Small Town, Big Memories

First comes summer,

Which is never a bummer,

From rippling muddy waves,

to sticky muddy caves,

And rays of the hot sun that always misbehaves.

Stinging burnt skin,

But summer is always a win.

Next comes fall,

And the winds’ new howling call,

Big leafy piles,

To raking for a while,

Coughing smoke of billowing bonfires,

And reading a magazine that “Inspires.”

Chilly days,

And sunny rays,

But fall is always “just a phase.”

Then it’s winter,

With firewood splinters,

And a wish for warmth,

With new coats soon to be set forth,

Frostbite nips,

To glove rips,

But winter is just a trick.

Last is spring,

An opening to a new “Thing,”

Soggy wet mornings,

And new fog warnings,

Muddy feet,

To new boots that now reek,

Spring is never for the weak.

That is the Decorah life,

With people who strive,

Driftless stones,

A place we call home.

Hazel Opheim

Hazel Opheim is a seventh grader at Decorah Middle School. She enjoys doing art, drawing, writing, and horseback riding! She also enjoys hanging out with friends, baking, and much more!

We created Future Focused, a new Inspire(d) column written by pre-teens and teens, to help give the next generation an opportunity to share their voices. Partnering with Dana Hogan, the Extended Learning Program teacher at Decorah Middle School, we offered prompts around the question, “What feels like home?” Students submitted some really great work, and five were chosen for this Inspire(d). You can read all the Future Focused pieces published so far at iloveinspired.com/category/future-focused. Here’s to Listening to the Next Generation! – Aryn

Facebook Pin Email