When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

Mary Rita Syhlike Korzan

a

When you thought I wasn't looking, you displayed my first report,
and I wanted to do another.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you fed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you have me a sticker,
and I knew that little things were special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you put your arm around me,
and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but that it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you smiled,
and it made me want to look that pretty too.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you cared,
and I wanted to be everything I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked...
and wanted to say thanks for all those things you did
when you thought I wasn't looking.


*MY THOUGHTS*
This is one of the poems I used at the forensics tournament, and it is about the teachers. At times, when teachers give you many homework, quizzes, and tests, we seem to hate school. But when we look back to those days, it's all memories. I like this poem because I felt the same when I graduated elementary and middle school. I have learned a lot from my teachers, and I am still learning indespensible knowledge etc. at school. This poem has expressed it thoroughly and clearly. When I read this poem out with emotions, I felt really touched, and I thought the judges really liked it too :)

Justine's Poetry from Writing 1

Restroom
Audience: Elementary Children
Final draft
Sound Poem

“Bang! Bang!”
People beating the door.
“Me first! Me first!”
Shouts of people waiting

“Crash!”
The cry of the door
“Crash!”
The injury of the door

“Shhh~!” Listen!
There goes the flush!
As soon as the water sucks down,
People get ready for race.

“All done!” they say
With relief in their voices.
“Drip! Drip!”
The water drops are left
In their empty spaces.


Two Rooms of Dream
Audience: Young adults
Final draft
Narrative Poem

I live in a doorway
Between two rooms

In one room
I find my foot,
Tapping to the melody
My hand races down the string,
My arm dances in the air.
As I create my music,
I dream of the day
Finding myself on the stage
Being one of the greatest musicians.

In another room
I find my hand,
Scribbling down the paper
My pencil starts to cry
My brain starts to beseech.
As I fill out each and every word
I dream of the day
Finding myself in court
Being one of the keenest prosecutors.


Lovely Fly
Audience: Young adults who hate flies.
Final draft
Process Poem

An angel,
With shining eyes
Staring at you with tears
Reflecting yourself
In a hundred points of view
Waiting for you to see itself
Landing on your food.

An angel,
With rainbow-colored wings
Flapping here and there
Searching for a place to land
A place to give you blessings
A blessing for you and me
A blessing of germs.

An angel,
With beautiful lips
Full of love for everyone
Kissing this and that
Finding for its true love
And, once it discovers you,
Kisses you with black lips.


The Very First Day
Audience: Young adults with experience of the first day of school.
Final draft
Pantoum

That day I was unprepared
The first step toward high school
Painful and harsh they declared
Armful of projects soaked with drool

The first step toward high school
Walking up and down the stairs
Armful of projects soaked with drool
Who cares about friend affairs?

Walking up and down the stairs
Everyone looks so worried and anxious,
Who cares about friend affairs?
Seeing teachers’ keen eyes checking who’s conscientious.

Everyone looks so worried and anxious
Painful and harsh they declared
Seeing teachers’ keen eyes checking who’s conscientious
That day I was unprepared.