Social Issues Narrative Poem Exemplars

Sammi

Sammi’s life never really mattered
Her eyes cold and broken, in a shatter
No one to love with a love, nothing more than love
No kingdom but the sea or a world above

Shaken, stirred, sorrow, she’s scared
A life her mother wishes she never had to bear
Sammi’s eight now her childhood’s broken
The monster in her life, the words unspoken

She runs away, not a penny to her name
Stays out all day, every night is the same
Cold Michigan air pulls her skin to perfect chilled bumps
Her body quivers with thirst, hunger, she falls into a slump

Breaking, battered, beaten by battles
Fourteen now Sammi’s shaken heart rattles
Better than a life with the monster
She can not navigate her life, no Onstar

The monster’s touch left black and blue
He was the worst thing Sammi ever knew
She thinks about the mother she left to die
She blames herself always and lets out a silent cry

Wet, whipped, welled with whelps
No more crying, no more lying, because nothing ever helps
She thinks of a way to take away the monsters inflicted nights of pains
Her clothes perfectly painted with dark blood stains

Sammi’s life did not mean anything
No one ever cared about her wellbeing
So why should she, being 17 years old
She is brewing a plan so sinister and cold

Malicious, monstrous, melancholy, made full of mourn
The approaching dark deed she fears left her torn
She clings to the idea that burns in the back of her brain
She will do anything to get rid of this pain

She clings to the fibers with her teeth
Her toes curl up with the polished chair underneath
She pulls in a breath and thinks of a goodbye
A meaningful last word to remember her by

Closure, closer, climbing, Concentrating
Time ever fading, no time for contemplating
A thought in mind of what she is doing
Is this an idea she will soon be ruing

She closes her eyes so tight and tried to think of the sun
A swift kick, rough fall, strong pull, last gasp, done
Her heart, tell tale, thumping like an 808 drum
She had to make her own mistake even if they were dumb

Neglected, negative, never near, none
She stares out the window, sees the sun
A single butterfly floats by
A peaceful sight to watch her die

By Myesha E. (2011) 
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For it was her only fate...
Stepping off the airplane that flew across the Atlantic Ocean, if you were to see her face, it would be filled with every emotion.
Landing in a new country wasn’t fun, all she wanted to do was run.
“Blah, beep, boop,” people talking at once in a group.
Many speaking something strange, she was not ready for this change.
Leaving her old life behind, was it her destiny, or did she lose mind?
Only five years old, when facing this odd world, she was bold.
She was scared with all the new faces, all the new places.
In the end she could not complain, for it was her only fate, her mother tried to explain.

The little girl went to her scary school, understanding nothing, looking like a fool.
Teachers couldn't get her to speak, knowing that her English was weak.
Kids would try to play with her, but in the end, her old friends, she would prefer.
The electricity would be on, day and night, she could not believe her eyes, what a sight.
The water would be on anytime, she saw, all the girl could do, was watch in awe.
Big angry cars all over the street, so many of them, she could not beat.


As she began to grow, her accent did not show.
She talked this strange language that she heard with ease just like a bird.
No one knew how hard she worked to learn everything, that with everyday, she had something new to bring.
She earned her green card fair and square, knowing she was not going to go anywhere.
The girl got used to the strange culture, when accepting it, she was cautious like a vulture.
She studied this new world with ease, suddenly understanding things with a breeze.
In the end she could not complain, for it was her only fate, her mother tried to explain.

Soon off she was making her own choices, not hearing the others voices.
She forgot where she came from and only focused on what she had become.
The foreign girl now grown felt like everyone else, almost down to the bone.
Whenever she would run into some trouble, she tried to look cool for her friends, on the double.
“But, I'm not bad.” She said to herself, but that’s how she acted, with the friends she had.
“Try to honor your family; make them proud,” is something that would ring in her head, clear and loud.

She is expected to act a certain way, but usually she forgets, and catches herself astray.
Loving, learning, and living was something constantly that she was giving.
No one thought twice about what she is, or what she does.
But, she knew deep down and all around,
That she wasn't really like you or me, she was different as you can see.
She might be someone you already talk to, for this the one and only clue.
In the end she could not complain, for it was her only fate, her mother tried to explain.
 By Arisa Z. (2009)
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The Mother That Was Lost

She brought me into the world and never left my side.

She was there for me when I wanted to run and hide.

I was a problem in school and a mess up to everyone,

But in the eyes of my mother, I was just having fun.

She loved our family and did everything to keep it,

But my dad did not care; he would just “smack,” give her another hit.
He showed how much he cared, which was him never trying.
Except for when he would drink, then he would be lying.
They would argue and fight throughout the entire night.
I do not know who he is, or why my mom liked him,
But she said he helped make me who I am.
She was the most uplifting person I ever knew.
Her attitude would just move you.
It did not matter what you did or hurled,
You could never make her lose it.
I was probably the worst kid in the world,
But she said she would never quit.
No matter what happened through the year
She would still show her cheer.
But as the years went by,
I felt a piece of her die.
Each day I would ask her how she was feeling,
How did I know that her insides were reeling?
She would put on a happy face
And say she was good.
She wanted me to remember my place
And be strong, and know where I stood.
She was like a favorite song I could hear all day long.
I can remember her long black hair
It was so beautiful you could not help but stare.
She was the queen of the house
And her inner flame could not be doused.
But on one faithful day back in December,
A shock went through me, which I remember.
She was very sick, yet she acted fine.
I heard the clock tick, and I saw the sign.
I ignored them all I knew she would keep fighting.
Until one day, I saw the writing.
They pulled me out of class and told me the news.
I could not understand them I was so confused.
But on January fourth she passed on.
A shot in the heart lost without a mom,
But two years later I found out why.
God told me the reason she died.
It was as she said she wanted me to grow stronger
And through this realization I was sad no longer.
By Nick  M. (2010) 
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Unknown Title

In the beginning was light,
And a road that guides her to unfamiliar heights.
She paces this road day and night.
Little does she know, she will have a fight.
Silky, blonde hair,
Beautiful porcelain skin
Not a hint of despair,
Not a hint of sin.
Sparkling like diamonds,
Her eyes are pale blue.
Lyvia’s heart is white as snow,
pure, innocent, and true.

She sings 'i love you' in a lullaby,
Thinking this passage will treat her right.
She is convinced that she will not change,
That her 'Alice in Wonderland' will stay the same.

But these forks in the road,
They carry temptation
The right side is bright and alive,
The skies are vivid.
The breeze dances by.
She hears children harmonizing,
singing,
“Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream!”

The left side is dull and dreary.
The atmosphere is depressing.
Clouds disguise the path ahead,
And the willows are weeping.
Mothers screaming, crying, and mourning.
The broken road is overlaid in red

The right looks nice and open.
The cobblestone in tact.
However, the left is broken,
The concrete infected by cracks.

The left possesses a trait though,
A trait the right can never own.
The aroma is so sweet, so tempting,
Enough to convince a man to go.

Lyvia chooses the path to follow.
She yearns for the enticing scent.
She feels certain she wants to go;
So, she starts on the pavement.

Again appeared another fork,
and again and again and again.
They each intensify in horror,
but it is unceasingly left in the end.

Her veins start to show.
Her skin lacks that glow,
That once brightened the day.
It slowly drifts away.

The left side of each fork,
Seems to evolve larger and larger,
And the right side is shrinking.
Which, is making it harder and harder.

She finally realizes she is alone,
To roam these streets on her own,
With refusal to glance back,
She will never allow herself to remember that.

As she stumbles across these dead streets,
She detects the final fork in the road,
And believes this is her last chance,
To renew her black, broken hands. 

But with her last two steps,
She realizes it is over...

Lyvia drops her head and cries,
"Why did I crave the wrong streets?
These forks slowly suffocated me.”

...The right side has left ,
And insanity takes over.

Her hair, at one time, long and blonde,
Now faded, frayed, and gray.
Her eyes once abundant with love and joy,
Bleed out all over the floor,
And the laughter that inspired the birds to sing,
No longer rests in this being.

Now every step she takes is a lie,
And every breath she breathes inside,
Whispers that she holds the devils palm.
Where has serenity gone?

By Scarlett H. (2010)
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Going Along for the Ride

Daisy  was an ordinary sixteen year old girl.
Her hair was twisted and always tangled with a curl.
She was constantly planning her life and aspirations.
The need for a perfect, pretty life was always a temptation.

As she sat patiently for the car ride to end,
She pondered deeply about her past.
Her parents separated when she had just turned seven .
Sadly, her father gained his wings and flew to Heaven.

Daisy had developed a well-known illness
That had left her family listless.
The doctors hoped for the best, but consequently,
Daisy’s body didn’t fight confidently.

Daisy was a strong-willed child.
Once she saw the shining lights of the marvelous carnival , she smiled.
She gazed at the main attraction: the largest roller coaster she had ever seen.
She studied it closely, staring at the coaster’s paneling: a blue  and a green.
It was a mighty dragon, with its twists, turns, and unexpected movement.

Minutes grew to an hour and Daisy had finally reached the main attraction, 
She looked up at the ride with satisfaction.
“Are you sure you want to ride that one, sweetie? It looks pretty dangerous,” feared Daisy’s mother.
Daisy thought to herself how much she has been through,
And she left every other fear of hers behind her and bid them adieu.

A large man appeared in front of her,
Scooping her up and setting her in the front seat.
“Enjoy the ride darling,”
Said the man that was like God,
Who set her upon that ride called life.

There Daisy was, strapped in the cold and hard seat of life,
As she forget her past, leaving behind all the pain and strife.
The coaster of life persistently made its way forward in the timeline,
As Daisy’s dreams began to intertwine.

She saw her dream of becoming a teacher.
She saw her falling in love with the preacher.
Children were then in the vision;
They were singing “A, B, C, D E, F, G!” to the television.
Daisy suddenly felt a rush of overwhelming pressure.
As the coaster went over a bump, God signaled a forward gesture.

She began to appreciate all the twists and turns.
She learned to not worry about every concern.
Daisy’s logic began to translate and collate,
And she realized her life was based on fate.
For once in her life, Daisy had an unexpected bittersweet moment.

Daisy got off the ride with a new attitude towards life.
She was going to live life without a gripe or strife.
Life is like a roller coaster,
Go along for the ride.
By Kirsten E. (2011)