Final Drafts

What is a Word?

A word is a tear, a word is a sigh,
A word is a hug, a word is a smile.
A word is a sword, a word is a fire,
A word can be wings, that lift someone higher.

Soft as a wing beat, or loud as a drum
Quiet as snowflakes
That melt on your tongue

Scorching as fire, or bitter as ice,
Words can can bring darkness
And words can bring light.

Words can bind, and words can free
Words can open eyes to see

Words can chain a person down
Or help them get back off the ground

Words can feed fire, or calm it back down
And words can give someone
A shining gold crown

Words can discourage, or turn out the light
And words can make sunshine
Shine even more bright.

Words have a power
That we do not know
And remember you reap
Whatever you sow




"Just a Joke"

If somebody threw
A spit ball at you
Or knotted your laces
And tangled your shoes

Or knocked down your card castle
And messed up your hair
Or swiped out your seat
When you were about to sit there

Or tell you ghost stories
That make you afraid
Give you some candy,
Then take it away

Would that make you happy? And joyful, and glad?
No it might annoy you, and make you feel sad.
It was only a joke, the children will say
It's not like we mean it, it's just fun and play.

When you are sarcastic
But still say mean things,
It doesn't prevent
The feeling it brings

When you make a joke
That hurts someone else
If you say, "I'm just kidding"
It still doesn't help

Like nice fluffy marshmallows
That are roasted on yams
(Which are actually glop
your mom dumped out of a can)

They make it look yummy
But like every kid knows
The marshmallows are good
But the yams are still gross.

Poem Rough Drafts

This first poem is about the power of words and the influence that they have on people. Try to think about each metaphor, and how a word can be similar to them.

What is a Word?

A word is a tear, a word is a sigh,
A word is a hug, a word is a smile.
A word is a sword, a word is a fire
A word can be wings, that help you fly higher.

Soft as a wing beat, Or loud as a drum
Quiet as snowflakes
That melt on your tongue

Scorching as fire, Or bitter as ice
Words can bring darkness,
And words can bring light.

Words can bind, and words can free
Words can open eyes to see

Words can chain a person down,
Or help them get back off the ground

Words can feed fire, or turn out the light
And words can make sunshine
Shine even more bright

Words have a power
That we do not know
And remember you reap
Whatever you sow


This other poem is about when kids are sarcastic but still mean what they say. I wanted to point out how offensive jokes still hurt people even if you say you are "joking", and even if the other person doesn't act offended.
Somehow this poem ended up sounding vaguely Dr. Seuss-ish. I don't really know why though :)

Just a Joke

If somebody threw
A spitball at you
Or knotted your laces
And tangled you shoes

Or knocked down your card castle
And messed up your hair
Or swiped out your seat
When you were about to sit there

Or tell you ghost stories
That make you afraid
Or give you some candy,
Then take it away

Would that make you feel happy? and joyful and glad?
No it might annoy you and make you feel sad.
It was only a joke, the children will say
It's not like we meant it, it's just fun and play.

When you are sarcastic
But still say mean things
It doesn't prevent
The feelings it brings

When you tell a joke
That hurts some one else
If you say, "I'm just kidding"
It still doesn't help

The things that you say about others
Can do so much more than it seems
The things that you say about others
Affect their hopes and their dreams