Taylor+Tomasco

I.Quote
"Poetry is the doorway to the soul." - Floria

II. Ode
It stands tall Is a little stocky. It wears a protective helmet To keep it's crisp trunk safe. Its friends stand close For body warmth. Together as one They are a family. They sleep together In a bed of their uncles. The leaves hold them together and keep them safe. People crave them When they take part in a medley. The stalks Flinch Run And hang on to their brothers and sisters Scared. They’re Frightened to die Frightened to get hurt
 * A Stalk's Fear**

Megan wakes them out of their Bed. Of leaves. Throws away their dirty sheets Breaks them apart Singles them out And breaks their unity as a clan. She allows them to relax In a hot tub. The water got too hot She tricked them. Their muscles and bones: Tender Damaged Hurt Beaten Perfect. She lathers them in lotion After their swim. Her freckled lips quiver. They call for help. They feel something sharp Yanking on their hair. She gave them A haircut. Their bald heads Are cold and frightened. Megan gives them a warm place to live. They are safe Warm And comfy. They try to hang on And not fall down the waterfall nearby. The rough waves Defeated them. Boulders start to fall Down on them. They tumble And fall And break Into pieces. They are mush They are dead They are bruised They are food They are broccoli It’s life.

**III. "Praise" Poem**
Packing bags, tidying up, make everything look spick and span Just so they could get a treat Her mysterious weapon sat itself disguised behind the other utensils It was time to say goodbye after a long week visit at the shore All the barefooted little rug-rats would run down the wooden staircase And hope to not get any splinters They all jetted for the restaurant kitchen door in excitement Hoping it was still breakfast time.
 * A Grandmother's love**

They waited patiently They all started to giggle The steaming smell of the hash-brown potatoes tickled the inside of their noses They could taste them in the air It was their lucky day, once again Even though she had just prepped all morning in the kitchen The stench of her cigarettes defeated the rest and blew around When the door swung open She stood there in that same uniform Navy pants, shirt, and apron And cigarette tinted white shoes and laces.

All of the children lunged into her arms Squeezing kissing and hugging her with thanks Even though she had her moments She was still the greatest mom-mom in all history All the tiny hands prayed for just a single potato One by one, her cold wrinkled hands filled each child’s sticky hands The split second they were placed in their reach They were already in their tummies The little ones’ squeaking voices again gave thanks They were already excited for their next visit

**IV. Riff Poem**
A bond of trust always speaks louder than one of failure
 * A Bond's Meaning**

What is wrong should be implied And with your smarts it is one lesson less i have to teach

I trust you for who you are and am confident that you will not take advantage

I don't want to be near you for the thoughts we share but the words we never have to speak


 * Last stanza from Nikki Giovanni's** A Poem Of Friendship

**V. Sonnet**
The smooth beat of her soul rushed into panic Her now patched heart - fell into her stomach Her words were locked inside of her sealed lips The sensation she felt - uniquely rips
 * A Mind's Confusion**

It was all big news to her and random Lifted upon a pedestal this time No need to hang at the cross of Sansom No violence, his voice has rhythm and rhyme

She found her shining key in the haystack The journey was long and tiring but, Her eyes said thanks - and begged for no attack His sensations were cool but she felt them cut.

New and better was the way one saw it But her mind bled with confusion

VI. Personal Statement
My poetry is different every time. I am not yet comfortable with any of it yet so I try all different techniques. I originally really like what I write then in the end change my mind. When I try to make it better I pick it apart until I don't even like the idea of it anymore, so then I start over. Some of the poems are funny and some of them are weird but I like them because I know I put a lot into them and that once point they did make sense to me.

VII. Three Poems, One Poet
Like a fading piece of cloth I am a failure No longer do I cover tables filled with food and laughter My seams are frayed my hems falling my strength no longer able To hold the hot and cold
 * Quilts By:Nikki Giovanni**

I wish for those first days When just woven I could keep water From seeping through Repelled stains with the tightness of my weave Dazzled the sunlight with my Reflection

I grow old though pleased with my memories The tasks I can no longer complete Are balanced by the love of the tasks gone past

I offer no apology only this plea:

When I am frayed and strained and drizzle at the end Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt That I might keep some child warm

And some old person with no one else to talk to Will hear my whispers

And cuddle near


 * I Wrote A Good Omelet By: Nikki Giovanni**

I wrote a good omelet...and ate a hot poem... after loving you

Buttoned my car...and drove my coat home...in the rain... after loving you

I goed on red...and stopped on green...floating somewhere in between... being here and being there... after loving you

I rolled my bed...turned down my hair...slightly confused but...I don't care...

Laid out my teeth...and gargled my gown...then I stood ...and laid me down...

Ever been kidnapped by a poet if i were a poet i'd kidnap you put you in my phrases and meter
 * Kidnap Poem By: Nikki Giovanni**

You to jones beach or maybe coney island or maybe just to my house lyric you in lilacs dash you in the rain blend into the beach to complement my see

Play the lyre for you ode you with my love song anything to win you wrap you in the red Black green show you off to mama yeah if i were a poet i'd kid nap you


 * Nikki Giovanni does a really good job at convincing you to take a lot of time to understand the poems she writes. She doesn't usually give anything away early at the begining so you are left confused for a while. For 9/10 of the poems that she wrote I spent atleast 5 minutes to understand and make connections with. I really like the figurative language that she uses. At first when I read theses poems I visualized something totally different then when I read it for the second time. Her descriptions are very vivid and detailed. The poem gives you a visual impression of something totally unrelated because the real meaning is hiding behind it. When you go back and re read everything you start to realize that her writing techniques were just making you think.**