Homework
A poem by Ryan Weatherbee
Reprinted from the July 2000 issue of Slate & Style, a publication of the NFB Writers Division.
Just relax,
it could be fun
Don�t do your homework
on the run
Sit down with your
books and you�ve begun
And soon your homework
will be done
Do your Math and
English too
Soon no one will
be smarter than you
Your adding, subtraction,
and division you�ll do
Nouns, verbs, and
stories, too
Now with homework,
you are through
A new day has started
and as you know
Another day will
not be slow
With Science, Music,
French and gym
A chance of no homework
will be slim
So home you go again
to study
You might do your
homework with a buddy
You have studied
for a very long time
Trying hard to complete
this rhyme
You must start your
homework really fast
For fear your alertness
will not last
You cannot rush the
homework along
For fear of getting
answers wrong
Study hard and do
your work
Because good marks
can be a perk
For college scholarships
they will work
So do your homework
and don�t be a jerk.
Editor�s Note: Ryan, who is blind, was a sixth grade student at Memorial City School in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, when he entered this poem in the 1999 NFB Writers Division poetry contest for students. The poem earned second place in the competition. For more information about the NFB Writers Division and the annual contest, send your request and a stamped self-addressed envelope to: NFB Writers, c/o Lori Stayer, 2704 Beach Drive, Merrick, New York; or send an e-mail request with the notation �Poetry Contest� in the subject line to Mrs. Stayer at <[email protected]>.