The editors of CAVERNS: Kentucky Middle School Poetry, volume 1, 2018, are extremely grateful to the talented students, dedicated teachers, and proud parents who made this first volume possible. Poems were solicited during National Poetry Month, April 2017, by notices sent to Kentucky Teacher and selected education email lists. The poems were contributed by students through their classroom teachers and were selected from the following Kentucky schools:

Bullitt Lick Middle School, Conner Middle School, Farristown Middle School, Glasgow Middle School, Hebron Middle School, Leestown Middle School, Meyzeek Middle School, Owensboro Catholic Campus 4-6 - Royal Spring Middle School

The poems appearing here were selected for publication in this first volume of CAVERNS: Kentucky Middle School Poetry after extensive editorial board review, using a rubric adapted from Chris Lewy (2001). Only poems with signed parental/guardian permission letters were published. Students or parents decided whether to publish the poet’s full name or first name and last initial only. Student authors retain copyright of their original work.