Poems by Taylor Vollman

Taylor has been writing since kindergarten

    Taylor Vollman was born on May 28, 1998 in Valdez, Alaska. She enjoyed reading at an early age and was always fascinated by books. Taylor has been a member of her school’s Battle of the Books team which tied for second in state one year. She started as a writer in kindergarten when they learned to write poetry and has been writing ever since.
    Her favorite poem is There Will Come Soft Rains by Sarah Teasdale as well as other works by Naomi Shihab Nye, Robert Frost, and Alfred Lord Tennyson. She believes that poetry is a creative way to express oneself and encourages others to do so. Her favorite poem that she wrote is The Lone Elephant. She now lives with family in Copper Center, Alaska.

The Lone Elephant
By Taylor Vollman

The lone elephant strides through city streets
Passing abandoned cars and lonely intersections
The sun rises behind him and
The ground rumbles as his footsteps slowly move forward
I sit on the curb on the deserted avenue
Trees sway in the breeze beside me,
House lights shut off, never to come on again
The morning light makes grey skin orange
His trumpet sounds, but nothing stirs
We are both alone in this gloomy concrete jungle
He approaches me slowly as if I’m a mirage
His head lowers and golden eyes meet blue ones
He speaks a silent message
One that can only be understood by us
I nod my somber response
His large ears flap, defeated, before he turns
Down another desolate lane

Person in the Background
By Taylor Vollman

Sidekick, partner-in-crime, comrade
Always there
Giving up their life to keep another happy
The friend who might be flawed
Pudgy, pimple covered face
Somewhat dense, obese, awkward
No special talent
Except loyalty
One who never puts themselves first
Always looking for approval
From the one they look up to:
The hero
They watch their friend find happiness
While they find none,
Putting themselves in danger
To keep the adored safe
Never the one thought about first
Merely a blur when remembered,
The person in the background

13th Summer
By Taylor Vollman

Sliding down blue hard plastic
Into aqua water,
Bubbles,
SPLASH
Get out, read in warm sun,
Cool off again,
Never-ending cycle
Board games, pizza, bowling, TV
Not wanting to face reality
Scents of life:
Dirt, flowers, cedar, and pine
Tanning in the sun, letting its glow brown our skin
Stuck in a dream
Star gazing, sleeping on the deck,
Cold then warm
As we sleep till the day is half gone
S’mores by the fire
Gooey on the face
Days go by too fast
Never enough time
Leaving dreamland behind