This week the young viking writers explored odes and other poetic forms of praise. We read Lucille Clifton’s “won’t you come celebrate with me” and Chicago poet Jessica Walsh’s “When My Daughter Says I Was Never Punk.” They were then tasked with writing an ode to someone or something they want to celebrate. I’m so proud of these poets.
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“Mirror” by Wynn K.
We look to the mirror
and learn ourselves
I and my friends
We bare our hidden teeth
Things wee forgot existed
And Smile
Traits once forgotten grow back
Monkey tails and jackalope antler
Zombie tongues and howling throats
Big shots firing off
We don’t hide who we are
Blindly punk clothes
and a realization of pink
We whoop and holler
when a true belt is shown
We grow confident
in our claws and raw edges
Learning to be the animals we are
smiling unashamedly
into the mirror
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“Me” by Polina B.
I brought myself up
with the help of a single mother
having to do things on my own
carrying myself along the way.
The truth may hurt some may say,
if you want truth it’ll feel like a conk.
It will feel like a hit in the head they say.
When it comes to those deserved:
you don’t like someone, I won’t, too
stick to your side like glue
that’s how much I value you.
Being next to you is all that matters,
sitting silently, laughing, crying
by your side I will be
sums me up as the person
that brought me up.
I value you as
much as myself.
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“Car” by Sam N.
It was never discussed.
He just threw it away.
He hated it,
but I liked it.
That rattling engine,
the cracked seats,
the dent from when I hit the bus.
That shit builds character.
We drove it through the woods like a bull.
On a whim, he took it.
I never saw it again.
Now it’s one of those Euro cars.
No dents.
No Daft Punk stuck in the CD drive.
No character.
Now I’m gonna fear for my life.
I don’t want to damage it.
I wanna see it again
before it ends up in the scrap heap
metal fora better car
or a worse one.
The least he could have done was warn us.
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“Us” by Jonathan R.
Won’t you celebrate with me
The Dark Humor I repeat
celebrate that it makes people laugh
and not hurt. Sometimes a crazy drag
because of that one day I hurt you
just for saying something as true as an alibi day.
It doesn’t matter because it’s all just a big conk.
Celebrate that after all this time
we have the same connection we did the day we met
celebrate that we’re still the same.
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“What I’m proud of” by Anonymous
I’m proud of my sister, she’s as strong as a tank.
I’m proud to see my friends everyday.
They’re the funniest people I know.
I’m so proud and grateful that my
family takes care of me.
I don’t know what I’d do without them.
When I die, I want someone to celebrate my life.
