By: Perimeter School Students

At Perimeter School, we believe that the goal of education should be to bring ourselves into greater knowledge and thus greater relation to God, and our Perimeter School eighth grade students are doing just that through a creative poetry assignment they were given this year.

Reading and writing poetry helps develop important language and literacy skills. It enables students to see the endless possibilities of language in shaping expression and creating meaning. Poetry provides freedom of expression for students with metaphor, imagery, and symbolism. Being able to use language freely in this way will help students gain new perspectives on life and ordinary experiences and reflect the God-given gift of creativity.

Out of the blocks

By: Grace, Eighth Grade Student

The starter commands the runners to take their mark.
She can hear the beating of her heart.
She jumps up and down, her legs electrified.
Thinking in her head, her thoughts solidified.

She bends down, putting her hands on the red, rubber synthetic.
She shakes out her left leg, her energy kinetic.
She places her left leg in the back block
Steady like a rock.

Her right leg, giving a stretch
Her form, pretty like a sketch
Steady in the blocks, waiting for the set command
Her heart doing handstands.

The start gun goes off with a clap!
Her legs explode, out like a rattrap.
Her arms, pumping in sync
Moving fast, striving not to sink.

The dream girl

By: Esther, Eighth Grade Student

Long ago, in a previous world, a family
Fought for their life, along with their daughters.
They sacrificed everything to ensure
That their family line would survive.

Centuries later, unbeknownst to them,
A lovely family welcomed a child.
Born of brave beings, an ode to their sacrifices
Named for a queen, named for creation.

Brown hair, brown eyes, a smile to pierce the night.
Strength like a jaguar, she has no Achilles’ heel.
She will kneel to no man.
Her middle name is strength
And she is called warrior.

Named for a queen, named for creation
A girl who defied all laws and limits
She will fight to the end.
Just like her ancestors.
Wisdom is in her right hand.
Peace in her left.

Mountains

By: Reece, Eighth Grade Student

It was in the beginning, all it took was some words,
The mountains appeared with tall hills and small birds.
God’s voice blasted out a proud megaphone.
On the backs of the mountains, the trees they had grown.

All His power and His glory, He put in these hills
To show us His might and the grace of His will.
He created the animals, the wind, and the rivers.
God’s gorgeous and great, His work always differs.

He thought and thought about how He would make them.
He created them beautifully, a bright golden gem.
All creation majestically bows at His power
Everything living and non, even the smallest flower.

After He was finished with His perfect creation,
He laid back and rested and looked at His nation.
He had finished it with detail and love in His heart.
God had made the mountains, and He had done His part.