Establishing a Home

Not knowing what they would find,
They decided to take a ride.
They loaded up their car and left the wind blown fields of Nebraska,
hoping to find the tide in Oceanside.
They settled a small spot on the map.
They helped a city to grow. Was it easy? No.
Alex Freedman, Level 4

Poems based on studied poetry of Langston Hughes

The Frog

Upon a rock a dead leaf lies.
Hop! Suddenly it flies
Across the pond, with bulging eyes
To land with a plop as it stalks its prize.

A cricket sits, unaware,
Of the danger lurking there.
Straight ahead the stalker stares-
Then soars once more into the air

After the frog flew though the air.
The cricket was no longer there.

As the onlookers nostrils flare,
A marsh-like scent enters the air.
The frog makes no noise at all.
To startle the people sitting there

The frog moves rarely.
It twitches barely.
Its eyes set squarely.
In its head.

Watching, staring,
Never daring,
To stop looking,
Straight ahead.

This Land

This land.
My family and I.
We are a history of adventurers and heroes.
Our name is signed to the Declaration of Independence.
This land.
We have traveled it,
Built it,
Farmed it,
Electrified it,
Defended it,
Loved it,
Taught its future.
We sang with it,
Laughed with it,
We live a joyful adventure.
We have made this happen.
Emily Sturges

Trees

I have known trees,
Towering, majestic Cyprus,
Swaying gently in the morning breeze.
In Norway, my ancestors
looked upon the frigid beauty
of the snow-topped pines that congregate into
vast forests, as strong-willed and resolute
as my fore-bears themselves.
Many happy hours were spent with friends,
in the sun-dappled light-green foliage
of trees, the kings of all plants.
Soren Schlassa