Memory Poems

Memory is a powerful motivator in poetry, and Philip Levine one of poetry's most ardent proponents of remembering. Students read and discussed his lovely poem, "Starlight," then wrote memory poems of their own.

Ms. Jones, 3rd grade

The Funeral
Krista C.

My older cousin, dead.
I may not see him again,
the sickness in his eye,
he feels so sad,
the sadness in his eyes.
He feels no one is there.
We love him very much.
We still miss him, of course,
but the worst memory
is the dead body of him.
I'm thinking his body arose
to heaven, feeling good. He is
fun to play with. I miss
him very much.

Birthday...Birthday, My Birthday
Jennifer H.

I love my birthday. I was
turning six. My cake looks so
yummy. No-o-o! My cousin put
frosting on my hair. So I
put frosting on his forehead.
My aunt gave me $100
for my birthday. I was
running around for it. I
love birthdays.

All the Memories
Andrena M.

All of the memories
passed by so fast.
Like when the
student teacher
left the school,
or when I went
to Disney World
when I was four
years old. Also
that my family
celebrated my
second birthday.
All these
memories
are so great.
It's great
that my
memories are
from the past.

Sssnake!
Daniel S.

As the yellow
heavy long python
wrapped around my neck,
as scared as I
can be,
I stood still.
The snake with its flicking tongue
staring at me.
I wriggled in fear.
My fears overtook me.
It tried to dig into my skin
to slurp my blood like juice.
As the camera took my picture,
as scared as I can be,
never this fierce
has my fear overtaken me.

Wisconsin Dells
Angela Y.

When I get in the water
I start to splash and
I get wet. Then I go for
a big splash. After that,
I like to cuddle with the
towel and sleep.

Mr. Sandlass, 4th grade

Pokagon State Park
Stephen D.

As soon as I got to Pokagon State Park
I went down the quarter-mile tobaggon run.
It was so scary, I was screaming louder
than anyone. After that, I got ice cream
and root beer.

The next day, we went cross-country skiing.
I fell down eight times and lost my skis seven times.
Then I went on the toboggan run four times. It
was still very scary. The next day, we hit the
road.

My Birthday!!
Kayla H.

I got many presents
and there was many friends.
I was turning eight
and I had a strawberry cake.
It was the best
and I forgot the rest.

Niagara Falls
Sherme M.

It was far away
but I got there
just in one car
with a lot of excited
people. The visit was
fun but the drive
was boring.
It was very very beautiful
in front of blue
gleaming water which
was such a beautiful sight.

Untitled (Memory Poem)
Diana P.

One day I went to school.
I was in second grade.
Then my teacher came.
I met new friends.
It was a day. Then
I had report
cards. My class went
on field trips. End of the
year, I
was a great student.

B-day Was Weird
Vivian T.

When I was a little girl I had
a birthday. I got a tea
set my mom got me.
Later then I lost it. I
was afraid my mom
will yell at me.
Turned out my mom
put it in the toy box. I
thought, what a relief.