Fayerweather Students Win at Cambridge Public Library Poetry Awards

What happens when I stick my tongue out, and it wiggles and jiggles

And someone might do it back

I don’t care, I swear, because it's just a silly thing, but I just do it anyway because I know they’re just trying to be silly.

I can touch it on my nose.

I spit it out like a hose but I know that I like it and it likes me

So if I fail this poem 

I’ll stick it out at me!

The snow falls on the silky white coat of the Arctic Fox 

As they run, their fur flies out behind them

When they stop for a rest, they curl up 

Two babies slip out to play

The black pack leader takes the baby

back into the cuddle


"Ocean Sounds"
by Fort R., 2nd place in 2nd grade

by Pol O., 1st place in 3rd grade

Animals wake up from winter
They go find food
They see the sun
And the non-icy lakes
The frogs swim and lay eggs
Birds, they chirp and sing
And make new nests for their eggs
Squirrels, they look for acorns to eat
And all the snow is melting.


"Books"
by Elise M., 1st place in 3rd grade

There are books about dragons
books about castles, books about Science and
books about apples. There are Atlases
dictionaries and biographies too. There are
fiction, adventure, and How-to. You can read
books about languages like Spanish, French and
Chinese. You could read books about the
Human body and what happens when
somebody sneezes. So go to the library
and pick out a book because there
are so many kinds, just take a look.


"Wren"
by Siena S., 3rd place in 3rd grade

I have a friend named wren
he ate his own hen
And he likes to draw
With a pretty pen
And when he says “when”
He kisses ken
And ken is very zen
When she gets kissed by wren
And wren was only ten
When he kissed ken
And he has a friend named ben
Who ate wrens pen
And wren now hates ben
For eating his pen
And when everything stops,
It starts up again! 


"I Am From"
by Olivia R., 1st place in 4th grade

I am from the pothos that needs cutting.
I am from my Nantucket Fog colored first floor of a triple decker.
I am from creaky wooden floors.

I am from the way the fireflies shine like fairy lights in the sky.
I am from the pink and white flowers of Gnolie.
I am from watching the Olympics in Grandma’s old house.                                                        
I am from drippy Dairy Queen cones in hot weather.

I am from camping in the living room in 2020.
I am from Friday pizza.
I am from empanadas on Christmas Eve.
I am from the hikes around Walden Pond on January 1st.

I am from organized spaces with Ikea bins.
I am from “love you’s” and “team in’s.”
I am from “holy cow” and “puzzlers gotta puz.”

I am from Northampton, Massachusetts.
I am from Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

I am from Ecuador and the USA.

I am from turkey meatballs and Grandma’s pesto.
I am from stories of being under the ginkgo tree at Smith College.
I am from hot to the touch Mold-A-Ramas from Brookfield Zoo.
I am from lavender scented Bed-Buddys.

I am from the way the fire crackles up the long driveway on Sarles Lane.
I am from the large rubber tree plant at my grandma’s house on Holworthy Street.
I am from sandwiches out of P.B. Boulangerie’s ovens in Wellfleet.
I am from Grandma’s grilled cheese.
I am from my Aunt Monica who taught me how to needle felt.
I am from my Uncle Andy who tells me about trees.
I am from little Guinevere with all her adventures.
I am from Grandma, the one with a green thumb.
I am from Abuela, who isn’t with us but still in our hearts.

I am from Mama and Mami.
I am from all the love and care in my life.


"The Lake of Wonders"
by Vivi C., 1st place in 4th grade

Do you wonder where the best,
most peaceful place to go is?
I know where to find it.
Around the biggest tower,
the largest land,
right behind a tree
is a place with a little white bench just big enough to fit you.
You can hear the birds singing,
the water rushing
as if it is rushing through your ears.
It is a place
where you can let your worries float away into the water.
You can tell the lake all your crazy stories
or your deepest secrets.
The faint sounds of squirrels
and chipmunks
rushing to stock up for winter.
Everything is listening to you.
Your tears,
your songs,
your worries,
the lake is understanding
and ready to listen.
No matter if people think you are weird,
don’t listen to them.
Keep dreaming,
having fun
and talking by the lake.
Beautiful trees
and plants
make a little covering over your head.
You can take a moment to cry,
take as long as you need.
Sit there for minutes,
hours,
even days.
Everything there will let
you be you.
The lake is the only one who can listen
to you and only you.
The lake of wonders.