Poems

The Night Before Christmas
Kaitlin Hughes, age 17
Kaitlin wrote this poem as her annual Christmas story for 2005. She went poetic this year, because her mind has been on one thing: the task of selecting and applying to colleges.

Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through the house
Just one creature was stirring;
It wasn’t a mouse.
The deadlines were placed
By the keyboard with care,
In hopes that a miracle
Soon would be there.

I wished that I could be
All snug in my bed
While visions of scholarships
Danced in my head.
For I in my PJs, unable to nap
Was now filling out
The last college app.

When then down below
There arose such a clatter
I ran straight downstairs
To see what was the matter.
And who should I see
Over cookies and milk,
But a chubby old man
Who was dressed in red silk.

I glanced out the window
And eased my great fear,
For out in the yard
Were a sleigh and reindeer.
“Saint Nick, you’ve come early,”
I said with a grin.
“You’ll never believe
How much trouble I’m in.”

“It’s not early at all,”
The great hefty man said.
“Eleven-nineteen! Why,
You should be in bed!
I suppose that I must have
Caused you quite a fright,
But what are you doing,
This time of the night?”

I replied, “Oh Saint Nick, you
Know me far too well.
You know I’d not stay up just
To hear your sleigh’s bell.
Applying to college online is the worst,
And all of the deadlines
Are January first!

“Because some were due earlier,
Now I’m behind.
The solution I don’t think
I’ll easily find.
And on top of all that,
I’ve no gifts for my kin
Because I couldn’t shop
In this college app din!

“It’s Christmas Eve night;
I don’t know what I’ll do.
I won’t be done with all
Of this until two.”
Saint Nicolas said, “Well,
You’re in quite a mess,
Disappointing your family.
How sad. Unless...”

He paused for a bit,
Touched the side of his nose,
And all of a sudden his
Red velvet bag rose.
Then out popped four presents,
With ribbon and all.
They floated right under
My evergreen tall.

“Saint Nicolas, how can I
Thank you?” I said,
And I kissed the bald spot
On the top of his head.
“You’ve given the present
I most hoped to get:
Some gifts for my family.
I’m so glad we met!”

Saint Nick replied, “You
Must have something now, too.
So tell me, what present
May I give to you?”
“Please no,” I implored,
“You’ve done so much already.
Well... there’s one thing I want,
But it’s not a plush teddy.

"If you could, maybe,
Put in a good word for me
To the colleges: CSU,
Private, UC.”
He gave a small nod.
“ I’ll see what I can do.”
Then he waved as he went
Up that old chimney flue.

Just now I awoke and
I looked at the time.
I need to write essays
And stop this dear rhyme.
I realize it’s just
December the first.
I have time to buy presents;
I’m no longer cursed!

But under the tree
I am startled to see
Four packages labeled,
“From your friend, S.C.”
Smiling at my
Computer so bright,
I leave it in favor of
Sleep, so good night!

Leaves
Kaitlin Hughes, age 12
Kaitlin wrote Leaves after hearing a story about someone’s uncle who had been killed in a war.

Leaves are falling from the tree,
One by one they fall.
Turning colors, red and brown,
As they fall from the tree so tall.
None has a name, no way to tell
One from the others that fall.
They fall for one reason,
fall for one season,
Fall from the tree so tall.
Autumn comes; down they go.
It's just a part of fall.
They fall down and winter comes.
They fall from the tree so tall.
Winter comes; the leaves are gone.
There’s no more green at all.
The leaves have all blown far away,
Since they fell from the tree so tall.
Spring always comes;
and new leaves grow;
Life comes back after all.
’Though we’ll never forget
the leaves that fell
Down from the tree so tall.

Life and Piano
by Kaitlin Hughes, age 12

Life and Piano sees piano practice as a metaphor for the need to keep improving ourselves.

White keys and black keys,
Both you must play.
You practice for hours
On one song each day.
If you play piano,
You should play it right.
Don’t feel discouraged
If you practice all night.
If you make an error,
It will be okay.
You practice still harder!
(You’ll get it, someday.)
And when you do, you’ll put
A smile on some face.
Your work makes the world
A much better place!

On the Loose
by Kaitlin Hughes, age 13

Have you ever dreamed the world was yours
To do with what you wish?
Have you ever seen an ocean
Full of life and plants and fish?
Have you ever remembered childhood years
The days of joy and bliss?
I’ll be looking for tomorrow on the loose.
Have you ever seen the sunlight
Dance across the water’s face?
Have you ever walked across the sand,
Just footprints as you trace?
Have you ever been presented gifts
That had no bows or lace?
I’ll be looking for tomorrow on the loose.
Have you ever seen the campfire look
A half a mile tall?
Have you ever sung and heard the mountains
Echoing the call?
Have you ever been included
In a group that’s one for all?
I’ll be looking for tomorrow on the loose.
Have you ever felt the softness
Of an early morning rain?
Have you ever met someone and knew
You’d never be the same?
Have you ever been away so long
And then come home again?
I’ll be looking for tomorrow on the loose.
Have you ever seen the gray smoke rise
Into the starry sky?
Have you ever had good friends with whom
You always laugh and cry?
Have you ever known a time like now?
Goodnight is not goodbye.
I’ll be looking for tomorrow on the loose.

You May Not Believe It
by Kaitlin Hughes, age 13

You may not believe it
But I can fly
Soaring up and up
Touching the sky
You may not believe it
But I can soar
Through clouds and past stars
Up more and more
You may not believe it
But it is true
Grownups ask me how
It isn’t “how;” it’s “do!”
You may not believe it
But this generation
Can fly and soar and even more
With a little imagination!

Theme for English 10A
by Karin Hughes, age 15

Ms. Pistacchi said today,
“Write a poem for English A.
Based on the work of Langston Hughes,
And try to understand why He ‘wrote’ the blues.”
Let’s see...
I am white,
And he was black;
I have freedom
That he lacked.
I have respect,
And I’m female;
He was outcast,
And a male.
However, I know
It’s easy to see
How Langston Hughes
Is just like me.
And I’m not talkin’ ’bout
Our last name;
He’s a person
So we’re the same!
That is all I have to say
In my poemfor English A.

Recipe for a Good Parent
by Kaitlin Hughes, age 11

Preheat oven to 400°. Get a large bowl. Mix a cup of fun, a handful of warmth, a dash of understanding, a sprinkling of cheerfulness, 2 tablespoons of caring, and a gallon of love. Stir. In a smaller bowl, add a slice of teaching, a teaspoon of discipline, and a pinch of “when I was your age” stories. Slowly, blend the mixture in the small bowl into the large bowl. Pour into a pan. Put in the oven for 1 hour. Enjoy warm.

A Teacher
by Kaitlin Hughes, age 14
(recited as a meditation at St. Martin's final school liturgy in June 2002)

A teacher is one who teaches
Kids or anyone.
A teacher is one who cares;
And makes learning fun.
A teacher is one who reaches
To help each learning child.
A teacher is one who bears
With homework that has piled.
A teacher is one who tries
To teach in a unique way.
A teacher is one who guides
So kids are safe when they play.
A teacher is one who ties
Classes together.
(Without one they'd be helpless.)
A teacher is one who is wise
(Hopefully, enough
to know our thankfulness.)
Thank you teachers, for without you
Goodness knows what we'd do!
Thank you teachers,
for all you've done.
And, believe it or not, it's been fun!

Snowdream
by Kaitlin Hughes, age 14

Inside and warm
Watching the cold outside snowing;
Evergreens have donned their finest white lace,
Ground covered with a sheet of silver,
The sky a soft gray.
Inside the small fire crackles quietly
The sparks dance among the
dull ashes.
Blanketed and rocking with the chair,
Little kitten curled in a ball on lap, asleep under fingers,
Feeling its smooth fur, its warmth.
Rocking back and forth,
Eyes scan the flawless picture
Through the frost-painted window:
Snow is sprinkled from the sky;
It floats slowly, settles to the earth.