy watching play outside every day. Look how serious Jojo looks!
Mrs. McMillen Shared This Poem Which Certainly Speak to This Time
Mrs. Rafferty Shared the Poem "Remember" by Joy Harjo With Her Mother
"Remember" by Joy Harjo
Edy Gann Shared "Diana of the Hunt" with her mom
I posted a picture to go with Edy's poem. Can anyone identify the title of the statue and its current location?
Edy Gann knows. Do you?
Poetry Challenge Number 2
Mrs. Munoz submitted this original poem. She illustrated it using Adobe Spark.
Mr. Mullins was inspired by Shakespeare's Sonnet 147
For I fear having to nurseth disease,
But I feed on that which preserves the ill,
The sickly gym appetite I must please.
My fitness, the physician to my love,
Angry that gym hours are no longer kept,
Doors locked! I am not peaceful like a dove
Sitting is death, not my nature to accept.
Past cure I am, Indoor workout, don’t care,
And frantic-mad with stir crazy unrest;
My thoughts and discourse as lazy men's are,
My random poor diet vainly express'd;
I have sworn thee not fair; thought thee as blight,
COVID-19 SUCKS, that’s all for tonight.
Compare his poem to Shakespeare's Sonnet
Mrs. Young Submitted an Original Poem With a Message to Students
Mrs. Huffman Also Wrote an Original Poem About Missing Her Students
Ms. Perry also Penned an Original Poem About our Current School Situation
Mrs. Waldron was Inspired by George Ella Lyon's "Where I'm From"
Where I’m From: 2020 Remix of George Ella Lyons poem
I’m from yoga pants and sweatshirts
And still lots of Clorox
From the cracked edges of my driveway
And not much further than that
I am from the comforts of my own home,
Toy blocks and trucks scattered everywhere
Appreciated and observed in a new way
Where I really should be cleaning
Because I have the time
But I won’t
I’m from “school’s closed”
To “life’s cancelled”
Or at least…
On pause
I’m from new ways of doing things
Rediscovering the old
And considering what really matters
I’m from the lockdown of 2020
When this is all over
What will we remember?
Will we yearn for the simplicity of these moments?
What can we take with us from this time?
Here is the Original Work for Comparison
Edy Gann Submitted this Poem and Artwork
I walk with my friend to the lockers.
We are chatting, and my, we are talkers!
I dial my combination,
We continue our conversation.
Then we begin our journey to lunch.
Poetry Challenge 3
Quarantine is tough
Forced to slow down and stay home
Stay positive, all
--by Mrs. Addison
The Path
I walk to see Love
Forest of lives suffering
Each foot on green grass
R. Adams
Day thirty-one done
Insanity has set in
Virus go away
J. Hendrix
Corona New Term
Keeping Us Home Much Too Long
Unsettling Times
S. Mullins
My Mom's Love
What I’ve always known
Has been the love of my mom
Not one day without
K. Perry
Miss y’all everyday
No, Webex is not the same
Dreaming of E-8
BensonVoss
Wake up, get ready
So much to do; not enough
Recreate your life
A. Waldron
I just ate a pie
I ate a whole chicken pot pie
The pie was very goodP. Addison
A Novice Sews Masks
The Singer Beast Laughs at Me
Tension Guides The Hash
E. Rafferty
Poetry Challenge Number 4
Poetry Challenge 5
Poetry Challenge Number 6
This is Just to Say
by Mrs. Cuttight
Inspired by William Carlos Williams
I have missed
the souls
that were on
my rosters
and of which
you were probably
deserving
a break
Forgive me
they were ambitious
so complicated
and so dearly loved
This is Just to Say by Jennifer Hendrix
I need some
Alone time from
All of this craziness
Going on today
So I am going
To fold some
Laundry
In the bedroom
In the peace
And quiet
Without kids
underfoot
Poetry Challenge 7
by Mrs. Young
by Benson/Voss
by Mrs. Puriefoy
by Mrs. Munoz
Pic-Lits Poem by Mrs. Huffman
by Mrs. Hendrix
By Mrs. Waldron
“A child who reads will be an adult who thinks.” - Sasha Salmina
By Mrs. McMillen
Poetry Challenge 8
Playlist Shuffle by Mrs. Waldron
Remember when our songs were just like prayers?
Up with the sun, gone with the wind.
We say goodbye, see you around
Standin' at the door of the Pink Flamingo cryin' in the rain
County road two thirty-three under my feet
It’s over when it’s over, aint it, baby? Aint it?
My child arrived just the other day
And even though the moment passed me by, I still can't turn away
Baby here I am again kicking dust in the canyon wind
Goodbye Norma Jean
Playlist Shuffle Poem by Mrs. Hendrix
When I lost my way
I got my first real six-string
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la
Winter is here again, oh lord,
I’ve been lonely.
Mother, Mother ocean
Talk to me softly
He wakes up in the morning
Mama take this badge from me
She’s a good girl, loves her mama
Playlist Shuffle by Mr. Mullins
Contact is all that it takes to change your life, to lose your place in time
In the attic lights, voices scream, nothing's seen, real's a dream
People talking, and they're saying that your'e leaving
Jane, you say it's all over for you and me, girl
If I'd never met you, I'd never have seen you cry
I spent twenty years trying to get out of this place
Have you seen her? So fine and pretty. Fooled me with her style and ease
She says her love for me will never die, but that'd change if she ever found out about you and I
Hey, where did we go? Days when the rain came? Down in the hollow, playing a new game
I'm a wheel, I'm a wheel. I can roll, I can feel
Family Car Trip Playlist Shuffle Poem By Julia Stafford
Dear mother
Three Thirty in the Morning
You know a dream is like a river
All day, staring at the ceiling
I heard you crying loud, all the way across town
This old highway’s getting longer
If I fall along the way
She said I don’t know if I’ve ever been good enough
There’s something about you
His eyes are cold and restless
Playlist Shuffle by Mrs. Puriefoy
Standing here
Sometimes I can’t move my feet it seems
Do you remember?
Look at me dreaming of you
Wanna pack your bags, something small?
Come out come out
Spring sweet rhythm dance in my head
Out in the Country by Mrs. Young
OUT IN THE COUNTRY PAST THE CITY LIMIT SIGNS
WHEN I WAS 14 I WAS FALLING FAST
MY OLD FRIEND
MISS THE SUNRISE IN MY HOMETOWN
SQUARE BALES, FLATBEDS, CLOTHES LINES, SUNSETS
WELL WE GREW UP DOWN BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS SHOOTING BB’S AT OLD .. CANS
OLD GRAY FENCE
GOT A HOUSE DOWN A BACKROAD
EIGHT YEARS OLD AND A COUPLE CANE POLES SITTING DOWN BY THE CREEK
THERE’S A FOR SALE SIGN ON BIG OL’ RUSTY TRACTOR
Prince by Mr. Adams
I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I Can’t disguise the pounding of my heart
Baby, baby, baby
Dig if you will a picture
I was working part time at a 5 and dime
How can I stand to stay where I am?
You don’t have to be beautiful
Here we are folks, the dream we all dreamed of…
Oh I got a live one here!
This will be the day….
Poetry Challenge 9
Ode to an Americano by Mr. Mullins
Your earthy aroma opens my eyes
Your taste awakens my heart
A touch of milk enhances your beauty
Stevia amplifies your charm
Do I love you, or need you?
I believe both to be true
A virus has taken much of our time
Making stolen moments dear
To once more start my day with you
To hold you, and have you warm me
To receive your encouragement and energy
Your mere presence in an empty school
Until that day, please know how l feel
And do not think Folgers has replaced you
She's a mere placeholder; an easer of pain
Her class far below you, she will never occupy my heart
Ode to the Middle School Locker by Mrs. Young
Combination, combination
You are a little tricky
Is it right first or left
You can be very picky.
I figured out your combo
It is easier than most
I can’t tell you how
Wouldn’t want to boast
I try to hang my coat up
But it ends up in a ball
Suspended in the middle
Above the others here since fall.
Looking for my math binder
Which one could it be?
My mama labeled the side
For me to easily see.
Sadly that binder broke,
Wouldn’t keep my papers in
So I’ve been grabbing worksheets
From the bottom of this bin.
It’s getting pretty messy
Overflowing on the floor
The pile is growing daily
I can barely shut the door
Yikes, I found my lunchbox
It’s been about three weeks
Could that be a mouse?
I think I heard some squeaks!
Better leave it up top
I think it’s made a nest
Of course, peanut butter jelly
My mama makes the best!
But wait, I need a pencil
I know there is one here
The teacher saw me take one
and I don’t want to fear
It was her favorite pencil
The one with the flowers
She said I could use it
It will give me super powers
Oh no, the bell is ringing
But I can’t shut the door
Guess I will have to leave
My trash on the floor.
I’ll be back in 30 minutes
When I ask to see the nurse
I‘ll try to clean it up
Hope it doesn’t get worse
Oh that paper on the floor
My binder it needs to be
Teacher said to save it
For that quiz in history
She will give me a new copy
Or I can print it out
But it’s the answers that I need
Oh I can’t worry about
Locker, you are great
Locker you are good
But I wish you had more answers
And endless supply of food.
I know I stash stuff in here
And you hold it best you can
But you’re smelling kinda funny
Is that mold…. GROSS man!
Thank goodness for the virus
Now I don’t have to clean you
Face mask and gloves a must
Maybe a can of disinfectant, too!
Next year I will do better
Take my coat home every day,
Stash my papers in their binders
And eat my lunch from a tray.
Ode to My Golden by Mrs. Waldron
Golden is your fur
The gold remnants you leave everywhere
But I don’t mind
Because it reminds me of you
Golden was the day I got you
Your wet sloppy kisses covered my face
But I didn’t mind
Because they were from you
Golden is the life we share
You are with me wherever I go
But I don’t mind
Because it’s there I want you
Golden will the memories be
As my son remembers you by his side
But I don’t mind
Because a dog is a loyal friend
Ode to My Ten-Month Old by Mrs. Raferty
You were a
funny foster feline
tumbling about in a
basket of six siblings.
Your scampering sounds
and mad scrambles
awaken me with a
grumpy smile.
Amber eyes
and orange stripes
inspire a stalking
tiger,
wild and free.
You're my mischief-maker,
a loving snuggler;
And I am all yours
and will cherish you
for all the years
we have.Poetry Challenge 10
Blackout Poem by Mrs. Forney
Blackout Poem by Mrs. McMillen
Blackout Poem by Mrs. Rafferty
Blackout Poem by Benson/Voss
Blackout Poem by Mrs. Young
Blackout Poem by Mrs. Waldron
Time a Blackout Poem by Sarah Munoz
text from Alice in Wonderland
Poetry Challenge 11
Mouse Tail
Concrete Poem by Mr. Mullins
Benson/Voss Concrete Poem
Childhood: a Concrete Poem by Mrs. Munoz and daughter Sophia
Concrete Poem by Chance Williams
The Yogi by Mr. Adams
Poem in Your Pocket Day
Mrs. Benson shared and illustrated this poem
Northside Middle School Library
Email: lsprouse@rcps.us
Location: 6810 Northside High School Road, Roanoke, VA, USA
Phone: