An Assortment of 6th Grade Writing:
An Autumn day
by: Andy F.
Leaves crunching, changing, falling,
plants decaying, shriveling, dying,
night taking up more of the day,
clouds push the blue skies away.
Smells of smoke fill the air,
while hats warm hair.
Trees become bare.
Birds leave for the south
as darkness falls over the north.
As leaves hit the ground,
warm cider is passed around.
Red, yellow, brown appear
as fall happens here.
Winters
by: Audrey M.
The sight of the snow falling angelically looks like a winter wonderland you see in movies. In the background, I hear the sounds of people in the kitchen getting snacks, of people talking and dogs running all around wrestling each other and fighting for toys. My grandfather is in the same place as always – the head of the dining room table on his iPad reading the news. All the while, I sit by the fire with my grandmother and cousins playing board games.
This is winter in Canada, and the best part is when there is fresh maple sap which is just sugar and water combined, but it will turn into the most majestic thing you can eat. My uncle brings the sap back from the cold, snowy outdoors with his slobbery dog who smells like grass and mud all mixed together, who comes in to get tummy rubs but just knocks people over with his tail. When my uncle starts to boil the maple sap – something he has been doing since Covid – my grandmother will start warming up milk for her hot cocoa. It’s just plain old pre-packaged cocoa, but it’s still super smooth and sweet and brown like the light brown part of a chestnut.
The first time I tried the homemade maple syrup was arguably the best day ever. It’s so sweet and sticky and the most perfect golden brown ever. My uncle who makes this beautiful substance is a freelance photographer and videographer and he wasn’t getting as many job offers at the time so he started devoting his time to bread making and maple syrup making. He doesn’t sell his syrup but just prefers to enjoy his syrup with family, where everyone pitches in to help, even if it’s just to eat it!
Later on, when it’s around four o’clock and it’s time to feed the sheep, our grandmother and I would go down to the barn to feed the sheep and the cats and pet the baby kitties that are as soft as feathers and their coat colors are as clear as the sky on a summer day. The hardest part is trying to chase down the older cats that will always run away or try to scratch you.
Once we are back from the barn we have to check on the maple syrup, but it needs about one more hour. In the meantime, we need to start making dinner…
and we always forget something at the guest house. While dinner’s cooking we have to rummage through drawers around the house for matching placemats that we have enough of so that everyone can have matching ones. Then our next problem starts when we need to have utensils because the utensils always need to be wiped down and cleaned because the dishwashers in our Canada houses are pretty terrible and never clean things properly.
Finally it’s time to have our dinner and my brother and i quickly run down the stairs that smell musty but also have a hint of freshness and a little bit of a cool smell that can’t actually properly be explained but it brings back many memories for my brother, cousins, and I. Then we have to quickly run right back to our seats after our parents have called us to come upstairs. Dinners are always a big event, our grandfather who always needs to be right. My mother and aunts and uncles will be talking about something trivial and the children will be Waiting on dessert that my grandmother has. By then it would be late but we would have to take the maple syrup off the stove and to fill the old maple syrup bottles from the past bottles of this tradition to then enjoy this delectable brown sugary, sticky and thick goop that was once just a plain clear syrup. I hope that this tradition will always stay in our family and maybe one day I will be the one that always almost burns the maple syrup.
A Rose Bush
by: Charlotte L.
The double-sided bush,
both good and bad,
both sharp and charming.
The forces fight for power.
Who will win?
The rosebush is Janus,
the double-faced Greek god,
but instead of past and future,
villain and hero.
A kind, caring bunch of petals,
centered around a narcissistic yellow circle.
they see the good in all, want to care for all,
cursed with spiky, fuming thorns.
A mean, spiteful flower,
anger and resent lingering
from sad memories,
weighed down, covered by far too optimistic petals.
When the sun rays beat down on the rooftops,
and all plants are in full bloom,
with their vibrant, screeching colors,
the rosebush, flowering,
pink, red, yellow, white, orange, purple, green,
like a new, better rainbow.
covering the green yuckiness underneath
When flakes of frozen water coat the ground,
and the animals are snoring away,
the rosebush, tinged with brown,
its dead petals littered on the grass.
And there’s only the green yuckiness left
The melodic feeling of the warm sunshine
on my body as I
swung back and forth, thinking, I’m flying,
on an inside-of-a-cucumber green swing.
I prepared to do one of my cool tricks:
jumping off the swing with my momentum.
In front of me, a rosebush,
one I’d never hit doing my trick before.
I underestimated my strength and
stumbled into the rose’s thorns.
And I swear I heard
the prickly thorns laughing!
The rancid sight of a siren,
except disguised as pure beauty,
waiting for prey.
So alluring, so pretty,
but it all conceals the
trap underneath,
like a Venus flytrap
but much more attractive.
A rosebush that
always tried to be kind.
But it was too trusting
and was eventually harvested,
just to make some hairy mammals smell better.
So it learned
and grew spikes.
Calm, nonchalant vines
and fuming destructive thorns
and cheerful, delightful rose flowers
all merged into one
to create the rosebush.
Ways of Seeing a Rose Bush
I
The double sided bush,
both good and bad,
both sharp and charming.
The forces fight for power.
Who will win?
II
The rosebush is Janus,
the double-faced Greek god,
but instead of past and future,
villain and hero.
III
A kind, caring bunch of petals,
centered around a narcissistic yellow circle.
they see the good in all, want to care for all,
cursed with spiky, fuming thorns.
IV
A mean, spiteful flower,
anger and resent lingering
from sad memories,
weighed down, covered by far too optimistic petals.
V
When the sun rays beat down on the rooftops,
and all plants are in full bloom,
with their vibrant, screeching colors,
the rosebush, flowering,
pink, red, yellow, white, orange, purple, green,
like a new, better rainbow.
covering the green yuckiness underneath
VI
When flakes of frozen water coat the ground,
and the animals are snoring away,
the rosebush, tinged with brown,
its dead petals littered on the grass.
And there’s only the green yuckiness left
VII
The melodic feeling of the warm sunshine
on my body as I
swung back and forth, thinking, I’m flying,
on a inside-of-a-cucumber green swing.
I prepared to do one of my cool tricks:
jumping off the swing with my momentum.
In front of me, a rosebush,
one I’d never hit doing my trick before.
I underestimated my strength and
stumbled into the rose’s thorns.
And I swear I heard
the prickly thorns laughing!
VIII
The rancid sight of a siren,
except disguised as pure beauty,
waiting for prey.
So alluring, so pretty,
but it all conceals the
trap underneath,
like a Venus flytrap
but much more attractive.
IX
A rosebush that
always tried to be kind.
But it was too trusting,
and was eventually harvested,
just to make some hairy mammals smell better.
So it learned,
and grew spikes.
X
Calm, nonchalant vines
and fuming, destructive thorns
and cheerful, delightful rose flowers
all merged into one
to create the rosebush.
The Australian Mystery
by: Baz C. & Kai H.
Characters
- Bob – A chicken detective who solves the mysteries for a living
- Donald – A penguin
- Jeremy – A polar bear that gets murdered
- Wyatt – A male arctic fox
- Christina – A female arctic fox
- Raul – A koala who kills Jeremy and he works at a snow cone stand
- Siri (V/o)
Scene 1: A snow-cone stand
(Lights up on a snow cone stand covered in snow at night in Sydney, Australia. It is snowing and it is cold outside. These three friends are sitting on a bench next to the stand eating their snow cones.)
Donald: These snow cones are so good!
Jeremy: I know, right? What are they made with?
Donald: Snow? What else would they be made with?
Jeremy: Hey, don’t be mean. I can be mean too, and trust me, you don’t want
that.
Donald: Doesn’t matter. You know I’m stronger than you.
Jeremy: Oh yeah? I’d like to see you prove it.
Donald: Alright then.
Raul: I can’t stand this fighting! Stop it!
Jeremy: NO! I WILL KEEP FIGHTING WITH Donald!
Raul: Alright then, on the count of 3, I need you guys to stop fighting. 3…
Donald: Stop!
Raul: 2…
Jeremy: Excuse me?
Raul: 1… Actually, do you want another snow cone? On the house.
Jeremy: Sure! This penguin won’t have any though. Hahaha
Raul: That’s fine!
Raul: Here you go!
Jeremy: Thanks! (Eats a little, then falls unconscious and takes a nap forever)
Scene 2: Bob the chicken goes to town to work
(A crowd gathers around a big spot of red liquid that weirdly looks like blood)
Bob: What happened here? Who did this?!
Wyatt: (To Christina) Why is there a chicken solving crimes? Shouldn’t he be at the farm?
Christina: Shhh, honey. He looks serious.
Bob: (Turning to the crowd) Did anyone see what happened here?
Raul: I saw it! It was Bob!
(Crowd Gasps, makes noises like “oh my”, etc.)
Bob: W-Wh-What?! I did nothing of the sort! I was coming to ask what you saw!
Don’t point fingers at me before you have some solid evidence!
Scene 3:
Raul: Hey siri. How to hide a body. (He says with a grin on his face)
Siri (V/O): According to Wikipedia you need a shovel and a tarp to…
Raul: No! Without supplies!
Siri (V/O): Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that, can you say it again?
Raul: WITHOUT SUPPLIES!
Siri (V/O): Searching for: With Lies. I found 1 result from howtoburyabody.com. You need to take the body and bury it next to a police station.
Raul: Okay, but why a police station?
Siri (V/O): LOW BATTERY PLEASE CHARGE
Raul: Ok! FINE! I guess I’ll bury it next to the police station.
Scene 4:
(Wyatt soon sees Raul carrying a big bag that seems to look like a person, or a polar bear)
Wyatt: IT WAS YOU! I ALWAYS KNEW IT WAS YOU!!!
Raul: Wait, What did I do?
Wyatt: Uuuummmmmmmmmmmm, nothing!
(Wyatt starts to slowly walk backwards towards the police station, while suddenly Bob pops out of the bushes!)
Bob: Put your paws in the air like you just don’t care!!!!
Raul: But I do care.
(BANG)
To Be Continued In 2099
Amazon Adventure
By: Adam Y.
Slip! Smash! Smack! John slips and falls through a 100 foot tree falling down smashing on branches. While John is falling he sees his friend Mack falling down below him. John sees Mack landing on a branch and reaching out his hand to try and save John. John sees the hand and grabs Mack’s hand. Mack’s sweaty hand collapses into John’s hand. Mack barely catches John with his sweaty hand and seeing the fear in his eyes, he pulls John’s hand up as hard as he can onto the big branch.
This is the story of John who is a climber and Mack both of whom have two fears: wild animals and skydiving so they decide to overcome their fears by skydiving deep into the Amazon rainforest until they get picked up at the same exact spot 6 hours later. The two friends catch their breath on the large branch and look around. Mack says “ Why did you make us come here? You could’ve got both of us killed.”John shakes his head and walks away. Mack has no trust in John to keep both of them alive until they get picked. Will John and Mack survive the Amazon rainforest?
Three weeks ago John had an idea to overcome his fear of wild animals but he was too scared to go by himself. So, he decided to bring his friend Mack who is scared of skydiving. Two friends Mack and John jump out of a helicopter and land onto a tree that looked as tall as the Eiffel tower standing at 100 feet tall.
The first thing the two friends see are many different animals and insects such as tall trees with terrifying tiny tarantulas and jaguars jogging in the jungle. Mack instantly realizes that this is a horrible idea and blames John. John responds by saying “You did not have to sign up for this but you did.”
Deep in the amazon rainforest where sloth’s swing and snakes slither, John and his friend Mack land on a tree. John climbs down the wet tree with ease because of his amazing climbing skills and experience. Mack on the other hand is not experienced and too scared to explore so he stays on the tree. Drip splash, John hears and feels the water dripping onto his head from the tall moist trees. While walking John climbs down the tree and locks eyes with 8 snakes. The snakes start to chase John but John is smart and knows that a single bite from a snake could send you straight to the emergency room. So, he decides to climb back up the tree as fast as he can to wait for the snakes to slither up the tree. Luckily for John the slithering snakes stay on the ground and slither off.
John tells Mack that the snakes are gone and that it is safe. Mack hesitates but sees that there are no animals in the distance. Mack still does not trust John but he doesn’t want to be a wimp, So the 2 friends climb down the tree and go to explore. The second they get down a camouflage crocodile 20 feet long with teeth as sharp as a knife tries to eat them with the crocodile’s mouth, but the crocodile can’t fit both of them in his mouth so they both push up as hard as they can and realize that most likely only one person is going to escape the mouth of the crocodile. So, Mack decides to escape while his friend is stuck in the mouth of a crocodile trying to save both Mack and Himself. Chomp Clamp, Mack luckily hops out of the crocodile’s mouth and runs, almost getting chomped by the crocodile’s sharp teeth.
John has no trust in Mack at all. Mack decides to look for safety and climbs back onto the big tree that they landed on. John also climbs up to the tree because he also is very scared. The 2 friends keep their distance standing on the edge of both sides of the tree. On the tree it was as slippery as ice because it rained. John was on the edge of the tree and slipped, falling down the tree smashing on branches until, seeing his friend Mack catching and holding him on a branch.
John thanks Mack for saving his life. Mack and John now both have trust in each other and become friends again. The 6 hours are over and Mack and John finally go home. Mack is happy that he overcame his fear of skydiving and now is friends with John again. John returns home full of excitement to write about his experience going to the amazon rainforest.
Ways of Seeing Ice Cream
by: Akash K.
1.
A cold treat,
So soft and sweet
2.
A cooler,
On a the sourly hot days of summer
3.
Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry
So many flavors,
All so soft and sweet,
Each different,
So hard to choose
4.
Having a perfectly sweet and cold vanilla ice cream,
The color of snow,
By a scorching hot beach as hot as the sun,
On a day as hot as the sweltering sun,
The white coldness of the ice cream,
Mixing with the scorching heat of the sun
5.
A frozen blob of cream,
Holding an evil soul within,
Too cold,
And hurts the teeth
6.
A kind hearted soul,
Saving us all,
From the fierceful heat
Friendship Bracelet
by: Audrey M.
1
First time wearing it ever
You and your friends excitement to be matching
Your bracelet being the symbol of your friendship
It’s like a string on a clothesline, holding the two parts together
2
Tanning on the beach
And wearing it in the sun could lead to a tan
But you won’t end up caring
Because your new bracelet will still be sitting perfectly clean on your wrist
Like a trophy of your friendship
2
Soaking in the ocean or pool
And the putrid feeling of getting it wet
Though you get used to it the feeling is still like a wet rag on your arm
3
The sour feeling of sand getting stuck in it
Its gritty and hard to ignore
You vigorously try to scrub it out
But you know that won’t work
You will just end up ignoring the uncomfortable feeling
4
Whether it’s pink, green , orange, or blue
It will go on many adventures with you
The colors are like a bright rainbow after rain
And it brings you happiness just like a rainbow
5
It ages with the summer
As summer progress it gets older
It’s still your keepsake and you won’t let go of it until the very end
6
And it holds memories of summer days just like a buried time capsule
And it keeps the secrets of those summer days
It feels special and like a symbol of your fun days in the sun
7
When summertime is ending it starts to itch and fade
And when it starts becoming too small you have to dreadfully cut it off
Marking an end to your summer of fun
Wagyu Wonderland
by: Baz C.
Wagyu to me is like an entirely different world ; I feel that my taste buds are dancing. To me and my family, wagyu is like the melting pot of different ingredients that brings us together to have an outstanding dinner, and it feels like my taste buds are cheering for the best Japanese food in the world. When it comes out of the oven it feels as hot as the sun and as flavorful as all the best ingredients in the entire world.
When I’m waiting to get my food at a restaurant my dad always says, “Try to starve yourself and don’t eat too much before you have your main course.” And while I’m waiting for my wagyu I can smell the amazing piece of meat and I feel that I’m right there because it smells like heaven in a pot, cooking because of the amazing aromas that I can smell. The ingredients to make this wonderful dish are mixed with butter, olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper, and that’s all I know about making the greatest steak in the world (wagyu). My mom always tells me,”The perfect steak is always made with the best ingredient which is, putting your heart and soul into the steak.” And a good technique with all steak is when you finish cooking, cut into the steak and make sure that it’s the perfect pink color.
Heaven. That’s what the first bite of wagyu wonderland is, inside your taste buds having a dance party and on the outside me and my family are saying, “That’s some good steak right there.” and then we’re all taking more bites and digging in on the best steak in the world. And some people don’t know that the secret about wagyu is the marble when it’s raw and that marble looks like a granite counter. That’s what makes this steak amazing is the marble when the steak is raw and all that marble keeps the steak nice and juicy. Plus that marble is the cool part of the steak, because no other steak has marble like A5 wagyu.
What this food means to me is, it makes me have a good feeling inside like excitement and joy. It makes me want to jump for joy.
The culture it comes from is Japan and they’re known for sushi, nigiri, ramen, and sashimi. Sushi is white rice, fish, vegetables, and it is all wrapped in nori (seaweed). Sashimi is sliced fish and nigiri is also sliced fish but with rice on top. Ramen is just steamed noodles with corn, meat, and sometimes topped with a boiled egg. Fun fact, wagyu is the most delicious cut of meat in the world.
The Japanese food culture is probably the richest when it comes to flavor, because Japan brings in spices, seafood, veggies, and meat. And one food that people love from Japanese cuisine is sushi. Sushi is filled with maybe veggies and shellfish, but every piece of sushi has white rice wrapped in seaweed. Some pieces of sushi could have crab, lobster, and maybe some avocados. Another food cuisine the Japanese created and is awesome is onigiri, onigiri is like sushi but a little different. Unlike sushi, onigiri is bigger and has some type of meat on the inside such as salmon, crab, and lobster. In my opinion tempura is one of the best Japanese foods. Tempura is fish and/or shellfish with vegetables which are fried with some type of batter and you could have them with soy sauce, ponzu, tonkatsu sauce, and mirin. Another food made and loved by the Japanese is nigiri which is raw fish that tastes just like the ocean. Also, when you come into a Japanese restaurant such as Nobu, there is no silverware, just chopsticks resting on a rock. When you get your dish at a Japanese restaurant and you get your sushi, nigiri, or sashimi, it’s not served on a regular plate, it’s served on black or white rugged plate and the food is warm and soy sauce in a teapot.
Ultimately, wagyu is the best cut of meat and tastes like a wagyu wonderland.
Ways of Seeing a Marshmallow
by: Isaac Z.
1
Bubbling like the clouds
As fluffy as hair
A marshmallow sits on my plate
2
One by one
The marshmallows fall into my mouth
Melting and dissolving as time passes
3
Warm looking powdered snow on the outside
Squeaky cotton candy on the inside
4
I held it firmly in my hand
Squished it so hard
Until, sssssss, it became a deflated balloon
But it popped back into shape.
5
Whether you eat them in one bite
Or put them in your hot cocoa
All ways are good to eat
6
Coming in different sizes
Giant ones and tiny ones
Some too big to fit in your mouth
Every size deserves a try
7
Nowadays, I never eat them or even see them
I miss their fragrant taste
And their rough, silky surface
untitled
by: Amelia M.
“Here’s your case. Do your job right or not at all.”
“Yes Sir,” Agent Nathan responded. Nathan was a 5 foot 10, brown-haired agent for the British secret government. He is about to go on his new case. He has to stop Lizzie Sparrow’s company. She has a machine that controls her employees’ minds.
“Ok. what to do, what to do…” Nathan thought out loud. “Ah! That’s it! I’ll sneak into Lizzie’s company as an employee!” Little did Lizzie know, Nathan had seen her government files, and he has a major crush on her. So, Nathen was very excited to be on a case to do with Lizzie.
“Ok. What do people at Lizzie’s company wear?” Nathan asked. “Why would I know? I only design the disguises.” Said the disguise designer in her British accent. “Fine. I’ll figure it out myself.” Nathan stated. Just then, a paper airplane soared into the room that said, “People at Lizzie’s company wear black jeans and blue polo shirts.” “Well that’s helpful.” Nathan claimed. “Good. Your disguise will be ready in one hour.” “Great. I’ll leave tomorrow morning.”
The next morning, Nathan had snuck into Lizzie’s company and started looking for the machine. “So, you’re the new guy?” an employee asked. “Yeah, I just started working here.” “Sure. Do you want me to show you around? You look lost.” “Yes! I mean, yeah sure.”
Nathan and this employee (named John) were walking around when all of a sudden Lizzie popped out of a door that read, “Do not enter.” “Hey boss. What were you doing in there?” “Oh! uhh, nothing?” Lizzie tried to excuse herself from this conversation. “Ok, well, uhh, bye I guess.” Lizzie left. All of a sudden, Nathan knew that the machine was behind that door. He needed to find a way to go in with no one seeing him.
That’s when he got his (not so) great idea. He decided that he would come back at night. At nine o clock, when work ended, Nathan stayed behind and hid in the breakroom with all the odd looking vending machines. When he assumed that everyone was gone, he went out to find the machine.
First, he took about thirty minutes to find the door. When he found it, the door was locked. Then, he decided that he would break into Lizzie’s office to try to find the keys. “What are you doing here!!” John yelled. “Umm,” Nathan answered. “I said what are you doing here!!!!” Just then, John attacked him. Nathan and John were fighting in the middle of the empty hallway. Nathan got a big blow to the face. In response, he kneed John’s stomach. This somehow did not affect him at all. Then he tried to punch John in the side of the head, but this did nothing. Just then, John grabbed hold of Nathan and brought him to Lizzie’s office.
Little did Nathan know, the door he saw Lizzie come out of was not where the machine was. As he was being dragged to Lizzie’s office, he started thinking about what would happen to him. By the time he got to Lizzie’s office, he only just started thinking about his well-being.
“Hey boss. I found this guy wandering the halls.” John told lizzie. “Well, well, well. Look who we have here. Wait, who do we have here?” Lizzie asked. “Well, this is the one and only, well, umm, wait who are you?” John asked. “I’m just an employee here at the company.” Nathan responded. “Oh yeah, then tell us what this company produces.”
Lizzie told Nathan. “Um, we produce, uhh, underwear?” Nathan guessed. “Wrong! He’s an imposter!” John screamed. “Let’s not jump to conclusions now, John.” Lizzie reassured. “If you don’t know what we sell here, you don’t work here. So why are you here? And who are you?” “I’m just a loyal employee, trying to find the mind control machine.” Nathan answered stupidly. “Good luck with that. You’ll never find the machine. How would you ever guess that the snacks in the vending machine are the mind controllers?” John just told Nathan what the machine is. And how it controls minds. “You idiot! John, you’re so stupid! Why would you tell him!?” Lizzie screamed.
“You. you will not leave this room alive. Neither of you!” Just then, Lizzie threw a dagger at John. Shing! The dagger stabbed John right in the stomach. He was gasping for air as he fell to the ground. “Your next.” Lizzie threatened. “Lizzie, please, don’t do this.” Nathan pleaded. “How do you know my name?!” Lizzie asked. “None of my employees know my name.” “That’s because I’m not one of your employees.” Nathan responded. “Then who are you!!” Lizzie demanded.
“I, I, well.” Nathan tried to respond. “Answer me or you never will!” “Ok, ok. I’m a spy. I have a case to try and stop your company.” “Why?” “Because you take control of your employee’s minds!” That was one step too far. Nathan should not have yelled at lizzie. She got so mad, she tried to throw another dagger at him. He somehow dogged it. “Lizzie, please, I love you!” “What?! I barely even know you. You barely even know me!” lizzie screamed. “Yes, but I’ve seen your criminal files! Although, you do look a little different in person.” “What? I don’t have any criminal files. Wait. Stop. What do you think my last name is!?” “Robinson, obviously.” “You moron! My last name is Sparrow!” “What!? How?” Just then Nathan came to his senses. “No, you mean this whole case I’ve been working on is at the wrong company!” “Yep. and since I have no criminal records, no one will suspect I killed you!” “No! Please! Lizzie, don’t do this!” It was too late. Lizzie had already thrown the knife. Nathan was now dead. Laying on the ground. The knife had stabbed him right in the chest. All of a sudden, 10 agents barged in from nowhere. Lizzie tried to fight back, but there were too many of them. The agents arrested Lizzie and had a huge funeral for Nathan. They also shut down Lizzie’s company and set all the employees free.
untitled
by: Georgia Anne E.
Sometimes when entering middle school or any new place in general it can be scary, some even dread the thought of it. I would like to explain to all of you future middle schoolers out there that it doesn’t have to be so scary. To help reassure your nerves there’s nothing better than being prepared for what to expect. And I don’t just mean academically, You also have to be emotionally prepared for starting middle school. As all the kids are starting to develop more, sometimes people’s emotions can get out of control or their personality’s start to change. Deep down they are the same kids, but now they have to become more mature and take on more responsibility, so that eventually they can learn and grow. Despite the changes Elementary students could be excited to open up a new chapter in their life’s that is middle school.
Ways of Seeing a Spider
by: Nolan P.
I
A vibration shakes my web;
I know I’ve snagged my dinner.
I greedily devour the juicy morsel,
my fangs screaming red.
II
I fly blindly,
straight into the trap.
My end is near.
I’m wrapped in silk,
my coffin lid sealed.
III
Spider!
A wave of fear washes over me
My skin becomes pale as the sky before a storm,
My breaths become shallow.
IV
I think spiders are helpful,
they have good souls inside,
but their hair-raising shell
Is just not beautified.
V
I watch the spider carefully,
Waiting for a time to strike.
Bam! It drops dead.
Splattered burgundy against the white mattress.
No more spiders in the bed.
VI
My wood insides are booming
with the silk that they make.
Their favorite home
right next to the lake.
VII
I am born from the weavers,
as a thin but strong thread.
I am used to weave
An intricate spread.
VIII
I remember back on that salty summer day
when I finally came alive.
The world was full of unknown dangers.
Rich, Creamy Hazelnut & Cocoa Spread
by: Archie A.
1
A favorite for many kidsA sauce/spread on many things
2
The comforting rich, creamy, cocoa smell
That makes you want to have a sneaky secret tasTE
3
Every time i eat it, It reminds me of my childhood
Where i would put it on anything and everythingI could possibly think of
4
It has many options for putting It on something
such as a waffle Drizzled
to where you can barely see the squares anymore
5
Or even a dipping for a toasty cinnamon churro
that’s as soft as freshly fallen snow,
which tastes like a whole new level of heaven
6
A parent’s worst nightmare,
When they say only a little to the kid
And they end up going crazy
7
The pill to a never ending
sugar rush
8
A forever Favorite snack,
To where you don’t even think what you want
9
A breakfast, lunch and dinner,
Dream of a kid
10
A secret spoonful
That your parents Will never know about
11
The happy sight
Of nutella spread everywhere
12
The cozy taste
Of warm hazelnut
A Scoop of Delight
by: Fiona Y.
Last summer, my family and I went on a vacation in Italy for two weeks. During that trip, I fell in love with a special, delicious treat, made the best in Italy- gelato. Hearing about it, I have always thought, It’s probably no different from the regular ice-cream we eat here at home. But surprisingly, gelato made that summer unforgettable.
Throughout our visit in Italy – Florence, Rome, Venice, and Milan – I enjoyed each city, museum, and scenic place. Even though the summertime sun was beating down on us and the heat was intense, I walked around each of the cities, immersing myself in the spectacular sites, ancient ruins, and distinctive museums. No matter where I went, there were always tiny shops along the main street to explore. Ahead I saw GROM, a gelateria, with bright, yellow lights and delicate, jingling bells hanging on the front door. Through the front glass, I could see the various flavors, colorful and placed next to each other in shiny, gold tins, the scoops dispensed into either a bowl, a cone, or a sundae glass, shaped with exquisite spirals. Most of the flavors were ones that I’d never heard of, ranging from seasonal regional fruits and local nuts to herbs and even spices, such as wasabi and saffron.
I picked a pale, lilac-tinted lavender and a vibrant, rosy peach in a tall cone. As I bit down into the crispy, hazelnut cone, the sun was starting to set, depicting vibrate shades from bubble gum and pink lace to the hazy lavender mixed with shades of periwinkle.
Standing in front of the Fontana Di Trevi in Rome, with its glistening, Prussian waters and faint reflection, holding a gelato in one hand, I looked around. At the sight of so many people eating this treat, I felt as if gelato was a unique greeting, only found in Italy. This frozen dessert greeted all the visitors, just like local Italians welcomed us warmly everywhere we went. Their hospitality was symbolized by gelato’s colorful appearance and creamy, delicious texture, bringing us a special impression of Italy in the sultry summer of 2023.
Stay School Chair, Stay
by: Cecelia F.
I sit in a chair
I stay in a chair
I cannot adjust the chair
“Don’t lean back”
“Stop rocking”
“Stay in your chair”
Like a punishment
Do they mean for it to be mean?
Or relaxing?
Or do they not care?
Every day I sit in my chair
Assigned to not move,
to not make a sound
Just to “Sit in your chair”
And all will be well.
But if I cannot adjust
All will be lost
No longer want to learn
Why come here at all?
Nothin can stop it
Nothing will work
Just stay in your
“And all will be well”
Ways of Seeing Snow
by: Charlie M.
1.
A vast large snow storm,
bringing fresh snow to play in
2.
The snow is silently white,
And it goes on forever.
3.
The snow, dry like sand yet wet like water,
But not a mix,
Is the most beautiful thing.
4.
Stuffing my face in the sugary snow from exhaustion
After marching up the giant, endless hill with my sled,
Over and over again, because it was worth it.
5.
Skiing through fresh powder,
Sliding on clouds.
6.
hundreds of gentle crystals,
Floating down to join their friends.
7.
Me and my siblings running outside,
Grabbing our sleds and throwing screaming snowballs,
Laughing our heads off when we get hit,
or when we jump on each others sleds,
Having the time of our lives
untitled
by: Faye F.
A few years ago I remember spending a few weeks at a lake house in Connecticut that was owned by a famous chef. At this house, there was a HUGE pizza oven made out of stone that we would make pizzas in every night. I remember bonding with my family, experimenting with different dough recipes and kinds of pizzas. Eating the pizza felt like I stepped into a different universe, with the crunchy, chewy crust, and the soft doughy inside. It reminded me of being on the lake, tubing, sunset boat rides, and water skiing. It made me feel like I was at my happy place, the lake. Coming back to the future, a year ago we actually bought our own pizza oven, (not as big), but we knew we had a lot of memories coming.
Prepping the pizza was always my favorite step to making pizza. My mom typically made the dough, it was always so soft and fresh. Making the dough was the longest part because we had to let it sit for at least 5 hours, but as they say good things take time! Sometimes I would even help her with the dough, but it always ended in my hands being sticky. Then my favorite part was the toppings. When the dough was almost finished my dad started making the toppings for our pizzas. We would have fresh mozzarella, marinara sauce, chicken, barbecue sauce, pesto, chicken sausage, pineapple, bacon, basil, you name it! One of my favorite things is that we each got to make our own pizza, and eventually we would share all our pizzas and try each other’s pizzas. After we were finished making our own pizzas we would put them in the hot oven and I could hear the mesmerizing crackles of the fire. When we put the pizzas in the oven it would only take a few minutes, because the temperature would get to 800-900 degrees Fahrenheit. When they were finished cooling off my mom would cut them into small slices and put them on a plate and when I heard my parents call “Dinner” I knew it was time for a yummy meal.
After our whole family sat around the table it was time to dig in. I picked up a piece of margarita pizza and dug in. It was the perfect amount of crunch and doughiness with the sweet and salty marinara sauce that can make anyone’s mouth drool. I savored all the flavors in my mouth wishing it would never stop. The feeling of eating pizza in the summer time with the sun glaring on your back is top tier. Before I knew it I chowed down on so many slices of pizza, with a variety of more sweet pizzas, to more salty, all of them being just right. My favorite pizza that I make though has to be my barbecue chicken, because the sweetness of the sauce and the saltiness of the chicken, make my taste buds dance. If I had to eat one food for the rest of my life it would definitely be pizza because there are lots of different textures and flavors that make you keep eating it.
In Italy, where pizza was made during lunch and dinner is the time they get to sit down and get into deep conversations with their loved ones, normally when they are having a meal it takes them hours to finish, that is because instead of the average Americans who just sit down, eat and leave, they head into long conversations and talk about how their lives are going. They actually bond with each other and spread joy with one another. That reminds me of when I eat pizza with my family. It’s one of the only moments of the week where we talk about our weeks and how we’re doing, so it’s really meaningful to me. Also we typically only make pizza in the summer, so it celebrates that summer is starting and who doesn’t love summer? All in all to me pizza definitely means more to me than just a food, it’s about friends and family.
Mankind.
by: Amy C.
Monstrous, mad and malevolent
Atrocious, ambitious, attention seekers
Needy, nasty naughty
Killers, kindness is rare
Intelligence; common
Never challenge, they will win
Doomed us all.
untitled
by: Michael C.
Fire crackling strongly, leaves turning slowly and inevitably,
the cool breeze against my skin prickling, burning, yet pleasant,
ash piled up in a pillar of the once-proud, trees barren and deprived of their previous glory,
the harsh winter wind attacking me.
All comes to an end, all slips away, nothing escapes the pull of time.
In months’, now weeks’, now only a days’ time
autumn’s beauty will slip away.
Bright green full of youth,
yellow, orange, and red of admirence,
then brown and… nothing.
Kindling being set the beginning of a soon-roaring force,
flames like a lion’s mane growing like they’ll never end
The singing of songs, exchanging of stories, and roasting of marshmallows with love in the air, then… nothing
Naught escapes nothing, all’s beauty is truly shown when reduced to naught
The roaring fires’ orange, red, and blue fury
only truly gazed at in the right light
when reduced to a pillar of black and gray powder
a shadow of its once bright light
The prideful trees who cling on till the end,
are only respected once the battle lost
Death, end, naught
Never escaped
Life, Beginning, all
Beauty only revealed when one with death
Immigration, the Islamic revolution, and most importantly, Tachin!
by: Hayes K.
Before me, before you, before this school, there was Tachin. Passed down from generation to generation, it eventually landed in the somehow fire-retardant hands of Mamman, my grandma. Tachin is not just a food, but for my Persian side, Dad’s side, it’s a symbol of family. Hailing from Iranian cuisine, Tachin is a shining star of Persian culture.
When Mamman first moved with her kids, life was starkly different than what they were used to. Tehran is a hustling, bustling city, while the only thing hustling in Westchester are posh moms late for their kid’s soccer games. Tehran had vibrant colors all around the city, while the most vibrant colors in Westchester were the stop signs and speed bumps…On the street in Tehran, you can find many cultural delicacies, like kabob, or saffron rice, emitting aromas like no other, drawing you in.… In America, the only things close to Iran’s street food are the cruddy Sabrett hot dogs, and the spicy nuts that aren’t actually spicy. (“Ghost pepper”? Yeah right.) Tachin is a blissful reminder of Iran, and a blissful reminder of foods that aren’t obscenely processed. These days, the only thing you hear about in the news is that Iran has nukes, Iran helps Hamas, Iran is evil, but next to nobody focuses on the cultural side of Iran, which is beautiful. If you ever go to Iran, you’ll find that the hospitality of the Iranian people is unmatched by almost anyone on the planet, even your grandparents! At the forefront of said hospitality is Tachin, and if it is offered to you, be very grateful, as Tachin uses saffron, which is more expensive per ounce than gold!
The preparation of a Tachin is one of the most difficult cooking exercises to master.
For the rice, a mixture of egg, yogurt, oil, and saffron is best, though Tachin can be made with lots of ingredients if needed. Vegetarian Tachin can be made, but chicken is at the heart of the dish. As it is being crafted by my grandmother’s lovely hands, you can smell this aromatic dish from all around the house. The sizzle on the pan of the chicken is soothing, as it says that you’re home, you’re fine, you’re with family, and the steam from the rice cooker is all the more aromatic with the saffron. Now let me walk you through what happens pre – Tachin, mid – Tachin, and post – Tachin; The first stage is waiting. Family members mingle and chow down on appetizers provided by the cook herself, Mamman. The smell of Tachin fills the room, making room in our once – full bellies for the main event, Tachin. The second stage is when a sharp voice pierces through the chewing and conversation. “Tachin’s ready!,” sings Mamman in her Persian accent, never fully accustomed to America. An air horn simultaneously goes off in our minds and the race is on! Greedy hands rustle onto the counter, ready to strike the moment the Tachin is placed down, a hunt for the best part of the Tachin, the Tadig. Crunchy, warm, and flavorful are words best used to describe Tachin, but tasting it is essential to understanding why it is so special. In a world of burgers, fried chicken, and chips, Tachin is just the thing you need to remind yourself about the outside world.
Now, back to the dinner. The Tachin is not served, per se, but exhibited, like a piece of art, the centerpiece of the once – empty dining room table. As soon as it is put down, a flurry of hands whiz from all areas, determined to grab the biggest piece of Tadig they can find, furiously dropping Tadig onto their plates, the plates themselves pieces of art, inscribed with eye – catching design.
The room is dimly lit, but spirits are high, and eyes are bright, as the older men shout in Farsi, playing the board game Catan. ( Board games & food? What’s not to like?) A loud CRRUNNCHH!!! echoed through the dining room as hungry diners take their first bite, all the while Mamman smiling at her handiwork. The taste is unlike anything else, meaty, chewy, crunchy, unami, savory, and more.In retrospect, Tachin isn’t just a food, it is the centerpiece of family gatherings, and is a key part of our family’s tradition, and it is loved and valued by all in our family. The best taste in a food is Family.
Homemade Haiku
by: Will A.
Brown and gold, crunchy,
Cinnamon deliciousness,
Warm to the touch, sweet.
Honeycrisp, Braeburn,
Gala, Granny Smith, Fuji,
Bubbling warmth, scrumptious.
Bursting flavor, rich
Sugary cubes of apple,
Flakey thick crust, joy.
Ice cream, vanilla
Atop oven-baked goodness,
Melting cold in heat.
Sugar aroma
Surrounding all, inviting
Family moments.
Apple pie, delight
Thanksgiving pleasures for all
Oh the memories.
Ways of Seeing a Pen
by: Hugo K.
1.
A device used to
Put ink on paper
Nothing more
Nothing less
2.
The almighty creator
Master of infinite universes
Housed in paper and ink
No wonder black is the color
Of the dark, mysterious expanse of the cosmos
Absent of shimmering, beautiful light
But full of hope
It is the color of infinity
3.
Where the quiet black ink flows out of
A booming voice
Without making a sound
4.
The god of knowledge
Passing ink, it’s liquid form
Onto paper
For all to see
5.
The god of chaos
Cause of blood–– soaked war, and skies darkened with ash
Fought against by entire nations
Revered by ours
6.
The primary weapon
Of so many greats
Making justice and freedom
With simple sour words
Whilst not shedding a miniscule drop of of human blood
Just the blood of creativity, ink
Ways of Seeing Alder Trees
by: Kai H.
I
One single tree
in a forest of thousands
II
A middle name
A first name
A last name
III
A firestarter
killing
thousands
IV
their ashes
fertilizer for millions
V
Leaves cluttering the yard
like an infestation
VI
A home
in many nooks and crannies
bees in a colony
sitting on a branch
making honey
owls in a nest
way up high
in their bed for the day
VII
Paper, flat , thin
rectangular
so different from a tree
but cut from the same cloth
VIII
born anew every spring
just like a phoenix
IX
a helpful friend
giving life-sustaining fluid
to someone in need
X
A silent aroma of spring
wafting all around the meadow
X
The bark
like a protective shield
fortifying it from outsiders
XII
A texture like a mountain
with fissures and whalebacks
rising and falling
like a pod of gray whales
swimming up the length of the trunk
XIII
The floral sound of an alder
swaying in the salty-smelling breeze
A Thought
by: Xander W.
Thoughts swirl around in my head
all types of times, like before bed.
Or, after dawn, thoughts when you yawn.
What could it be, thoughts of glee?
Or stumbling sadness that drives you to madness?
What could these thoughts be about artistic ideas,
music and fears, or screams and shouts? What could they be about?
That’s what’s in a thought you see, a jumping riddle that no one can see.
