Nights to Remember

Last week’s poem didn’t rely on rhyming for its effects, and while Skinner West writers understand that isn’t a necessary poetic component, this week we read “A Night in Chicago” by Maura Stanton, which uses a mostly regular rhyme scheme as well as couplets to describe the migratory patterns of birds and butterflies. Interestingly, casual readers might not comprehend where the “thousand songbirds passing over the lake” begin their journey, but by following the named places along the route, we determined they were heading south, “where Monarch butterflies clap their wings” in a striking concluding image celebrating their arduous cross-country trek.

The emphasis on night in Stanton’s title inspired the variety of poems, below.

Ms. Nelson 4th Grade AM

Noises at Night Jordyn J

Noises at night can be different depending on
where you live.

If you live in the suburbs you might hear wind
because it’s silent unless you’re dreaming.

If you live in the city you can hear lots of
sounds from silence to arguing from your neigh-
bors.

But for now I would like silence, good night!

Dark Night Sky Blaise J

The starry night sky has many
shapes.

The northern star leads you to
the north. Those are stars.

You can look into the sky
and make pictures with stars
that are in the sky.

CHIP!!! Cyrus K

At night you hear AI birds,
“Chip chip.”
They look like potatoes and
chips.
They also eat chips.
“CHIP CHIP CHIP!”

Night I Sight Shay P

Night I sight
you might see a
kite and a
kid with strong
wind. Birds flying.
Nightmares about
your grandma dying.
Stars afar. A moon
that blooms red,
blue, white, or black.
A cat walking
or see some
people talking.
Night I sight
in night you
sight.

It Is Just Me Emmett S

The wind blows
past me. The
water flows like
a whisper. In my
chair I just think.
Animals around me
plink on smooth
stones. A branch makes
a snap. I am
just trying to
take a nap.

I feel cool
wind blow on
me. Fireflies sit
right next to
me like a bee.
I see birds
talking to one-
another. I see
an animal taking
a big jump to
a branch.

It is very
dark around me.
I’m in the
world of nighttime.
I am deep into
the night. I do
not want to
see the light.
It blinds me,
so, just let me
be. It is all
silent. There are
no sounds. It is
just me.

Night Time Noise Mahie S

Cars are honking, and lights are off.
Birds are chirping, and the sun is gone.
People are snoring, and everyone is in bed.
Night is short.
But these are just some of the
night time noises.

Mr. Martens 4th Grade AM

Climb Darkness Sachiko F

Find yourself in a place
a place with no sight
where is everything
where is everyone
maybe you’re dying
just can’t see the light
scared to walk
scared to run
hands out in front of you
what is this?
A feeling
it’s hard
it’s soft
put your feet on top
look for another
find it immediately
but this one feels different
feels round
feels square
you really could be anywhere
you fall
you fall slowly
still falling
start to scream
start to cry
then darkness disappears

Untitled Adric G

When the snow is on my
coat I think it’s so cool

Night Jaeyoon K

Dark and quiet as a cave.
Zombies rise from their grave.
There are bats, wolves, and raccoons.
In the sky there are stars and the moon.
Mixture of dark and light.
The moon is shining very bright.
The dangerous and dark night.
Today is a blood moon.
It will disappear soon.

Untitled Milena P

Night is peaceful,
Night is quiet,

Night is never noisy.
Night is relaxing,

Night never bother anyone all the time.
At night you do your homework,

At night you just sleep many
Hours straight.

Good night!

Night is beautiful
With all the pretty colors.

The end!

The Night Saajan R

A dark sky night
what a sight.

What can you see
when you look with glee.

I can see lakes
some with banks.

Some people see streams
while others are snoozing dreams.

It all starts
with the bright moonlight.

Night Emmett V

Roads dark. No noises.

No light. People sleeping.

Birds in nests. Some people

sleeping in tents. No color.

Snow falling. No movement.

The moon is bright.

The street lights are
bright.

No stars to see.

Mr. Waterman 4th Grade

When a Second Becomes Longer Emi B

On Wednesday nights,
excited for the car ride home

I can’t focus on the noisy car
because, I am waiting

for the view seen only on Wednesdays.
It takes my breath away.

Finally! It comes!

I am silent in awe
only Chicago’s people understand
the meaning of the view.

Buildings lights glitter
in the night

the lake reflecting

it is so beautiful.

Night Salome D

Night.
Night is dark.
Birds cheep.
Babies weep.
Children sleep.
Night.

It is quiet.
No one peeps.
Ninjas creep through the dark.
Wolves howl to the night, in the night, for the night.

Night leaves and comes back,
because it’s always there waiting,
waiting for you in silence and darkness.
Night.

Night Zachary G

Night
At 6 pm it’s dark.
Wait.
What about
Daylight savings?
Huh.
Then it sets at 8 pm.
5, 6, 7, 8, even 9
set in ways
the moon
looks like
a pointy
C.
But guess
what decides
that?
The universe
but on weekends
I watch
TV until 11 pm
or I play
Football Bros.
In the
winter, the sun is setting
at four.
In summer
it sets at nine.
But in
the spring
who knows!
Just keep playing
Madden.
My mom says something. I didn’t hear.
Am I still watching Snack vs. Chef?
Do not disturb.

At Nighttime Samaara S

At nighttime,
it’s busy.

At nighttime,
it’s bright.

At nighttime,
it’s quiet by the water flowing and loud by
the cars honking and people talking.

At nighttime,
I come home from activities.

At nighttime,
I eat dinner.

At nighttime,
I have fun.

At nighttime,
I dream.

Two Types of Nighttime Leah T

Nights
With dreams, sleep, and dark
With the stars and moon
And the street lights
Which shine bright
But not everyone has these nights.
While some are fast asleep
Others are roaming the streets
Some dream of puffy clouds
Others shop downtown

Go outside
Or lie in bed
Which one sounds best in your head

Night Bryant X

Night is dark and dull
Night time is quiet and cold
Opposite of day

The quiet, cold sky
It is quite mysterious
Look up, there are stars

The day is over
But in your sleep a dream starts
Have a pleasant sleep…

Ms. Nelson 4th Grade PM

Relaxing Night Saachi B

Night is dark night is spooky night
is relaxing it is everything slouch
on the couch and be comfy watch TV
and eat popcorn oh no I see something
it’s a spooky popcorn ghost it’s OK I tell
myself I think I’m dreaming “Just
relax” put cucumbers on your eyes
and relax.

City at Night Lola K

It’s silent nothing but a motorcycle
or is it a car the noise of the city.

It is my time to reflect
it is my time to think
about my life, it is my time
to rest.

The loud rumble of night.
Then it went
silent. I was
asleep. Blood
that’s all I
see then a
face. It’s
black nothing
but black.
I wake
up sweating.

And scared!

Untitled Milan M

At night you hear trucks and loud sounds
that wake you up and you try to get
a snack and go to bed but you
can’t you are awake. And that part
sucks.

The Night Amelia S

the darkness envelopes me in a hug
as I peer through its arms I
stare

I stare at a stare
its eyes cutting me

I am sitting on my
bed and I am staring
at a head

Untitled Stone S

Night is dark
it finds its way out

It’s black and scary
and it is dark in
a way you do not know
it can be cool
or it can be
not the
best.

IT IS
NIGHT!!

Nighttime Johanna V

Nighttime is calm in rural areas.
Nighttime is energetic in cities.

Nighttime is dark.
Nighttime sometimes spooky.

Nighttime is the setting for trick or treating.
It is the setting for nightmares.

Nighttime is the time to get cozy for bed.
The sky is full of stars.

Not day time,
Not afternoon,
Not evening,
Just night.

Mr. Martens 4th Grade PM

Sounds at Night Aria E

chirp chirp tweet tweet

vroomvroom vroom

click click

la la la la

blah blah blah blah

blah blah

. . . .

blahblah

AHH!

CRASH

BOOM

click click

Night Is? Naomi G

Night is when dark. Night is
when it’s quiet. Night is when
it gets chill. Night is the opposite
of bright. Night is bedtime.
Night is kind of nice!

Night Camryn M

Night light fright
terror marrow leer career
owner loaner what is night, night
is a time at dark is astronomy
for light, bright.

Night Juliana M

Night
Night time is peaceful
but maybe it’s not

Summer time there are
noises for example kids
screaming outside, parties
outside, bug noises so
annoying

Summer time
I just
want to
sleep peacefully
please
stop
stop!
I said
stop!!!
mosquitos
in the
air
so itchy
stop!!!

Different Perspectives at Night Lilia P

Everyone’s night is different
Chicago is bright
loud
it doesn’t sleep

what about Texas?
Texas is warm
quiet
peaceful

but Las Vegas?
Whole different story
shining lights
bright as the sun

no matter what
you end with night
you sleep
you wake up

to a new day
the sun
but don’t forget
night always comes back

always

A Camping Night in Chicago Shaniyah S

A dark night.
I pick up
the tent and
set it up
for protection.
I set up
snacks
I grab an
iPad and open
it—the smell
of white
rice and steak
apple juice.

I eat and
I turn lights
off turn
the iPad
off put
on a cover
and sleep peacefully!
zzzz!