Black Out Poetry

Rewriting History Through Black Out Poetry A Collaborative Effort by 7th Graders

"History describes what has happened, poetry what might." ~Aristotle

The Cries of Men

Horses of the day light took over the whole earth, The first noise was the Greeks shouting for joy.

Echoes rebounded from the island rocks, The trumpet's note set everything ablaze.

Their foaming oars beat, Beat in the deep of the salt water.

One great voice was shouting in our ears, "Sons of Greeks, go forward."

Ships smashed their bronze beaks into ships, No help could come from one to the other.

There was no seawater in eyesight, Only wreckage and bodies of dead men.

Beaches and rocks all full of dead men, Bits of wreck smashed and shattered the men in the water.

One great scream filled up all the sea's surface, Until the eye of darkness took it all.

~B.B.

Now Is The One Battle For Everything

The sun had perished.

Men at arms, Went in commanded in line.

Night gave order for no secret sailing.

White horses, clear to be seen, Rebounded from the island rocks.

That solemn battle song they chanted, Set everything ablaze.

Foaming oars beat in the deep of salt water.

Then the whole fleet was shouting.

There was no time left before the clash.

The great flood of Persian shipping mashed the Greek fleet with certain skill.

There was seawater full of dead.

The Greeks with broken oars and bits of wreck, Filled up the sea's surface, Until the eye of darkness took it all.

~ C.N.

Shouting for Joy Above the Noise of the Dead

The white horses of daylight took the whole earth, The Greek voices roaring out in battle-hunger, courage of spirit; The whole fleet shouting.

"Set free your father's country, Set free your sons, your wives, Monuments of your own ancestors, Now is the battle for everything."

The Persian fleet answered in one great voice.

But multitudes of ships crammed up together.

They smashed on another; the fleet shattered itself.

No seawater in sight, Only wreckage and bodies of dead men.

Beaches and rocks all full of dead.

Then the Greeks shouting for joy, like singing, like triumph, Until the darkness took it all.

~S.C.

The Music of War

And when the light of the son had perished, And night came on, Ships: every one sailed in commanded line.

The white horses of the daylight Like singing; like triumph Were lost.

That solemn battle-song chanted, "Courage of spirit!"

The trumpet's note set everything ablaze by beat; Beat in the deep of the salt water.

All in perfect order.

Then one great voice was shouting, "Now is the battle for everything."

Our Persian voices answered, Roaring out.

There was no time left before the clash.

A Greek ship assault Cut away the Persian ships.

No help could come from one to the other.

The whole rowing fleet shattered itself.

There was only wreckage And bodies of dead men.

The Greeks smashed and shattered.

One great scream filled up all the sea's surface With lament.

Until the eye of darkness took it all.

~A.F.

Courage of Spirit

When the light of the sun had perished, Longships passed the word.

No secret sailing out.

The white horses of the daylight took over the whole earth.

Echoes rebounded from the island rocks.

The barbarians were afraid.

Courage of spirit ablaze.

Perfect order leading.

Set free your father's country and set free your sons.

Voices answered, roaring out.

Ships smashed their bronze beaks into ships.

Great flood, Multitudes of ships, Crammed up together.

Ships overturned.

Bodies of dead men Rowed away in no order, in panic.

Smashed and shattered men in the water.

Great scream filled up.

The eye of darkness took it all.

~M.D.

The Eye of Darkness

Men at arms went down into the ships.

But when the horses of daylight took over The whole earth, clear to be seen, Echoes rebounded from the island rocks.

Suddenly by command, Their foaming oars beat, Beat in the deep of the salt water.

Then the whole fleet followed out after them.

Ships smashed their bronze beaks into ships.

Multitudes of ships crammed up together, And the whole rowing fleet shattered itself.

There was no seawater in eyesight, Only wreckage and bodies of dead men.

Whatever ships were left out of our fleet, Rowed away in no order, in panic.

Shattered, like gaffed fish, until The eye of darkness took it all.

~O.J.

Sacrifice

Line to line the longships passed the word.

All that night long, the captains of the ships ordered.

There was no Greek panic clear to be seen, And one great voice was shouting, "Now is the battle for eveything."

A Greek ship cut away the stem And another rammed.

The great flood of the Persian shipping held, But multitudes of ships crammed.

There was no seawater in eyesight, Only wreckage and bodies of dead men.

Our men.

~V.L.

Defeat

The light of sun perished.

No secret sailing.

The barbarians were afraid, Strategy was lost.

Courage of spirit set everything ablaze.

Now is the one battle for everything.

There was no time left.

It was the first assault.

Rammed, Smashed, Shattered, Overturned.

Beaches and rocks full of dead.

The fleet rowed away in no order in panic with lament.

~S.S.