Neighbors: Inkspire writing camp students share poems
The following poems were written by the student who participated in the week-long Ink-spire writing camp. The camp was taught by Jacqueline Hamilton, Jenny Strickland, Jennifer Taylor and Carolyn Gatewood.
Our Friend Glenn
Glenn — Inkspire’s good friend
A leader we can bank on
Central to our hearts
Depositor of good will
We’re not just horsing around!
— Mizz JJ
Group A
The Fox
The orange and white
fox is hidden in her hole
eating dirty mice.
— Abigail Taylor
Trees
Trees are good sources
Good for newspapers and books
and notebook paper.
— Autumn Kincaid
Cheetahs
Cheetahs are so fast —
fastest creatures in the world.
Cheetahs have black spots.
— Camille Carter
The Fast Cheetah
On a hazy day
the fast cheetah ran quickly
through the rain forest.
— Ethan Travis
Kitten
Kitten in the snow
Kitten lying in the cold
She needs to find warmth.
— Jocelyn Morris
Night Owl
I love the night owl —
the owl that flies in the dark.
Its feathers are gray.
— Savannah Williams
Wild
A bear, fox, and moose
exciting to see outside
in the grassy wild.
— Sawyer Joynt
Dragons
Dragons are messy
They are red. Their magenta scales
are slimy with muck.
— Sylvia Coogle
Group B
Honesty
Honest, empty pot
Dishonest pots from others
Ping’s now emperor.
— Ben Cantrell
Thunderstorm Tree
Roots escape the ground
Oak tree flees the thunderstorm
Shaking in horror.
— Elliot Carlisle
The Purple Seas
Purple palms swaying,
blowing in the purple breeze —
Find the purple seas.
—Jacob Davison
The Winner
Cherries crown sundaes.
Cherries taste phenomenal.
Apples still win all!
—Jackson Sotski
Apples
Apples taste so great.
Apples keep doctors away,
so I will eat them.
— Josiah Taylor
Mountain
Mountain tall and strong
Mountain shaking and quaking
Mountain scared of heights.
—Michael Wright
Clinging Cockatiel
Clinging cockatiel
Fluttering, reaching, perching
Talons hold on tight.
—Silas Coogle
Waves
Waves lap against sand
The water leaves a wet mark
White tips the blue waves.
—Stuart Joynt
Group C
Night Vision
A molten, dark ink
of nights, nebulas, and stars
engulfing the light.
—Amy Wright
The Pipe Organ
at its Best
King of instruments
Heavenly, cosmic organ
A godly whistle
Powerful pitches, low and high
A transcendental triumph!
— Caroline Carlisle
Sunset
The bright orange sunset
slowly dips into the horizon
falling into slumber
far and wide, colors appear
red, purple, yellow, and pink.
— Emily Ann Warner
Robin
Their beaks gulp down worms.
Their wings beat through the branches,
nesting anywhere
Teaching their young to survive —
Behold, robins’ way to thrive.
— Garrett Wright
Lightning Storm
The day turns pitch black.
The blinding streaks slash the sky.
Rain starts to descend.
Claps of thunder soon follow.
The world outside rages.
— Katelyn Deal
Willow
Delicate willow
Dainty branches like dancers
Swaying in the breeze.
— Mae Abordo
Jumping Fish
Reaching for the stars
a fish breaks the still surface.
Scales glinting, he falls.
— Maggie Matthews
A Royal Bard
Robin dances on
nature’s stage — eternal bard —
scarlet royalty.
— Meghan Wells
Nudibranch*
So slow so silent
Shooting bright sparks of color
A jewel in the sea
So delightfully squishy
Inching beneath the ocean.
*soft-bodied mollusk
— Naomi Schanding
Unknown
Fear runs through their heads
adrenaline unleashes
pacing back and forth
frightened is all they feel
footsteps fade away…
— Reagan Rawlins
Too Deep
I have no ideas
Human nature is too deep
Stick with vegetables.
— Tirzah Schanding