Inaugural Poems from SLA Grade Six Students

“Skies are meant to be Blue” by Alaina

The world is drowning in destruction.
We’ve surrendered ourselves to the fact that one day the sky may never be blue again but filled
with dark shadows that swallow the jungles in hopes that one day specks of the sun rays will
gaze into our eyes.
Gasping for the smell of clear air instead of choking on the thoughts of what’s to come.

A Fresh start is what we need.

But we’re only digging ourselves farther into a hole of agony.
The wish to be free as a bird.
Yeah, maybe a bird locked in a cage filled with greed and desires.
But is it the cage’s fault why they were really trapped?
Or are we the ones who really trapped ourselves in this deep hole that is getting so deep that
not even the earth can handle its sorrow?
Are we the ones not changing anything but to make everything worse?

Are we the problem?

The past is just a reflection of the future.
The present is just a mirror of the past.
Why are we the way we are?
Our sorrow turns to greed and anger just for a piece of green paper.
More than 1000 African elephants die each year from poaching.
All of this.
Just for money.
More than 3 rhinos die each day from poaching.
We say it will get better
We say we can fix it.
But do we?
Or are we lying to ourselves to forget the path of destruction that we are on.
Are we lying to make the world sound like a dream that's too good to be true?
Why do we do this?
Why do we make goals that we say we’ll fix but we only break more of our souls.
But what if we did fix it?

What if we dug ourselves out of the hole to see the sunlight dancing with the sways of the grass
and listen to the sound of linnet birds singing, even caged ones.
What if we open our eyes one morning to see that the dream that was once too good to be true
is now outside our window?
What if there were no worries that we may wake up to a sky buried in misery?
What more animals were born more a day then killed?
I believe we can do it.
I believe that we can wake up to blue skies.
That’s the way it should be.

“Mother Earth” by Malaya

I feel her in the soil 
when I am still 
I see her in the sky
when it is dark
I hear her in the ocean 
When it is quiet 
I smell her in the breeze
That brushes through the grass
I taste her
in the apple that I eat

Earth is a mother
And we are her children
So are worms in the dirt
The birds in the sky 
The fish in the water

But The ocean and trees are her children too

The squirrels in the trees
where will they put their nuts?
The birds in the sky
Where will they know to perch?
Where is our shelter and protection? 
Why are we polluting our oceans?
Why are we losing our animals?
Why are we hurting our brothers and sisters?
Why are we cutting down their homes?

If we are to 

                   Feel,
See,
                                    Hear, 
                                             Smell
                                                       Taste 

Our mother
It is because she always forgives
As she replants for us 
But why can’t we, for her?

“Awakening America” by Margot

The sun stretches its golden arms across our land
A new day dawns, a symphony so grand!
We’ve journeyed far, yet there’s more to pursue,
To craft a mosaic of red, white, and blue.

Our history is a winding road of highs and lows,
A tapestry of triumphs, a garden where hope grows.
From the ashes of battles, we rise and learn,
Lighting the path for change, with passion that burns.

In classrooms of knowledge, freedom takes flight,
With echoes of warriors who fought for what’s right.
Will we answer the call, stand tall, and defend
The rights of each child, every neighbor, and friend?

The future gleams bright, like dew on fresh grass,
With doors wide open for every heart to pass.
Together we’ll rise like a chorus in the night,
With courage and kindness, we’ll spread our light.

So let’s weave our dreams, lift each other high,
With love as our compass, we’ll reach for the sky.
What does tomorrow hold? Can we brave the storm?
In a world filled with color, we’ll embrace the warm.

Here’s to a tomorrow painted with hope,
With compassion as our anchor, we’ll learn to cope.
Together we’ll build a future that’s just,
In this land of the free, we trust each other.

Hold the flag aloft, let it dance in the breeze,
For as one united, we’ll face life with ease.
America, our beacon, let your spirit ignite,
We’ll transform the ordinary into pure delight!

From sea to shining sea, we stand like trees,
Rooted in diversity’s sweet melodies.
Different colors, different faces,
Together we thrive in life’s vibrant spaces.

Today we rejoice, tomorrow we strive,
To mend what is broken, keep hope alive.
With wisdom and heart, we’ll navigate the way,
To make this land blossom, vibrant as May.

So, let’s cheer for our country! Raise your voice loud!
For in the USA, we stand bright and proud!
With hope in our hearts and dreams in command,
We’ll face the future as one thriving band.

America, dear America, our cherished shore,
We’ll make you shine brighter than ever before.
With unity and strength, let’s break every rule,
And treat one another with the golden rule.

This is our moment, our time to arise,
To sculpt our home into a radiant prize.
So roll up your sleeves and join in the work,
For together we’ll flourish, where love will not shirk.

As we gather together, let our voices unite,
With courage and kindness, we’ll shine our light.
Let’s share our dreams and lift each other high,
With love and respect, we’ll reach for the sky.

So here’s to the future, let’s make it bright,
With compassion & strength, we’ll fight the good fight.
Together we’ll build a tomorrow that’s fair,
In this land of the free, where we always care.

So wave the flag proudly, hold it up high,
For together we soar, as the days pass by.
America, our home, with all of our might,
We’ll make it amazing, a beacon of light!

“Rhinos, elephants, and walruses” by Anonymous

Rhinos, elephants, and walruses
These are some amazing animals out of millions
These poor animals are being treated like they were statues 
People don't care 
We need to stand up for what's right 
For the animals we love 
For the animals we care about

All these animals do many things to help the environment
Elephants help our environment 
They make pathways so we know where to walk
So we won't fall and hurt ourselves

Rhinos
They consume large amounts of vegetation, 
This helps shape the African landscapers 
They are the reason that people notice how beautiful Africa is 

Deers are known as shy animals but they are  important
They provide nutrients from plants
They are the reason that flowers are alive
They are a big part just like  the firefighters 
Deers  do it by heart but he does it for good looks
They are a big part of the world just like other animals

Whether it is bees elephants deer cows fox pandas 
Every animal is important 
They all play an important part in life 
Just like every human in the world 
They are an even more important part 
A big part of our life and our nature 
Of our environment  
We should care about them just like dogs and cats, and family
Because they are so important
But most important we should love them like ourselves

“Covid-19” by Anonymous

Sitting at home I looked at the TV,
I saw big, bold words that said “COVID-19.”
I thought,
“Oh No, that's a bad thing!”
I looked at my mom and said, “What is happening.”
Got an email from our school reading
“Lockdown. Covid-19.”
We stayed at home until we got a code green.
I was really hoping that we get that code green
So I went to school when we got a code green
I realized that the kids getting sick were not even teens.
After a couple years passed it started to fade
and I will always remember this as
COVID 2020 to May/11/2023.
I have always thought of this year to this day.
I will remember that year for a lot of days.
That is how I remembered how COVID started.
And people thought that this was really scary

“Time Trees” by Chosen

In the future, the good trees spread their branches really far and wide,
but the bad ones still hide.
The old trees fell down,
less hope of where to go,
‘cause the bad trees still can grow.

In the present, the good trees are here,
far and wide,
reachin’ for the sky,
fightin’ the wind an rain,
but the bad ones still stay. In the past, the bad trees was there, but the good ones still
float in the air.
Somehow, the past,
present
an’ future
mix together
to make a world full of hope
an’ freedom.

Now we got civil rights
for everyone an now we got reproductive rights. Now we got less crime,
all cause we took the past
an’ forgot about it
an’ took the future an just focused
on the present. So never worry bout the past or future, just worry bout now
so we can fix these problems.

The past is done, it’s over, there ain’t nothin’ we can do about it.
But right now, we got control.
We can fix things now.
It’s the present that matters,
an the future will be here when it gets here.

We can’t fix everything but we can try, that’s what’s important. The good trees still grow ‘cause they’re strong. Even if the bad trees try to stop them, they don’t give up.

So, we gotta think about what we do today.
What happens now will change the future.
We can’t let the past mess us up, we gotta focus on what we can do now.
The bad trees might still be there, but the good ones keep growing,
no matter what.We gotta work together, forget the past, an move forward to fix things.

Don’t let the past hold us back, an don’t worry about the future too much. All we got is
today. If we focus on now, we can change things. The present is what matters most, that’s
what makes everything different.

“Them and Us” by Emanuel

They come and go
Like the ocean’s flow
When they come they flee their homes
Then they make a life a home
Then like nothing they are taken
tossed away like forgotten yard gnomes
Why this happens is obvious 
It happens because no one cares 

It just isn't fair 
Some people want to talk bad about them 
They haven’t walked with their legs and backs on fire 
Like immigrants unlike then, they don't get tired
They fire them from their job
They rob their hope 
They leave them with none 
Just imagine their pain being mowed down by guns as they climb the big tall wall we call the border
The men and women of the Americans who shot them get to live with their families
While the immigrants who were trying to start a new life did not get to live

Did not get that experience 
Why do we, the Americans do this
When they finally make it to the other side
The few that made it are mistreated
Americans play them like the Greeks and the Trojan horse
But all that needs to change
We need to be the old America fighting Britain and persevere to peace.
We need to put on our mittens of peace.

We need to rest, stop, and bond
finally, like fishes swimming in a pond.
We need a bond of life together as one tanning under the sun without worrying
with no need to carry the cover of racism without racism there they may roam like people on a tour.
Where every day we go with no care they have noticed despair.
Only hope with someone to tug on their rope of life. That's what everyone needs from immigrants to Americans
Together as one without worry about rent
With peace of mind to the end

Imagine a beautiful brown bird…” by Anonymous

Imagine a beautiful brown bird soaring through marmalade skies.
The bird flies using both wings.
And if something were to happen to one of those wings.
It couldn’t fly.
We are the bird. And we are flying with one wing.
As we soar through the sky we descend and descend and descend. Closer and closer to hitting the ground

our wings are the people.
And they can’t function if they aren’t used together.

We can’t fix climate change with one wing.
We can’t have equal rights with one wing.
We can’t advance with one wing.
We can’t have world peace with one wing.
We can’t feed the poor with one wing.
We can’t be free with one wing .
We can’t fly with one wing.

our bird isn’t actually flying if it's falling.
So we have to fly.
We have to open both wings and soar.
We as the people must go up cause down is not going anywhere except extinction.
We have to change because we can and we must.

For the next generation.
For those who live hungry.
For the people who die every day for pointless war.
For those who can’t have but want freedom.
For those who are pushed down to dust because of greedy governments.
We must fly.

And we can.
We will.
Because we are strong.
And it only looks like we can only screw up at times.
But if we look at life like that we’ll never learn.
Learn to fix grief.
Or poverty.
Or violence.
We are a bird.
Let's use our wings.

Let's fly.

“Inaugural Poem” by Naysa

The sky was blue, but now it’s gray,
A peaceful world is slipping away.
The oceans rise, the trees are sad,
The earth is hurting, feeling bad.

The ice in the mountains starts to melt,
A change we never really felt.
Big glaciers, cold and full of might,
Now disappear with every night.

The winds are strong, the ground is cracked,
The world is warmer, there's no turning back.
The air is full of smoke and dust,
And cities burn where dreams were crushed.

The sun is hot, it shines too bright,
But rain won’t fall, and rivers dry up at night.
Crops won’t grow, the seeds won’t spread,
And we can’t see the future ahead.

We watch in silence, scared to speak,
Not knowing what the future will seek.
The polar bear, the coral reef,
Are fading fast, a silent grief.

The forests gasp, the air feels wrong,
A quiet pain is growing strong.
The ocean's cry is loud and clear,
But still, we wonder, “When will it appear?”

The land is dry, the sky turns red,
A warning we’ve ignored, instead.
But in the dark, there’s still a spark,
A hope for change, a brand new start.

Will we listen to the earth’s call?
Or let it break and fall?
We can’t wait, the time is near,
To face the truth and lose our fear.

Will we act, or turn away?
Will we let the Earth decay?
The future’s ours, it’s in our hands,
A chance for hope or broken lands.

The time to act is here, not far,
We can save the Earth, or it’ll fall apart.
The choice is ours, we have the power,
To make a change, to heal the hour.
Let’s come together, strong and true,
And start to fix what we can do

“Inaugural Poem” by Anonymous

We had Covid.
Covid was hard.
Covid was long.
Covid was bad.
Covid was sad.
But we persisted
And we were brave
And we were hopeful
That made living in Covid more and more possible.
It taught us that if we stand together, we can be stronger together.
….But things are far from perfect.
But things still need to change.

We need to stop gun violence.
Stop all these tears, terrorists, and time talking together. Tonight, take a stand!
We are meant to be a peacemaking country.
Are we what we say or are we not?
We must change.
There is no ‘silver bullet’ to end gun violence
Guns without control are like trains without tracks.
Thankfully in California, my home state, there has been some improvement -
But things still need to change.

Kids need a better public education.
They don’t update the books, they use up all the money on requirements, regulations, and renovations.
But what about the students?
Salutations.
Sincerely, The Kids
We believe in the freedom and autonomy of individual students.
We believe in educating students about their right to free speech
Ex: We are raising the …. Generation
But things still need to change.

And we need, oh need, to save our wonderful trees.
We must keep them safe and happy
So they can clean the air
And keep us alive.
We are all connected
Like a root system
Some of us are mushrooms
Passing help to friends, family, or even a stranger in need.
Some of us are trees
Giving food, water, and shelter to one another.
And all of us have roots that are interconnected
Because we all are from the same planet
We are all from the same earth.
We are all from the same side of the globe
We are all from the same nation.
And that my friend is how we are all, as I say.
Connected.
We are the butterfly
Flying freely
We are the eagle
Standing regally
We are in the Tiger’s Den
Yet we are strong.
But things still need to change.

“Inaugural Poem” by Bo

We are on our way, this is the beginning of our journey
We can make our country a better place,
A better place that is more affordable
A better place that is more comfortable
"A better place that is kind
A better place that is caring

Imagine a place where cars are more affordable
Imagine a place where healthcare is more affordable
Imagine a place with very little crime
Imagine a place where neighbors say hi every morning as they mow their lawns

This is how our president will take action.

People who are taken care of, take care of people.
When a stranger takes care of a stranger, it inspires people to do the same.

When someone is short a few dollars to buy food, someone can give a dollar to help them out
When someone goes to a retirement home and is alone,
someone can go keep them company, even if they’ve never met them.
This behavior can be contagious and you don’t even need a vaccine.

In this beautiful country, people will be able to live safely and off of the streets
In this beautiful country, we will have more greenery, trees and bushes to reduce the causes of climate change
In this beautiful country.
People deserve to live a healthy life
People deserve access affordable doctors and healthcare
People deserve to be able to go to the dog park and happily watch their dog play with the other dogs, stress free

As Thomas Jefferson said, we should not settle for less than the natural rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
People on the sand dunes enjoying the outdoors, as wind blow in their hair
Older adults playing bingo, enjoying the fresh smell of paint coming out of their dauber
Children playing tag and running around on a playground
Parents enjoying the cute and innocent faces of their babies
Neighbors getting together to play songs on their guitars while sitting on their porch

Leviticus teaches not to stand idly by the blood of our neighbor,
You can’t help your neighbor if you don’t know them
We can do this, we’ve been given another chance
Together, we are unstoppable.