View the Winners | View Poems by School Round 2 Select and write a poem in response to one of the following: According to The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com), 65% of the people in the Muslim world, in Pakistan, for example, are under the age of twenty. Write a poem from the perspective of young Afghan or Pakistani man or woman. Write a poem about someone who died in the World Trade Center on September 11. Your poem can be about a real person or one you imagine. Again, you might consult online information sources such as The New York Times. Write an ode to autumn. Be as specific as you can be in describing in detail what makes autumn so exquisite. And on one autumn day, September 11, to be exact, where were you when you heard about New York, the Pentagon, and the downed plane in Pennsylvania? Weave both elements, autumn and the September 11 tragedies, into your poem. Silent Tears Every thing she knew Ended in an instant, Because of a tragedy that destroyed thousands of lives And devastated millions. Angie’s life ended in a terrorist’s sad attempt, To divide a nation. She was still young, She had her whole life ahead of her, When she was abruptly taken away from her family, Her parents have learned to cope, They’ve learned to live with the loss, But every time Amy asks where her mommy is, Her grandparents look toward heaven, And pray for strength, As silent tears roll down their cheeks. -Katy Gordon, San Jon High School (Rating: 6.00) Read Reviews of this Poem This Autumn Day Calm Envelopes the World On this Autumn Day Time Goes On as the Summer Ends Somber Shades of Many Colors Fill the Air Calm Decays Just as the Leaves Coating the Ground Emotions Change Color as Abruptly as the Leaves On this Autumn Day the Wind Whispers Under the Sound of Distant Screams On this Autumn Day the Calm is Banished As a Darkness Takes its Place Leaves Fall from the Sky Now Accompanied by the Icy Barbs of Death And the Heavens Threaten to Fall Just as City Infrastructure Now Raining Down Shards of Debris Now Coat the Ground Gleaming High-Rises Become Devises of Torture As a Firestorm Spreads Out of Hatred Rubble Accumulates Upon the Earth Constructing a Tomb from the Ashes of Destruction Calm Envelopes the World on this Autumn Day Time Goes on as a Disaster Ends Somber Shades of Many Colors Fill the Air On this Autumn Day we are Left with Confusion Left with Sorrow As a Perfect Hatred Leaves its Mark On this Unforgettable Autumn Day -JO,2001 -Jacob Ovrick, San Jon High School (Rating: 6.00) Read Reviews of this Poem Where Are the Answers? What was that crash, What was that Jolt, First my assignments, Now my breath is all I hold. I see fire, I hear screams, This cannot be, Tell me this is a dream. My hands are shaking, I feel weakness in my knees, What’s going on, Someone help me, please! We’re all going to die, This seems like the end, I’m so scared, I miss my family and friends. Now we are running, There are so many stairs, My stomach aches, What about the ones in wheel chairs? I am so confused, So many people need help, But my kids need me, All I can think about is myself. Who is controlling this madness, Who is causing the pain, They are killing innocent people, What is there to gain? Now I am free, I made it this time, But what will come of the others, Will they pay for this crime? Why are they here, Why can’t we live in a civilized fashion, Where is the love, Where is the compassion? Why can’t we just live in peace, Why is there so much hatred here, I know this is a tragic event, No one will ever forget this year. (September 11, 2001) -Kesha Lynette Flint, San Jon High School (Rating: 6.00) Read Reviews of this Poem Perspective Fulfilling your destiny. Chosen of god. Dutiful to people and country. Preparation of a lifetime. Your life in a single action. David with your stone; Aiming at mighty Goliath. Succeeding. Your own fiery death, Toppling a mighty giant. The giant sent reeling. Hiding in a deep cave. Scared of its own shadow. Fulfilling your destiny. Mastering a silver bird of fire. Creating Armageddon. Driving your cause into the pride of a nation. Toppling security with your life. You have fulfilled your destiny. Pride burned into your very soul by the flames igniting your enemy. Personal glory shining through tragedy. You’ve made your point. A hero to your cause, as an American soldier is to his. You gave your life to topple a mountain. -Kira Lueth, Socorro High School (Rating: 6.00) Read Reviews of this Poem In the Airport In America, the land of the free, All eyes focus on my skin and me, as I wander the atrium. Suspicion and fear is all I can see. To them I'm a terrorist, a vagrant, a killer, a bum. Watching the planes depart from the ground, People flinch when I make a sound. They would topple over in the slightest breeze, If they were caught dead in the wake of my sneeze. As I walk, I spread disease and confusion. Why can't they see that I'm just an illusion? I'm a person through and through, And I want my life to mean something, too. -Joshua Muehlenweg, St. Pius X -Albuquerque (Rating: 5.20) Read Reviews of this Poem Going to War and Back Men packing up leaving wives and children behind with heartaches to become soldiers holding their children to wielding huge guns going to football games to going through training watching boxing in their living rooms to fighting for their country running for fun to running for their lives winning a bet to bringing victory to our state living through hell to reuniting with their families. -Leatrice Whitegoat, Ft. Wingate Bia School Review this Poem Pages: [<<] 1 2 3 View the Winners | View Poems by School Webslam Home