April is National Poetry Month so,
I share with you the lovely poem below:
ALL IS WELL
by Shanna Gerlach, Grade 5, Mount Vernon Community School
my dad and I
hiking,
a worn path
stretches out
in front of us,
seeming almost
endless
all around us
birds chirping
flowers blooming
sunshine trickling
through the canopy
of trees,
life everywhere
no words
between us
the space is open
but full of
comfortable silence
as we soak up
the beauty
suddenly
the birds
are quiet
clouds cover up
the bright sun
the wind whips
through the trees
ALL IS WELL
we look up
at the sky – oh no
a storm is coming
I glance at my dad
an alarmed expression
brushes his face
for a moment
we hurry
down the trail
seeking shelter,
safety from the
storm,
as raindrops
begin to fall
“in here”
my father
has found an
empty cave,
dry and warm
I duck inside
just in time
lightning strikes
illuminating
our faces
the cave
our sopping clothes
for a split
second
thunder rumbles
just overhead
loud in our ears
I cover mine
waiting
for the storm
to end
rain pours
drumming a pattern
ka-plunk,
ka-plunk,
it fills my ears
getting inside
my head
then, quiet…
all is silent
before the birds
chirp again
and a drizzle
is all
that is left behind
we crawl out
greeted by sunshine
and a magnificent
rainbow
arching above us,
and all is well
again
Shanna is last year’s ACPS Poet Laureate. The 2010 Poet Laureate will be named during the seventh annual Poetry Contest Awards Ceremony, which will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28, in the Alexandria City School Board Meeting Room, 2000 North Beauregard St., Alexandria.
Don’t forget, April 29 is Poem in Your Pocket Day. What will be in your pocket? Due to copyright laws, we can’t print the poems, but please share the title and poet.
