Poetry is a form of writing that, stereotypically, many high schoolers hate. It seems as though everyone always groans when we start a poetry until in English class because they find it “boring” and “pointless.” Personally, however, I absolutely love reading and writing poetry. It’s something that always feels so much more intimate than anything else, and I can think that you can always learn a lesson from whatever the author is trying to convey, no matter the subject. Writing poetry allows you to find new ways to express your emotions and writing a poem about a memory, like Mr. Sanford has his Modern Lit classes do, keeps you in touch with your past by forcing you to remember how you truly felt about something. Below are five “memory” poems that particularly stood out to me.

I liked this following poem because of the feelings and the message it conveys, and the way the abrupt ending caught me by surprise. I also enjoyed the start of a rhyme sequence at the beginning, even if it doesn’t continue all the way through:

“I Remember
I remember the early morning, for ten-year-old
The morning smell of grass, damp and cold.
Walking into school on a Saturday wasn’t pleasant.
The library, like grandma’s house, welcoming and relaxing.
I took my seat with my mom and aunt, both of them thrilled.
The speaker took her spot in front of the kids and adults and began.
“Thank you for being here, all the kids poured their hearts into creating their art pieces that are going to be exhibited around the state.
Along my face all the other kids faces started to glow with happiness.
They called my name in special recognition for being most creative and for standing out.
Stand up front of everyone, standing there I saw my fellow peers,
My aunt, my mom, but my dad was nowhere to be seen.
Not my brothers were around to congratulate me.
Being an artist isn’t as rewarding as being an athlete.
Point taken.” – Cayetano Chavarria Orozco

The next poem I particularly enjoyed because I thought the voice of the author had a really strong presence, and I especially love the lines “I remember talking away. I love hearing your voice / always have and always will.”

“I remember the smell of clean laundry
It was nice and comforting
The ari conditioning made me cold when it was easily 90 degrees in the california heat
While you loaded up the laundry I remember watching the machines go around and round
There were always different colors
Beautiful dresses, ugly colored pants, striped shirts, and the occasional white load turned pink
I remember how excited I was when it was time for us to go next door
I think it was a water store but I know for sure they sold those real fruit popsicles.
Not the gross light type, but the rich and creamy coconut popsicles.
Those are the types of popsicles that you didn’t want to drip all down your face because you wanted to eat it all.
I remember sitting in a chair or on a table
Talking to you
I don’t remember what it was about,
But
I remember talking away. I love hearing your voice
Always have and always will
When you take the laundry out I always reached my grubby hands up to touch the warm soft towels
I remember the quarter machines in the corner, and the change clinking in my tiny hands.
I stuck my head inside a dryer because the chrome metal was so shiny to me
I remember the laundromat, for some reason
Where my mom and I would go every two weeks
I already write about the laundromat because it is one of my happiest memories.” – Ciera Dykstra

The next poem has such a personal message, it gave me chills when I reached the end of it. I think it’s about something that so many people go through, it’s really important to write about. I also liked the way the repetition added to the tone.

I didn’t realize every time I looked at her, her smile was fake.
I didn’t realize she didn’t want to be here.
I didn’t realize she didn’t like who she was.
I didn’t realize she wasn’t happy.
I didn’t realize she was falling apart.
I didn’t realize until I got the call that she was in the hospital.

That’s when I realized.

I realized she pretended to be strong.
I realized she wasn’t happy.
I realized she just smiled to make everyone else happy.
I realized she wanted the pain to end.
I realized she wanted everything to go away.
I realized she was already gone.

She realized if she overdosed it would all go away.

That’s when I realized my best friend was gone.  – Madi Ayraud

I chose this poem because of the personal character development that the author acknowledges in the poem. I like the way she reflects upon her feelings at a certain point and talks about the way they changed as time went on.

“The feeling of neglect, not knowing where I was, or who I was with
The judgements running through my head of what I did to deserve this
I remember the heavy pack weighing me down;
Waking up before the sun rose, awaiting another adventure

Hike after hike, my mindset changed;
Being away from everything was calming in a way
A fresh start;
In hopes I could be a better me

The cold and sleepless nights, shivering in my sleeping bag;
My thoughts were awaiting
The “strangers” there with me became my family;
Helping each other to become the best we can be” – Abbie Gernert

I enjoyed the last poem because of the simple, sweet memory that it conveys; it’s something that I can relate to, as happy childhood memories of playing with family and friends are always good things to come back to.

“I remember…
The sun beats upon the fallen leaves
As they send cascading shadows on the grass
The warmth made us run for comfort
We hid in the shadows of the bushes
The rough bark grazed out skin as we lay

Out eyes darted from bush to bush
Hoping we can find any honeysuckles hidden
When we found them we sucked out the nectar
It tasted sweet but it lasted short
Time didn’t take long to pass
Before we ran back home
Away from the dark
Into out beds in Virginia” – William Schmitz