DPS+Poetry

 Please sign up for the date that you will bring in your favorite poem to read aloud to the class. Mon. Oct 10:Connor tukel Tues. Oct 11: Jodi Backalar Mon. Oct 17: Narmina Nesimova Wed. Oct 19: Shoshie Silow Mon. Oct 24: Amanda Smith Wed. Oct 26: Jeremy Cohn Aviv Lis Fri. Oct 28: Seth Schostak Madeline Jacobson Mon. Oct 31: Stuart Baum Wed. Nov. 2: Annie Slabotsky Rachel kahan. Monday nov. 7th Samantha grosinger, shayni shecter Wensday Nov. 9 Spencer Schafer Jodi Levin Jamie Menuck

The Tornado and the Eskimo

Terry the Eskimo And Don the Tornado Sat down one day Musing with one another About their hopes dreams

“I’ve always wanted to be a writer” Terry sighed “So many stories run through my head When the snows bites into my skin And when the winds Howl with the wolves Sadly, I’ve never found a pencil Nor learned to read”

“I’m so sorry to hear that, my friend” Don responded “I remain wandering the land Destroying towns, ruining lives And all I ever wanted to do Was to try beer For the very first time Sadly, I have no mouth And everything that touches me blows away”

The Eskimo hadn’t the slightest As to what to say or do Except drink a second can For his dear friend

Spencer Schafer  Poem by Alice Golightly

Anne Slabotsky 11-1-11 Forever+Always When trouble come a callin Like they always do And my spirits keep on fallin Till I feel low down and blue When I look around for comfort someone quickly jumps to mind One who always will support me And whose words are always kind Who will make my food feel lighter Who'll help me beet my troubles back She makes the sunshine brighter And gets my spirits back on track Who helps the road seem stranger And helps me get around each bend Who makes each day seem greater And that someone is you my friend You will always be my friend No matter how loud we will shout Like metals we will mend And my deepness makes you pout Forever we will be together No matter how far away Your the wind I'm the feather we fly swiftly and gay Far away is ever Let's keep it while it lasts Friends are too big to measure From fights we kick back fast

Stuart Baum 10-31-11 'Twas the first day of springtime, And the snowman stood alone As the winter snows were melting, And the pine trees seemed to groan, "Ah, you poor sad smiling snowman, Said the snowman, "What a pity, For I'd like to see July. Yes, I'd like to see July, and please don't ask me why. But I'd like to, yes I'd like to, oh I'd like to see July."
 * Snowman**
 * by Shel Silverstein**

Chirped a robin, just arriving, "Seasons come and seasons go, And the greatest ice must crumble When it's flowers' time to grow. And as one thing is begining So another thing must die, And there's never been a snowman Who has ever seen July. No, they never see July, no matter how they try. No, they never ever, never ever, never see July."

But the snowman sniffed his carrot nose And said, "At least I'll try," And he bravely smiled his frosty smile And blinked his coal-black eye. And there he stood and faced the sun A blazin' from the sky -- And I really cannot tell you If he ever saw July. Did he ever see July? You can guess as well as I If he ever, if he never, if he ever saw July.

Madeline Jacobson 10-31-11 Why A Daughter Needs A Dad ♥ Why A Daughter Needs A Dad; to learn that when he says it will be okay soon, it will. who will make sacrifices so she will not have to sacrifice. to teach her that her value as a person is more than the way she looks. who will laugh at her at the right times. who will always have time to give her hugs and kisses. who does not mind when she steps on his shoes while dancing. who will always make sure she has a place to come home to. who will never think she is too old to need him. to make the family whole and complete. who will not punish her for her mistakes, but help her learn from them. to teach her to believe that she deserves to be treated well. to teach her to accept the differences in others. to teach her to weigh the consequences of her actions and make decisions accordingly. so she will know what it is like to be somebody's favorite. to tell her truthfully that she is the most beautiful of all. to protect her from scary nighttime creatures. to answer the questions that keep her awake at night. to make the complex simple and the painful bearable. to protect her from thunder and lightning. to teach her that family is more important than work. to be the safe spot she can always turn to. to show her how it feels to be loved unselfishly. to be the standard against which she will judge all men. who will influence her life, even when he isn't with her. to tell her that all is not hopeless, even when she feels it is. to join her journey when she is too afraid to walk alone. to make the tough decisions for her until she is able to make them for herself. so that she will have at least one hero who will not let her down. to tuck her in at night. to help her take risks that will build her confidence. who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone else's world, she is the center of his. to learn what she should expect from her husband. to teach her what it means to always be there. to teach her that a man's strength is not the force of his hand or his voice, but the kindness of his heart. to teach her to be honest in all her dealings. to help her try again whenever she fails. to remind her of what she may not remember. so that when no one else is there for her, she can close her eyes and see him. to think highly of her when no one else will. to hold her as she cries. to carry her just because she wants to be carried. who teaches her she is important by stopping what he is doing to watch her. to remind her of the comfort of being held near and feeling secure. to teach her to stand up for herself. who gives her refuge in a home secured with faith. to show her that true love is unconditional. to teach her not to let pride get in the way of discovering new things. to show her all the boys are not like the one who hurt her. to stand with her on the day she marries the man she hopes will be just like her father. because without him she will have less in her life than what she deserves.

Aviv Lis 10-26-2011

".....I saw something pop out of the stump of the tree I'd chopped down. It was sort of a man. Describe him?...That's hard. I don't know if I can. He was shortish. And oldish. And brownish. And mossy. And he spoke with a voice that was sharpish and bossy. "Mister!" he said with a sawdusty sneeze, "I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. And I'm asking you, sir, at the top of my lungs"-- he was very upset as he shouted and puffed-- "What's that THING you've made out of my Truffula tuft?...."

Excerpt from "The Lorax" by Dr Seuss

Jeremy Cohn 10-26-11

Nature's first green is gold Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

Nothing Gold Can Stay By: Robert Frost

Narmina Nesimova 10-17-11 St Paul to the Corinthians 13: 4-8 8, 13 Love is patient and kind, it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited, it is never rude or selfish, it does not take offense, nor is it resentful. Love takes no pleasure in others’ sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end. There are three things that last, faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love.

Amanda smith 10/26/11 Our Deepest Fear By Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small Does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, As children do. We were born to make manifest The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.

Jodi Backalar 10/11/11

"There is a destiny which makes us brothers and sisters, None goes hisnor her way alone. All that we send into the lives of others, Comes back into ourbown. I care not your race or creed, One thing holds firm and fast, That into this fitful heap of days and deeds, The soul of anman and a women is cast."- Edwin Markham

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” ― Albert Einstein

Connor Tukel 10-10-11 **Psalms Chapter 23** **תְּהִלִּים by King David** Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over. and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
 * 1** A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 * 2** He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.
 * 3** He restoreth my soul; He guideth me in straight paths for His name's sake.
 * 4** Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
 * 5** Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
 * 6** Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2623.htm

**TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME**. // by: Robert Herrick // GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may, Old time is still a-flying : And this same flower that smiles to-day To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The higher he's a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer ; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time, And while ye may go marry : For having lost but once your prime You may for ever tarry.

** O Captain! My Captain! ** // by: Walt Whitman // O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills; 10 For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths--for you the shores a-crowding; For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captain! dear father! This arm beneath your head; It is some dream that on the deck, You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done; From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won; 20 Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells! But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.

**On Turning Ten** By: Billy Collins The whole idea of it makes me feel like I'm coming down with something, something worse than any stomach ache or the headaches I get from reading in bad light-- a kind of measles of the spirit, a mumps of the psyche, a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul.

You tell me it is too early to be looking back, but that is because you have forgotten the perfect simplicity of being one and the beautiful complexity introduced by two. But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit. At four I was an Arabian wizard. I could make myself invisible by drinking a glass of milk a certain way. At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.

But now I am mostly at the window watching the late afternoon light. Back then it never fell so solemnly against the side of my tree house, and my bicycle never leaned against the garage as it does today, all the dark blue speed drained out of it.

This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself, as I walk through the universe in my sneakers. It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends, time to turn the first big number.

It seems only yesterday I used to believe there was nothing under my skin but light. If you cut me I could shine. But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life, I skin my knees. I bleed.

(Chosen by Ms. Beck) Shoshie silow Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson

it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson