Here are a few more of those poems featuring personification, inspired by Frank O'Hare and Sandra Cisneros, by Mrs. Hernandez's 6th grade class in Room 109.
###
Moon
Daisy A.
Black the sky is.
The white moon flashes through the black.
Round eyes, curved mouth, solid as a stone.
Talk to me, moon, day and weeks I
waited. I reach to touch but I'm too
far. I got to bed as soon as it's pitch
black, I see your white eye blink.
A Lonely Car
Vanessa A.
I look out my window. I see a
car. A car with blue skin. A car
who's overweight. A car with four
legs, who runs all day long. A car
with feelings. Who's always sad
and never happy. He talks to
me with no words but tears.
No one sees to understand him but
me. I go outside and comfort
the car. When he is sad I am
sad. When he cries I cry. I ask
him, "What's wrong?" He tells me
he's lonely. I tell him, "I'm here,
I'm here."
My Garage
Miguel A.
My garage opens his mouth and sticks
out his tongue.
I look at it for a long time until
his tongue drives away.
My sister screams, "Stop looking
at the dumb garage."
I say, "Shut up!" and she does.
My garage starts talking. It says,
"Be nice to your brothers and
sisters."
I ask why.
He says, "What if you want them
to be nice to you?"
"Oh, right," I say.
"Then why do you pour gas
on your brother, the yard?"
Windy Night
Miguel G.
I heard a screech at my window.
The windy city is living up to its
name tonight. Very windy, not
completely peaceful as I thought
it would be tonight. "I must ask
you something," said the tree. He
is scared, like when you watch
a very scary movie at night. "May I
use a jacket? I am freezy." Planes
passing, trains running, and trees are
screaming of windows.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Windowpane Personification -- 7th grade
I shared two poems with the students, both that had speakers who observed something from their bedroom window, and used personification to help describe this thing, and found some inspiration from it as well. We read and discussed "Four Skinny Trees/Cuatro arboles flaquititos" by Sandra Cisneros, and "A True Account of Talking to the Sun on Fire Island" by Frank O'Hara, before we wrote our own window poems, where I asked them to choose a non-human item they can see from their window and use personification to describe it. More specifically, I encouraged them to envision a conversation beteween themselves and this thing (similar to Frank and the sun in "A True Account").
###
Mrs. Jamen, Rm. 207, 7th grade
A Promising Star
Paola S.
I was falling asleep
when a tiny little voice yelled, "Come out!"
I arose sleepily and opened my door.
I went outside to my porch.
"Where are you?!" I yelled.
"Look up here!" a glitter fell on my head.
"Now look, I've been sent to give
you an important message."
I was trying to look at it but its shiny
mouth kept hurting my delicate eyes.
"I've heard you have been getting in
trouble, making bad decisions."
It was short but wide arms pointed at
me.
"Yes, see lately I don't know what to
do, I'm confused, I don't know how to
make my own choices."
I couldn't help it, my eyes
were watery.
"Look, I promise, just follow your
heart and it will guide you to
a good path."
Estrella
Daniela G.
Una estrella en la noche
brillaba como nunca,
y decide hacerla mi
amiga. Ella siempre
me escucha lo que tengo
que contar aunque sea
tan aburrido que hasta
yo misma me quedo
dormida pero para ella
no importa porque es
mi mas grande amiga.
The Cars That Never Stop
Miguel M.
I see the cars from my window.
I see them running like
people run during a race.
I see their wheels moving
fast like they were human
legs trying to be the
first ones to get to their
destination. I ask them if
they are tired of running
all day trying to be the
first ones to get where they
can rest for some time
but they said they
like going from one place
to another because that's
what they know to do.
###
Mr. Czoski, Rm. 209, 7th grade
Grass
Cynthia S.
I see the grass very dark.
It said, “I feel so lonely. Nobody
pays attention. They step
on like I don’t have feelings.”
“That’s exactly how I feel,” I said.
“I like when the kids play
on, especially soccer,” said the grass.
“Don’t let your emotions
take control of you. You have to be
very strong,” told me,
the grass.
The Stubborn Car
Louis B.
the cars were running by
yelling in their deep voices
I yell back “be quiet out there”
it ignores me
I yell it again
the car behind it tells it to listen to me
the car tells me “forget you”
I throw a toy car at it
the car blows its exhaust at me
I scream “stupid car”
then I shut my window
Moon
Jesus Jacquez
The moon is very bright at night
the moon comes down and shines on me
and tells me, “What’s wrong?”
“I got an F on my test.”
The moon told me, “Keep studying.”
“I do study,” I said.
“Then go to school and study there
and tell the teacher what you need
help on,” said the moon.
“O.K.” I said.
“O.K., bye,
I have to rise down so the sun
can come up.”
“Bye,” I said.
###
Mrs. Bourret, Rm. 208, 7th grade
Moon
Stephanie G.
Moon—the moon talks
to me and tells
me things like, “Be
confident.” And I
tell it, “How?” And it says,
“Figure it out yourself. You
know how. Just try. YOU
CAN DO IT.”
The moon talks
to me every night when
everyone is sleeping.
The more I grow
up, I’m more confident.
Her name is LALA because
she sings to make people
go to sleep. When she
sings I fall asleep and
become more confident.
Untitled
Emilio R.
I could hear the wind talk
to the tree. I hear swift words.
I hear the tree rumble in the
darkness…I hear what I can’t see.
Houses
Cristian G.
When I saw my neighborhood
it seemed like family.
Being all together,
watching each other.
When the curtains open and
close, it’s looking at someone.
Your neighbors coming out the
house and cleaning up the house.
They give you protection by
keeping you in the house.
Thank you, house,
for keeping me safe,
and I will thank you back.
###
Mrs. Harris, Rm. 210, 7th grade
The Beautiful Stars
Ashley C.
I look out the window and I
see the stars. I’m talking to
my friend on the phone but I don’t
really pay attention. I just stare.
I hope they don’t mind that I stare. They’re
just so beautiful. I tell my
friend I will talk to her
later because I don’t want
her to tell me something
important and I won’t
be paying attention. So then
I stare and wonder, they’re so
far away, yet they glow as
if they were a new light bulb that
just turned on. So I sneak outside
and lay on the cold and wet
grass but I don’t care, there just
lay and stare, the stars so
amazing and they’re so nice and
generous, they show their talent
by giving me a show. The best
thing: they don’t talk, but they sing.
The Fence
Janan A.
“Ya!” it said as I walked by it. “Why
don’t you close me? I am always
standing here to keep your house safe.
And you don’t close me?” “Sorry,” I say,
“I forget sometimes.” “Well, you can’t
forget,” it says. “You don’t know how
it feels standing out here in the
cold nights. And in the melting
summers. Why don’t you try
standing out here with me just
this one night?” it says. “Please!”
So I stay. And the next day
I leave and close the gate. With
a smile.
Wind
Dalia C.
It stands there with no reasoning.
The wind blows,
but it still stays in its place.
The grass says nothing.
###
Mrs. Jamen, Rm. 207, 7th grade
A Promising Star
Paola S.
I was falling asleep
when a tiny little voice yelled, "Come out!"
I arose sleepily and opened my door.
I went outside to my porch.
"Where are you?!" I yelled.
"Look up here!" a glitter fell on my head.
"Now look, I've been sent to give
you an important message."
I was trying to look at it but its shiny
mouth kept hurting my delicate eyes.
"I've heard you have been getting in
trouble, making bad decisions."
It was short but wide arms pointed at
me.
"Yes, see lately I don't know what to
do, I'm confused, I don't know how to
make my own choices."
I couldn't help it, my eyes
were watery.
"Look, I promise, just follow your
heart and it will guide you to
a good path."
Estrella
Daniela G.
Una estrella en la noche
brillaba como nunca,
y decide hacerla mi
amiga. Ella siempre
me escucha lo que tengo
que contar aunque sea
tan aburrido que hasta
yo misma me quedo
dormida pero para ella
no importa porque es
mi mas grande amiga.
The Cars That Never Stop
Miguel M.
I see the cars from my window.
I see them running like
people run during a race.
I see their wheels moving
fast like they were human
legs trying to be the
first ones to get to their
destination. I ask them if
they are tired of running
all day trying to be the
first ones to get where they
can rest for some time
but they said they
like going from one place
to another because that's
what they know to do.
###
Mr. Czoski, Rm. 209, 7th grade
Grass
Cynthia S.
I see the grass very dark.
It said, “I feel so lonely. Nobody
pays attention. They step
on like I don’t have feelings.”
“That’s exactly how I feel,” I said.
“I like when the kids play
on, especially soccer,” said the grass.
“Don’t let your emotions
take control of you. You have to be
very strong,” told me,
the grass.
The Stubborn Car
Louis B.
the cars were running by
yelling in their deep voices
I yell back “be quiet out there”
it ignores me
I yell it again
the car behind it tells it to listen to me
the car tells me “forget you”
I throw a toy car at it
the car blows its exhaust at me
I scream “stupid car”
then I shut my window
Moon
Jesus Jacquez
The moon is very bright at night
the moon comes down and shines on me
and tells me, “What’s wrong?”
“I got an F on my test.”
The moon told me, “Keep studying.”
“I do study,” I said.
“Then go to school and study there
and tell the teacher what you need
help on,” said the moon.
“O.K.” I said.
“O.K., bye,
I have to rise down so the sun
can come up.”
“Bye,” I said.
###
Mrs. Bourret, Rm. 208, 7th grade
Moon
Stephanie G.
Moon—the moon talks
to me and tells
me things like, “Be
confident.” And I
tell it, “How?” And it says,
“Figure it out yourself. You
know how. Just try. YOU
CAN DO IT.”
The moon talks
to me every night when
everyone is sleeping.
The more I grow
up, I’m more confident.
Her name is LALA because
she sings to make people
go to sleep. When she
sings I fall asleep and
become more confident.
Untitled
Emilio R.
I could hear the wind talk
to the tree. I hear swift words.
I hear the tree rumble in the
darkness…I hear what I can’t see.
Houses
Cristian G.
When I saw my neighborhood
it seemed like family.
Being all together,
watching each other.
When the curtains open and
close, it’s looking at someone.
Your neighbors coming out the
house and cleaning up the house.
They give you protection by
keeping you in the house.
Thank you, house,
for keeping me safe,
and I will thank you back.
###
Mrs. Harris, Rm. 210, 7th grade
The Beautiful Stars
Ashley C.
I look out the window and I
see the stars. I’m talking to
my friend on the phone but I don’t
really pay attention. I just stare.
I hope they don’t mind that I stare. They’re
just so beautiful. I tell my
friend I will talk to her
later because I don’t want
her to tell me something
important and I won’t
be paying attention. So then
I stare and wonder, they’re so
far away, yet they glow as
if they were a new light bulb that
just turned on. So I sneak outside
and lay on the cold and wet
grass but I don’t care, there just
lay and stare, the stars so
amazing and they’re so nice and
generous, they show their talent
by giving me a show. The best
thing: they don’t talk, but they sing.
The Fence
Janan A.
“Ya!” it said as I walked by it. “Why
don’t you close me? I am always
standing here to keep your house safe.
And you don’t close me?” “Sorry,” I say,
“I forget sometimes.” “Well, you can’t
forget,” it says. “You don’t know how
it feels standing out here in the
cold nights. And in the melting
summers. Why don’t you try
standing out here with me just
this one night?” it says. “Please!”
So I stay. And the next day
I leave and close the gate. With
a smile.
Wind
Dalia C.
It stands there with no reasoning.
The wind blows,
but it still stays in its place.
The grass says nothing.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Fear: a further poetic exploration--8th grade
After reading and discussing the fear cento poems with the 8th grade classesI asked the students to take one line from their class poem and explore it a little further, using it as the first line of their own poem. They could choose one of their own lines or someone else's. Here are the interesting results.
###
Mr. Stalla, Rm. 201
The Darkness
Jacqueline L.
I fear the darkness under my bed
where someone or something could
be hiding.
I fear it because you never know
when something might pop out
It could grab hold of your leg
and pull you in
It would have you as a midnight
snack on the way to the bathroom
I would feel the creepy crawlers
as I hide under my covers
They would slowly forget me and
the day I disappeared
It was all because I could not
open my eyes and turn on the lights
Untitled
Yoseline M.
I fear walking alone in the dark street
where there’s no light.
No hope, nobody to lean on.
Hear cars pass me by like a dog
on the side of the street with no owner,
lost in the world.
Dark.
I Fear the World Might End Soon
Victor R.
We are all going to die.
Humanity will cease to exist.
Our hopes and dreams will be gone.
Disaster and chaos everywhere.
Nature and beauty gone.
No one to learn.
No one to learn from.
Fire and rocks are the only things left.
No more summer nights.
No more friendship or kindness.
###
Mr. Balcazar, Rm. 203
Rage
Christian E.
I fear the rage inside when it comes out
destroying and messing with everything
in sight. The rage can only be controlled
with PIE. Apple pie.
The warm inviting smell calms the
rage down. With the rage calmed down
I can rest once again.
Luis F.
I fear the dark, it's like a hole in the world,
walking into the basement, pitch dark
thinking there's someone everywhere you look,
hearing noises inside your head,
frantically looking for the light switch.
You see someone walking up to you.
You turn on the light,
a sigh of relief, you look
around, there is nothing.
Yocelin J.
I fear the grade F on the paper in front of me
people making fun of you
teacher's disappointment
B honor roll to nothing
feeling dumb
getting mad
fear going home with that paper
###
Ms. Catinella, Rm. 202
Oscar V.
I fear dying young,
not accomplishing what I want in life,
not seeing things I want to see,
not having a family.
Mariana D.
I fear dark alleys
where there are things that lurk at night
eyes looking at me
noises from behind
not knowing what could happen
something coming
look behind nothing there
Corina S.
I am afraid of not getting
through the gates, and getting sent
down. To lose my chance of being in
peace. To keep my fear in me, it is hard,
but to lose it is harder.
###
Ms. Fenton, Rm. 204
Marcos P.
I fear not making it to the majors
because I might suck at it and
I'll be the worst player in
the team. Then they'll send
me to minor leaguers and will
only pay me very little but
I also fear if I'm the
best, everyone will
hate me and the
team trades me
to the
Chicago Cubs.
Even though the Sox are better.
GO SOX!
Alex S.
I fear my mouth, what it says.
I want to say the right things.
I don't want to be wrong.
I don't want to hurt people with
what I say.
I don't want people to get mad.
I don't want to get in trouble
with what comes out of my mouth.
I want to stop swearing at people
who I shouldn't.
I Fear What I Fear
Frank M.
I fear what I fear. I can't
even figure out what it is that
I fear. I fear something everyone
fears, something I need
to find out what it is that
I fear. I don't fear monsters.
If I only knew what it is
that I fear. I fear what I fear.
What is it that I fear?
###
Mr. Stalla, Rm. 201
The Darkness
Jacqueline L.
I fear the darkness under my bed
where someone or something could
be hiding.
I fear it because you never know
when something might pop out
It could grab hold of your leg
and pull you in
It would have you as a midnight
snack on the way to the bathroom
I would feel the creepy crawlers
as I hide under my covers
They would slowly forget me and
the day I disappeared
It was all because I could not
open my eyes and turn on the lights
Untitled
Yoseline M.
I fear walking alone in the dark street
where there’s no light.
No hope, nobody to lean on.
Hear cars pass me by like a dog
on the side of the street with no owner,
lost in the world.
Dark.
I Fear the World Might End Soon
Victor R.
We are all going to die.
Humanity will cease to exist.
Our hopes and dreams will be gone.
Disaster and chaos everywhere.
Nature and beauty gone.
No one to learn.
No one to learn from.
Fire and rocks are the only things left.
No more summer nights.
No more friendship or kindness.
###
Mr. Balcazar, Rm. 203
Rage
Christian E.
I fear the rage inside when it comes out
destroying and messing with everything
in sight. The rage can only be controlled
with PIE. Apple pie.
The warm inviting smell calms the
rage down. With the rage calmed down
I can rest once again.
Luis F.
I fear the dark, it's like a hole in the world,
walking into the basement, pitch dark
thinking there's someone everywhere you look,
hearing noises inside your head,
frantically looking for the light switch.
You see someone walking up to you.
You turn on the light,
a sigh of relief, you look
around, there is nothing.
Yocelin J.
I fear the grade F on the paper in front of me
people making fun of you
teacher's disappointment
B honor roll to nothing
feeling dumb
getting mad
fear going home with that paper
###
Ms. Catinella, Rm. 202
Oscar V.
I fear dying young,
not accomplishing what I want in life,
not seeing things I want to see,
not having a family.
Mariana D.
I fear dark alleys
where there are things that lurk at night
eyes looking at me
noises from behind
not knowing what could happen
something coming
look behind nothing there
Corina S.
I am afraid of not getting
through the gates, and getting sent
down. To lose my chance of being in
peace. To keep my fear in me, it is hard,
but to lose it is harder.
###
Ms. Fenton, Rm. 204
Marcos P.
I fear not making it to the majors
because I might suck at it and
I'll be the worst player in
the team. Then they'll send
me to minor leaguers and will
only pay me very little but
I also fear if I'm the
best, everyone will
hate me and the
team trades me
to the
Chicago Cubs.
Even though the Sox are better.
GO SOX!
Alex S.
I fear my mouth, what it says.
I want to say the right things.
I don't want to be wrong.
I don't want to hurt people with
what I say.
I don't want people to get mad.
I don't want to get in trouble
with what comes out of my mouth.
I want to stop swearing at people
who I shouldn't.
I Fear What I Fear
Frank M.
I fear what I fear. I can't
even figure out what it is that
I fear. I fear something everyone
fears, something I need
to find out what it is that
I fear. I don't fear monsters.
If I only knew what it is
that I fear. I fear what I fear.
What is it that I fear?
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Yo soy un hombre sincero...
We spent some time with the first verse of "Versos Sencillos" by Jose Marti, a long, rhyming, metered poem, a manifesto of sorts--a statement of ideas, principles, and purpose--that contains a lot of vivid concrete imagery. I brought a small bag filled with slips of paper, each one with a different word (mostly nouns; like salt, paper, water, etc.). I had each student draw three words, and asked them to write the story of their life, or a story of their life, or their own manifesto. The details could be real or made up. They had to use all three words. I also asked them to write in three-line stanzas.
I had a chance to do this writing with two out of four 7th-grade classes. The results were fascinating; I can't wait to try it with the other two.
###
Mrs. Jamen, Rm. 207, 7th grade
Untitled
Charles H.
I lay on my bed
with the cover overhead
I read a book that
I can’t understand
I walk down
my dark stairway
looking for candlelight,
I’m scared to death
because I can’t see a thing
I wanted in the
kitchen where I eat
a carrot
I don’t understand
why I ate a carrot
I go back up
and I go to
sleep where I
dreamt of a
carrot, candle, and a cover
Untitled
Myriam L.
I sit under a tree
with my sketchbook in my lap
thinking, imaginating, and drawing
Picking at the staple
holding my papers together
not paying attention
Untitled
Paola S.
My life is like a blank sheet,
it’s not destroyed, but not smooth
though there’s nothing there.
It’s like a rock.
Untitled
Lorybeth A.
I see grass within glass.
I tie my lace with my hands.
I use my shoe to walk to school.
Vampire Heart
Aaron B.
I have looked for
garlic on one of my
very high shelves. I ran
through the doorway and
killed the vampire with it!
###
Mr. Czoski, Rm. 209, 7th grade
Dark Lonely
Shakeela M.
My life’s like ink on paper
splattered with emotions no one knows.
There’s a lot of things in my life that comes
and goes.
When I’m sad my life is slow.
I’m like a plate on the floor.
I have no one else.
I’m all alone all by myself.
I feel so sad inside I might need
help.
I’m like cream with cones.
Different than others.
But some people tell me I look like
my mother, and that’s a real bother.
Untitled
Lilibeth U.
I remember when I was little
I used to be a sweet as sugar.
And I used to be bossed by everyone.
But one day I felt like I was getting
used by everyone. I felt like hiding
inside a bag so everyone would leave me alone.
I could feel the salty tears running through
my face. That’s when I exploded. The girl
that used to have a heart that was as
sweet as sugar turned into a girl that
has a heart as hard as cement.
When You’re Doing Life
Kevin Z.
When you’re doing life
you feel like a book
you’re being read until you’re dead
When you’re in prison you feel
like a screen you get looked at and you
will never be seen
Untitled
Cynthia M.
Outside in the brisk fall
morning by the big oak tree
raking up the leaves in
little piles then walking away
and having to go back and
do it again.
My mother calls
me in from the cold to
eat lunch. Mmm—spaghetti and garlic
bread and a glass of chocolate
milk.
Family comes looking around.
I’m nowhere to be found.
I’m on the roof to relax
looking at the stars.
My Life
Cyntha S.
The mother watches us
grow just like
we do when we’re growing a
tree.
Onions’ mothers don’t like them
because they make them cry, just
like me.
Glass is see-through sometimes.
I wish that I could see
through my life.
Life
Susy G.
Feeling like a curtain
is wrapped around me
not able to move
The river going
fast and faster like you can’t
run fast like the way your life goes!
The way your blood
goes fast through your
body!
I had a chance to do this writing with two out of four 7th-grade classes. The results were fascinating; I can't wait to try it with the other two.
###
Mrs. Jamen, Rm. 207, 7th grade
Untitled
Charles H.
I lay on my bed
with the cover overhead
I read a book that
I can’t understand
I walk down
my dark stairway
looking for candlelight,
I’m scared to death
because I can’t see a thing
I wanted in the
kitchen where I eat
a carrot
I don’t understand
why I ate a carrot
I go back up
and I go to
sleep where I
dreamt of a
carrot, candle, and a cover
Untitled
Myriam L.
I sit under a tree
with my sketchbook in my lap
thinking, imaginating, and drawing
Picking at the staple
holding my papers together
not paying attention
Untitled
Paola S.
My life is like a blank sheet,
it’s not destroyed, but not smooth
though there’s nothing there.
It’s like a rock.
Untitled
Lorybeth A.
I see grass within glass.
I tie my lace with my hands.
I use my shoe to walk to school.
Vampire Heart
Aaron B.
I have looked for
garlic on one of my
very high shelves. I ran
through the doorway and
killed the vampire with it!
###
Mr. Czoski, Rm. 209, 7th grade
Dark Lonely
Shakeela M.
My life’s like ink on paper
splattered with emotions no one knows.
There’s a lot of things in my life that comes
and goes.
When I’m sad my life is slow.
I’m like a plate on the floor.
I have no one else.
I’m all alone all by myself.
I feel so sad inside I might need
help.
I’m like cream with cones.
Different than others.
But some people tell me I look like
my mother, and that’s a real bother.
Untitled
Lilibeth U.
I remember when I was little
I used to be a sweet as sugar.
And I used to be bossed by everyone.
But one day I felt like I was getting
used by everyone. I felt like hiding
inside a bag so everyone would leave me alone.
I could feel the salty tears running through
my face. That’s when I exploded. The girl
that used to have a heart that was as
sweet as sugar turned into a girl that
has a heart as hard as cement.
When You’re Doing Life
Kevin Z.
When you’re doing life
you feel like a book
you’re being read until you’re dead
When you’re in prison you feel
like a screen you get looked at and you
will never be seen
Untitled
Cynthia M.
Outside in the brisk fall
morning by the big oak tree
raking up the leaves in
little piles then walking away
and having to go back and
do it again.
My mother calls
me in from the cold to
eat lunch. Mmm—spaghetti and garlic
bread and a glass of chocolate
milk.
Family comes looking around.
I’m nowhere to be found.
I’m on the roof to relax
looking at the stars.
My Life
Cyntha S.
The mother watches us
grow just like
we do when we’re growing a
tree.
Onions’ mothers don’t like them
because they make them cry, just
like me.
Glass is see-through sometimes.
I wish that I could see
through my life.
Life
Susy G.
Feeling like a curtain
is wrapped around me
not able to move
The river going
fast and faster like you can’t
run fast like the way your life goes!
The way your blood
goes fast through your
body!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Haikuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Oh, how exciting it was to work on these haiku poems. These kids were intent and intense. We started with a freewriting exercise last week to get warmed up to the idea--and generate some material--and this week we used that material to craft some lovely gems, some razor-sharp moments, some crystal snapshots, pictured below.
I was especially impressed with the students' willingness to mess with conventional sentence structure, and toy with how they articulated their original images and ideas in order to fit the haiku structure.
###
Mrs. Hernandez, Rm. 109, 6th grade
Haiku
Samuel N.
The birds are chirping.
The wind is blowing like a
freezer in a store.
My dogs are barking.
Also the clouds are flowing.
They’re going away.
Haiku
Chris R.
School I do and write
I blush in embarrassment
I laugh while I laugh
Haiku
Briana D.
It’s very dark outside,
soon will be time to sleep.
Dark, outside I’m scared.
Haiku
Miguel G.
staring at the sky
daydreaming about many things
that the bell can ring
Haiku
Daisy A.
I am in a class
where desks move like blue and white
rumbling water
Tomatoes are brown.
My face blushes in the cold.
Trees are calm and cold.
Aunt cooking a pie.
The sour blueberry pie.
My aunt, a berry pie.
I was especially impressed with the students' willingness to mess with conventional sentence structure, and toy with how they articulated their original images and ideas in order to fit the haiku structure.
###
Mrs. Hernandez, Rm. 109, 6th grade
Haiku
Samuel N.
The birds are chirping.
The wind is blowing like a
freezer in a store.
My dogs are barking.
Also the clouds are flowing.
They’re going away.
Haiku
Chris R.
School I do and write
I blush in embarrassment
I laugh while I laugh
Haiku
Briana D.
It’s very dark outside,
soon will be time to sleep.
Dark, outside I’m scared.
Haiku
Miguel G.
staring at the sky
daydreaming about many things
that the bell can ring
Haiku
Daisy A.
I am in a class
where desks move like blue and white
rumbling water
Tomatoes are brown.
My face blushes in the cold.
Trees are calm and cold.
Aunt cooking a pie.
The sour blueberry pie.
My aunt, a berry pie.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
I have to praise you...
More poems from the "Praise Poem" exercise, based on "Praise Song" by Lucille Clifton. I have some poems here from Mrs. Bourret's 7th grade class in Rm. 208; I only did this writing with one classroom, as we were occupied with reading and discussing the "I Fear" poems. More praise poems next week!
With this writing, I wanted to push the kids past the expected (encouraging them to praise representative parts of an item, or to praise unusual things that we wouldn't normally consider praiseworthy), and for them to warm up to the point that something unexpected might emerge.
Here are three examples; these three all seem to reach a point in the writing where they stumble over something new.
###
Untitled
Eric W.
I praise my mom, a special
woman that I adore a lot. She’s
pretty, makes me happy. But when
things happen she cries her pretty
eyes out, her tears just flowing
to the drain, then she falls out
and sleeps the night away.
Untitled
Gerardo I.
I praise that there is
a heart in everyone because
there is love in everyone’s heart.
Also I praise that
there is a hand to guide
when you are lonely.
Also I praise that
there is an ear that can
hear me when I am sad.
Also praise that there are
eyes that can see someone
in their ugliest.
Untitled
Anissa V.
Praise to my father’s voice; not how it
sounds but what it says.
Praise to the soil, ’cause if it wasn’t for
it we wouldn’t have plants or
vegetables to eat.
Praise to teachers, for giving you
education for your future.
Praise to pictures; without them I
wouldn’t be able to see my grandfather’s
face.
Praise to memories that you never
forget.
Praise to stories that tell you
about a loved one who you’ve
never seen or met.
Praise to dreams, ’cause without
them, what would we have
to live for?
Praise to poetry, you can let out
your emotions and express
yourself fully.
Praise to love that warms my
heart when I’m sad, the feeling
of being loved by your family I
think is the best love around.
Praise to the colors, which we
need to make a beautiful
painting.
With this writing, I wanted to push the kids past the expected (encouraging them to praise representative parts of an item, or to praise unusual things that we wouldn't normally consider praiseworthy), and for them to warm up to the point that something unexpected might emerge.
Here are three examples; these three all seem to reach a point in the writing where they stumble over something new.
###
Untitled
Eric W.
I praise my mom, a special
woman that I adore a lot. She’s
pretty, makes me happy. But when
things happen she cries her pretty
eyes out, her tears just flowing
to the drain, then she falls out
and sleeps the night away.
Untitled
Gerardo I.
I praise that there is
a heart in everyone because
there is love in everyone’s heart.
Also I praise that
there is a hand to guide
when you are lonely.
Also I praise that
there is an ear that can
hear me when I am sad.
Also praise that there are
eyes that can see someone
in their ugliest.
Untitled
Anissa V.
Praise to my father’s voice; not how it
sounds but what it says.
Praise to the soil, ’cause if it wasn’t for
it we wouldn’t have plants or
vegetables to eat.
Praise to teachers, for giving you
education for your future.
Praise to pictures; without them I
wouldn’t be able to see my grandfather’s
face.
Praise to memories that you never
forget.
Praise to stories that tell you
about a loved one who you’ve
never seen or met.
Praise to dreams, ’cause without
them, what would we have
to live for?
Praise to poetry, you can let out
your emotions and express
yourself fully.
Praise to love that warms my
heart when I’m sad, the feeling
of being loved by your family I
think is the best love around.
Praise to the colors, which we
need to make a beautiful
painting.
Praise Songs, 6th grade, room 109
Lucille Clifton's poem "Praise Song" describes a strange incident involving the speaker's aunt, which very nearly ends in tragedy, but doesn't. In Mrs. Hernandez's 6th grade class, I asked the students to think of everyday things that they would praise, encouraging them to zoom in on some part or aspect of this item (as Clifton's speaker praises "the arms of the family."), or on some unexpected item to praise.
Here are some samples. Notice how Daisy mentions "words and voice" when talking about the poetry we read in class. I introduced the topic of voice on the first day when we were discussing "Abuelito Who." I'm also interested in the exuberance in Briana's poem, and how she breaks form at the end to let that play out. Also, note Miguel's internal rhyme, how he played with the word sounds a little.
###
Untitled
Daisy A.
Praise to Mrs. Hernandez whose brain
helped me get my grades up.
Praise to Mrs. Javellana whose poetry
has words and voice.
Praise to my sister. Without her I wouldn’t
have a heart.
Praise to the trees that give us
paper.
Praise to my eyes ’cause without them
I wouldn’t see.
Praise, Praise, Praise
Briana D.
Praise to my mom for having me.
Thank you.
Praise to my dad for everything
he does for me.
Praise for my two silly brothers
for making me laugh.
Praise for my friend for
having my back;
Thank you!
Praise for my mom for saying
I’m her right hand.
I love when she says that!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Untitled
Miguel A.
Praise to videogame creators and their creative heads.
Praise to calculator that cheats for me in math.
Praise snow like a cold version of clay dough.
Praise to hair that keeps my head warm.
Praise the T.V. and all its comedy shows.
Here are some samples. Notice how Daisy mentions "words and voice" when talking about the poetry we read in class. I introduced the topic of voice on the first day when we were discussing "Abuelito Who." I'm also interested in the exuberance in Briana's poem, and how she breaks form at the end to let that play out. Also, note Miguel's internal rhyme, how he played with the word sounds a little.
###
Untitled
Daisy A.
Praise to Mrs. Hernandez whose brain
helped me get my grades up.
Praise to Mrs. Javellana whose poetry
has words and voice.
Praise to my sister. Without her I wouldn’t
have a heart.
Praise to the trees that give us
paper.
Praise to my eyes ’cause without them
I wouldn’t see.
Praise, Praise, Praise
Briana D.
Praise to my mom for having me.
Thank you.
Praise to my dad for everything
he does for me.
Praise for my two silly brothers
for making me laugh.
Praise for my friend for
having my back;
Thank you!
Praise for my mom for saying
I’m her right hand.
I love when she says that!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Untitled
Miguel A.
Praise to videogame creators and their creative heads.
Praise to calculator that cheats for me in math.
Praise snow like a cold version of clay dough.
Praise to hair that keeps my head warm.
Praise the T.V. and all its comedy shows.
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