The poetic voice of J.H.S. students
October 30, 2017
In English, students are taught how to use and interpret figurative language and writing techniques. Most people have no trouble with them in class – but how many take these skills home and write in their free time?
Poetry is a method of expressing oneself, and these students at J.H.S. are using this method to share their creative sides.
Octavia Sleek, a sophomore, writes about the view of others towards herself.
“Objects”
I am that girl.
The one you see walking down the street.
Not mixed
Not white
Not Mexican
Nor Asian
Just that girl.
Not ugly
Not gorgeous
Not lively
Nor vibrant
Just that person.
I am not “fine”
I am not “thick”
And no I am not “hey shawty”
And no I am not in their eyes
At least not in their eyes
I was somehow just merely an object
“My poem is about the fact that women aren’t considered equal still even though that’s wrong,” Octavia explains about her poem.
Brandon Lester, a freshman, conveys his emotions in this poem.
“Broken Hearts”
Paint a picture of
A certain kind of love
Then throw it all away
That’s the price I was forced to pay
It was all at my expense
When they tore down my defense
I’ve been left broken
With the majority of my side unspoken
There’s no such thing as a resolution
If you never want to approach a solution
So now, I’ll see if it’s in the cards
Waiting to play my lonely queen of hearts.
“For the most part, my inspiration was how most middle school relationships come to an end when entering high school, including my own, which is why I wrote the poem. to really express my feelings on a reality that isn’t really talked about,” Brandon says in regard to “Broken Hearts.”
Junior Elizabeth Hart writes the inspirational poem, “Fly, Fly, Fly.”
“Fly, Fly, Fly”
I climbed a mountain to see the world
And the further I went
The more afraid I became.
When I reached the top,
Miraculously,
The callouses on my hands
Faded.
I was renewed.
I built a home and my head found some peace
I stopped replying to the words you sent me.
I stood among the trees
I could see
The whole time all I had to do was
Climb.
You told me I was too much
That my entity was a liability
But it’s okay if I am
I have positivity.
I’m going to do something huge.
Take what hurt me and transform it.
Spread it across these anonymous minds
And I will wail no more.
We can rise above
With a little self-love.
But Ms. Poet, there’s so many things to worry about.
I’m drowning in my doubts.
There’s nothing to grab
To stay afloat.
My mind is eating me alive
From the inside.
Take my hand
I’ll teach you to stand.
We’ll coexist
And leave our problems in the midst.
Unclip your wings and
Untangle your heart from the chains
And we can fly, fly, fly.
“I don’t just write because I want to. I write because I need to. Thoughts come to me so quickly, they rush into my head and beg me to put them down…To be able to put down what I’m thinking and share it with the world feels extraordinary”, Elizabeth describes her love for writing.
Sophomore Kelly Lu writes this poem while thinking of someone close to her.
“Confidant”
Knock with force, my friend.
Punch the wooden barrier and win,
Like you are about to be murdered,
Because you, in fact, already have been.
Open the door, my friend.
Show the marks of the world being mean,
Including your scars and fresh wounds,
And all your pain that I have never seen.
Come near me, my friend.
Close the distance between us two;
Distance supposedly should not matter,
But I know my presence is needed by you.
Weep and mourn, my friend.
Tell me all that is breaking you apart.
I may end up not saying a word,
But I have been listening from the start.
Hug me tight, my friend.
Let me be the adhesive gluing your shards,
Even if admittedly, I am the same as you:
The ripped and ruined in a deck of cards.
Rest for now, my friend.
Let the adipose on my lap calm you down,
While I playfully trace all your wrinkles,
With hope that you wake up with no frown.
“These words developed in my head as I was thinking about one of my close friends. This person has gone above and beyond for me, and I only wish I could return the favor. I have not shown this poem to that person and don’t plan to; the words just wanted to go on paper” Kelly explains “Confidant.”
Poetry is an expression of thoughts and feelings from people. You will never find two identical poems because each writer has different reactions to life and different voices to share.
These J.H.S poets are sharing their unique voices with others.