The child is eight, and full of vigor
He was drumming on his desk
I knew in a few seconds I would have six drummers
Trying to outdrum each other, so I called him to me
He came right over
What’s up?
Where did you learn to drum?
My dad was a drummer
In a band?
head nod.
That is interesting!
He nods, excited, thrilled.
He sings too.
Does your mom sing?
He told me all about their wedding.
His sister got to go, she was about three.
He felt it was unfair he was not born yet.
Another child is stomping around the room.
I let this child return to his seat.
I call the stomper over.
Where did you learn to stomp like this?
The stomping stops.
He is thrilled that I have asked.
Categories:
graders, teacher,
Form: Narrative
Their feet are not petite. They are huge.
No hiding or sneaking. No subterfuge.
Fifth graders' feet are as big as boats.
Where is the drink me anecdote?
Clown shoes for them might be too small.
If I had their feet, I would never fall.
Preservatives have bulked them up so big.
Here is be tiny juice, please take a swig.
Categories:
graders, 3rd grade, 4th grade,
Form: Rhyme
Young school graders are so naughty yet innocent
Talking, fidgeting and playing in almost all events
They run in and out of the room up to their greatest energy
Behave well when rewarded with points, stars or candy.
Young graders are so naughty yet they’re all darling
They hug and kiss while telling us the sweetest thing
Once we turn our back, they’ll tease their peers around
If we don’t have patience, we’ll faint on the ground.
Again, young graders are so naughty yet innocent
They’re seeking attention and love from their parents
Let’s give what they’re longing for, so they will grow
And become good citizens—our hopes for tomorrow.
March 4,2022 9:46pm
Naughty yet innocent
Contest Judged: 3/6/2022 1:10:00 AM
Sponsored by: Mohan Chutani
Place 6 (out of 10 winners)
Categories:
graders, children,
Form: Rhyme
I hear loud clamoring and yelling.
It sounds like a rumble in the school hallway.
I know it is the older students.
The young ones do not dare.
YOU’RE FIRED! Someone yells.
You’re going to jail! says another voice.
Lots of snickering and laughing.
Maniacal giggling. It is not this funny.
Joy in the hallway because it is Friday.
Kindergarteners are on the other side in a straight line.
Looking straight ahead, keeping their bubbles. Voices off.
One of the sixth-grade boys gives them the stink eye.
A little boy screams.
“It’s okay. He is my brother! “he tells the teacher.
The teacher begins to give him the what for.
The kindergartener smiles, because he did it first.
Categories:
graders, 5th grade, 6th grade,
Form: Narrative
The noise level is ridiculous.
Students are turned in their seats; a no no during a pandemic.
Rooster noises waft through.
We don’t know where they come from, due to the masks.
There is a Soprano’s scream, some stomping.
We catch these students; we can see their shoes.
Dilbert stands up and wiggles his bottom.
He is in fourth grade, and never gets the attention he seeks.
No one notices Dilbert; this is a regular event during lunch.
The masks are up now, and the noise level is up.
Hooting and barking will commence soon.
As far as I am concerned, fourth grade has had their recess.
At the expense of us lunch supervisors.
Categories:
graders, teacher,
Form: Free verse
We are the eighth graders the mighty mighty eighth graders
Their mantra is loud and confident, a battle cry.
They sound proud and ready to face the day.
They are gathering a crowd of eight graders now.
They are an excited, jubilant happy mob.
We are the eight graders, the mighty mighty EIGHTH GRADERS!
Their first day in high school, and they are psyching themselves up.
Before they enter the high school as freshman, the bottom of the rung.
Suspecting they are going to be beaten down, put down, pushed down
Cranked, pranked, and possibly spanked by last year’s eighth graders.
They have older siblings, so they have been warned.
They march in as a mob, expecting the worst.
Categories:
graders, 10th grade, 11th grade,
Form: Prose Poetry
This is a first grader’s day
I build a house! I build a house!
Another first grader chimes in.
It has a mouse! And maybe a louse!
Third first grader yells “Hey, that rhymes!”
“Chimes! Limes! Times! Crimes!”
By the time the teacher arrives back
from her twenty-second bathroom break
the whole room is afire with song.
You would think I taught music.
Did they finish the spelling test? She asks me.
“Test! Pest! Fest! Guest! Crest!” They all sing.
I ease out gently, waving, not daring to speak.
Categories:
graders, school, teacher, teachers day,
Form: Light Verse
Another poem about the 4th Graders.
They outsmart us almost every day, every step of the way, and they are taller,
They program computers, and when we talk, their computers do holler.
They jump on our toes, and they hold us close to their faces.
They refuse to take a seat, and they stand in our faces.
They are too savvy to work, and they eat all of our food.
They tell us they will not do it, which puts us in a mood.
They study up on the internet how to get a teacher fired.
We do not tell this to the new teachers, until they are hired.
They say bad things about us, and they make fun of our teeth.
They text each other during math, hiding their phones underneath
Their hoodies which they are not supposed to wear, but they refuse to take off.
If you know some fourth graders, you know they will make fun of you and scoff.
We get out of their way when we see them march down the hall,
They are the fourth graders so big, bad and tall.
We are the teachers, and we are terrified of their fits.
They are the fourth graders, who scare us out of our wits.
Categories:
graders, 3rd grade, 4th grade,
Form: Rhyme
Has anyone seen the fourth graders lately?
They arrive in public built in full grown men and women foundations
wearing adult shoes in sizes eight, nine and ten.
They make me feel dwarfish,
not petite, since I weigh more now than
I did when I delivered children, but I weigh more than most of them.
I know three who are outstandingly large - could be
sumo wrestlers if they take women, as they are all females.
Has anyone seen the fourth graders lately?
Be prepared to feel small and dwarfish.
Categories:
graders, 4th grade, 5th grade,
Form: Free verse