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After the sun has made its rounds
and is slowly drifting to sleep
After the birds and squirrels have joined
the trees that wish and weep

The thoughts all slip away
into the world that lies ahead
Only colors in the distance
The sadness has finally fled

There is nothing to think about
Only things to see and hear
about the world it used to be
when it was without fear

A little temporary peace
before the day begins
A little temporary peace
before the hateful sins

Before the dark shadows come
Before the poison swallows all
There is beauty on the earth and sky
There is simpleness in it all

There is a little temporary peace
A tiny bit to share
A shield to the darkness
that threatens everywhere

The quiet has yet to retreat to its den
The beauty has yet to come to a cease
The tranquility has yet to go over yonder
And there is a little temporary peace

Mira Tensuan-Eli is a sixth grader at Haverford Middle School in Havertown, PA. She enjoys reading, writing poems and short stories, and staring off into space. She prefers quietness or soft music, but can deal with any atmosphere as long as she has an interesting book.

You’re a weird one,
Whisky dog.
You really are strange.
You bark when no one’s out there,
You’re afraid of your own poop,
Whisky doooooog!
The three best words to describe you
Are strange, cute and loving!

 

 

Alexandra Murray is eight years old and in the second grade. She likes to read, write, and draw. She enjoys reading the Warriors series and playing Minecraft with her sister, Scarlett. Her jingle is a spoof on the song, Mr. Grinch, and is paired with her drawing of her family’s dog, Whisky. Alexandra produced these pieces at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s 2017 Comic Con event.

Tame the beast
He’s evil
He’s destruction
Tame the beast
Get him while you can
Or you’ll be the one at fault
Tame the beast
My brother is released!

 

Molly is 10 years old and attends Williamstown Middle School. In her spare time, Molly enjoys playing softball and Minecraft.

So I know what you think —
Three 8-year-olds don’t know black history.
But we know how to write a poem in three minutes.

As we looked up Black History, we found interesting people,
Like Maya Angelou.
Maya was a poet and she fought for civil rights.
Ruby Bridges was brave enough to step foot in an all-white school.

But we’re not just here to talk about heroes in Black History.
We believe you should not judge people by their skin color,
‘cause if you do, you can miss out on knowing a nice person.

If you judge a white person because she’s white,
how do you think that will make things be equal?
Many times, people judge others by their skin color —
But you should always be kind and
judge people by what they say and what they do,
not by their skin.

Kindal Way is a third grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA. She loves to do gymnastics, sing, write and dance. She also loves to help out in the kitchen with her aunt. Emma Zubairu is a third grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA. She loves to play the piano and bake with her mom. She also loves to do gymnastics with her friend, Madison. Madison Alexander is a third grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA. She loves to do gymnastics with Emma and play with her little sister. She also loves to bake with her mom and dad and play video games with her brother.

It was not until 1947
that African Americans were allowed to play Major League Baseball.
Jackie Robinson was the first to get the call.
The Dodgers’ manager called him and said
if you want to play for us, you need to ignore what everybody else says.
So Jackie said yes, but it was hard to ignore what they yelled.
So my message, is we can all break barriers,
if we work together.
Just like Jackie!
Stand up.
Speak out.
Together, we are stronger.

 

 

Henry Wasserman is a third grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA.  He loves to play baseball and football — any sport in general — and he loves to read. He also loves math, social studies, writing and research.

 I am black,
you are white
We are the same,
we have equal rights.

 In the Declaration of Independence it says
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal,”
But at that time, it only meant white men.
Not even white women, and
Not black men or women —
Just white men.
This is unfair.
And sadly, we aren’t much better today.
We are in better shape than we used to be,
but still not 100 percent.

 It seems easy enough
to make all women and men
have the same rights,
but our country can’t get this right.
Our country can’t get it right.

 We have to accept people for who they are,
and not judge them for what they are not.
Whether you are purple, green, black or white,
come join me in this fight.
But do not fight — just unite.
Yes, do not fight, just unite.

 Unite with us:
We the people,
who don’t nod our heads to segregation and racism.
We the people,
who don’t care if you are polka-dotted or striped —
Just if you are kind and nice.

 Take Marian Anderson
She had a voice —
a voice that made people cry
in joy.
But she never got a chance
at being in a music school,
and I’ll tell you why.
The people that worked there wouldn’t accept her
because of her skin color.
How rude!
So she had to get private lessons.
Like what?!

 So, let’s stop this age of judging,
and start embracing other cultures.
We can’t stop our country from being a melting pot.
So we can’t stop our  country from being cool —
With all the different colors.
So, what are you waiting for?
Go change the world!
I said,
GO CHANGE THE WORLD!!
Oh, and by the way —
You only have three minutes.

Helen Dugan is a fourth grade student at Myers Elementary School in Elkins Park, PA.  She loves gymnastics and is on a competitive team, and she plays the guitar. She also loves to read, she loves Star Wars, she enjoys playing flag football and she has a youtube channel.

I stopped telling lies on Facebook,
to show the world who I am.
I don’t have 50-inch heels,
or hair made out of ham.

I stopped telling lies on Facebook,
I don’t have a pet T-rex.
All my pets are lies,
like the octopus named Lex.

I stopped telling lies on Facebook,
Because I know where it ends.
Lies never turn out good,
even with amends.

I stopped telling lies on Facebook,
now my account is true.
Let the world know who I am,
even if it makes me blue.

Now my page is all honest,
and I still feel good.
I never tell lies,
maybe everyone should.

My sister Abby is wonderful!
We love playing barbies together; it is so delightful.

Abby loves pigtails!
She will never take them out.
Abby will always wear pink.
She is a pink pigtail, popsicle princess.

Abby has blond hair,
but my mom thinks it’s gold.
She is very special to me because she was my first friend!
Soon, Abby will be a big sister too!

On January 12, I will have that experience all over again, but this time
Abby will have that experience with me.
I love Abby, and Abby loves me too.
No matter what, Abby will always be by my side
and I will be by hers.
This all came from my heart.

 

Skylar Wolcott is in second grade and likes art class. She started cheerleading in 2015 and is still doing it today. She loves her two sisters a lot and lives in Lindenwold, NJ.

The light sinks beneath the paved, cement floor,
as the dark appears in its emptiness,
and makes you feel oh, so sore.
In the midst of two,orange, purple and yellow rays
spread across the sky,
the cloud-like figures begin to die.
Look and listen, there’s nothing,
not a noise to be heard.
Not an echo, not a whistle
or the chirp of a bird.
Silence.
The moon, so lonely
always waiting in the sky.
He waits patiently for you to fly high.
He begins to follow and eye you as you walk.
He wants to start a conversation,
he wants to talk.
Connect the dots,
the yellow-blue, fiery dots,
as you lay to rest on your stubborn, rough sleeping cot.
An array of shapes will appear in the crisp, dark blue sky,
while you wrap up in your blankets,
staying tight and secure, with not worry on your mind.
Being wrapped up in your blankets makes it impossible to fear,
Even though you know nighttime is near.

Juwaireyeh Dorsey is a bold, free-spirited young writer. She attends String Theory Performing Arts Charter School and is currently in seventh grade. For Juwaireyeh, she finds that writing is an outlet to express herself and be herself. Therefore, poetry is her favorite style of writing. With such a bubbly and joyful personality, Juwaireyeh finds a way to include her spunk in her writing. She loves vibrant colors and artsy items and hopes to one day work in the cosmetics field.