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POEMS, 1980

ARKANSAS POETRY-IN-THE-SCHOOLS

Poetry-in-the-Schoolsi s a joint project ofThe National Endowment for the ArtsThe Arkansas Arts CouncilandThe University of Arkansas, Fayettevil leand i s staffed by members of the Universi ty 'sProgram in Creative Writing

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Betsy AdamsWilliam BowieCindy ChinellyKim ConnellHolly DunnSally EveridgeFrank GaikDan GarverBuffa HanseJohn Randall HartJohn HawWilliam HowellJoe JacksonHolly Hunt KostCarl LaniusJim LipscombDoyle MartinCharlotte Mears

THE STAFF

Visiting PoetsMike MelneckKaren OsborneGailmarie PahmeierKatie PauleyRobert RickertDavid SandersTom SauretCamilla SemelsbergerFrank SoosKaren SteinerLeon StokesburyJohn StossHobart TaylorJeffrey TaylorRobert TimbermanJohn VanNoateCraig WeedenPaulette WeinstockPaul Williams

AdministrationCharlotte Mears, Co-DirectorJeffrey Taylor, Co-DirectorJames Whitehead, CoordinatorJohn Clellon Holmes, ConsultantMiller Williams, Consultant

Anthology edited by:Jeffrey TaylorCharlotte Mears

Cover design by:Robert Grim

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WHAT THEY TELL ME AT HORSE SCHOOLDon't never stop running.

This poem, a group ef fo r t of the second graders of EastElementary School in Paragould, demonstrates the way youngpeople can make discover ies in language--and l iving--when theyhave the chance to play with words. In spi te of thegrammatical "error" (and perhaps, in par t , because of i t ) ,there i s as much of poetry in these two l ines as one i s apt tofind in two l ines of student writ ing anywhere. The s t a f f ofArkansas Poetry-in-the-Schools take seriously the advice of thepoet Paul Valery to " in i t ia te other minds into a universe oflanguage tha t i s not the common system for exchanging signs foracts or ideas."To tha t end, we have vis i ted, th is year, 45 Arkansas publicschools--10,000 school children--and more than 150 classroomteachers , whose often di f f icu l t task of introducing youngpeople to poetry we hope we have made eas ier . Each two-dayv i s i t included readings and discussions of poems and poeticdevices and workshop sessions in which students t r i ed the i rhands a t poems of the i r own. In addition, the s t a f f havet r i ed to take advantage of the opportunity to exchange, withclassroom teachers, ideas about the teaching of poetry andinformation about resources, both l i t e rary and instruct ional .Our intention has never been to turn students into poets ,as i f we had some magic to do so. We hope, instead, tha t ourvis i t s have helped students become bet ter readers of poems andbet ter users of language and have introduced them to differentand refreshing ways of perceiving the world. We have not beendisappointed. The best of the i r perceptions f i l l the seventypages following.We would l ike to express our sincere thanks to the followingindividuals, whose specia l help has turned our work to pleasure1Ms. Janice Meggers of the Arkansas Arts Council; Dr. DonOusterhout, Director of Research and Sponsored Programs,University of Arkansas, and his ass i s tan t Dr. Jane Treat; Mr.

David Paul of Research Accounting, University of Arkansas;Dr. Ben Kimpel and Dr. Leo VanScyoc of the English Department;and Rhonda Benish, also of the English Department, for herabi l i ty to turn a gray day sunny.JTFayet tevi l le , June 1980

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Arkansas Poetry-in-the-Schools Project

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ATKINS HIGH SCHOOLRULES FOR DRINKING DARKNESSPour it into your cup of night .Do not exceed the capacity.Drink up slowly.Serve only with death.

--Kathy McClendonHate sounds l ike a baby crying in a blender.

--Karen PowersHATE

I t long, big mouthmoves l ike jel lo across the f loorit eyes red l ights in the night .

--Liz Buchanan

DRY TEARSI see the barn burning in the rain.I see the sun shining l ike a halo over the barn.I see no more clouds in the sky.I see my yard as dry as my face.

--Jeanine SmithRULES FOR CHANGING CLASSES1. Make a zig-zag l ine of your next class.2. Push and shove( i f injured you must have insurancebecause the school i s not responsible)J. Run as hazardly as possible,do not walk.4. The ha l l must be fu l l whentardy bel l r ings, empty when

it stops. Lying in the ha l ltrampled i s prohibited.--Shelia Cunningham

Hate i s l ike an empty suitcase.--George Barber

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AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL

UNTITLEDI s i t a t a rounded deskvery much l ike the rounded deskI sa t a t 10 years ago.I work very much l ike I worked10 years ago--every day--same thing.I am a worker. I was a student.I have accomplished and a l lthat I have achievedwil l soon be l e f t behind.I once was a ci rc le .I am now a l ine .

--Anon.

Fear - - sounds l ike a bomb tha t does not go off--Tony Richardson

UNTITLEDLove tas tes l ike worn out shoesLove smells l ike a clothes hamperLove looks l ike a chicken coopLove sounds l ike a flushing commodeLove feels l ike the crumbs in the bed.

--Anon.

School desk - - cockpit to education--Anon.

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BATESVILLE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

BEHIND MY EYELIDSI t was dark, and coldThis place I visi ted .There was no noiseto hear.Colors f loated aroundl ike knowing not whereto go.

--Karen Huff

DEPRESSIONOn a cold, gray, rainy day the g i r l sa teating toasted turnip sandwichesDropping crumbs on the okra-green sheetsbranded "H"And thinking of the desolate igloos in my mind.

ME, MYSELF AND IMe s i t s beside a smallstump on a spring day.Listening to the bluebirdsa tree away.Myself l i e s in a f ie ldof t a l l grain.Watching clouds f loa tbyI rides a bay paliminoalong a brook.Feeling the mist brushher face.

--Karen Huff

--Michele Holland

SQUIRRELThe gun f iredThe Squirrel f e l l from the t reeI t lay there l i fe l essBlood a l l around itForgive meBut you tasted so goodSo crispSo hot.

--Randy Whiteaker

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HAIKU

BENTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOLTHE FAIRHerds of people gathered in acorralThey run here and there l ikescared animalsHuge wheels roar high inthe a irColored clouds on white st ickslaughtercryingscreamsvoicesNight approaches and thebright l ights send flamesinto darkness.

--Kerri RashUNTITLEDThey slammed the l id on meoBuried me near the earthwormsBefore I l e f t . I was t ied with ropesThrown to l ions with muzzles.One person 's eyes were gone.Her f ingers clasped a hanky.The sun shone bright on a faceWho stayed for jus t a minute.My body's gone forever, but I shal l soon re turn.The memory of me i s l ike a wingless birdFall ing from i t s nest .

--Gail Gray

The black and brown deskHolding crea t iv i ty Untit ledUp off of the f loor .

--Galen McCarty Poetry i s the death ofa blank sheet of paperand the cleansing ofyour mind.--Galen McCarty

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THE SCRIM DOORA wooden f loorsurrounded by long dingy blackdrapeswooden frameswith muslin stretched t igh t .Here I l iveinhaling hair spraymy eyes caked heavy.Blinding l igh tsi l luminate the room.I s i t .I wait,unt i l the r igh t moment.I movewith a di f feren t body.I speak.The voice i s not my ownsounding l ike an Enlishwomanwith her best years gone.There's a gununder my pillow.I take i t ,holding it a t arm's length.He can ' t see melooking through the crackin the door.My palms sweatingwith ant ic ipat ion.An explosion and sparks,he i s dead.A sigh of re l i e f .I t i s over.He stands,takes my hand.He i s no longerthe intruder.

--Laurie Williams

MEMORIESHANGING IN THE CLOSETMy prom, the peach sat in dressand the s tain of punch onthe ski r t .My f i r s t date , the pant su i t wi

a r ip over the shoulder anmud s tain around the hemof the pants.My wedding, the white lace dresand vei l with the stainsof champagne.My husband, a black pin s tr ipesu i t with the shoulderhanging limply fromthe hanger the l a s t of thet rousers crumpled onthe f loor .My husband's funeral, the blacklace dress with rain stainmore darkly aroundthe shoulders than the hemMy l i f e .--Cindy Adams

THE POETRY ORGANSome l ines are black.These l ines may be f l a t or sharSome l ines are white.These l ines are not f la t orsharp.These l ines are just r ight .Both of these l ines togetherMay sound good.I t makes a sound.This sound i s music.This music i s in a box.The black and white l ines

are on the box.A music box.- -Lisa Kaiser

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BOOKER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL--LITTLE ROCK

I

Swam through the ocean without get t ing wetwalked through he l l and didn ' t even sweat,Walked the water, t ied the wind, made the t rees bowl ike men.

--Ricky

UNTITLEDI 'm r iding my bikewith my eyes closed,the sun i s beating downon my shoulders.I don' t care that there arerocks in f ront of me.I don' t care i f people laugha t me and say"Look a t her, she has her eyes closed,she might crash!"I don' t care because my mindhas i t s own eyes to see my way.I can enjoy my l i fe withouta shadow covering my sun.

--Stacy Blackburn

THE STARSI found thousands of big l ightsBigger than meThose huge l igh tsare jus t l i t t l e twinkles in the skyhigh aboveThat l i t t l e thing Those l i t t l e things

--Brad Lee

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I KNOWI know why the bird f l i e s throughthe sky.I know the lamp post on the lonelycorner by the house.I know why the gui tar s t r ing vibra teswhen strummed with the f ingers .

--Hank Bates

DREAMSI dreamed tha t my f r iend washanged by the neck un t i l deadI dreamed I screamed andyelled "Daddy"I dreamed daddy cut herdown and she had turned intoa plas t ic dol lI dreamed tha t af te r welooked a t her he threw herawayI f e l t so sorry fo r my f r iendI dreamed my other f r iendlaughed a t meI dreamed I ki l led myother f r iend fo r laughing

--Paula Bradford

UNTITLEDI know tha t the old man i s dyingI know tha t the ca t had her ki t tensI know tha t when I die I am not goingI know tha t old woman who had a hear tI know the man who had it

to heavenat tack

I know when the sun r i ses in the morning--Edward Dickerson

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BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL RESOURCE CENTERCATFISHINGI . The Kil lCaught on a t rout l ineStick a knife through h is skul l .My grandfather took a hammerand h i t one on the head.You can blow him r ight through the a i r .Reach inside with needlenose p l ie r sand grab 'em by the gizzardr ip it out.I I . Best DaysOn Friday, early mornings

When your mother gets you up to get readyfor school, you sneak out back,into the shed to get your favori tecatf ish pole.Then without get t ing caught,You go to the best p lace-The government stock pondor you wear tennis shoesand walk down the middle of the r iver .I I I . While You're Waiting for a BiteYou grab a beer out of the ice chestor watch g i r l s going swimmingwith no clothes on across the way.Maybe set up your pole and go to sleepGet dad to ignore his pole and youtake his catch, ca l l it your own.

--Group PoemTHE DATEDo you know what a da te ' s l ike?Fi r s t thing, he 's l a te .You have to s t a r tthe conversation.He jus t drives.You have to wrestle him downand kiss him.He says, "What was that for?"

--Robyn PattersonWISDOM FROM FRANKOne man s kinki s another man's key.

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YO-YO, THE LADY TRUCKERShe's got long, brown hair ,about 5'8" ,got hands l ike a gor i l la ,mean as a junkyard dog.She can drive l ike any man.She was named Yo-Yoby her fa ther becausehe gave her a handleand she bounced up and downon the a ir r i se seats .She had a waterbed in the sleeperthat held 1,500 gal lons.She did a lo tShe was an Asphalt Princess .

--Roy Josl inJackie ClarkSOME OF THE DARKEST THINGSRoyal blue thread.A darkroom.A drive-in movie.Mystery.Leon punching me in the mouth.An overdose.An empty pocket,A lo t of school work.Someones mad eyes.

--Group PoemTHE PARTS STOREI t ' s boring s i t t ing behind the counterwaiting for customers to come in .Last winter, we bu i l t a snowmanAnd gave him a NAPA capto put on his ice head.I t ' s boring to get ready fo r the day.We have to put par ts up and go through the receip ts .Often we play f r isbee, throw dar tsshoot BB guns.The snowman melted; we gavethe cap away.

--Todd Burns

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LOVE POEMChildren coming out of the i r mothers .The look of contentment in her eyes .A cold glass of coke ,so sweetbut i t can burn a hole clearthrough you.I t makes sharon go blind .I t makes you hear radio waves,a whistling .I t can smell l ike cedar burningI t can work l ike a well-oiled machine .

--No-Go Group PoemHOW NOT TO WRITE A POEMKeep quietMove out of the roomhide , don ' t daydreamtear up the papereat i tswallow it , go to the bathroomtear pens updon ' t invi te the poetsget ar thr i t i sstop believingthink of sleep .

--Group PoemI FEEL MOST UGLYWhen the phone rings a t 4 a .m.When I wake up in the morning .When I just get home af ter a 2 keg beer party .When I look in the mirror.When I r ide my motorcycle down the road.

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When I ' m a t basketball practice ; when I'm sweaty .When I ' ve said something that ' s hurt someone ' s feelings .When the lab techni cian hi ts the bone .- -Group Poem

MOUSTACHE :A broom for steak .

--Anon.

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BUTTERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--FAYETTEVILLE

I WISHI wish I was the sunso I could threaten togo out unt i l the worldstraightened up.

--Christy Cowan

SINGINGThe chi ldren are singingthe i r mouths open l ike sleepy f ishour teacher conducting the classwaving her arms l ike a rhyme in waterThe gi r l s sing highour ears ring for sweetnessListeners stand dazzling amazement

--Jim Koehn

INSIDE OF A. Inside of the soul of a shoethere are many people runningfor the i r l i fe .

--Lisa Knowles

I SAWI saw some salted peanuts in a bowlThen the next thing I knew my mouth was dry

--Candy CainPENCILInside of a pencili s writer ' s cramp.

--Randy Green

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ONE SPRING DAYone spring daythere was two boys f lying ki tesone boy's ki te f ly awaythen he star ted to cryBut the other l i t t l e boy gave h is ki teto the l i t t l e boyoThe flowers were out.They smelled so good .

--Donnie

THE FEEL POEM

As I sa t in the cold chi l ly houseI f e l t the earth rota te l ikea huge yo-yo. Then I ran l ikea cloud ro l l ing down a h i l l .Then I flew into the heavensand cr ied. Now a t midnight youcan feel me grabbing a t youremotions.- -Dallas Bowerman

PURPLE FROGSI wish I could seethe purple frogI dreamed aboutl a s t nightI wish I could see

it f lyingRound and roundthe yard .Then take me toa far-off landwhere a l l purplefrogs l ive ,Where I could becrowned Queen ofPurple Frogs tol ive and l ive and l ive .- -Kris t i Davenport

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CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL--LITTLE ROCK

NIGHTMAREThere was the dark-haired guyI loved but I didn ' t :the only chain with the rea l worldjust within my grasp.I kept him in a hollowtree where the sandburied him & buried himas he slowly shrank with death.I popped his head off& put it in my l e f t cheekas a remembranceof my ac t of jealousy.When the lady dressed in whiteasked i f she might check the knot in my cheek,I ran crying to the moundsof broken building & di r t .I pulled the bulgewith the long hairout & hurled i t , hoping i twould remain where it landed.After an eterni tythe balded man on the yellow machinestopped for lunch.As he b i t in to his sandwich,he heard a squeak:the squish of brains beneath gnashing teeth.

--Lesl ie Mears

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THREE WAYS OF LOOKING AT A DOORKNOB1. A room fu l l of people1s due to a doorknob.2. An inside and an outsidei s due to a doorknob .J. Things are kept inand things are kept out .A ce l l membrane i s l ike a doorknob.

- -Sonya Coleman

UNTITLEDI used to be the kind of g i r l( th is may come as some surprise)Who f e l l in love with every guyWho passed before her eyes .Thinking every princeWould my eternal partner be ,Wondering why not even oneCould be the one for me .But now I have found the one who i s ,Who has what a l l I lack ."He ' s mine ! He ' s mine ! He ' s mine ! " says the sea ,And I wil l not throw him back .

Anon .

TODAYYesterday , we were chinadolls in a littl e cabinet ,playing in Mommy ' s

make - up & wear i ng herheels ; spi l l ing ChanelNo . 5 & giving spectacularhaircuts .But now we have growninto the people we havealways wanted to be . Andwe s t i l l , on occasion , spillChanel & give absolutelyspectacular haircuts .Anon .

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CLOVERDALE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL--LITTLE ROCK

ENVYEnvy is when your worst enemy i ss i t t ing in a bathtub f i l led with goldAnd you lack an inch being able toreach out and get some fo r yourself .

--Roger Davenport

UNTITLED

HetappedWhen I was born the doctorsaid sorry dad i t ' s a gi r l .picked me up by the leg andme on the rear . I said heyyour problem hi t t ing a g i r l doc whatdown there.

--Anon.

YELLOWYellow is l ike a sandy beachor the blazing sun on a clearday, most of a l l yellow remindsme of the blonde gi r l tha tl ives down the s t ree t ;

--Anon.

A SHARK

UNTITLEDGreen i s l ikea fish in thebrook tha tdaddy caughtwith a hookand mommyfr ied him ina pan, babyate him l ikea man.

--Anon.

I am big and swim around in theocean. I eat men and f ish al ike.I am considered teethy.--Anon.

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COLLEGE HILL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL--TEXARKANA

A DAYDREAMI can hear the birds singingl ike music from a jewelry box,the wind blowing l ike an a i r conditionerof fresh a i r .The sky i s blue as the wallsin my room.I can see myselfin the green grass,just lying there l i s teningto the birds,looking a t the s la te sky.The smell of the pine t reeand the touch of the so f t green grass .

- -Chiquita Lewis

UNTITLEDI was pacing up and down the s t a i r sin ragged shoes.I picked up some paper and overheard a voice say,"I 'm feel ing sad."I sa t in the corner and watched twodogs eat .There was a smell of sardinesand I f e l t the paper l ike potatoesin my hands while I just sa t there.

- -Lisa Jackson

UNTITLEDI could see people passing notesl ike old coons t ryingto get in the top of a t reeand see people peckmy nose l ike a bul l dozerdying in the deser t .

--George Edwards

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CROSSETT HIGH SCHOOLONLY A RING?I hope your gold banded blue stoned r ing,

tha t denied Shakespeare's time only bythe Class of 80 inscribed on i t ,that f i t ted my f inger with the helpof a Dr. Scholl 's corn pad and f i r s t aid tapeDid not represent our love,since when I threw it a t you l a s t nightI missed and it h i t the windowof your old blue Chevy truckupsetting the smoothnessof both the window and the blue stone.--Roxanne Ross

UNTITLEDBroken echoes of a shattered laughterBounce off the blank walls of the crypt.Their pieces dance in the dusk Until they find an abode.Their home i s made on the ancient surfaceof the November-grey granite .The stone i s cold from a l l the pasttears tha t have been wept above i t .Cold, from reaping the wet-eyed skies 'endless tears .I t sinks into the ear th ' s dark,dank womb in search of warmth,As the day sl ides into the night A shimmering s i lver sky dancerappears to rel ieve the bloody sunAnd somewhere, in an undetermined distancecrickets send up the i r pleas for rain.One lone figure si lhouettes the lonely shadows-The gardener? His hands are soiledfrom fresh red clay as he begins the operation

From the earth 's womb is borna t ime-riddled urn,Minus a broken laugh .Jane Watson

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DANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

PARTYI am f i l thy r ich, and it's my partyThe strange magician i sShowing how to freak out.The things tha t ' s going tohappen, you won't want to miss.How about flying to the moon?We can go on a hayride downWall Street .We can order a Mercedesin downtown Scruff .Let ' s go streaking throughthe Metropolitan Museum .I f you real ly want to do carzythings, come with me.Cause I'm f i l thy r ich, andI t ' s my party.I'll do anything and everythingI want.

--Becky Mcinturf

FIDDLESIn the room I see a boy with a knife ,

A big man,and his l i t t l e wife.

The boy whitt les .The man s tares .The wife i s fixing f iddles .

--Eric Beam

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THE SEA

DARDANELLE UPPER MIDDLE SCHOOL

RULES FOR EATING AN ICE CREAM CONEFi r s t you pick a kind of ice creamYou do not l ike . Then you eat it slowlySo tha t it wil l melt a l l over you.Wait un t i l it's nice and st ickyAnd put your hands on someoneYou love.

--Karen Harris

The sea i s a deep aquatic blue-greenWhile jus t below the wavy surface l i es the colorfu l coral reef .The dingy white gul l f l i es low.--Trevor Bowman

HOW YOU CAN TELL YOU'RE IN DARDANELLEA dead dog beside the roadA mall they haven ' t s tar tedThe sky i s blue

--Derek Woods

RULES FOR SLEEPING UNDER A CARl i s t en to the dogs barkwatch the grass growwatch the people walk on the sidewalkl i s t en fo r the car to s t a r t

--Derek Woods

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DUMAS HIGH SCHOOLUNTITLEDHe walks to the cabineteveryday at th is timeand gets a glass fu l lof ice then he poursthe tea walks to thetable and s i t s downthen he s t a r t s h islong process ofputt ing sugar inand mixing it upI t seems as thoughhe would s t i r foreverunless I t e l l him tostop.

--Anon.

AUTOBIOGRAPHYIn the middle of Dumas in the middle of Main StreetMy mother was born.In the middle of a ditchMy fa ther was born.At the foot of my mother I was bornOn a rainy night in October.My fa ther a r ice farmer.My mother a house wife.I wanted to be a cowboy and r ide on the rangeBut now there i s no range.When I was l i t t l eI f e l l out of my fa ther 8 s new bass boatBut now I can swim.I 've had a couple of wrecksSome bad t i cke tsAnd a marvelous new truck.Now I 've got a cop l iving acrossThe s t r ee t who gives me a warningFrom time to time .

- -Ceci l

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EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--PARAGOULDFOURTH-GRADE MONSTERHead tha t ' s f l a t l ike an elephant ear.Two coconut eyes, orange-colored.Mouth with inner-tube l ips .Banana eyebrows.Ten-foot legs with 16 feet , purple.Body l ike a meatball.Earthworms for hair .Battery brain powers l ightbulb nose,charged up by st icking h is f inger in h is ear,which i s a sponge.His tongue i s made out of soap.Cheeks made out of wagon wheels.Umbrella arms help him f ly .

--Group Poem

GETTING THE MESSAGEUse a pink telephone.Put in a dime.When it reaches the spot,it's a telegraph.He l ikes you.So you ca l l himand he changes into a spaceshipand f l i es away.I never saw him again.

--Linda Whitworth

GETTING INTO THINGSI was a gun,then I turned into my fa ther ' s son,then I changed into a f i re tha t i sthen I changed into a purple f ish.

--Robbie Mullins

burning,

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THE PROBLEMS OF BEING MEMy head always f lops aroundevery time I drink something.Yuck!Monkeys are always eating my eyebrowsand I hate the color orange.And I hate putting my f ingers in my ears-it hurts my ears .And every Sunday I hate shining my shoes.I hate asking the storekeeperfo r worm hairwash.

--Don Bradley

WHAT THEY TELL ME AT HORSE SCHOOLDon't never stop running.

--2nd-Grade Group Poem

MONSTER DREAMIn my dreamI saw somebody eating my eyes.I heard my ears cracking,smelled my dir ty fee t .I tasted my heart .I touched somebody f i l l ing myrump with garbage.I f e l t my arms in an ocean.

--Tara Johnson

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FORDYCE MIDDLE SCHOOLDELOISDelois i s my s i s te r .She smells l ike sweet honestyand she looks l ike a queen.She feels l ike a sof t couch. Her mouthtas tes sweet as ice cream in the morning.She can hear be t te r than an old person.

- -Will ie Ruth WatkinsDUCK WHO SMOKED A CIGARI was f ishing a smalllake and saw a duckwho was smoking acigar I dropped in for acloser look the duck sawme and he dropped thecigar in the small pond.He said are you goingto k i l l me I said i f Idid you might k i l l meso you wil l have your revengeso the score would be

THE DAILY INSIDE FREEWAYMonday I am a deadbird with my headlightsshut and then mom wakes

2

evensomething to remember me up I say put t -put t -put t -put t .I go 90 miles a minutenever k i l l a duck tha tsmoked a cigar

just to get to schoolput t -pu t t -pu t t -pu t t runover everyone and knockdown everyone's books.--Anon. They look a t me and say"RoadHog" not knowing I am

UNTITLEDI saw a manwho had a pouch,I to ld him tha t

a bird .

he should share i t ,he said o.k. andgave me a plugof Levi Garre t t--Kevin Kaeton

--Stacey Pooney

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FORDYCE HIGH SCHOOL

UNTITLEDIn the early springI grew up from the earthI watched the clockfor the time.The winter came andsomehow the clock stoppedI star ted witheringslowly to the groundThe greenish coloronce in me hadslowly turned to graythen yellow. I witheredto the ground and waitedonly a few days to die.

--Tracy Stephens

A VALENTINEYou are l ike a rock to me.you never say helloThe only thing you've ever saidto me was maybe bye, or a small sigh.And yet I s t i l l l ike you though younever do.

--Jay Knickerbocker

RANDYYou are sweet l ike candyYou are sexy as a red roseYou mean more to me than Corn FlakesAnd you know how I feel about those.

--Lisa G. Stewart

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HARRISON HIGH SCHOOLSTEW OF MY DESPAIRWhat shal l we put into i t?tear saucegolden f r ied sorrowbaked mourningOn what sha l l we cook i t ?horse eyescowboys' gunshotthe top of a towerWhat do you think it wil l tas te l ike?the smell of sweet flowersthe tas te of a beer burpthe bottom of a swampWhat in the world sha l l we ea t it with?the root of a dead cedar treethe s t inger in a bumble beethe gear sh i f t in a truck

--Dorinda Tigg

DEAR ANNDear Ann,My husband i s absolutely impossible to l ivewith. Every week he smashes a new hole in the cei l ingwhen he f l ies out of here. I can ' t even use thebathroom in privacy. He's always staring through thewalls with tha t x-ray vision. We could be r ight in themiddle of a conversation and i f he heard a "Hark" downthe s t ree t he would f ly out of here. When we'rewalking down the s t ree t , he 's always t rying to undressin every phone booth he sees. He won't even keep asteady job. He's been f ired from every newspaperbecause he 's never around to cover the big story. Ithink he 's having an affair . What should I do?Divorce him or hide those s i l ly t ights of his?

Sincerely,Clark Kent's WifeDear Wife,Your guess i s as good as mine. He sounds out ofth is world,

- -Phi l l ip Grigsby

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UNTITLEDI see the grey-moistened hi l l s rol l ing away in

the ra in .I see the old mama cat , skinny, going to her l a s tl i t t e r of ki t tens .

I see the barn 's roof i s s t i l l leaking and the fencearound the chicken pen gapes open.

I see the f l a t t i re on tha t lonely t rac tor .I see water dripping from the clothesl ine to the

shaggy yard.Now I can paint the l iving room blue.

--Thelma Brisco

UNTITLEDI wil l forget a l l the people in thisworld tha t hate me.I wil l forget about a l l the schools Ihave been to , even the one I graduatein .I wil l forget how the weatherchanges.I wil l forget most of the teachersI have had.I wil l forget my childhood.I wil l forget the time becauseI wil l not need it any more.

--Nancy Smith

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UNTITLED

HOLMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--STUTTGARTUNTITLEDI went to sleep in a classroomThen I noticed I was the classroomA teacher put things on me.Then I was the teacher.The teacher got apaddle.And I was the paddle,And got someone beat,Then I was the someoneand I said OOHII!I got to be myself.

--Blaine

Wild i s a cat UNTITLEDThat prowls a t night ,Now in a valley,Now on a height.I t claws a t the clouds,Ti l l it f ingers the i r s i lk .There i s a beautiful streamWith f ish swimming in r ings.As I s i t down,

I t laps up the dawnLike a saucer of milk.Then, chasing the s tarsTo the top of the f i r s ,Curls down fo r a napAnd purrs and purrs.

I l i s ten to the rapids pound.As the eagle soars with a sword,In the hal ls of hollowsI see big shadows.My sp i r i t s are high.I think I'm going to cryBecause I don' t want to die.--Linda Martin

L.E.R.I f e l l asleep in a penci lWhen I woke up, INoticed I was the pencil .Then I was so surprised,I called an ambulance.Then I noticed I was the ambulance.I was so surprised, Iwent to ca l l my mother,Then I noticed I was my mother.The next morning I went to school,Then I noticed I was the schoolo

--Ben Northcutt

I was so surprised I asked the teacherTo give me homework,I became homework!--Nancy Trice

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UNTITLED

JACKSONVILLE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL--NORTHPARANOIAYou know when the dooropens and nobody i s there .I t ' s a 100 degrees and you'refreezing .You're cut t ing the grass and it inhales you .You get in the car and f l ingyou're in the showerYou wind your clock and f indyour arms broken .You cut an orange and it ' s yours is te r .

- -Anon .

My car has locked me in . I t blowing poison threw the a ir vents.The seatbel ts are squeezing me to deaf . The motor i s comethrough the f loor to get me .- - Jack Lemmer

FEARYour car t e l l you don ' t get i n . The s t r eet suck in your shoe .The dog f ix breakfast . You r sock wa l k away.

- -Kevi n Nelson

UNTITLEDWhen I'm trying to go to sleep , my cl ock is staring a t me ,the a i r i s walking noisly down the hall , the door i s openingto le t a burglar in , a l l of the pictures in my room are laughi ng ,and the bathrobe i s dressing up l ike a masked man .

--Lisa Strobbe

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McDERMOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--LITTLE ROCKCREATURE IN THE CLOSETHe f i l l s up the closetHe has black and brown furHe has claws as big as my feetHe eats clothes, shoes, ra t s ,and a i r freshenersHe scares me for funHe suffocated when I closed the door.

--2nd-Grade Group PoemUNTITLEDTornado l igh t i s dark and cloudyrain comes downtwo dogs bark and growl

--Chris

UNTITLEDA yo-yo i s l ike a sun on a str ing.

--BerendaUNTITLEDA tornado i s l ike water going down the drainor maybe it is l ike a lo t of l i eswith curls a t the end

--Michael KorenblatUNTITLEDI f I were a planeI would fly so hightha t no one could get mefrom the great quiet sky.

--Grant

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UNTITLEDI f I was a t i g rI would make a lo t s of no1se.And I would ea t meat.And I would get away.And I would go everyware.And I would have a lo t s of fun.And everyone would be afra id of me.And I would be lonely.

--Anon.

UNTITLEDI had a pet door.I kept him in a stove.He ate whales.He was green and blue.He l ived one t ime.He died from blood.

--TeresaUNTITLEDI f I were a soccer ba l lI would get a big kick out of i t .

--Alan ChristUNTITLEDI f I were an eagleI would ea t f i sh .I f I were a f ishI would eat worms.I f I were a wormI would eat di r t .

--DerrickUNTITLEDMichael i s a blue and white bird f lyinga l l night

--Aneesah

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MALVERN HIGH SCHOOLBURNING THE TRASHi s my job sincemy dad hauls itto the dumpoI separate cans fromother pieces of my l i fe .Someday, maybe I ' ll goto the dump and see whatother people wastein the i r heated redt rash barre ls .

--Natasha Cranford

BOYFRIENDSThey a l l mean well but neverquite do wellWe g i r l s hear every cliche and"l ine" in the book"You would i f you loved me " they a l lseem to sayThey only want one thing to bragto the guysOnly one thing matters to any ofthose malesI wonder how well they woulddo without usI wonder jus t how l ong theywould l a s t

- - Anon .

THE CHAIRThe Chair menaces me ,I t s legs stre tch when I s i t downmy fee t don ' t reach the f loorI t becomes thinner and makesme look fa tThe bolts in i t s back wrap up lnmy hairI t hates me , when I lean overto pick up my penci l it t ips over ,To get my revenge I ' ll never go ona die t .

- - Terr i Chennault

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UNTITLEDI dreamed the news came outThe world was going to war.I dreamed the leaders sided upOn e i ther side of a f ie ld .I dreamed they issued out the i r bombsAnd flung them to and fro.I dreamed the grass began to blacken.Thunder ro l led through the h i l l s .I dreamed the ocean star ted to boi lAnd monsters swam up from the depths.I dreamed the clouds turned bloody-red,And the moon began to crumble.I dreamed the c i t i es melted downInto pools of steaming s lag.I dreamed the world was a blackened cinderWhere i s the Phoenix now?

- -Bi l l FroehlichDAY DREAMING IN CHURCH

I dreamed tha t on that big dayI would t r ip and f a l l down the ais le .I dreamed tha t I was going downthe highway in the passing lane andran out of gas.I dreamed tha t Jimmy Carter wasthe ant i -chr is t .I dreamed what my dog would sayi f he could ta lk .I dreamed that for once my car wasf ixed.I dreamed tha t I got the job Iwanted.I dreamed tha t I had a nice day foronce.--Anon.

UNTITLEDI dreamedI dreamed of algebra symbols taking over the worldI dreamed of purple ca te rp i l la rs climbingmy bedpostI dreamed of algebra teachers corning to l ive withme. I dreamed of winning a whole new closetfu l l of clothes on The Price Is Right.I dreamed of becoming the county judgeand f ixing a l l the potholes on the countyroads.

I dreamed of fa l l ing into one ofthose enormous potholes never tobe found again

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MOUNTAIN HOME JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

LAKES OF THE WORLDLock Ness i s forest green as a los t wildernessNorfolk sounds l ike cranes in the reeds.Erie fee ls l ike slimey worms slowly crawling in my hands.Superior i s a great round universe out in the lonely spaceof time.I f Great Slave could ta lk it would say, "Freedomand Liberty."Lock Ness i s a los t wilderness

--Debbie Bansemer

UNTITLEDVanity eats caviarand drinks till there i s no more.With her blonde , sleek hairand face aglow,on her long s i lve r evening gownthere i s a diamond pin .High and mighty her eight inchheels f loa t her around the room .When a l l her f r iends leave ,she re t i res to the mirror .- - Jenny Neathery

DES MOINESCorn se t t led thereand dreamed of growing .During the spring,ears f e l l off the s ta lks .The vi l lagers made bread and feed .And prayed fo r the feast .Instead the peas came .

- - Jul ia Franke

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THESE LAKES I KNOWGreat Bear i s brown as di r t .Lake Okeechobee sounds l ike cereal .Great Slave feels l ike i ron in my hands.Lake Placid i s an octogon.I f Lake Tomahawk could talk,it would say, "Stay out of my water."Lake Baykal i s my overseas fr iend.

--Chris ApplegatePENCIL SHARPENERCrunch, crunch, crunchEating a l l day long.My arm l S double jointed .I sing an unpleasant song.

- -Jackie K.

THE THEATERYou see people runningfo r the i r l ives with planesrunning into mountains and famouswars being refought .There i s the stranger hidingbehind your back ready to stab youwhen the minute i s r ightwith subjects varying fromthe center of the ear th tothe corners of the universe andeverything in between.

--Ronald KalkeCASTLEBARSea shel ls se t t led thereand dreamed of green ocean.During the i r f i r s t foggy spring ,dew f e l l out of the sky .The vil lagers made paper flowersand sandy towers , and prayedfo r wind. Instead s t i l lness came .

--Peggy Haviland

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MOUNTAIN HOME HIGH SCHOOL

SILENT THINGSA single bubble from the oceanA cold crack in the wallThe dead inside of a desk drawerThe t rees a t nightThe eyes of a catPieces of metal,a driven nai lThe warmth of a pocketThe los t pages of a book

--Steve TiptonUNTITLEDI dreamed of chairs made of l ightsIn a dark room during most nightsEven though it looked very peacefulBut once seated you could not get upI saw a figure l ike old Abe in the cornerSomehow he looked l ike a mourner

--Scot t GibsonUNTITLEDRome smells l ike cinnamon in summerI t i s golden as f a l l leavesI t t as tes l ike golden r ipe applesRome i s a long evening dress laced in s i lverRome i s love

--Lari LarsonUNTITLEDGermany smells l ike beer and breadI t is brownI t tas tes l ike sausageGermany i s wool pantsGermany i s anger

--Rhonda Schuh

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NASHVILLE HIGH SCHOOLTHE CONGREGATIONA mass coma covers the saints ,The sermon ends, the f ina l song reaches verse four .The coma l i f t s , the students leave wondering whatthey learned .

--Tommy JacquesUNTITLED

As she l e f t , itwas as i f a day in Decembercame in June .

--Nathaniel BensonTHE ROOMAn old lady rocks in her chairknit t ing in rhythm,a steady business in the a ir .A picture s i t s on a small table ,a man with an aging smileh is back s t raight and s t i f f .A small stove warms the roomdays must be long in thereand she s i t s and rocks .

- - Beverly McCann

UNTITLEDOn Sundays everyone makes sure others see them a t church ,The l a s t hymn is always sung quicker than the res t ,The Methodists got to Joda's f i r s t l as t week .

--David Boden

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OLE MAIN HIGH SCHOOL- -NOR TH LITTLE ROCKMOVIES OF THE MIND:

I'm on top of the sunwondering what wil lhappen to me next,wondering i f I'll f a l lin the center of thatred hot flame, orthe gravi ty will take meon to another galaxyanother world.Probably another sun .I don' t know, I'll rideon a Star Venus, might bego on to Pluto and don' teven come back, have wings ,or a rocket, and f ly , f lyaway forever, forever !--Evelyn Dahdoch

PEOPLE SEE ME:

I see my boyfriendI see him chasing meAround the roomAnd s ta r t s t icklingMe and then heKisses me and thenMy mom and DadWalk in .

--Christ ie Fortner

Friends see humor in meMom sees a disaster in meDaddy sees a l i t t l e g i r l in meMy boyfriend sees good looks in meMy pr ies t sees the devil in meMy teacher sees ignorance in meMy s i s t e r sees a hero in me

--Evelyn Dahdoch

My mother sees a baby gi r l in meMy big brother sees a l i t t l e loveables i s t e r in meMy father doesn' t see me a t a l lMy stepfather sees meas a housemaid

--Jo Ann Crawley

crying

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APOLOGIES ( a l a Williams) :Dear Mom,Sorry I hung up the phone on youBut I loved hearing it cl ick you off

- - Marty McGinnisDear Dad,I ' m sorry I didn ' t come homebut I loved to r ide aroundto fee l the wind blowing inand music blar ing loud .

- - Renee HeltonME & MY FRIENDS ( a l a Brooks) :

CURSES :

We are t a l lWe play bal lWe smoke junkWe can dunkWe can winWe get gi nWe would loseWe get booedWe go homeWe get broke bones- - Victor Lee

May your gir l f r iend ca l l you some other guy ' s name .--Jimmy Beasley

May you drink a l l your tea before you see the f ly in it .--Chip Cline

May your teacher love homework .- - Dwayne Dobbins

May you burp when you kiss your date .--Glendel M

May you study your hear t out fo r the wrong major tes t .--Melinda Park

May your Chevy t ruck get repossessed when you onl y haveone more payment l e f t . - - Bobbie Shumate

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UNTITLED

PARKER'S CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOL--EL DORADOUNTITLEDThe open barn door has a broken hinge,I look inside.I see d i r t and dust .I smell the gray hay and old manure.Rats and mice move near an empty feed bucketThere's a rusty double b i t axIn the corner of a s t a l l .The wind i s blowing.I hear boards rubbing.Rodent shredded feed sacksScattered on the f loor of the barn.I grab the old ax.Swing violent ly a t a ra t .Missed i t .I think of her.Failed again.

--Andy Cameron

The barn i s very old. The pond i s very shallow . There i s noroom for l i f e in the pond. We plan to keep on and take careof the animals for you. I t won ' t be the same without you .In the hayloft there i sn ' t a lo t of room for us anymore becauseyou are gone, but l i f e goes on. We planned it tha t way.--Sandra Pickering

UNTITLEDThe TV i s playing very loud; sounds

l ike a guy screaming,The gun cabinet and a l l the guns look l ike a police

force.The hands on the clock are counting downmy remaining days.

The couch looks l ike a coffin.Somebody has jus t sprayed a ir freshener.

The room smells l ike a funeral home .Every l i t t l e sound that I hear, I think someone ' s

af te r me.--Mark Wilson

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UNTITLEDShe walks by the old barn .She shivers in the br isk breeze .The t rees are bare .The gnarled branches look l ike claws

reaching down to grab her .Blackness s tares out from thebroken barn windows .She hears the door open rus t i ly .The barn i s cold .An owl f l i e s by and bare l y missesher head .She hears the wind moan inthe ra f te rs .She smells dust .Smells wet l ea ther .She fee l s the g r i t of the f loorunder her shoes .She sees the old mangerthe green hay .She climbs up the hayloft ladder ,Looks up and waits fo r himto return .--Anna Pa lcu l ic t

THE BARNShe looks a t the shattered barnWinter makes the planks spli tOpening the barn door a sp l in te rpricks her f ingerShe looks a t the f loorShe sees a ra t run to the cornerTo an old wheat sackShe walks inside and looks aroundSees an old wheel barrow wi th no wheelsand rustedShe t r ies to look out the dusty windowTurns around and sees the l adder to the l o f tShe inspects itFinds the boards looseFinds a hammerFinds some rusted na i l sMoves toward the ladder

- -Venita Nash

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PEA RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

FARMING JOBI l ive here where land i s torn up neverknowing what wil l happenone day to the next maybeset t ing on a t rac tor bouncingand grinding l ike a dozer sounds, arough chain saw, or maybe picking up rocks l ikea machine that repeats i t se l f overand over.

- -Joe Bray

THE SPRINGI t was a warm dayas I walked down onthe grass as it crushedbelow my feet it f e l t l ike pil lows.As I walked far ther I sawwater rushing down over the h i l las it ran down into a pool I couldsee the f ish movebeneath the surface.

- -Rita Price

SUNDAY MORNINGWe are as busy as t rees carrying water,Getting dressed and eating breakfast .We go outside and see the fog, go tochurch and sing songs. I see a l l thepre t ty g i r l s standing in the corners of thechurch l ike a group of t rees swayingin the wind, I hear the sermon which sounds l ikea closed door and we get out and gohome through the crowd of cars.

--David Boutwell

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COON HUNTWe are in a hollow by a spring,s i t t ing on a ta i lga te of a truck,chewing our tobacco,spi t t ing into the f i r e , l i s tening,then the dogs wake up a coon,and we're off l ike a deer tha t hasbeen spooked.

--Alan Fletcher

POEMThe room i s cold, everyone i s in l ine withl ined paper and sharpened penci ls . Bellsring and we come, be l ls ring and wego. We are very well t ra ined, butsoon, very soon, we wil l be l i s tening tobigger be l ls in colder rooms.

--Jan F.

THE KINGThe king s i t s upon his purewhite horse.Shield and mail ashiningHe rode into the hear t ofba t t le , sword unsheathing. Thepure white horse he lunged andneighed. The king 's own sword l ikea f i re brand tore through the hear tsof men. Win the ba t t le was the king 'scry. To victory lads , I'll make a standor die among my f r iends.The ba t t le was won, the enemy gone.The king he l ied s t i l l as deathThe white horse by his side.Sword s t i l l gripped.

- -Ernest BertschyPea Ridge Junior High

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PLEASANT VIEW HIGH SCHOOL--OZARK

UNTITLEDBehind the shopwas a brokenrusted lawnmower tha tshines inthe moonby a brokewindow

THE SHIP

i;v t, / f 50 " '--Dale J ' \ ~

The ship goes over the waves .The sky--grey.The men are doing the ir jobs.Even the captain is quiet today.--Kathy Clark

UNTITLEDI am going on a dusty old broken t ra in .I look outside the windowas we pass a cornfie ld .I see two men picking corn by hand.The t ra in has a smell l ike rot ten potatoesand people l ie about exhausted .As I look about meI see a spider making a web .I look for the f lytha t the spider waits for.

--Anon.UNTITLEDSuddenlydead had opened himas he lay thereoh so quietin h is grey dusty sui t .

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CATas the ca tsneaks acrossthe room i t slooking a tthe f ish bowls t i l l lookingit climbs upthe bar tothe top thenit looks intothe bowlthen s t icksi t s paw inthere grabbinga t themthen he getsone and s tar tsl icking itthen a l l ofa suddenCHOMP!and he a teit and thenanotherand anotherthen momcame homeand just asthe cats tar ted toeat the l a s tone momcame inand h i t itoff withthe broom handle.

--Jon Wagner

UNTITLEDThe houses are hauntedby doors.None are al ike, colored withblue streaksor white or purple .Some are just plain black .People are not going to dreamof doors of the futureor the past .Only here and theredoors with a glimpse of death .The gates of Hell .

--B. Nixon

UNTITLEDNear the t rashcansl i es an oldbot t le capwhen the sunref lec ts on itit reminds meof a valuablecoingl i t t e r ing in thesun

--Anon.

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PIGGOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL

WORRY

Sometimes i t ' s l ike a spider spinninga webOr a rabbi t hopping around in a bunnyheaven.A teacher might fee l l ike he i s surroundedby a bunch of headaches.I t might fee l l ike a f ish in the seaWhen the l igh ts go out you cuddle up tosomeone l ike a shoe str ing in a knotBut you are always afraid of something

- -Paul StowGIRLSGirls are l ike boiling water.Just laying around,and bubbling the i r mouths off .Sometimes they bubble muchtoo loud,and often get turned off to cool.

--Troy JenkinsUNTITLEDA pond in a parka l l things are doubledt a l l building hang

and wrinkle gentlea rag wags l ike af ish hook a cloudmoves l ike wind

blowing grasson a cool spring

day--Denisa Poole

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SPRINGSpring is l ike get t ing seconds a t supperLike the beginning of the beginning.Spring i s l ike a lamp being turned on,Like retying your shoes af te r they become loose.Spring is l ike the replanting of a petr i f ied forest .

- -Jerry Randol

DEATHDeath looks l ike a s ta le mildewing pieceof bread. Death tas tes l ike a big rot tenworm infested apple. Death smells l ike thickblack smoke from a je t plane exhaust.

Death feels l ike a sudden sweep of fear . Youcannot hear death it i s s i len t and quickhappening.--Randy Hinkle

FOOTBALLI have f e l t the wind flying overmy s i lver shoulder, and been

able to stop a growl.--Dwayne Foster

MY FAMILYMy l i t t l e brother looks l ike acar just tota l led in a wreck.My mom smells l ike a big hamburgerMy dad's voice i s l ike a loud speakerI can see, smell and hear myfamily.I 've t r ied a l l of these things.But not even i f my senses workso hard they rumble l ike volcanoesI can ' t .

- -Darrel l Burns

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PITstop SCHOOL--FAYETTEVILLELast Octoberwhen I was soberI saw a manyes a man or could itbe he had no headbut s t i l lhe had to be a man or a t leas thalf a man.He rode a horsebeside meand pulled outhis blade and said"I want your head."I ran and ran unt i l my fatherwoke me up.He said "I amthe man without a head,"and he threwhis head a t the ground.His head turned into a horse.He jumped on it and shot mewith his gun, but I f e l t no pain.I t wasn't a gun.I t was a sword.He cut my head off, and I sawmy body f a l l to the ground.But then my head was his ,and I was him.I woke up screaming.Ran to the mirrorand saw my head was s t i l l onthe r ight body.

--Mickey ThomasMY CARFrom chrome flashes off the bumper and gr i l lemerged the wrath and the fury of Hellin blue. I t had an evi l and wicked spel lshooting from a l l sides that seemedto make a l l people want to be in i toAnd remember no one returns from Hell .

--Simon Henderson

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WHAT IF I CAME UP MISSINGWhat i f I came up missingMy mom would say, "Where i s baby?"My dad would say, " If he don ' t get backhere I'll k i l l him."My s i s te r would say, "He f ina l ly l istened to me."My aunt would say, "As much as he pesters me,I miss the dope head."My dog would say, " If he don' t get back here,I'll starve to death."

--Bob Easley

UNTITLEDMay the ground youwalk on turn to th in ice .

--Grace Brooks

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ROGERS HIGH SCHOOLUNTITLEDI didn ' t k i l l him. He ki l led himself.He always was a fer r i s wheel.Round and Round and Round he 'd goand couldn' t stop the whole ordeal.

--Amy CasarUNTITLEDFear i s f lourescent green.I t tas tes l ike an aspir in thatdid not quite go down.I t smells l ike a wet dog.

- -J . SummerSURVIVALGrab a f ish by i t s f ins andbang it on the rocks.

--Anon.UNTITLEDI f my mind were sensi t ive to l ight ,I 'd have eternal photographs.

--Anon.UNTITLEDI f I had a mouth on my footI would speak to those beneath the e a r t h ~

--Anon.UNTITLEDI f I had J eyes I could see the J faces of everyone.

--Laura Smith

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RAMAY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL--FAYETTEVILLESELF-DESCRIPTIONS:

We are meanWe are wiseWe don' t hearEach other ' s cr ies .

We l ike gi r l sWith a l l the i r curlsWhen they jumpOur hearts thump

--Barry Ingethorn - -Scot t Westberg

RIDDLE POEMS1

APOLOGY:I h i t my l i t t l e s i s t e rShe thinks she 's so smartI t f e l t so goodEspecially my par t .

--Tammy Perry

I t stands on three legsPeople beat on i t s teethBut i t always smiles.

--Doug Caughman

I t looks l ike a meditatorwithout a head, trunk or arms.But i t s eaten.

--Tonya Weaver

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RAMSEY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL--FORT SMITH

WHY?

THE RADIOThe l i t t l e box s i t s on the shelf.When i t ' s off , i t ' s by i t se l f .But when i t ' s cranked,it can be rank.When i t ' s loudyou get a crowd.But when it's lowyou can dance rea l slow.

--Craig Fowler

Why should l i t t l e boys be running, jumping, playing army?Be lying, bleeding, dying, ten years la te r .

--Jim Tucker

PIANOI t stands alone.I t makes no sound.Alone, it can do nothing.The instrument seems s i len t ,and useless, and dul l .I t ' s l i fe less without help,un t i l somebody plays itwith a caring touch.To some the musicmeans so much.The music tha t spreadsto lift the earth.

--Annette Strauser

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UNTITLEDWhen the timecomes to holdMy head up highMy ha i r alwaysf lops

RISON HIGH SCHOOL

SUNDAY MORNING BLUES

My bags under myI got the Sunday morning BluesI got the Sunday morning BluesMy stockings has runs in themyes drop

My l ips t ick smearsMy sk i r t tears

and I haven' t any new shoes

My s l ip shows a l lthis while

I don' t know how the preacherexpects me to pay my duesI guess I'll give uput a l l I can do

i s smile.--Suzie

I 'm sure to lose

NIGHTMAREI come l ike a fog in the nightWith no sound

--Carla

Fil l ing your night with HorrorMaking you feel l ike a f ish out ofwater. Your skin i s a t i re innertubegoing with my every commandI am Mr Nightmare

--Lagail Releford

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SILOAM SPRINGS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLPOEMI am walkingthrough the woods,being a turkey,watching the strange thingsof the world,the big t rees look l ikearrows stuck in the ground,the grass looks l ikea green man huntingme, so I run forever.

--Ronnie GainerI GIVE UP MY SCHOOL LUNCHI give up my turkey that looks l ikesl iced lungsI give up my hamburger tha t looksl ike a cow chipI give up my peanut-butter sandwich that looks l ikemud in between breadI give up my sloppy joe tha t looks l ikean opened up leg, in an operationI give up my mashed potatoes tha t look l ikea gob of dandruff, and tas tel ike ground up cardboard.

--Renee Altherton

POEMMy nose i s l ike a two-waysubway tunnel with t reesgrowing up through i t .

--Ronnie Gainer

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SILOAM SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOLCIRCUSThe people go out to the t en tPeople are standing aroundClowns are a l l cryingPeople are beginning to cry tooThe white horse standing on the woman's backThe l ion cracks the whip a t the man,so he jumps on a barrelThe people are star t ing to leaveThey a l l look l ike they are pleased.

--Dolly Fletcher

SOMEONE PUTS A CAULIFLOWER TOGETHERA freshly cut cow brain s i t s s i lent lyon a dinner p la t t e rA barren mountain top covered with snows tar ts to freezeA frozen cow chip s ta r t s to sproutgreen grassA strangled sunflower f ina l ly diesA soldier ' s f rostbi t ten face has turneda funny colorThe plant bears an odd flower

--Rick Thurstenson

(A KOAN)I f squares were roundwhat would we do with circles?

--Anon.

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UNTITLEDHave you ever stared a t a blankpiece of paper and imagined?I t ' s a picture of a ghost, talkingto a ghost, eating ice cream.Ora snow storm in AlaskaOrtwo cows eating grass in a pasture,but the grass was gone so they l e f t ,and nothing else was there.Have you ever stared a t a blankpiece of paper and imagined?

--Kim Brooks

DOWN THE HATCHI t ' s greasy and slimey,and smells quite grimey,I put it in my mouth and bite down hardeven though I 'd ra ther eat a can of lard .The smell i s disgust ing,my insides are rust ingI swallow and shiverOh, God! How I hate l iver .

--Cindy SmithSOMEBODY PUTS A PARSNIP TOGETHER1. The comet came from the sky2. The worm r i ses from the groundJ. The snake comes from i t s basket4. The cone i s empty, the ice cream i s gone5. The giant wad of sp i t heads for the f loor6.- The drop of water drops from the faucet

--James Coffin#4I wrote three poemsThis i s my four th;I'm a l l poeticated out.

--David W Keigley

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SOUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--PARAGOULD

FEARFear comes from your insidesI t looks l ike an ice cream cone being droppedI t makes you want to hide under your coversFear sounds l ike a snake hissingI t smells l ike an old woman's house on acold winter evening, Fear wears darkcolored clothes so you can ' t see it a t nightI t s best friend i s hate.

--Kris Swindle

THE SNUCKERWICKI have a monster. I t looks l ike my cousin Elmer and thati s very bad. He l ives in my tennis bal l . Every night heeats me up and spi ts me out on my bed l ike mashed potatoes.I go squish on the bed. And he f inishes his meal with mytennis racket. He makes a gurgling sound when he 's done.

--Blake Edwards

DEATH BITES LIKE SHARKSI t sounds l ike red shark screams

I t puts on a black red jacket,A pa i r of old torn socks,

A bloody sh i r t .I t s best friend i s horror, bloody death.

--Debbie Allen

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NIGHTNight comes from day,Night looks l ike day crawled into the shadows,I t scares the nightwatchmen on the i r jobs,The name of i t s sound i s bloodcurdling quietness,I t wears a shabby black su i t of a i r and fog,I t s best friend i s the owls and bats that make it

what it i s .--Stan Mitchell

THE ARTISTI'm an ar t i s t . The work I do i sa r t . Today I did a flower and some grass,and some t rees , and some clouds andalso the sun.- I sent it to mygrandmother in Texas. She loved itand on the back I wrote a l e t t e rtoo. This i s what it said: Dear grandmothersand then I said I love you,and then I told her about my job,and then I told her about myhusband, and also my kids, Theirnames area Cindi, Steve, Jacky,Tommy, Tammie, and Andy. That 's5. That 's how many I want when Igrow up. And 2 years l a te r she wroteback.- -Jackie Bryant

GUILTGuilt comes from your own conscience.Guilt looks l ike a teacher from Texasin red pants.Guil t holds you in i t s hands.I t screams l ike a tornado andi t s color i s f i re red.Guilt wears a dark rim hat .Guil t ' s best fr iend i s happiness in a jar .

--Michael Potter

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SPRINGDALE HIGH SCHOOLBALLOONS & BEESI dreamed balloons f loat ing away foreverI dreamed the balloons got caught on the moonI dreamed the moon f loated away with the balloonsI dreamed the moon f e l l from the balloons

f e l l upon the ground and cracked l ike an eggOnly to be surrounded by mother chickenswondering i f it was the i r egg.I dreamed puffs of smoke coming from flowersand carrying bees away with themI dreamed the smoke puffs with bees coll idedwith the balloonsThere was no more, it a l l disappeared.--Lora Adams

I DREAMEDI dreamed I was in a circusThe horses had hats onThe monkeys had diapersI dreamed I was on the trapeze, imagine thatI dreamed I missed the swingI f e l l down, so fa r downSomething caught me and wrapped i t s e l f around meThe net t r ied to swallow me, imagine tha tThe oxes with large horns were chasing meThe clowns turned against meThe elephant t r ied to step on meThe l ion grabbed me between his inch-long tee th-imagine tha tThe l ion was chewing me to piecesI dreamed I got loose and ranA large bird reached down and t r ied to bi te meI lay down and said, "What's the use"--imagine thatI dreamed I gave up-- surrendered to the animalsThere was no place to go--no place to hideI lay there and the animals laughedThen my mother cal ls time to get up--imagine that

--Anon.

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HUMANS, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTANDEvery day I wait for mymaster to come home,just so he can rub myhead with his stronghands.I have a feel ing he won'tplay with me today.I don't know what mademe dig the tomato gardenup again.I guess my animal nature.Tradition, tha t ' s why Idid i t .Well, t radi t ion or not radi t ion he ' l l comewalking through thehouse,glare a t me through thepat io glass door,slowly opening the doorhe ' l l grab me by thecol lar and drag meacross the lawn,pushing my nose intothe tomato patch."Oh God," I'll think tomyself, "Please don' tl e t him h i t me withthe newspaper."But he will .He has for three springsin a row.Then af te r I whimper al i t t l e he ' l l say in asof t tone, "You're a goodpuppy."Trying to make me lovehim again, he ' l l playwith me.Humans, I jus t don ' tunderstand.

--Rhonda Smithee

THE LIFE OF A JACKASSA Jackass why do peoplerefer to me as thatA ll I am i s a smallpony with big earsI t real ly doesn' t botherme a l l that muchJust think fo r a secondI f I was born with smallearsI would be a smallponyBut since I have longears I'm called a JackassA Jackass I guess I'll beand I wouldn't changei f I could.

--Mike SamuelsUNTITLEDThe wind blows from I know not wherBrushing the branches in the morninga i r .I watch the leaves balance on eachbranch,I wait for the wind to make theleaves unlatch.I know they ' l l fa l l sof t ly to theground,Making not a sound.They' l l l i e in deepening quie tI know,Til l they l ie in the deepest quie tof snowa

--David Carpenter

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SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL--FORT SMITHPARANOIALate a t night

my shoes ta lkto each other.

I know they ' re ta lkingabout me.

--Beth Rhodes

RUN LITTLE BOY, RUNRun l i t t l e boy, run.Don't go messin' with the ole

woman' s mind.Rotten apples permeate the a i r ,

grass l i f t s i t s nosetoward the sun.

Run l i t t l e boy, r u n ~ Preacher man stands in thegeneral store ,

Preaching damnation andget t in apples f r e e ~

Run--run.--Jodee Jones

POEMYogurt i s the je l lyf ish

in the ocean of l ifeoJel lyf ish are the pantyhose

in the drawer of my bedroom.Pantyhose are the s tars

in the night sky .--K. Giuffre

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WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--FAYETTEVILLE

BUNCH OF RADISHES

red-haired people get togethera rosea thousand beachballsa fores t f i reretarded bul le tsa bug zooput a face on them and

you've got tadpolesa f lying s ta ra whole bunch of people

holding the i r breath--Mrs. Nordan's 2nd Grade

CAULIFLOURThis toad has too many warts.The bumpiest magnolia blossom.I t snowed l a s t night on the mountain.An aer ia l view of the "Mushroom Planet ."Macy's Department Store in New York City.The beach i s awfully crowded today.

PARSNIPan ic ic lea rot ten tootha dead car rot

- -Chris t ine LeBlanc

long f ingernail of a monsterpinocchio's nosea hat for a white dwarfwind going around and arounda tornado running with a par rot

in i t s hand--Mrs. Seaton's 1st Grade

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CARROTSA carrot i s a finger point ing a t you,Or maybe a frozen t a i l of an animalI t may smell l ike sasafrasOr maybe a very small crutchI t might be a unicorn 's hornOr maybe a wierd looking swordBut it's actually only one thing.

--William Marsh

CORNa s t ra ight suna half of a rainbowa subwaya toothbrush fo r a carwash/a yellow comba typewriter you can ea ta round ru ler

l i t t l e chunks of gold--Mrs. Cathcar t ' s 1s t Grade

ME AND OTHER THINGSBirds can sing,Birds can f ly ,Birds are pre t ty ,And so am I .Babies are small,Babies can crawl,Babies can cry,And so can I.Food can grow,Food i s hot,Food i s pie ,And I am not.

--El izabeth Ezel l

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WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--OSCEOLA

I SAW ME BRUSHING MY TEETHI was jus t an ugly g i r lwith toothpastein my mouth.

AT THE TOP OF MY VOICEWhen I stampthe ground thunders.When I shoutthe world r ings.When I singthe a i r wonders

--Anon.

THE NIGHT WILL EVER STAYThe night wil l ever stay

how do I do such things. The night wil l s t i l l go byThough with millions of starsYou pin it to the sky-Lisa

--LisaA POEMDaddy daddy here I amdaddy daddy with the hamdaddy daddy don ' t you seedaddy daddy it's mother and medaddy daddy take me homedaddy daddy take me alonedaddy daddy take me to the storedaddy daddy take me on the porchdaddy daddy here I come

--Sharon Short

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WEST FORK HIGH SCHOOL

QUAIL HUNTING WITH MY DOGI have a dog, a Britanny Spanielwhose t a i l i s short but straight .His name i s Bo.Out in a f ie ld with grass knee-high.He points and looks l ike a statue.We flush the birds, and they take off with aspecial noise. We shoot towards thesky and one or two fa l l back to the ground.And before I can reload he i s back witha bird. To k i l l off a few, meansmore next year.

--Randy BakerRENOThe colorful flashing l ightsThe sound of ringing bellsPeople laughing People cryingThe smell of whiskey sour.

--Dan BowenHOW TO MANAGESit t ing here in my deskI dream of the future.What do I want to be?A commercial pi lo t bringingPeople from place to place?A business man havingA conference?A farmer plowing theGarden?Or just a just husbandThat has a job a t aPlace working for someoneAt a low wage wonderingHow to manage.

--Matthew Stephens

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THE COMPARISONShe wiggles through thedoor with her mini sk i r ton,Her hair smelling of sasafrasfrom a PH balanced pond,She f l i r t s with the boysand walks with her hips,Bending over sl ight ly givingthe guys whistle f i t s ,But another shuff lesin clutching her coat ,Skirts to the f loor andblouse to her nose.She avoids the boys andcr ies when they s tare ,not one whistles, not onecares.I walk through the hal lsand wiggles i s therecrying in the corner for alos t af fa i rI walk on far ther andshuffles i s theresmiling, almost pret ty ,a t the simple spring inthe a i r .

--Kim Whitaker

UNTITLEDI wishI was a l i t t l e boy againLookingFor shel ls on a beach

Becausewhen shells breakit doesn' t matter

--Todd BachmanMR. SNAKEMr. Snake you smell l ike arot ten f ish .You feel l ike a worm in myhandMr. Snake I am always onyour backMr. Snake I don ' t l ike youone bi t . --MA1i1=l!=l!=l Moora

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UNTITLEDFloating through the sky so weightlesslyas it lands upon a limb,the sound of gunshot rings throughthe a irthe sight of it fa l l ing so heavily.

--Dan BowenTHE HARDEST JOB TO DO IN A CHICKEN HOUSEKill ing the chickensyou grab them by the fee tand h i t the i r screamingl i t t l e heads againsta s tee l beamThe blood spurts up to your faceit tas tes sour.Their heads ro l l on the groundThe other chickens attack iteat the eyes and the loose feathersthey too get sick and you have tok i l l them as wellagain you h i t the i r screaming yellowheads against the beamand again blood i s a l l over you,After a whilethe blood s tar ts to tas te bet ter .

--Todd UlmUNTITLEDNot being able to writefeels l ike an F

I t feels l ike being alone in a crowdwith others around you scribbling awayand you not knowing where to s ta r t .

--Steven L. Jones

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WESTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL--SPRINGDALEWORDS ON PAPER

Words on paper i s l iked i r t on a car.Words on paper i s asempty as a cardboard boxin a t rash dump.Words on paper i s l ike adictionary.Words on paper i s l ikethinking of a t r icky play infootball .

--Kelly NesbittINVENTION OF SCHOOLSomeone invented school,Boy was he some fool .His brain was probablyas big as a bull .Probably very dull .What i f it's a g i r l .As skinny as a squirrel .A stupid invention.

I must mention. --Thomas MayTHE END OF SCHOOLI t tas tes l ike green seedless grapeswhen I bite into i t . I t smellsl ike roses af te r the rain. I t soundsl ike water running over rocks.You hear birds chirping.

--Karrie RogersUNTITLEDa horse i s running in ameadow. he l ikes i t .but another horse doesn' t .what should he do.

--Thayla Painte1st Grade

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LONLINESS

WATERSWet and cold.Always good when you'reThirsty.Everybody l ikes .Rain fa l l ing downStreams flooding the ground

--Melissa Waters

An old sea captain l iving in a old lighthouseWatching the ships go by.Living alone in empty apartmentCondemned to be torn down.

Time t icking away to the momentwhen you must move away.Lonliness i s any time a poet

r ights his thoughts.--Bobby Buysse

UNTITLEDHorse in the Barn Galloping

--Stephen McMillan1st GradeTHE END OF SCHOOL

When I bite into the end ofschool, I t tas tes l ike sour ice cream--Samantha Bowers

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WOODLAND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL--FAYETTEVILLE

HEART DOCTORA hear t doctor 's handswould be l ike two watches t icking.His hands would feel l ike velvet .His hands would smell l ike alcohol.His hands would tas te clean.His hands would sound l ike a well pumping blood.And in his nightstand you wouldfind a pacemaker

--Rhonda Terry

THE BLACK ERASERIn my schoolroom there i s an eraser .I t just s i t s there l ike a black snakeaf te r it ate . But when the teacherpicks it up it becomes a bulldozerpushing words away.

--David Turpin

UNTITLEDWhen my grandmother died,everyone was in a frenzytrying to get things done,people I had never seenor heard of, coming inmy house giving the i rcondolences and bakedthings for us to eat .I enjoyed the excitementaround my house, butI didn ' t real ize I 'dnever seemy grandmother cookingSunday lunch fo r usin her kitchen. Andaf te r lunch, s i t t ingin her rocking chairchubby and smilingand always coaxingme to share herchair , again.

--Deanna Dunn

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MY FIRST SQUIRREL HUNTWe woke up that night and got dressed.I looked out the window to see the secretswe a l l miss a t night.I ate and waited for my friend to get up.I l e f t .Cold.Then warm, then l ight .We went through mud and gumbo,and there he was s i t t ing on a limb, temporarily.

--Charles YoungUNTITLEDInside a forger 's draweryou'd find a rea l dollar bi l l .

--Neil ShipleyWINDFALLSThey l ie in the cool dampnessunder a canopy of leaves.The grass hides them in the darknessand conceals them from wasps.The f ie ld hands crawl underthe t rees to retr ieve them.The wet grass clings and wasps st ing.A miserable job for a l l .Two boxesa one for the good ones,one for the ones not recognizable.More l ike applesauce or vinegaror cool mud on the stream bank.

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