“Write a poem that is written in somewhat the same way as ‘I Heard a Fly Buzz’; that is, write about something that is terribly significant to you--the end of the world, the beginning of the world, your death, your birth--and in the same poem write about something that is very insignificant--a leaf dropping, the sound of a footstep, the telephone ringing, combing your hair. Don‘t say what your emotions are, and don’t try to make an obvious connection between what is important and what isn’t. Let them simply be happening at the same time: ‘I heard something drop when the world began.’ It may help if you think of it all as having happened a long time ago--if you’re thinking of another century, you can probably calmly and objectively imagine both a rose blooming and a volcano erupting. Great distances of time and space make everything begin to even out.
“Try using very short lines and very simple words. Use dashes and extra capital letters if they seem inspiring.”
--from Kenneth Koch and Kate Farrell’s Sleeping on the Wing (Vintage, 1981).
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I felt a leaf drop–at the world's demise
the dissonance and similarity
was solid enough to cut
between the lines of the orchestra
The tree all-feeling
was cut to the trunk
the fire and heat
giving it a flaming coffin
The last will and testament of Gaia
mother nature and jack frost
left people nothing
but its memories in the dead.
in the essence of the moment
the little leaf stood still
unaware of the discord 'round and then
nothing. --J.A.C.
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I watched a leaf drop—when I took my last breath—
the stillness in the air
reminded me of an empty space out of nowhere
between the earth and space.
The problem is—I trust people too easily—
at the end they turn out to be different.
I watched the sun set—as I spent my last 20 minutes —
I regret everything I did not do.
Take a chance.
You never know what will happen
I watched the last flower grow—as I breathed the fresh air—
it’s ironic how depressed people
are the ones who understand the value of happiness more
than the people who claim to be happy.
I remember what you did before—you were after me—
you chased me with knives
when I mistook them for roses
As I look at the world—for the last time—
for all this is worth,
we shall not dare to rest
before we have filled our hearts and heads with love
and worked our fingers to the last bone. --B.B.
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I saw the sun set- when the world stopped,
The golden shine reflecting off the ocean.
It reminded me of the day it began,
When it rose for the very first time.
My father was passing slowly.
Day by day it got worse.
Finally, his soul decided
He couldn’t stand it anymore, so he left us.
Since that very day, it was like the world ending--
Because nothing would ever be the same.
That very night, when I was sitting on the cliff top,
and when the sun was setting, I felt something soft
brush past me--an airy embrace. --S.B.
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I heard the birds chirp.
Almost like complete silence,
Complete silence like the darkness.
I heard the rain.
I felt the rain.
It felt familiar,
Like blood pouring down.
I saw a car,
Driving fast.
Like a jet.
Like death.
Blue is opposite,
Opposite of red.
Blue is cold.
Red is warm.
Warm like blood,
Cold like ice.
Death.
Death is loud,
Death is silent,
Death is colourful,
Death is anything it wants to be. --I.C.
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There were footsteps.
My mother would put on her hair dryer.
I heard them from afar.
Whenever I were to cry,
I couldn’t see.
I liked that white noise.
I hated that noise!
I knew it was the end.
I cried.
The footsteps got closer.
I still don’t understand what that weird noise was....
I took a deep breath.
I didn’t understand what was going on.
If only I’d known that breath was my last
(Everyone was looking at me),
I wouldn’t have continued to try.
It was so loud.
I stopped trying and accepted it.
I can now remember the day I came into this world,
It was my end.
I was small. --C.D.
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I hear a scream,
Loud and silent,
While I watch the leaves fall.
I hear the scream go on and on.
She has died.
Everyone one is crying.
I sit here twiddling my thumbs, not giving a thought about it.
People, they have feelings. People care.
I don't understand why they do.
I watch the leaves fall as I hear everyone crying,
Crying as loud as a lion’s roar all together.
I like her but not that much.
I care about her a little but not a lot.
I should care about her, but I don’t because she wasn't a
good person sometimes.
She was mean and cruel on occasion.
But at the same time she was my friend.
We would watch the rain fall slowly from the sky.
Every drop of rain, different sizes.
Watching each one is tiring. --R.E.
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The last thing I heard—was my dog—
I couldn’t feel—anything—
When I died—The sound of it—
As if I am supposed to go—
Was like happiness—but still—
Everything moves out of my way—
Between my dog and me—
As I go up—to light—
As I watch the sadness—in him—
I see Green everywhere—
I couldn’t feel—anything—
As I watch sad and sorrowful—
His breath was heavy—strong—
It is as if—I am nothing—
He witnessed—my death—
As I go away—I’m Floating— --M.F.
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He put on a Sweater--
Although he was not cold--
To Cover the Stained shirt--
Yet the stain was still there.
Once he was home--
Feeling cozy and Warm--
He took the shirt--
And tried to Wash the Stain away.
But he used Steel wool--
Boy--what a big Mistake
He Threw the shirt away--
And the sweater--stayed. --J.H.
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I was Called over when my Life was set in Motion--
The scene that was Projected
A swaying Slide was the Notion
And how that Reflected
A great Migration--
How the Three could be so Connected
From My own Nation--
Coming from them no one Expected
Saved me from My Own Devastation
So Different were they I had never seen such Things
I Arrived to a Great Sensation--
United over Three Strings
That United me and Another from the same Location
Three Kings. --C.M.
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I heard a leaf fall--As I swam
And I could see again--
The gentle splash in the pool--
And then the wind blew me from the dark.
It was as if I was in the ocean--
Between the darkness and myself--
On a peaceful sunny day--
With Black, blue and shades of purple, A quiet hum--
All of my energy--all wrung dry--
I found the darkness
And all--gathering around the school--
Then It happened--I found the end--
The onset of suffering, when she came--
Could I make it to the end--is there an end--
As fast as the wind
When would I stop, would I stop--
I willed my boundaries, as I swam. --L.M.
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I hear car noises and alarms
A Moment of peace--realization
I hear the quick footsteps
Blue eyes glazing around
The noise, the rush
I’m waiting for the world
Blurred sight through the wall
The world, waiting for me
I see the bright light
Blood rushing through veins
The first breath of fresh air
First thought--first move --J.R.
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Oh no there he comes
the king of thy castle
The fresh blue flowers
the beast of Ogdentown
the beast of Ogdentown
The fresh blue flowers
the king of thy castle
Here he comes as the people of Ogdentown cheer
in thy ghastly Forest
as the beast grows stronger
lies a cute dog
the dog grows ill
with vicious teeth
as the beast bows--to the king
that lives in thy castle
The dog rules the castle --S.T.
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I see a girl way down below
Jump up and down in the meadow.
As I watch her play,
The sky goes gray.
I watch in terror
As I spot something larger
Than a human error.
As the great hovercrafts descend,
Struck with panic the people freeze,
Stopped by the sound of bees.
Thousands of voices strike out in fear
And are silenced, right here. --M.V.G.
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The Hatching Reformation
The egg moves, the love quakes
Two anxious hearts, they separate
Every crack on the egg--so slight
Was like the couple having another fight
As time ticks by, the two hearts grew cold,
The chick within--so eager and bold
Numbness--all they felt upon another
The chick--ever so strong- will soon meet life
Parting--Inevitable--As they leave each other
With broken hearts and broken promises
Blue--heartbreak--changes them forever
Until the egg has cracked in pieces
New Life--The exciting squeaks
In this exciting new possession--they rise
the darkness fades as the sun comes up
Born or reborn--We live --B.W.
SLEEPING ON THE WING Poems 2013-2014 (Grade Eight): Gerard Manley Hopkins
SLEEPING ON THE WING Poems 2013-2014 (Grade Eight): Gerard Manley Hopkins
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