Tanka 短歌

and

Haiku 俳句

Poetry

Ms. Coyne’s

7th Grade Core Classes

June 2015

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 2

Cherry blossom tree

Clouds of white and pink

Fragrant flower smell

Outside my window in spring

Pure, peaceful serenity.

-- Ramón Aguilar-Arizmendi

Spring track and field

Large tree with many branches

Leaves gently whisper.

-- Ramón Aguilar-Arizmendi

Rain splashes down

Dancing on the thirsty earth

A song is sung now

The shaking song of the rains

Can it sing into my heart?

--Sam Allen

Cackles at the fire

That leaps about in a hearth

What is so funny?

Why does the fire make this sound?

This crackling, little fire voice.

--Sam Allen

When the sun sets here

It paints hills with golden light

Turning them a hue

Far more precious to my heart

Than any true gold could be.

--Sam Allen

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 3

Why do people fight?

Is it a survival urge?

Trying to help us?

We have changed far too quickly

For our nature to keep up.

--Sam Allen

Crickets chirp tonight

A symphony of insects

Wonders of nature

That we should strive to enjoy

Free concerts are hard to find.

--Sam Allen

The river flows by

Knocking at the door of land

It seems very calm

But also had great danger

Pushing onward to the sea

--Sam Allen

Dust blows from dry fields

Is that the despair of earth?

To blow dry ever?

No, in fall, rains blow again

And then all land shall rejoice.

--Sam Allen

I cannot see time

That shall blow on distant shores

Or know what happens

To those that sail from my sight

But perhaps I will dream it.

--Sam Allen

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 4

Rain blows on the peak

Washing over ashen slopes

What is the cause here?

A senseless battle for naught

None shall win in this anguish.

--Sam Allen

Beauty lies inside

Shouting through an eagle’s eye

Shining bright within

And burning outward ever

Can anyone really see?

--Sam Allen

Look me in the eye

And see if you say again

That I do not know

Why I have been against you

And you evoke rage in me.

--Sam Allen

The truth in this world

Just as in any other

Can be hard to find

If you don’t know where to look

You must consider them all.

--Sam Allen

A flower blooms bright

But it will be gone quickly

What do I imply?

That which is best shall soon leave

And should be seen while it stays.

--Sam Allen

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 5

Are you breathing now?

Is there breath inside of you?

Then you have something.

Never waste any you have

It could leave any day.

--Sam Allen

If you wish to have

More than you already do

Think of changing now

How you use what you hold to

And you’ll find that you have more.

--Sam Allen

Finding what you want

Is not what you expected

Small thing, and simpler

You’ll find are more than you thought

More than more, and more, and more.

--Sam Allen

A fire that burns high

Can burn what you thought was grandstable

But when the ash falls

Strong new shoots come from the ground

Growing back the old forest.

--Sam Allen

When I see waves crash

Upon the rocks of the land

I compare to war

The endless push of the tide

An unwilling fight continues.

--Sam Allen

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 6

The spring floods have come

In the whispering waters

I cannot cross now.

--Sam Allen

When the fall changes

The leaves to vibrant colors

They then quickly die.

--Sam Allen

A Hawk in Four Seasons

Spring

The spring has come now

Bringing things to life again

I’ll go stretch my wings.

Summer

Ah, the sun and heat

That summer has now brought me

A big fat gopher.

Fall

The cold is coming

And fall turns leaves to colors

Brightening my hunt.

Winter

The winter and cold

Where has all of my food gone?

I think I will rest.

--Sam Allen

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 7

Listen to the wolf

Howling in the winter storm

A sad song of loss?

--Sam Allen

Distant melody

A bright summer meadowlark

Sings up to the sky.

--Sam Allen

The summer is hot.

The sun is always shining.

The blue sky is clear.

The gentle breeze is cooling.

I wish it would last always.

--Patrik Baker

The tree is cool white

The wood looks so soft and young

I am sad it died.

--Patrik Baker

I awake to light

The sun shines bright in the sky

I get up and walk

So many miles

A state of weakness.

--Cade Clary

The trees with brown leaves

Snow fills the sky full with white

The night is quiet.

--Cade Clary

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 8

The leaves are orange

The birds sing songs of the day

Then night comes, and quiet.

--Cade Clary

Trees sway in the breeze

The birds sing songs of the day

Night comes and silence.

--Cade Clary

Jagged peaks loom here

Stumble up the face ahead

Perpetual climb

Triumph fills my blood and veins

Descent begins in earnest.

--Ruby Donaghu

Clouds appear so dark

Thunder claps boom overhead.

Will the bolts strike me?

Am I completely safe here?

The sun will rise brightly again.

--Ruby Donaghu

So cold it is now

Snowflakes drift toward winter’s floor

They bring with them joy.

--Ruby Donaghu

Heat rises in waves

Cool water laps at my skin

Summer beckons me.

--Ruby Donaghu

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 9

My dying wishes

Are my most amazing things

The blossoms call me

To my starting places here

And the lights closing around

--Bjorn Dyer

Splish, splash, car goes crash

Involuntary swimming

Summer dries my bones.

--Bjorn Dyer

River flowing in

The background. The sun is

Glowing bright. Dust in

The horizon. The shining

Glow fails to be beaming.

--James Ericson

Water falling kids

Laughter is in the background

Blue sky with sunblock.

--James Ericson

The stream flows silent

The cherry blossom tree drinks

I sit down and watch

There is nothing I can do

The great emperor shall die.

--Connor Evans

Snow falls silently

The sky, a menacing grey

Daring you to come.

--Connor Evans

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 10

Plums are in blossom.

The trees are awakening.

The springtime is here.

Beware of rain in Portland.

No matter what, we have fun.

--Mia Ewell

In the summer breeze

Colorful flowers bloom quick

The sun goes down slow.

--Mia Ewell

Consider nature

Some people have opinions

Not everyone knows

I think space is natural

Serene, frightening, beauty.

--Aaron Freedman

My life, worth living

Spending days in the forest

Sorrow, all must go

Disappear in front of me

Nothing here now, all must go.

--Aaron Freedman

The pain in his eyes

The same as the pain in mine

For we are different

Maybe we will meet later

Or maybe not, but we laugh.

--Aaron Freedman

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 11

For I am not here

But if I were, maybe

I would get along

But here I hide, in the folds

Sit here, all but forgotten.

--Aaron Freedman

My life is sad

But yours doesn’t have to be

Rejoice in the bells

You go out into the world

And maybe I will go, too.

--Aaron Freedman

What you say about

My poems, they are too dark

It is only life

This is how I deal with mine

And you can only do yours

--Aaron Freedman

Wherever you are

You will read this history

Not in the place I sat

And my words might reach to you

And only I will be blessed.

--Aaron Freedman

An old man speaking

Sitting in the wood forest

Better days have gone.

--Aaron Freedman

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 12

The crickets chirping

Eating fallen crumbs of food

Like people eating candy

Always hungry, never enough

People eat sweets like crickets.

--Kaleb Garity

Sitting here listening

Waiting for the glorious bell

We are like a hive

Waiting for the queen’s orders

We are like a bee’s nest.

--Kaleb Garity

The jumping crickets

Flying in the summer sun

Dying all too soon.

--Kaleb Garity

Watching the rain fall

Reflection in the water

Bittersweet longing

Dreaming of a better place

Witnessing dawn grow full.

--Olivia Geist

Long tentacles move

Shutting out the world with ink

Fitting in small holes.

--Olivia Geist

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 13

The cherry blossoms

Awakened by the sunlight

Their scented flowers

Moving in the gentle breeze

Bringing me hopes of summer.

--Sophia Geist

Flowers in the spring

Planting, growing, blossoming

Their pretty petals.

--Sophia Geist

Blossom on the tree

Falling, dying, wilting thing

On the rock it clings

No water to drink to see

A tiger runs by to sip.

--Walker Greene

Snow slams into glass

Inside, I’m warm from fire

Outside I am cold.

--Walker Greene

A small glass bottle

Holding a special message

To travel by sea

Destination is unknown

Quite a journey it will have

--Angelica Hatziyannis

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 14

Pink cherry blossoms

Slowly falling from their branches

Scattered through the fields

Dancing softly in the breeze

Beautifully delicate

--Angelica Hatziyannis

Waves crash on the shore

Darkness replaced by dawn

Birds chirp melodies

----Angelica Hatziyannis

As blue as the sea

As bright as the ocean floor

My life is a storm

The smell of love makes me shake

My strange life is magical.

--Lanaireoje Hayes

The bright sun is out

Bathing suits and swimming pools

It’s time to party!

--Lanaireoje Hayes

The chirps overhead

Soft swaying while being pushed by wind

Green leaves fall gently

The golden sunbeams ground

Summer heat, never warmer.

--Fiona Herron

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 15

The soft, drumming rain

Pit, pat, pit, pat, pit, pat, pit

I look out the window

Puddles start to collect here

But I wait inside.

--Fiona Herron

Lies drive all stories

White lies create happiness

Normal lies break friends

Lies are wanted and hated

But yet lies are never needed.

--Fiona Herron

Rain on my window

Autumn’s coldness slows us down

Waiting for the warmth.

--Fiona Herron

Spring trees bloom rare

Pale pinks, bright green, gorgeous red

Sun shines upon us.

--Fiona Herron

The tree stands up tall

The leaves flow with the light breeze

Brown bark falls off

Many others will compete

It provides paper for us.

--Kyle Ho

Trees sway with the wind

Leaves turn orange in fall

Fall into the earth.

--Kyle Ho

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 16

The beautiful trees

They fuel the fire of life

That warms body and heart

Fiery humans build factories

Smog and death upon the lands.

--Carter Johnson

Fall is here and cold

The frog is gray and lifeless

Soon the frost will come.

--Carter Johnson

It is brown and green

Textured rough, also sappy

Kids play with the leaves

People watch branches falling

Trees are fun through all seasons.

--Charlie Knott

The rain is falling

The flowers are starting to

Grow all their petals.

--Charlie Knott

Nature is so green

The city is a sad gray

Life is dark blue

Many people in the world

But there is no one like you.

--Juan Lázaro

White snow falling

Winter is here right now

The cold has returned.

--Juan Lázaro

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 17

A sweet-smelling rose

Prickly thorns and long-leafed stem

Petals all around

Light reddish sunset color

Blissful romance.

--Judy Lewis

A cherry blossom

Baby pink and deep fuchsia

Sweet serenity.

--Judy Lewis

Light shines down on me

Blossoms shine in the night

White color of light

I smell the greatest berries

In a flash it turns to dream.

--Hudson Longaker

Pink blossoms shine bright

Ice melts in the heat

The sky is blue.

--Hudson Longaker

Summer is now here

The sun is very warming

The sky is bright blue.

--Hudson Longaker

The sky is bright blue

It is passed, I shoot the ball

The green grass trips me

I hear the ball slowly roll away

A white blue goes through the orange.

--Kate Loop

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 18

Dark black eating away

The sky turns red, not a pink

Why won’t it be blue?

A force of madness rises over

No way to escape, only to stay.

--Kate Loop

Snow falls from the sky

A white glow shines on the trees

No sound comes from this.

--Kate Loop

Hot sun is shining

Reddish sunburns soon to come

Ice cream in the park

All my friends playing soccer

Summer is the best.

--Lirit Lucero-Bair

Baby seal, there you lie

Stranded on a beach to die

Baby seal, please, why, oh, why

Head back to water and live

Live in the ocean, do not die.

--Jake Melville

When the wind blows hard

The leaves will all off the tree

Summer is now over.

--Jake Melville

The swift and smart fox

Looks here and there for its food

Scampering up trees

Fiery, orange fur.

--Marcos Mercado

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 19

Winter in Portland

Dark clouds bring steady rainfall

Cold feeling inside.

--Marcos Mercado

Bland. Boring. Dull. Gray.

I could tell you I love it.

I don’t like to lie.

Out through the glass, city streets.

All so happy. In a daze.

--Steijha Meserole

Her pearly white teeth

She knows she is everything

The clouds. Wispy, fake.

Puts her feet up, no worries.

Those green things buy everything.

--Steijha Meserole

Your misogyny

I dislike your way of thought.

Dehumanizing.

Objectifying.

Your sexism is not cool, bro.

--Steijha Meserole

Summer happiness.

Family, friends. Hot-swim-cool.

Laughing, food, happy.

--Steijha Meserole

Spring is where sun comes.

Bounces from the clouds like spring.

Hopes rise for summer.

--Steijha Meserole

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 20

Beautiful tulips

Wavy dancing side to side

The pretty flowers

Smell like breezy nice weather

I hear the swoosh of the wind

--Samrana Munye

Hot summer day

The strong rays shine in my eyes

The warm sun surrounds me.

--Samrana Munye

Slowly traveling

Under the red cherry trees

Avoiding the crunch

The ever evasive prey

Swimming, swimming, swimming, crunch!

--Jackson Nevin

The fish swims upstream

Into the winter ocean

Only to be caught.

--Jackson Nevin

Javier the cold

Peaceful, black, white, grass, creature

Munching on wet food

Delicious, yummy, greasy

Prancing around the garden.

--Ashley Neukamm

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 21

The peaceful meadow

Quietly snapping photos

Blossom petals fan

Stone cold ground, enter the park

Learn the secret; then never leave.

--Ashley Neukamm

The mountain peak shines

Snowy footprints mark the way

Howling of the wolves

Stepping on the stone pathway

Leading me to my future.

--Ashley Neukamm

The beautiful snow

Prancing in the wanderlust

Sky swirling above.

--Ashley Neukamm

Trapped in scenery

Petals falling from above

Now dead on the ground.

--Ashley Neukamm

I sit and I wait

I can hear the wind moving

It is coming soon

All I see is the darkness

It’s in the blink of an eye.

--Cormac O’Hagan

Shadow on the ground

It looks so familiar

Now too cold to see.

--Cormac O’Hagan

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 22

The sand burns your feet

Oceans crash in the distance

The ice cream cone melts

Beach balls float to the blue sky

People laugh as they run.

--Quinn Olivadotti-Peters

Snow falls on the ground

The trees sparkle in the light

Skies turn blue again.

--Quinn Olivadotti-Peters

Water falling down

People running for cover

Zap, green to brown, dead

Burning to the ground, to dust

Spreading through land, smooth to rough.

--Jack Pedersen

Leaves fly over the

Pond where the frog jumps around

And the fish swim, too.

--Jack Pedersen

The beginning starts

Little white cherry blossoms

Blooming gracefully

Growing slowly every day

Into this beautiful world.

--Tiana Pham

Colors red and brown

Autumn winds whip around us

Leaves fall so slowly.

--Tiana Pham

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 23

Light gray fluffy fur

Small soundless paws with white trim

Like a shadowed tree

Perfect little ears and nose

Smells like a cool, fresh rain … cat.

--Lauren Polte

Red, orange, yellow

Bright, colorful, crunchy leaves

Loud, happy people.

--Lauren Polte

Green, color of life

Many shades of each season

Vibrant branches sway

Gently they capture my eyes

Add freshness to a new day.

--Daniel Prigodin

Color of jet blue

It is one I like, it’s true

It’s blue but better

It astounds the mind and eyes

It will show with great surprise

--Daniel Prigodin

Leaves changing seasons

Pumpkin pie, apple cider

Visions of autumn

--Daniel Prigodin

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 24

Flash of blue-gray steel

Megalon shark swims forward

Looking for its prey

Hundreds of jagged-sharp teeth

Cut like cold daggers.

--Ulyses Sanchez-Barrios

Happy and playful

Light brown, snow-white, and puffed gray

Pomeranian.

--Ulyses Sanchez-Barrios

Chickens run under

The trees. This is what it was

Like, before the day

When the farmers came and took

Them away for the feasting.

--Griffin Schmitt

Forty-two, the one

Answer to life some say, but

I say that anyone

Who says that is a lying

Fraud, and a witch, burn, burn them!

--Griffin Schmitt

The majestic crane

Flies through the sky, lands in the

Swamp. Hunts for its food.

--Griffin Schmitt

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 25

A dying flower

Wilting because of one thing

It lacks hydration

Just a tiny bit thirsty

Wishing it had some water.

--Connor Schulz

A tree flowers bright

Spreading like the summer heat

Petals are flying.

--Connor Schulz

Pretty autumn leaves

Bright orange, red, and yellow

Crisp and clean fall air

Leaves falling all around us

Waiting for winter to start.

--Ella Shanahan

Snow falling slowly

Drifting so beautifully

Quiet and peaceful.

--Ella Shanahan

Beautiful mountains

Rivers with ice-cold water

Crisp cold snow

Tall trees everywhere with frost

White sparkly snow everywhere.

--Zoe Simmons

Crazy winter ice

Snowmen standing untouched

The spring is coming.

--Zoe Simmons

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 26

Sitting by a pond

Thinking of a life beyond

Getting grades and scores

Clouds, trees, lakes, and the birds’ songs

This world is where I belong.

--Thomas Stabler-Kerr

Stumbling, rotting corpse

Collapsing under summer

Drags me to the void.

--Thomas Stabler-Kerr

My black fuzzy slug

Black with enormous white spots

Tongue sticks out of mouth

Moving gracefully all around

Loves to eat food, drink water.

--Tillie Stoner

Warm white summer room

Playing outside all day long

Sleepover always.

--Tillie Stoner

Cats are amazing

Many cast can see in blue and red

Some cats climb trees

Rarely any cats cannot kill spiders

Cats are amazing creatures.

--Thomas Taylor

The snow falls down on

Plush land below the sky’s light

A cold winter’s night.

--Thomas Taylor

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 27

Happy Ramona

Always waddles through the house

Bringing big smiles

A dog under the table

Trying to find food to eat.

--Veronica Thede

The tide is full out

With the sound of gulls and waves

A big shark swims by.

--Veronica Thede

Love is like blossoms

No one can understand it

Blossoms can die fast

If you never felt love

Be glad that you didn’t yet.

--Maria Tran

Winter is here now

Be prepared for the coldness

It will be the best.

--Maria Tran

The chirping crickets

Running water, flowing by

Tree blossoms of blue

A beautiful evening

As the orange summit sun sets.

--Owen Traw

The chirping crickets

Basking, humming in the sand

Not knowing what waits.

--Owen Traw

Tanka and Haiku Poetry: Ms. Coyne’s 7th Grade Core Classes, June 2015 - 28

The air smells sweet here

Like birds in the air

The sun is shining

The sky is blue, I feel joy

Is this kind of joy good?

--Aaron Young

A dandelion

Vibrant yellow with green stem

Picked but unwanted.

--Aaron Young