Katie's Poetry
Raspberry Coins by Katie Lande
The blushing fields are light as cream;
they glow beneath the moon.
Deep love is swelling from the stream
of youth's departing tune.
Once tarnished coins in soil blest,
now surge on grassy waves.
Remove confusion and unrest
then beauty there engrave.
Tart green at first but sweetness sprouts;
each rally in my soul.
Lay forth the winding, jagged routes,
that guide me to my goal
Plump berry coins, so rich and great,
reveal what you advise.
Don't tell me what is of my fate,
yet lead me pure and wise.
FADED YELLOW by Katie Lande age 11
slow summer days pass
barely moving in mother's wood rocker
my faded yellow dress sticks to flesh
like flies caught in maple syrup
too hot to concentrate
too hot to move
weakened by humidity
I gaze beyond wavy curtains of heat
and dream......
A WIND IN THE DOOR
As the wind passed in
to a room full of chill
I tried to squeeze out
but the door closed tight.
I was surrounded in a kitchen
full of white things.
As in snow,
I felt cold
HEAT
Night came slowly
as the gentle wind blew.
The day had been hot--
so hot that birds stopped flying,
so hot that feet ached,
so hot that we welcomed the dark
as a friend come to call.
THE WIND
the wind was very strong
as I looked out my window
flying around the great big field
all I saw were leaves and leaves
it reminded me
of when my brother died
as a baby, he drifted up into the sky
I felt as if he were one of the leaves
but having a hard time
as if he would not be able to keep going
like some others
FALL POEM By Katie, age 12
Young rays of life
bring forth the morn
as orchard apples glow;
old dew drops fade,
the wheat nods south
and beckons me to come.
A heifer moos,
the herd dogs bark,
soft mews of hungry cats
then echo back
sweet poems of fall
which lift me with the breeze.
VARIATION ON FALL POEM by Katie, age 12
Young rays of life,
as orchard apples glow--
dew drops fade away.
The wheat nods low,
a friendly wave,
across my land so fair--
beck'ning me to come.
the herd dogs bark--
echo through the air.
As l look on,
through heaps of awe,
sweet poems of fall abound--
lift me with her breeze.
The Trekker by Katie Lande
Trekkies, trekkies swinging high
in the midst of my deep sigh
What immortal mouth or nose
could build thy ugly land of foes
in what quadrant life away,
snap of fingers, gaily play
on what world does thee endure
with thy hand dare seize the lure
and what beauty, Oh what ships!
could lovely whisper on my lips,
the breeze to carry 'way thy hum,
to lift me from continuome!
what the humor? all the bore,
could make me ask for so much more?
thine acts become magnigicant
borne true from his omnipotents
MOTHERS
Mother cats
get worn out,
while father cats
come, then go about.
We cat mothers
pay the taxes,
find the food,
and handle axes.
We do the work
(all kinds of schlock)
while tending babies
'round the clock.
With all this work,
and so much fuss,
can "mother cat"
establish us?
WHERE'S DOWN?
up
in the tree I crouch
surrounded by black night
alone
January's cold
throwing thick white fluff
down is lost
can't find it
too scared to move
only up and up
straight up
frozen to limb's end
I stick tight, shivering
hungry and scared
far from down
no escape
stay here, stay here
alert with fright
where is sleep?
it is up, too
waiting through black
and cold
'till down finds me
S.T.W. (Save The World)
I look around
and see two eyes.
They look to me
like big black flys.
I hop and leap
and swat a nose.
Then with a dog,
I come to blows.
To save the world
is what I dare--
my one intent
and only care.
THE COAT by Katie Lande, age 11
the coat on the couch
once a week
brought joy to our eyes
music to our hearts
Sunday it came
cold with the season
warming our home
coat and couch were one
suddenly gone
coldness closed hearts
sadness watered checks
anger toward life
dirt shoveled over
coat and couch became two
saying goodbye
without knowing it true
loving ceased
no longer alive
faith ran away
with tears in her eyes
teeth clenched tight
coat floated toward heaven
cheeks light with sorrow
flesh burned with rage
coat and all
died from eyes
loving it stayed
in the hearts carrying stone
SAID I WITHOUT A SOUND by Katie Lande, age 10
the heavy air is sweaty,
what air that can be found
black smoke is everywhere
as bodies hit the ground
and with a violent rumble
in the shaken dirty ground
man's blood comes a-flying
from all directions 'round
and while I make my way
to a shelter safe and sound
soldiers just a-lying
are piled in a mound
another rumble suddenly
I shake and fall right down
I put my hands all over my head
to stop my screaming sound
at last in quiet there I sit
no terror left to hound
I shut my eyes real dark and tight
and ache for souls deep down
I wish I could be dreaming
beautiful flowers abound
I'll think no more of lonely war
said I without a sound
THE THIRD REICH by Katie Lande, age 10
I wore a yellow pointed star
upon my shirt and vest
my scared heart kept bouncing far
trying hard to make the best
a Nazi soldier walking beat
as children want to burst with cry
people hid all over the streets
desperately keeping their fears inside
one little girl standing alone
saving her dreams deep inside
a piece of life all of her own
lighting the dark with a bit of pride
MY JAMESTOWN TRUNK by Katie, age 9
across the sea I am
to make my life sincere
we build a house of wood
on winter's cold frontier
my little trunk I have
to keep my feelings safe
the Indians might come
and scare this humble waif
if we do not work,
we'll starve and then be ailed
so do the best we can--remember why we sailed
Squanto now did come
to help us plant some maize
we put our cattle out
on golden grass to graze
I feel so free to live
my fears will rise above
belief has made me strong
this land I surely love
HOMEWARD BOUND By Katie, age 9
strong brown eagle
here's the wind
gliding, gliding
let me spin
now some clouds
it's dark, it's gray
let me soar
through the wave
I'm wet, now cold
my life please save
God help me, help me
from the grave
my, it's growing
so gloomy today
dark, GIANT clouds
coming north this way
seek our light
to where this sunny
world shines bright
homeward bound
come soon to see
it's where you'll find
some friends to be
Daddy's Little Girl by Katie Lande age 4
the cold wind blew
into her bedroom
night after night
and for many years
it was that night that I want to always remember
1983 the year
December the month
19th the day
when I heard that my baby was here
I jumped and yelled
I was so very surprised
golden diamond
lovely baby
I wrote this poem when I was four years old. My dad and I were lying on the rug in one of our rooms and I was dictating it to him. It was the first poem that I ever wrote.
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