Using Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems as a resource, Carol Weis conducted a poetry workshop with middle schoolers. Below are some of their poems:



 

 

 

School

Drama everywhere
blah blah her
blah blah him
rumors spreading rapidly
around the halls
involving teachers
wanting to know MY business
give me a break
school, school, school.

© Aleah S., 5th Grade
White Brook Middle School
Easthampton, MA

 



Last Dance

Last dance
of the
year
extra special
extra exciting
extra extraordinary
last time
to
find the fun
in you
last time you
get to have
fun in
school.

© Lil W., 5th Grade
White Brook Middle School
Easthampton, MA

 



Disagreements

I have different disagreements
with myself
I don't know why because
I'm just one person
it's like when
I talk to myself I
don't know what I'm saying
I don't agree!


Friend

My friend is a boy
he has a green sweatshirt on
almost all day.
When he laughs, I do too.
When he feels bored, I do too.
When his eyes shine in the light, mine do too.
His name is so cool
but sometimes I really don't want
to talk to him.
Other than that, we are
best friends and that's a true
fact.

© Sarena G., 5th Grade
White Brook Middle School
Easthampton, MA

 



TEACHERS

Screaming
through forests
of numbers,
the past,
and electricity
just to realize
that they're
getting nowhere.

© Valerie M., 5th Grade
White Brook Middle School
Easthampton, MA

 




Chairs

Chairs
are stacked
up on desks.

© Daia B., 5th Grade
White Brook Middle School
Easthampton, MA


 




First Day

The first school bells rings,
everyone running crying
screaming. What now?


100th Day

Everyone yelling 80 days
left, people happy. What's so
great about the 100th day?
It's just another day.


Last Day

Announcements are over,
everyone pushing, shoving,
running out the door. How
will I survive this?


Pop Quiz

Oh no, a pop quiz
I didn't study, played
instead. I'm failing.


© Nathan C., 5th Grade
White Brook Middle School
Easthampton, MA

 



School

School, school
not fun
so boring
Just fun when we have
gym.

© Josh C., 5th Grade
White Brook Middle School
Easthampton, MA
 




Why Me?

Running down the hall
gets so boring.
Everyday same routine
get called to the office,
run down the hall,
get there and realize
nobody's there,
run back,
I'm late for class,
get in trouble,
another detention,
Mom doesn't sign it.
The cycle goes again, and again,
Why me?
Why not someone else?
Please stop the cycle.
Again it goes through my head,
why can't I change?

© Grace L., 5th Grade
White Brook Middle School
Easthampton, MA



Detention

Bell rings.
Time to go.
For everyone
else, to run back home.
But me, I am here.
Stuck in a jail.
With beady black eyes
staring at me
until my time is up.


Test

Pencil tapping.
Nails beating against
the desks.
Nervous faces
staring at others.
The crisp white paper
waiting…


Bullied

I open the door,
push through the crowd.
Just to get frowns
from the make-up clowns.
Everyone's chittering,
Everyone's chattering
about what Stacey's wearing.
But I am alone.
I am the only strong one.

© Emma D., 5th Grade
White Brook Middle School
Easthampton, MA

 


 

 




 



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