"I Remember..." - 7th Grade

We read an excerpt of Joe Brainard's book-length poem, "I Remenber," and interpreted and discussed the memories a bit. We then played a free-association word game, and wrote our own "I Remember" pieces.

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Mrs. Jamen, Rm. 207, 7th grade

I remember
Andy M.

I remember the taxi falling in the sewer.
I remember monkeys throwing poo.
I remember falling on my head.
I remember hitting the wasps’ nest and running.
I remember a canal of strong water.
I remember the pirated pirates.
I remember oil rigs in Texas.
I remember seeing a crow.
I remember seeing everything.
I remember flying.
I remember being out as late as you can.
I remember endless railroad tracks.
I remember oranges on my head.
I remember clowns dressed as political figures.
I remember Bush being a good President.
I remember the black clouds.
I remember going down a slide.
I remember jumping off stairs.
I remember the girl who fell out the window and died.
I remember all.
I remember hiding in my basement.
I remember carne asada con tocino.
I remember burning my tongue.
I remember masked wrestlers.
I remember the seven deadly sins.
I remember seeing a flash and everything going dark.
I remember lighting a firework through a guy’s window.
I remember going in the pool and coming out on a kids’ toy thing.
I remember circular spirals.
I remember Kunai.
I remember the iphone.
I remember Mad TV.
I remember shopping carts.


I remember
Myriam L.

I remember when I took swimming classes, thinking I would drown.
I remember when my friend ate cardboard.
I remember me and my cousin playing with bugs in Mexico.
I remember when all 12 goldfish committed suicide (no lid).
I remember when I sprayed my sister with steaming hot water.
I remember Max.
I remember my parents arguing.
I remember when my baby monkey (brother) was born.
I remember one day there was a really bad storm, but right after it smelled wonderful.
I remember pushing my sister into the rose bush.
I remember meeting my best friend.
I remember riding with my dad in his new red beauty. My hair rushing in the wind.
I remember getting my hair permed; it was horrible, and cold.
I remember strumming my guitar for the first time.


I remember
Jesus T.

I remember the park I used to go to when I was little.
I remember when my mom got mad because I jumped on the bed with muddy shoes.
I remember when my dad was washing the car and then I bee stung me.
I remember my shoes that played a song and then made me cry.
I remember when If first got beat up in school.
I remember the first time that my mom farted.
I remember the first time I ate ravioli with bread.
I remember when I got two bags full of candy on Halloween.
I remember the first time I had a fight with my friends.
I remember when I first came to this school.



Mr. Czoski, Rm. 209, 7th grade

I remember
Michael S.

I remember the time I first used a computer.
I remember the first time I got a necklace.
I remember the time I started it right.
I remember the first time I wrote a journal.
I remember the first time I wrote a paragraph.
I remember when I had my first girl.
I remember the first time I got into a fight.
I remember that one time I was laughing so hard my face turned red.
I remember the time we worked on the 5 kingdoms.
I remember the first time I got a bracelet.
I remember the time I got in big trouble by the school.
I remember the first time I got my first game system.


I remember
Lilbeth U.

I remember my dad leaving.
I remember my sister being born.
I remember crying myself to sleep.
I remember the pain that my mom went through.
I remember being lost.
I remember candy.
I remember my best friend.
I remember the first place they took me when I was born.
I remember going to 4th grade.
I remember being afraid of clowns.
I remember all the pain I went through.
I remember seeing my brother wake up at night crying over my dad.
I remember how bad people used to treat me.
I remember crying in my room over the things that bullies used to tell me.
I remember the first time my dad gave me a kiss.
I remember the first time my dad cried.
I remember seeing them argue!
I remember trying to forget everything that was going on.
I remember holding my li’l sister.
I remember crying over my grandparents not liking me.
I remember being loved for the first time.
I remember being born.
I remember falling from the tree.
I remember missing my friends.
I remember looking at the full moon.
I remember taking care of my li’l sister for the first time.
I remember trying to hide my feelings with a smile.


I remember
Marco M.

I remember falling, and getting a scar.
I remember being in an airport.
I remember feeling the Force was not with me.
I remember losing my PSP.
I remember how I could never play soccer.
I remember falling and getting up again.
I remember to be the man, you have to beat the man.
I remember being in a car with an alcoholic driving.
I remember wasting my money on nothing.
I remember emergency rooms and my parents crying.
I remember feeling as if it died because of me.
I remember getting Linkin Park tickets.
I remember thinking if money is everything.
I remember when I was little.
I remember the first time I walked in the school.
I remember trying, but not trying harder.
I remember being alone at night, scared.
I remember them thinking I was in a gang.
I remember walking with fear.
I remember feeling stupid.
I remember feeling hate.
I remember hearing my favorite song.
I remember hearing it and being so calm.
I remember not wanting to go away.
I remember how fast life is.
I remember remembering.



Mrs. Harris, Rm. 210, 7th grade

I remember
Daniela M.

I remember strawberries.
I remember eating my best friend’s cake.
I remember when the clouds were blocking the sun so I couldn’t wake up in the morning.
I remember coughing on my pillow.
I remember my basement covered with bubbles.
I remember listening to music while I was doing my homework.
I remember sitting on the roof eating hotchips.
I remember playing cards when it was cold.
I remember watching a movie when it was raining.
I remember getting yelled at by Mrs. Harris to put my legs in.
I remember drinking Sunny D while watching people dance.
I remember falling in front of hector—we laughed for hours.
I remember my mom telling me that my real dad doesn’t want me.
I remember laughing so hard my knees became weak.
I remember having a party in the alley.
I remember talking to my mom about her day.
I remember my dad yelling at my older sister to do her chores.
I remember crying on my birthday because my brother’s blood went on my white flower dress.
I remember drowning in the pool when I was young.
I remember making cake with my little brother.
I remember me crying because my brother left.


I remember
Jose A.

I remember it was winter and I woke up at 7 a.m. and went outside and pretended to smoke.
I remember I was 8 and I was riding my bike then fell but laughed.
I remember getting lost at K-Mart.
I remember I was watching a scary movie and never got to see the beginning.
I remember being little playing soccer in my backyard everyday rain or shine.
I remember breaking my back window and blaming it on my sister.
I remember playing wrestling at home and nearly falling off the bed.
I remember sliding off a slide for the first time.
I remember swinging on a swing for the first time.
I remember going to my first soccer game watching my favorite players from my favorite team.
I remember watching the news on 9/11 when I was young. I was at my aunt’s house in my cousin’s room.
I remember watching my favorite cartoons and recording them and watching them over and over.
I remember the first time my mom put something on the fridge. It was my drawing of me from preschool.


I remember
Dalia C.

I remember sitting on a counselor’s chair without asking.
I remember eating my sister’s big cookie and throwing up at night.
I remember calling my dad two years later and him not picking up.
I remember how my 12th birthday was a disaster.
I remember the day I moved to Chicago. I knew no one.
I remember the first day that I had a MySpace account.
I remember when my best friend Chris finally called me again after so long.
I remember when I first saw my mom cry. She was being deported, but is now a resident.
I remember writing the first line of my “I remember” poem.
I remember when my mom found out. She doesn’t trust me anymore.
I remember when I kept getting detentions for not attending my previous ones.
I remember when my older sister came out of the closet. I didn’t care at all.
I remember when my step dad wanted to kick me and Jasmine out of the house at midnight. It was pouring rain.
I remember the last time I saw my father.



Mrs. Bourret, Rm. 208, 7th grade

I remember
Rafael S.

I remember a cat looking for food.
I remember my grandpa when he went to Mexico.
I remember my dad when he went to New York.
I remember my dog when he ran away.
Remember my sister.
I remember my mother when she was in the hospital.
I remember my brother when he was in the hospital.
I remember my teacher.
I remember my dog.


I remember
Virginia A.

I remember the day in school.
I remember my 13th birthday.
I remember my mom in the pool swimming.
I remember my head in the sun.
I remember I fell asleep in my house.
I remember a flag going to the sky.
I remember the first time I left my father.
I remember the green tree.


I remember
Chris S.

I remember the first time I saw my dad.
I remember the first day of Easter.
I remember the first day of my favorite life.
I remember when I moved to the South Side.
I remember when I made friends.
I remember the first time I came to Lee School.
I remember when I first saw a movie.
I remember the first time I got a new bike.
I remember my aunt had her first pool party.
I remember the first birthday of mine.
I remember my first hockey practice.
I remember my first basketball game.
I remember my first time I saw a basketball.
I remember I saw a basketball game.
I remember my first trip to Orlando, or Magic Kingdom.
I remember my second trip to Puerto Rico.
I remember the first time I made friends with Mrs. Bourret and my teachers.