Growing UpBy: Morgen Smith

Through Dad's Camera Lens© Cindy J. OdomPiles of snow all pushed aside,Little children going down the slide.A rainbow with its pot of gold,All of these are stories once told. So many days have quickly passedand he has now grown old.But the memories will forever last,Of stories that once were told. Now as I look through my camera lens,New stories will unfold.Someday my children will remember,Stories that once were told.

This poem is about a dad looking at old pictures of his son’s childhood. The little boy has now grown old and the father is looking back on the old times.

This poem has end rhyme in the first stanza, then a rhyme scheme for every other line. The camera represents childhood because the father is reminded of what he used to capture all the memories.

I chose this poem because it expresses a lot of emotion. The mood is sad because its talking about growing up and looking back on memories.

Leaving Home© Janice AndradeGive mother a hug Father a kissThe time has comeWe have talked about it Many times beforeBut the time is nowFake a smile And turn awayStart aloneI must leave everything I knowInto a world One I do not understandHoping to find out Who I truly amLetting go of their handsI am offNot looking backThis is my time my journeyI have to do this my wayI walk in a girlI will walk out a womanReady to face the world

This poem is about finally leaving home. It is about a girl who is ready to become an adult and face the world alone.

This poem is a free verse because it has no rhymes or stanzas.

I chose this poem because as I get closer to graduation, I realize I’m going to have to leave. I also like this poem because it gives a sense of empowerment of an independent girl.

Seeking Adulthood© Maysie Stott MorrisonI'm getting older now,No longer a child, Not yet an adult,But a girl trying to carve a path for herself I'm learning to make my own choices,Molding a future with my bare hands,Learning how to step out,Despite the shaky ground I no longer need to be held tight in your embrace,But crave an independence,A one that lets me explore my hunger for this world,A world full of hidden meanings But sometimes I fall,As I struggle to take in the world before me,Overwhelmed by the bigger picture,The adulthood that lays ahead And it must be hard for you to accept,That I'm building a life for myself,Making mistakes that you cannot cure,Choices you never dreamed I'd make

This poem is about the speaker letting her parents know that she is going to be okay on their own. She talks about craving independence even though she knows there may be a struggle.

This poem is a free verse which contains no rhymes or stanzas

I chose this poem because it is about someone trying to get her parents to accept their independence.

If—BY RUDYARD KIPLING(‘Brother Square-Toes’—Rewards and Fairies)If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss;If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much;If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

This poem is a dad telling his son the requirements needed to become and adult.

This poem has an inspiring tone. Its also a free verse with no rhyming. It contains a metaphor in the last stanza “if you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth o distance run” The author uses running as a metaphor for life. You have to try your hardest all the time even if it leaves you exhausted.

I chose this poem because I like the message it gives. The tone is very inspiring. It talks about traits that all people should posses: self-confidence, patience, honesty, and character.

Paper, Paint, And Crayons© Margaret AllietEighteen years, a thousand fears,Yet countless joyful times.A tiny baby smiles just once,Her Daddy's heart it binds. A toddler cries with tearful eyes,That only Mom can dry.The little girl so cute in pinkDecides what clothes she'll try. Her favorite pastime soon becomesAll paper, paint, and crayons.Some years go by, she's growing fast,No longer holds our hands. She struggles some along the way,We hope she feels our love.The strength she needs takes all she has,She's all we're thinking of. The sun breaks through, she finds her way,The clouds begin to clear.And every day that passes now,Each one we hold so dear.

She'll leave us soon to spread her wings,A dream or two to find.We know her life's forever boundTo these roots she leaves behind. We hope she knows how proud we are,How deep our love resides.How much we've learned along the way,Seeing through our child's eyes. The paper, paint, and crayonsThrough graduation years,Will always be our most precious ones,Despite the thousand fears

This poem is about a parent describing a child growing up. It tells each experience the child goes through. From the beginning as a baby all the way to graduation and leaving home.

This poem has an end rhyme. This poem uses paper, paint, and crayons as a symbol for childhood. This poem has a tone change from happy childhood memories to sad when the speaker talks about the child finally spreading their wings and leaving.

I chose this poem because it reminds me of my childhood memories. It also is easy to read and flows nicely because of the end rhyme.

Why Do You Have To Grow Up?© Mark WillenbringWhat has happened to the days?What has happened to the years?Please let me for one last time,wipe away your tears. I used to rock you each night,with a bottle to make you sleep.How I long to do this one more time,your warmth and softness keep. Babies should not be allowed to grow,stay small and forever sweet.Bright eyes, a giggle, prancing around,a wonderful smell and very soft feet. One day as I grow very old,you may have to take care of me.You may not look like a baby anymorebut a baby is all that I see.

The speaker is talking about a person growing up. The child graduates and knows that he/she is going to eventually end up caring for the parent, like the parent once did to them.

This poem contains an end rhyme in an abca and in the second-fourth stanza abcb rhyme scheme. The poem uses imagery to explain the baby’s bright eyes and soft feet.

I chose this poem because it is a reminder that the care our parents once give to us will be given back to them when they become older. Also this poem did a good job putting a picture in your head of a cute baby with bright eyes and a giggle.

Do You Remember ChildhoodCrawling across the floorTrapped behind closed doorsNever wanting more Do you remember childhoodRolling through the grassExcited for classWatching time pass Do you remember childhoodPedaling on your bikeThe boy you still likeSad when the bell strikes Do you remember childhoodDriving down the roadThose looks made with codeYour love always showed

Do you remember childhoodWhen he broke your heartAnd it was just the startYou are no longer art Do you remember childhoodWhen childhood was still thereAnd your heart wasn't bareAnd people would care Do you remember childhood? I can't remember childhood. Faith Grayson

This poem is about remembering childhood memories. The poem shows experiences of riding bikes and first loves. It’s sad in the end because the speaker is forgetting childhood since they are growing so old.

This poem has a rhyme scheme. Also the poem has a hyperbole when the speaker says “do you remember childhood. I don’t remember childhood” the speaker didn't’t forget everything its just some of the memories are fading since they are getting older. The speaker also compares themselves to art, I think that is a metaphor for being young and creative.

I chose this poem because it has some of my favorite childhood memories in it. Also, I like reading poems with a rhyme scheme because they are easy to read.

My ChildhoodMy childhood was fun, tough and exciting.My childhood was one where there wasn't much fighting.This was my childhood. My childhood was filledwith family and friends.My childhood was filled with love that tied up loose ends.This was my childhood.

My childhood camewith a grandmother that cared.When she left meI remembered all the times we shared.This was my childhood. My childhood was filled with classwork and homework.My childhood was filled with parents who hated work.This was my childhood.

My childhood was filledwith fun in the hood, and food that tasted like Campbell's, 'Umm Umm Good! 'This was my childhood.My childhood was filledwith tricycles and bicycles.My childhood was filled with popsicles and Dill pickles.This was my childhood. My childhood was filledwith lots of happy holidays.Holidays that aren'tjust the same nowadays.This was my childhood.Now my childhood has become nothing but memories, But all the good times will live on within me.This was my childhood. Kiera R Lewis

This poems is about the speaker explaining all their favorite childhood memories. Like their favorite Campbell’s soup , happy holidays, and memories of a grandma that once cared so much for the speaker.

This poem contains end rhyme for every other line. Also it has a consonance because of the repetition of “this was my childhood” This poem has good imagery because you can really get a feel for the speaker’s childhood experiences.

I chose this poem because some of the memories remind me of things I did when I was younger.

Childhood Faded AwayChildhood Faded away, to a far away land, simple, so simple were we, Days of Play, Going our Way, Having fun, no care, for another day, time for us stood still, playing king of the hillChildhood Faded awaythinking of another day, summer time was fine, when friends were kind,

swimming holes were filled, our hearts were thrilledChildhood Faded Awayto a time that makes me swaymany years have passed away, since childhood faded to another day, Childhood Faded to places, UNKNOWN TO USfloating somewhere in time. jim foulk

This poem is about losing your childhood. The speaker talks about all their favorite childhood things like playing king of the hill and summertime in the swimming hole.

This poem is a free verse. I think there is a metaphor for the childhood fading away to places unknown to us because its comparing it to us forgetting things as we get older.

I chose this poem mostly because it puts it into perspective that you won’t be a kid forever and the memories will start to fade.

ChildhoodChildhood was a time of innocence When life was considered to be unambiguous When the world seemed to be fair When the universe was based around our little brown bear Childhood was a time when we lived in dreams Our future hidden behind life-size screens When everyone appeared to be our friend We didn't have to consider what would happen in the end Childhood was a time when life was full of colors We would all depend on our feeble Mothers When sorrows never knocked at our doors We didn't need to be concerned about wars

Childhood was a time when love was pure We would all behave immature There were no obligations No need to fear the regulations

Childhood was a time which is now long gone All our friends and family have all moved on Childhood will never come back but We all have memories untold, remembered until we grow old. Tasha Thomson

This poem is about remembering times of innocence and realizing it’s time to move on and keep the memories close to you.

This poem has the symbol of the little brown bear it says “ when the universe was based on our little brown bear” basically saying their wasn’t drama or tough things to worry about, as long as you had your brown bear that is all that matters. This poem is also a free verse with no real rhyme scheme, although it does have a couplet in the first stanza with the words fair and bear.

I chose this poem because it’s a good reminder that you have to move on but it’s okay to look back on memories because they keep a sense of innocence.

My original poetry

Happy

Happy is yellow and pinkIt tastes like a lollipopIt sounds like belly laughingAnd it smells like baking cookiesIt looks like summertimeAnd it makes you feel fearless

I believe

I believe in the power of friendshipThe sound of laughterThe warm summer sandThe importance of self respectThe comfort of a loyal dog

But the belief that success comes without hard work is impossible

I believe in the color pinkI believe in miraclesI believe in karma and it will come back for you

And I believe in the fact that oreo’s must be dipped in milk

I am

I amFamily, happiness, love

I value friendship and memoriesKindness is important to mePassion is important to me

Happiness is always and optionI don’t always like school, but it

is important in lifeLong naps are the best

Forever waiting for summerA good laugh is always needed

I am.

Sand

Sun beating on mePowerful ocean waves crashing downI stand in the sand

Strong

A childYoung and weakGrowing upGraduating and leavingOld and strong