Recently at McCutcheon we read Audre Lorde's poem "Hanging Fire," and talked about how Lorde creates a strong, easily imaginable character and voice while still being vague about some details, such as the narrator's gender. This led to a discussion of narrative tension and mystery in storytelling. The student poets then wrote their own narrative poems, full of secrets and mysteries of their own.

Ms. Koerer's Class

Hiding in the Rain
by Simone

Underbeneath the deep dark woods
a secret that is trying to hide
the darkness is trying to haunt me
there's no one about to be found.

My love was trying to find me
but I couldn't find my way out
I'm scared of getting myself lost
and I'm scared of being dead.

Us, Them, and Me
by Christian

In Chicago, inside Uptown, down the street,
somewhere in an apartment, there's a couch
where there is a hole, behind it
a little boy with black hair.
By
Himself.
What is he thinking about.
About dying.
About getting ill.
About failing 6th grade.
Shudder.
Looking at his report card next Wednesday.
What will he get? An A or a D?
What if he gets hit by a truck while
going to school? Will the other students
think about him or will they just walk
away, never telling anybody?
If he gets sick, can he go to school?
Or maybe he will just stay home.
Will he stay or will he go?

Hiding Place
by Hung

Didn't walk home
that day
Went on another
street, going to this
another place, a hideout

A damp place with
smelly garbage
near-by.
Just don't mind, just don't
care,
stay there for the pure
joy of resting.

Ms. Askounis's Class

My Corner
by Qua'Vyana F.

I'm all
alone
My only friend is
my dark corner
Sometimes it's dirty
or cold
The smells of
food
I don't want to
face the real world
I'm not
really
family situation
Thoughts flowing in
my mind
Unstoppable
tears
But I
Breathe
I'm in my safe place
My cold, dark corner.

My Mind
by Paul N.

lots of things
school
work
home
family
friends
BOOM!
No more
always hiding
thinking always
running up and
down making
me crazy
and I'm
GONE

What If
by Tatiana H.

I am twenty-four
and my father has died
and my mom is going
crazy and I don't know
what to do so I go and hide
in my room like a little kid.
What if I just disappeared in the
moon what if I never make it
to life soon.