Papa Birthday Poem

The hands of man protruded from the ground

through their mother’s skin and to the sky

They say it imbues us with awe all around,

But this grandeur is actually a covert lie

It was a brilliant bond breaking scheme

between man and his Earth mother

Once requited love now all a dream

Heartbreaking betrayal like no other

There are still those that see beyond the masses

After decades of passion evaporated into mist

Once fiery and bright, now invisible gases

Forced selflessness for another’s business

Fried and frazzled--it’s time to start anew

Your blistery summer midlife has passed

the tranquil spring season breaks through

And with it the time comes to rebuild at last

From the lackluster land of concrete and steel

Back to mother nature--a home that is true

Your family alongside in a love fueled deal

And the freedom to pursue what you want to do

-- Joseph Gashinsky

There’s a lot to know about who I am

like my love for bacon and any ham

Or my fear of neck-slicing paper cuts

And how I crave maple syrup doughnuts.

These facts are not important, you see.

You can’t take a paper to write and tell

all about the true person that is me.

Words only scratch the surface of my identity

and to really learn about me you simply can’t just read 

a list of things about my personality.

Deep within myself I have a drive

that is a part of me you cannot deprive.

It’s my passion for anything I set out to do

and my competitiveness to be best at it too.

Let me share a game that I love,

a sport free and full like a dove,

simple rules with endless possibilities,

soccer demands your greatest abilities.

Wartorn from the battlefield of cleats and hate

caused a battle-scarred limp that is my gate

for I am a horse of power and perseverance

and no single thing is enough of an interference

to stop this beast from rising at its roaring rate.

In anything and everything that I do

I will compete to be greatest--it's true.

Past the blunders that hinder my quest

beyond those in the way who are cruel pests.

Straight through anyone standing in my way

making friends and extravagant stories everyday.

People will try to take your confidence,

your courage,

your determination,

but they'll never take your engine

so the pistons keep turning,

while I build the track

and take each obstacle

one at a time.

Deep within myself I have a drive

that is a part of me you cannot deprive.

It’s my passion for anything I set out to do

and my competitiveness to be best at it too.

I'll never give up and I'll never stop

And you shouldn’t either just like me

Create your path all the way to the top

This is my poem for English 3.

-- Joseph Gashinsky

Tree of Time

It was the tree of time,

as each leaf changed hue,

wrinkled, fragile and once sublime

each fell as it passed--their autumn curfew.

The blanket of death comes from above,

the clock ticks and all slowly withers,

whether it’d be well known or very loved,

time shows no mercy--not even a sliver.

-- Joseph Gashinsky

Science Is...

Science is,

the indefinite search for truth,

the why, when, how, and where.

Science is above us,

below us,

and is us!

Science is the hot stars,

the unique planets, the speedy comets,

and the empty, dark space between them.

Science is the beating heart,

the inflating lungs, the flexing muscles,

and the arteries connecting them.

Science is the erupting volcano,

the spinning tornado, the howling blizzards,

and the mighty hurricane.

Science is the green grass,

the soaring redwoods, the beautiful daisies,

and photosynthesis that gives them life.

Science is our curiosity, acquired knowledge,

future discoveries, creative innovation,

and the newest ideas.

Science is the gas,

to drive our desire to know all,

learn the universe’s secrets,

and know,

the unknown.

-- Joseph Gashinsky

My Sister

I remember the day she came into the world

as good as yesterday.

She was born bigger than me

and heavier too.

Over the years she introduced herself to me

and I found out who she is.

Smart, loving, annoying is my sister.

Her mouth speaks fiction

and hides the real truth.

Skinny, short, hair in braids is my sister.

She has a sweet tooth

and it’s desire never ends.

Stubborn, loud, energetic is my sister.

She is a bug that flies around me

agitating me in everyway possible.

Fast, zippy, witty is my sister.

She has talent in the sport of soccer

and is skilled in the art of drawing.

Though she’s an energetic, lying fly,

I love my sister.

She makes me laugh when I’m blue

and she’s always there for me.

-- Joseph Gashinsky