My Favorite Original Poems From Creative Writing Camp

Every summer I go to a writing camp to learn more and more about writing.

Last week, I attended Creative Writing Camp at Butler University and it was a great experience. We spent time on poetry, fiction, screenplays, free writing and eulogies. We also were encouraged to read a piece of our own writing for something called Open Mic, and I did.

My two favorite things I wrote at camp are the poems below.

The first poem is from our writing assignment to write a poem from the point of view of a sea creature.

“Shrimp in the Ocean”

I see the hook
I see the food
But I will not be fooled
I will not take the bait.

My friend has been captured
Pulled out of the sea
I’ve never seen him since
So no matter what the hook shows me
I will not take the bait.

My old turtle friend
Says some fish were seen
In a fish tank in a pet place
So if I want to be there
I should take the bait.

But I do not want to leave
My beautiful blue ocean world
So even as I see my friends disappear
I will not take the bait.

On the last day of camp, we all read something we wrote in front of our families. I chose to read one of my free writing poems.

“If Everyone Was the Same”

If everyone was the same
Looked the same
Thought the same
Wouldn’t it be boring?

If everyone was the same
How would we get any work done?
For everyone would want to do
The same job.

If everyone was the same
How would we make friends?
For everyone would want to have
The same friend.
(And that friend would only want to be friends with themselves.)

If everyone was the same
This is what I’d like to say
I’m so glad we are different
It makes life more interesting and fun!
So if you’re ever wishing someone would act the same as you
Just remember this poem and WHOOSH the thought away.