Jordan-Small Middle School is proud of young published poets by Lorraine Glowczak

Five Jordan-Small Middle School eighth graders reached for a dream and have landed upon the stars of published poets.  The students entered their poems into a contest hosted by Creative Communications, a publishing company that encourages and promotes writing among youth. They competed against many other contestants along the Eastern Region and were recently selected as winners. Their poetry will be published in a hard-bound collection of poems from students nationwide.

“These students are dedicated to the craft of writing,” stated Patricia Valley, eighth grade English and Social Studies teacher. Valley also explained that some students would spend time after school on their own volition, to work on their projects, making sure to do the best of their ability.

Although it is unclear whether these now published poets will continue on in this form of creative endeavor, they certainly are happy to have been selected.

“As a result of entering into this contest, I can see myself writing poetry in the future,” stated student Emma Taggart.

L to R Vania Murch, Molly Cochrane, Emma Taggart were available the day of the interview to discuss their future as poets

Another poet, Molly Cochrane said, “I can see myself doing this not as an occupation but as a side creative pastime.”

“I don’t really know what I plan to do,” stated poet Vania Murch, “But I am keeping my possibilities open.”

Whether or not these eighth grade poets will make a life-time commitment to the craft of writing, it will certainly contribute to their future in many ways. “They can use these poetry writing publications as part of their application process to college,” explained Valley.

Below are the students’ published poems. Some of the authors were inspired to write about what they recently learned during a unit of study on the holocaust while some chose to write about other subjects such a bullying.

Never Forget by Emma Taggart

You were stripped of your freedom

Your family

Everything you had

But you didn’t give up

You fought for freedom

Your life

And for love

Even when fear knocked on your door

And when fear kicked it down

And even when death snuck in on people’s lives

You tried to get a grip on hope

Even when hope was fading away

No Jew was safe

But you kept fighting

You didn’t believe in failure

You were strong

Even in the hardest times

And that was part of the reason why you are still alive

Be the Light

By Molly Cochrane

The smallest acts of kindness can help no matter how small or large

Be the light in another’s eyes

Help the ones who need it most

Give a sandwich

Lend a hand

No matter how big or small

If one survives and live to tell, we all do

Bring the stories with you

You are the voice

We are the listeners

The photo boxes with the pictures of the people without names

Are forgotten but somehow not

Now we all know

The stories we tell have to live on

Because if not who knows what will happen

Nobody

And that’s the problem

We don’t know

We can’t

How could we?

Live on

Tell the stories

Lend a hand

Be the light in someone’s eyes

They and I

By Reese Merritt

They had power, and I did too,

They had strength, and I did too,

They had weapons, and I did too,

They were cruel, and I was not.

The one difference between us,

Defined us, and it unquestionably decided the gap between us,

This one difference would break into microscopic puzzle pieces,

The will to hate, torture, suffocate and kill.

The one difference between us,

Told our stories, and it unquestionably decided the love between us,

I love the Jews and they did not,

I love the Americans and they did not

I love the ones who helped and they did not.

We were unalike,

Nazi Germany and I, the U.S.A.

Hope is Stronger than Fear

By Nicole Levine

When all humanity is lost

And disintegrates into survival,

All we have left is who surrounds us.

When it’s all over,

Maybe we can forgive,

But can we forget?

The Holocaust is a scar made on humanity

This scar reminds us of horrifying things,

And of unity.

Countries of different races

And religions came together to fight a common enemy.

The pitch, black, darkness, suddenly filled with light.

Looking back now

Heroes who saved lives inspire

To do good,

To do better

They remind us of the truth

Hope is stronger than fear.

Be True

By Vania C. Murch

Don’t be a bully,

You’ll hurt them fully.

I understand you are upset,

BUT that doesn’t mean you can make them fret.

You never know,

You may put them down too low.

Maybe someday you’ll be their friend,

It’s not the end.

You can be twice as awesome,

Just like a blossom.

I hope you aren’t too bad,

That would make them sad.

Please be considerate of them,

Maybe give them a piece of gum.

Maybe just a smile.

It won’t even take a mile.

If you have nothing nice to say,

Wait till the next day.

Invite them to hang out with you,

And BE TRUE.