Response to "The Bird Tree" by Thomas Locker

Black.
The tree has the mist.
Mysterious.
A scarecrow tree.
There is a pile of leaves under the tree.
It is autumn because birds are flying on and off the tree.
Hunter's paradise.

By Hayden, Sean, Jesse, and Marcus, Grades 3-5

Response to "The Bird Tree" by Thomas Locker

It's misty.
Cloudy in the sky
A lot of birds on the branches
It has grass patches.
The tree is on a hill.
It has no leaves.
The bushes have no leaves.
There are leaves on the hill.
It's tall and beautiful.
It's the end of fall
and getting closer to winter.

By 2nd and 3rd graders - Oliver, William, Isabella, Alice, and Graciela

Response to "The Bird Tree" by Thomas Locker

Hundreds of birds everywhere
Dissolving into the tree
Covering the bareness of the branches
A tree with no leaves that's growing new ones
Getting bigger and barren and more open
Reeds and birds sing together in chorus
The fog begins to stir
Winter comes and goes but
the birds stay on keeping the tree company,
like a blanket keeps you warm.


By Andrew, Chance, Christopher, Mitch, Sean, Spencer - Grades 6 & 7

Free Verse Poetry

The Tree of Summer

There is a tree,
with a blue sky
and puffy clouds behind it
on a hill
In the deep blue river
fishes lurk
waiting endlessly.
There is a tree
in the summer
on a hill.

By Nolan, Grade 5

The Autumn Tree's Thoughts

I see fellow trees behind me.
All of our leaves are oranger than pumpkins.
Squirrels are bustling under me.
I see a river
that's clearer than crystal.
I think a storm is coming.

By Isaac, Grade 4

Response to "The Violet Tree"

Looks like its leaves are darkness
An opening in the clouds
The tree has dark coloring.
The river is flowing.
There are lots of tules by the river.
Ice on the edge of the river
There are black as night mountains in the background.

By Nolan and Isaac, Grades 5 and 4