5 Poems I Have Read

• Robert Frost (Modern Age): "A Soldier"
• E.E. Cummings (Modern Age): "Buffalo Bill's"
• Phillis Wheatley (Early National): "A Farewell to America"
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (19th Century): "Aftermath"
• Anne Bradstreet (Early America): "As Weary Pilgrim, Now at Rest"

Longfellow "aftermath" interpretaion

Aftermath

When the calls for war are made,
When the men are shipped and bade,
farewell.
When the first shots are fired,
When war heroes emerge admired,
the aftermath cannot be good.
When nations are torn apart,
When battle plans are written on a chart,
We know what is to come.
Destruction and loss of life
followed by economic strife
is the terrible result.
So I propose this to you:
Be one of the few
to try to keep the peace.
For when battle is called,
When men are mauled,
the aftermath cannot be good.


Inspired by: "Aftermath" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

E.E. Cummings Poem

Gossipers

The Gossiper is
shallow
                                  they used to be
                                  the coolest ones around
                                  spreading their lies
and breaking onetwothreefourfive spirits just like that

She was a pretty girl
                                  and what I want to know is
How do you like your life now
No friends
No job
No love

Inspired by: "Buffalo Bill's" by E.E. Cummings

Phillis Wheatley Poem

A Farewell to Clifford

So long, to your cherry red paint

working as mirror when I am in haste.

You left me too soon

and our time was cut short.

So long, to your wonderful gas mileage,

that saved me so much money.

You were my first love

and will always have a special place in my heart.

So long, to the rev of your engine,

a sound that gave me great joy.

I will always remember

the places we've been together.

So long, to your seats

that envelop me in comfort.

You will be hard to replace

but it is a necessary evil. 

So long, to all the heads you turn

and the compliments that you get.

We had a good run

that I will always remember.

So long to Clifford,

my first car and my first love.

You saved my life

and I will be forever grateful.

Inspired by: "A Farewell to America" by Pillis Wheatley

Sunflowers Poem

The Diamond

Come with me

to my world

inside the fence. 

To see the most valuable gem

that I know.

The rough cut diamond

with a face so beautiful.

With 4 white corners

that provide safety.

It has a face 

covered with dirt,

smiling and beckoning

for people to visit.

Come with me

to my diamond

laid in a field of green.

It tells many stories

of passion, grit, and friendship.

5 people dance on its face 

with one extra in the middle.

3 more stay on the borders,

watching the others.

Come with me

to play my game

on the face of a gem.

Not shiny and clear, 

but brown and green.

The gem holds 

the great American game of Baseball.

Telling its stories 

forever.

Inspired by: "Sunflowers" by Mary Oliver

Juxtaposition Poetry

When You Think You Have it Bad

I wake up and complain

That my alarm is too loud.

While a protester in the Egyptian plains

runs through a crowd.

I get in the shower

and the water is too cold.

But Mubarak has already lost his power

and the Egyptian government is ready to fold.

I'm driving to class,

along with a few others.

While in Egypt 100,000 amass

to protest the killing of their brothers.

While in my morning class, I fight
to stay awake

a displaced Egyptian takes flight

for a better life he hopes to make.

I walk to class

weaving through people in the halls.

But in Cairo, this is not an easy task

there are 100,000 people after all.

Sometimes I complain about how our government is run;

that they do not keep the people in mind.

But in the far East, their government is done.

The people were sick of being politically blind.

I pack up my books

and complain about the weight.

While Egypt's government has been shook

with immense amounts of hate.

So, before you think
that you have it the worst,
remember some are on the brink
of dying first.


Inspired by: "It is dangerous to read newspapers" by Margaret Atwood.