Back to School Poems
These poems capture the excitement, anticipation, and nervousness that come with starting a new school year.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, ©2021
The first day of school is the reason why
Children are happy but then some cry
The first day of school can be a fear
For our little ones that are so dear.
Often they go holding Mom's hand
But they would rather be playing in the sand
With eyes so wide they look around
But their focus is on the playground.
The teacher approaches with a smile
She welcomes the little ones with style
There are a lot of kids in the room
Dressed in new clothes and oh, so groomed.
"I'll be back in a little while,"
Says the Mom with a smile.
"Go and play with your new friends"
Off to school, the Mom does send.
Poet: Eleanor Farjeon
Nine-o’clock Bell!
All the small children and big ones as well,
Pulling their stockings up, snatching their hats,
Cheeking and grumbling and giving back-chats,
Laughing and quarreling, dropping their things,
These at a snail’s pace and those upon wings,
Lagging behind a bit, running ahead,
Waiting at corners for lights to turn red,
Some of them scurrying,
Others not worrying,
Carelessly trudging or anxiously hurrying,
All through the streets they are coming pell-mell
At the Nine-o'clock Bell!
Poet: Aileen Fisher
I wonder
if my drawing
will be as good as theirs.
I wonder
if they’ll like me
or just be full of stares.
I wonder
if my teacher
will look like Mom or Gran.
I wonder
if my puppy
will wonder where I am.
Poet: M. E. B.
Dear little one good-bye, a pleasant walk for you
On a summer morning early.
When the flowers and the grass are wet with dew,
That hangs in little drops so pearly.
The sun is shining bright, and the birds so sweetly sing.
As you walk to the school every morning;
And always are in time, e'er the bell begins to ring,
"Dull sleep and your downy bed scorning."
Both the Latin and the French are quite difficult I know,
But my brother conquers each of them with gladness;
And how nice it is to think that a clever boy he'll grow,
For he knows to be a dunce would give us sadness.
Once more I say "good-bye," I will think of you the while
You are busily engaged knowledge earning,
And when at evening you return, friends will greet you with a smile.
To welcome you from study and from learning.
Key Reflections on these Back to School Poems:
- The first day of school brings a mix of happiness and anxiety, the poems highlighting the emotional challenges children face during transitions. Leaving home can evoke feelings of longing and separation, reminding us of the importance of familiar comforts.
- School life is marked by a lively routine, illustrating how children adapt to their environment in various ways, showcasing both individuality and community.
- Children often grapple with insecurities about fitting in and meeting expectations, emphasizing the universal experience of seeking acceptance.
- Education is portrayed as a crucial opportunity for personal development, encouraging readers to reflect on the importance of nurturing curiosity and resilience in themselves and others.
Related: Poems About Learning
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School Memories Poems
Reflect on the good times and unforgettable moments of school days with these nostalgic poems.
Poet: Howard Carleton Tripp
There it stood many years by the edge of the grove,
On the brow of a beautiful hill;
Not quite a fit object for children to love,
It was built without beauty or skill.
Its weather-worn siding was once painted red
Its windows were dirty, and black was the door;
The pupils it sheltered are nearly all dead,
They never will scuffle again on its floor.
It stood there defiant through winter's bleak hours.
Its shingles were rotten from time and decay;
In summer the dooryard was gaudy with flowers.
Where the children would scamper and merrily play;
Its chimney was battered and broken with stones,
Its benches were whittied in comic relief ;
Whenever I pass it the doleful wind moans
Through the rafters, so old, like a spirit of grief.
Its half-plastered walls were smoky and brown,
The ceiling overhead was the color of slate;
'Twas here they assembled, — the best of the town,
On long winter evenings in earnest debate.
'Twas here that the preacher each Sabbath would come,
And dolefully mumble his time-honored prayers,
And preach a long sermon on our final home,
That lightened our purses, and also our cares.
'Twas here the schoolmaster would pummel the boys,
And fevor the maidens in all of their ways;
'Twas here that the children of mischief and noise
Spent many glad hours, the best of their days.
From its door the black hearses wound over the hill,
And carried their burdens of sorrow away;
And now the old house is deserted and still,
'Tis sunk into ruins, and gone to decay.
Poet: Walt Whitman
An old man, gathering youthful memories and blooms, that youth itself cannot.
Now only do I know you!
O fair auroral skies! O morning dew upon the grass!
And these I see - these sparkling eyes,
These stores of mystic meaning--these young lives,
Building, equipping, like a fleet of ships - immortal ships!
Soon to sail out over the measureless seas,
On the Soul's voyage.
Only a lot of boys and girls?
Only the tiresome spelling, writing, ciphering classes?
Only a Public School?
Ah more--infinitely more;
(As George Fox rais'd his warning cry, "Is it this pile of brick and
mortar--these dead floors, windows, rails--you call the church?
Why this is not the church at all--the Church is living, ever living
Souls.")
And you, America,
Cast you the real reckoning for your present?
The lights and shadows of your future--good or evil?
To girlhood, boyhood look--the Teacher and the School.
Poems About Literacy
Poet: John Greenleaf Whittier
Still sits the school-house by the road,
A ragged beggar sleeping;
Around it still the sumachs grow,
And blackberry-vines are creeping.
Within, the master's desk is seen,
Deep-scarred by raps official;
The warping floor, the battered seats,
The jack-knife's carved initial;
The charcoal frescoes on its wall;
Its door's worn sill, betraying
The feet that, creeping slow to school,
Went storming out to playing!
Long years ago a winter sun
Shone over it at setting;
Lit up its western window-panes,
And low eaves' icy fretting.
It touched the tangled golden curls,
And brown eyes full of grieving,
Of one who still her steps delayed
When all the school were leaving.
For near it stood the little boy
Her childish favor singled;
His cap pulled low upon a face
Where pride and shame were mingled.
Pushing with restless feet the snow
To right and left, he lingered;--
As restlessly her tiny hands
The blue-checked apron fingered.
He saw her lift her eyes; he felt
The soft hand's light caressing,
And heard the tremble of her voice,
As if a fault confessing.
"I'm sorry that I spelt the word:
I hate to go above you,
Because," - the brown eyes lower fell, -
"Because, you see, I love you!"
Still memory to a gray-haired man
That sweet child-face is showing.
Dear girl! the grasses on her grave
Have forty years been growing!
He lives to learn, in life's hard school,
How few who pass above him
Lament their triumph and his loss,
Like her, because they love him.
Key Reflections on these School Memories Poems:
- Reflect on the nostalgia associated with school memories, recognizing that these experiences represent both cherished moments and the passage of time.
- The physical spaces of education may deteriorate, yet they hold lasting significance, embodying the joys and sorrows of youth.
- Education extends beyond academic learning, playing a crucial role in shaping personal identities and futures. Schools serve as backdrops for important emotional connections, including friendships and first loves, while the lessons learned have a profound and lasting impact on individuals throughout their lives.
- Ultimately, these poems encourage an appreciation for the depth and complexity of one’s own school experiences and their enduring influence.
Related: Poems About Memories
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Classroom Poems
Explore the dynamic environment of classrooms through poems that depict both fun and learning.
Poet: Arthur A. Knipe
"Do not whisper" is a rule
You will find in every school,
And the reason here is given
In a rhyme.
For children all will chatter
About any little matter
And there’d be a dreadful clatter
All the time.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
In classrooms where knowledge breathes,
Teachers harbor wisdom like gentle sheaths.
With chalk and charts, their guidance flows,
Nurturing minds, as understanding grows.
Within the school learning takes flight,
As fertile thoughts bloom with pure delight.
Plus in the library's embrace so grand,
Vast treasures await, on every hand.
Quotes About Schools
Poet: D. H. Lawrence
When will the bell ring, and end this weariness?
How long have they tugged the leash, and strained apart
My pack of unruly hounds: I cannot start
Them again on a quarry of knowledge they hate to hunt,
I can haul them and urge them no more.
No more can I endure to bear the brunt
Of the books that lie out on the desks: a full three score
Of several insults of blotted pages and scrawl
Of slovenly work that they have offered me.
I am sick, and tired more than any thrall
Upon the woodstacks working weariedly.
And shall I take
The last dear fuel and heap it on my soul
Till I rouse my will like a fire to consume
Their dross of indifference, and burn the scroll
Of their insults in punishment? - I will not!
I will not waste myself to embers for them,
Not all for them shall the fires of my life be hot,
For myself a heap of ashes of weariness, till sleep
Shall have raked the embers clear: I will keep
Some of my strength for myself, for if I should sell
It all for them, I should hate them -
I will sit and wait for the bell.
Key Reflections in these Classroom Poems:
- These classroom poems reflect on the complexities of classroom dynamics, highlighting the challenges of managing noise and distractions while fostering a productive learning environment.
- They emphasize the vital role teachers play in nurturing students' minds and guiding their growth, even amidst obstacles.
- Classrooms are portrayed as fertile grounds for intellectual and personal development, where curiosity thrives, but the poems also capture the varying levels of student engagement and motivation, showcasing the struggles teachers face in inspiring their students.
- Ultimately, these reflections prompt readers to consider their own experiences within the classroom, both as students and educators, and the lasting impact of these formative years on their lives.
Related: Poem About Education
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School Friendship Poems
Celebrate the bonds and friendships formed during school years with these heartfelt poems.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, ©2021
I always look forward to when summer comes
And the school year is finally done.
No more teachers, no more books,
I'll just sit by the winding brook.
I'll dream of things that life will bring
The days are great, it makes me sing
I can do whatever I want with the day
I love summer in every way!
But by summer's end
I do miss my friends
So off to school I will go
My friends greet me with a big hello.
Another school year has begun
I will learn and ask questions.
I'll study again and do my best
I will ace every test.
As the year passes by
To my work, I will apply
I will dream of summer days
No more study, just full of play.
Poet: Adelore Ferron
When it’s springtime we remember
Joys we had in bleak December
So when alone we must recall
The peace we felt in study hall.
Now is the time when pondering
We put ourselves to wondering
Of what we did or left undone
When as Juniors we had our fun.
A final thought but not the least
Sure as the sun rose in the East
We’ve loved our school its praises sung
And in our studies we have won.
Key Reflections in these School Friendship Poems:
- Poems that reflect on the significance of friendships formed during school years, highlighting the joy and anticipation of summer break and the bittersweet feeling of returning to school.
- They emphasize the importance of social connections, as the excitement of summer is often tempered by the longing for friends when the school year ends.
- The poems also celebrate shared experiences and memories, suggesting that friendships provide comfort and joy throughout the ups and downs of academic life.
- Additionally, they remind readers of the growth that occurs through these relationships, as students navigate their studies together and cherish the moments spent in each other’s company.
- Overall, these reflections encourage an appreciation for the bonds formed during formative years and the lasting impact of friendship on personal development.
Related: Friendship Poems
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Humorous School Poems
Enjoy a laugh with these lighthearted poems that poke fun at various aspects of school life.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, ©2021
The teacher says, "open your books."
With that comment, I gave her a look.
Oh why do I have to be here
I think with a sneer.
Teachers, books, and tests I don't like
I'd rather be in the woods on a hike.
All this learning hurts my brain
School just seems like a pain.
There must be more to life I think
Pens, and paper, and just more ink
If I could only have my way
School would be just for one day!
Poet: Nixon Waterman
I'd like to hunt the Injuns 'at roam the boundless less plain!
I'd like to be a pirate an' plough the ragin' main
An' capture some big island, in lordly pomp to rule,
But I just can't be nothin' 'cause I got to go to school.
'Most all great men, so I have read, has been the ones 'at got
The least amount o' learnin' by a flickerin' pitchpine knot;
An' many a darin' boy like me grows up to be a fool.
An' never 'mounts to nothin' 'cause he's got to go to school.
I'd like to be a cowboy an' rope the Texas steer!
I'd like to be a sleuth-houn' er a bloody buccaneer!
An' leave the foe to welter where their blood had made a pool,
But how kin I git famous? 'cause I got to go to school.
I don't see how my parents kin make the big mistake
O' keepin' down a boy like me 'at 's got a name to make.
It ain't no wonder boys is bad an' balky as a mule;
Life ain't worth livin' if you've got to waste your time in school.
I 'd like to be regarded as " The Terror of the Plains! "
I'd like to hear my victims shriek an' clank their prison-chains!
I'd like to face the enemy with gaze serene an' cool,
An' wipe 'em off the earth! but, pshaw! I got to go to school.
What good is 'rithmatic an' things exceptin' just fer girls
Er them there Fauntleroys 'at wears their hair in twisted curls?
An' if my name is never seen on hist'ry's page, why, you'll
Remember 'at it's all just 'cause I got to go to school.
Poet: Althea Randolph
I go to school and try to read.
But it is very hard!
I'd so much rather stay at home,
And play here in the yard.
But Mother says that I must learn.
And try to be content;
For maybe some day when I'm grown
I'll be the President!
Poems About Reading
Poet: S. M. Priest
I am going to California,
As smart as any man,
To dig among the shining gold;
For I am sure I can.
I think you 'd better go to school.
And study all you can,
And never think of digging gold
Till you become a man.
Our fathers, and our mothers too,
Would like a little gold;
If we could get a lump or two,
'Twould help them when they 're old.
I think we 'd better stay at home.
And dig for knowledge bright;
'Twill be much better than the gold.
With all its dazzling light.
Key Reflections in these Humorous School Poems:
- Encouragement for us to find humor in life's everyday frustrations, reminding us that challenges like education or work are shared experiences.
- The poems emphasize the value of persistence, showing that while the present may feel tedious, long-term rewards come from sticking with it.
- Through laughter and lighthearted reflection, these poems inspire a positive outlook, reminding us that even difficult moments can contribute to personal growth and future success.
Related: Funny Poems
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Inspirational School Poems
Find motivation and encouragement with poems that inspire students to achieve their best in school.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, ©2021
Oh I recall my school filled days
I now realize how much it pays
To learn and get an education
It truly gives you a good foundation.
Life will teach you many things
Ups and downs and many swings
But the learning that I got at school
Has made me not anyone's fool.
So learn all you can while you're in school
Don't worry about being so cool.
Always do your very best
And life will take care of the rest.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, ©2021
To be successful in school
Don't clown around and act like a fool
Have a learning attitude
Be full of gratitude.
Ask the questions, learn all you can
Determine what you want and have a plan
These are the best days of your life
Don't fill them with foolishness and strife.
Your teachers only want the best
That is why they give you the test.
They want success for you
In your life and all you do.
The choice is yours to make
You can learn or be a fake
When you look back you will see
That it prepared you for your degree!
Try to be cheerful and kind, bringing pleasure into
the lives of those at home and at school.
Learning Quotes
Poet: Phoebe Cary
Do your best, your very best,
And do it every day.
Little boys and little girls,
That is the wisest way.
Key Reflections in these Inspirational School Poems:
- Emphasizes the importance of education as a foundation for future success.
- Encouragement for students to work hard, stay curious, and make the most of their school years.
- Gratitude, perseverance, and a positive attitude are highlighted as key traits that lead to both academic and personal growth.
- The poems also remind readers that the lessons learned in school shape character and prepare them for life’s challenges.
Related: Inspirational Quotes For Schools
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Poems About School Challenges
These poems address the struggles and obstacles faced in school, offering comfort and understanding.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, ©2021
School enough, I am going to quit
I have had enough I am going to split
Why do I have to go,
What do I have to show?
I talked about this to friends of mine
They did not think quitting would be fine
They said, "What will you do
No education, no job for you."
I thought about the words they said
And even though school I dread
I need this education to survive
I will change my attitude and thrive.
Knowledge Quotes
Poet: William Blake
I love to rise in a summer morn,
When the birds sing on every tree;
The distant huntsman winds his horn,
And the skylark sings with me:
O what sweet company!
But to go to school in a summer morn, -
O it drives all joy away!
Under a cruel eye outworn,
The little ones spend the day
In sighing and dismay.
Ah then at times I drooping sit,
And spend many an anxious hour;
Nor in my book can I take delight,
Nor sit in learning's bower,
Worn through with the dreary shower.
How can the bird that is born for joy
Sit in a cage and sing?
How can a child, when fears annoy,
But droop his tender wing,
And forget his youthful spring!
O father and mother if buds are nipped,
And blossoms blown away;
And if the tender plants are stripped
Of their joy in the springing day,
By sorrow and care's dismay, -
How shall the summer arise in joy,
Or the summer fruits appear?
Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy,
Or bless the mellowing year,
When the blasts of winter appear?
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, ©2021
Grade one, grade two, grade three
Were fun, happy, and free
I made friends and had lots of play
I loved going to school every day.
But then came four, five, and six
The work seemed hard as bricks.
We now were subject to many tests
Maybe school is not what they suggest.
Next, you know came seven, eight, and nine
I felt I was starting to shine
I could do a lot of things on my own
Sometimes school just made me groan.
And the last, ten, eleven, and twelve
School I was ready to shelve.
But when graduation day came
I proudly showed my diploma in the frame.
The next chapter of life for me
Will see me in university for my degree
May the foundation that my teachers gave
Serve me well in every way.
"The Years Of School" by Catherine Pulsifer reflects on the different stages of a school journey. In the early grades, like one, two, and three, school is full of fun, friends, and play, and the speaker enjoys it. However, as they progress to grades four, five, and six, they face tougher challenges and tests, making them question if school is what it's cracked up to be. Then, in grades seven, eight, and nine, they start to feel more confident and capable, though school can still be a bit frustrating. Finally, in grades ten, eleven, and twelve, the speaker is ready to leave school behind, but upon graduation, they proudly display their diploma.
Key Reflections in these Poems About School Challenges:
- Points to the value of persistence and the importance of education in overcoming challenges.
- While school can feel difficult and even discouraging at times, sticking with it builds resilience and opens doors to future success.
- The contrast between frustration and the pride of achievement encourages us to push through tough moments, knowing that the effort they invest will pay off in the long run.
- These poems also highlight that growth is gradual, and with the right attitude, even daunting experiences can lead to thriving and personal accomplishment.
Related: Poems About Knowledge
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School Break and Vacation Poems
These poems address the struggles and obstacles faced in school, offering comfort and understanding.
Poet: E. K. Linton
Into the yard a rush of little feet;
And then the summer air enshrines delight
Of children's laughter in its fall and flight;
While the sun shines more gaily, since such sweet
Divine fair faces turn like flowers to greet
His gentle gaze, and his gold beams may light
In tender kisses slow and exquisite
On their soft mouths that smile beneath his heat.
Ah, sweeter far, I ween, to the Lord's ear
This joyous laughter than the solemn hymn
Of white-robed choir in measured melody
Pacing the aisle of some cathedral dim;
Nay, for God surely smiles and counts most dear
Of all his wealth this childish ecstasy.
Poet: Mary D. Brine
The daisies and the buttercups
Now merrily are growing;
And everywhere, for June's sweet sake,
Are crimson roses blowing.
The sunbeams o'er the meadows lie,
And breezes light are straying;
And oh! 'tis time the schools were done,
And children out a playing.
"Vacation is the time for fun!"
All girls and boys are saying,
When schools and books grow wearisome,
And hearts are ripe for playing.
So, little folks, come one and all,
And tumble out together,
Amid the sunbeam's golden bright,
All in the sweet June weather.
Poet: Edgar A. Guest
Vacation time! How glad it seemed
When as a boy I sat and dreamed
Above my school books, of the fun
That I should claim when toil was done;
And, Oh, how oft my youthful eye
Went wandering with the patch of sky
That drifted by the window panes
O'er pleasant fields and dusty lanes,
Where I would race and romp and shout
The very moment school was out.
My artful little fingers then
Feigned labor with the ink and pen,
But heart and mind were far away,
Engaged in some glad bit of play.
The last two weeks dragged slowly by;
Time hadn't then learned how to fly.
It seemed the clock upon the wall
From hour to hour could only crawl,
And when the teacher called my name,
Unto my cheeks the crimson came,
For I could give no answer clear
To questions that I didn't hear.
"Wool gathering, were you?" oft she said
And smiled to see me blushing red.
Her voice had roused me from a dream
Where I was fishing in a stream,
And, if I now recall it right,
Just at the time I had a bite.
And now my youngsters dream of play
In just the very selfsame way;
And they complain that time is slow
And that the term will never go.
Their little minds with plans are filled
For joyous hours they soon will build,
And it is vain for me to say,
That have grown old and wise and gray,
That time is swift, and joy is brief;
They'll put no faith in such belief.
To youthful hearts that long for play
Time is a laggard on the way.
'Twas, Oh, so slow to me back then
Ere I had learned the ways of men!
Key Reflections in these School Break and Vacation Poems:
- Reminders us of the pure joy and excitement that come with school breaks and vacations.
- The poems capture the anticipation children feel as they look forward to time away from school, filled with laughter, play, and the freedom of summer days.
- Reflections on how time seems to move slowly for children, while adults recognize how quickly it passes.
- Encouragement for us to appreciate the balance between work and rest, and to cherish both the carefree moments of childhood and the wisdom that comes with time.
Related: Poems About Vacation
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