The Poetry of
Michael G. Khmelnitsky

This is the first poem I have written in English, in Ms. Barthel's ninth-grade English class.

I am a strange person who likes to be alone.
I wonder sometimes, what is the purpose of man?
I hear the sound of thoughts about life and death.
I see someone in the sky, someone both powerful and weak.
I want to be there too, up up in the sky…with him.
I am a very strange person who likes to be alone.

I pretend to be "standard."
I feel that my soul will live longer than my body.
I touch the future.
I worry that man is mortal.
I cry, because I will be there too.

I understand that what is supposed to happen will happen.
I say, "Grab it while you still can."
I dream that every wish will come true.
I try to make a small piece of the world better.
I hope…I don't really know what I want to hope for.
I am a very strange person who likes to be alone.