We read "Jorge the Church Janitor Finally Quits" by Martin Espada, and discussed how Espada spoke in the persona of a janitor who has been dehumanized by his work, and has privately made the decision to quit his job. This poem is written in an accessible voice, but is deceptively simple: it is riddled with sophisticated metaphors and poetic language, which the students had no trouble digging out. We then tried our hand at writing persona poems, focusing on adults with jobs.
Mrs. Hernandez, Rm. 109, 6th grade
Mr. Henry
Vanessa A.
No one ever
talks to me,
ever since I
got a new partner.
I must be invisible
like the cold white walls.
No one knows my name
like they've forgotten all
of a sudden.
My friends are
no longer my friends.
I sometimes wonder
why I chose them.
Could this have been
my passion?
Was this my first choice?
Doctor Josue
Adalberto S.
Every day
saying, "Help me."
Studying, never
finishing school.
Disease spreads
more faster
than you finsih
discovering the
cure.
Being the worst
student in class
not smart, not
cool, just me.
My Day
Daisy A.
I was a substitute and now
I'm a teacher.
It's my first day, I carry books,
eat breakfast, and study my
lesson plans.
Many unknown children enter
screaming and shouting like
a zoo where animals are not
controlled.
I say Stop and Stop and they stop.
I was five when my teacher was my
boss, now I'm 30 and I'm the
boss.
Showing posts with label metaphor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metaphor. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
My Words, 6th grade
In "My Poems" by Nita Penfold, the speaker describes her poems as mischievous women who tell her secrets, who are "not polite ladies." She says, "I like their red-rough hands." This poem provides ready lessons in metaphor, personification, and image, plus it's short! And by this point, I knew that many of the students had begun to identify as poets and nearly all had a large enough body of work that they could speak with some confidence about what their poems are like. Penfold's poem also "wraps" the title into the poem--uses the title as the first line--and I asked them to try that, while writing a piece about what their poems are like (or their words, as an alternative). Their responses were extraordinarily playful; they owned this one.
Mrs. Hernandez, Rm. 109, 6th grade
My Poems
Daisy A.
Heart
My poems touch my heart
with phrases and words
and when the politeness occurs
and the mood and the tone
so much to say but too little
to speak.
My poem says
classmates are cool
who talk and talk
but not too much. Some
who play sports
and some who
draw. They help others
that's why they're so cool.
My poems say
Vanessa is nice
She makes me giggle
and laugh.
When I need help
she helps me. Ooh
Vanessa what would
we do without you.
My Poems
Paola Monse A.
People say to me, "Que pasa contigo"
with happy mouths
I hate it when people tell me that
will still be sad
sad moods on my computer
keep a secret to myself
have to run away from the darkness
go to the light
you always say no to everything I say
but you'll always be in my head to stay
My Poems
Lizzet B.
are like clouds that fade away
they run free
and help me understand.
I forget and they remember.
They are calm and peaceful
but can be mean.
They are mine and only mine.
My Words
Adalberto S.
come to me like a fierce
tordado blowing with
no meaning for life
Will destroy anything
in mind to be concentrated.
They just blow up
burdting out my secret
without reason
So please tornado control
my mind
My Poems
Jacqueline S.
They are like the
clouds going away,
and coming back.
When they come they
go, when they go they
come. Clouds, clouds,
please come back and
stay, you make me
laugh out loud.
Please please come back!
My Poems
Vanessa A.
come to me with a twist
with loud meaning
they are all over my paper
will be silly all around
they run through my paper
like little kids
I like how they sound
they make me so happy
I want to cry
they way they take
words right out of your mouth
can't stop crying
until the night when they are fast asleep
Mrs. Hernandez, Rm. 109, 6th grade
My Poems
Daisy A.
Heart
My poems touch my heart
with phrases and words
and when the politeness occurs
and the mood and the tone
so much to say but too little
to speak.
My poem says
classmates are cool
who talk and talk
but not too much. Some
who play sports
and some who
draw. They help others
that's why they're so cool.
My poems say
Vanessa is nice
She makes me giggle
and laugh.
When I need help
she helps me. Ooh
Vanessa what would
we do without you.
My Poems
Paola Monse A.
People say to me, "Que pasa contigo"
with happy mouths
I hate it when people tell me that
will still be sad
sad moods on my computer
keep a secret to myself
have to run away from the darkness
go to the light
you always say no to everything I say
but you'll always be in my head to stay
My Poems
Lizzet B.
are like clouds that fade away
they run free
and help me understand.
I forget and they remember.
They are calm and peaceful
but can be mean.
They are mine and only mine.
My Words
Adalberto S.
come to me like a fierce
tordado blowing with
no meaning for life
Will destroy anything
in mind to be concentrated.
They just blow up
burdting out my secret
without reason
So please tornado control
my mind
My Poems
Jacqueline S.
They are like the
clouds going away,
and coming back.
When they come they
go, when they go they
come. Clouds, clouds,
please come back and
stay, you make me
laugh out loud.
Please please come back!
My Poems
Vanessa A.
come to me with a twist
with loud meaning
they are all over my paper
will be silly all around
they run through my paper
like little kids
I like how they sound
they make me so happy
I want to cry
they way they take
words right out of your mouth
can't stop crying
until the night when they are fast asleep
"My Poems" - 7th Grade
After reading Nita Penfold's "My Poem,"--in which she describes her poems as "not polite ladies," who "won't sit still"--we discussed Penfold's method of describing her poems as people with their own will. We also talked about her use of the title as also the first line of the poem. I then asked them to write their own poems, "My Poems," or alternately, "My Words" (which could extend into other areas of language). These entertaining poems resulted; I felt like they were integrating a lot of the various imagery and tools we've experimented with this year.
Mrs. Jamen, Rm. 207, 7th grade
Mi poema
Daniela G.
Yo platico contigo,
por medio de mi poema,
por medio de el yo digo
lo que pienso, y siento,
porque un poema
es más que simples
palabras escritas sobre
una hoja de papel,
es la puerta
por la que salen
todas tus palabras, todos
tus sentimientos
un poema es como
tu alma, como tu corazón
y lo abres a todas
aquellas personas
que lo quieren ver,
y tus sentimientos
quieren saber.
My Poems
Paola S.
come to other people hard
bringing out “her,”
envious, competitive, calm
emotions that want to unravel
and I can’t control,
they want to come out
and let the world know
but I won’t let “her,”
trying to look flawless,
so she unravels herself
in the lines of paper,
while I crumbple it up
throw it in the garbage,
butr soon she’ll come back
and won’t rest
until she lets my soul free.
My Words
Sergio S.
come to me from vast, fast-thinking
mind. Like wild berries they
have to be carefully picked out.
They come with great forces
almost like a tsunami.
They move at the speed
of sound, from my mind to
my mouth
like a tornado when they
are released, they can’t be
stopped.
They won’t stop until
I’m gone.
Like assassins they can
kill…
Mr. Czoski, Rm. 209, 7th grade
My Poems
Louis B.
hold me down
their hands clench my legs
they go to stores here and there
will they stop?
when they’re 50?
when, when, when!!
they won’t let me free
I struggle and struggle
let me freeee!!
I’m screaming at the top of my lungs
they’re making me crazy
My Poems
Jesus J.
They’re mean sometimes about hatred
my soul will tell you anything
I need it out of me
because it’s mean
get away from
me I need
to write
it out
they
won’t let
me sleep ’til
I write it out
help me somebody
help my soul won’t
let me sleep finally
it’s out of me now I can
go to sleep and have a
good day in school tomorrow
’til the next time I’m mean and
hate I now know to let them out
My Poems
Mario M.
come faster to me than a train
I’m not looking for fame
trying to get myself a name
my poems aren’t the same
what am I trying to aim
trying to light my flame
Mrs. Harris, Rm. 210, 7th grade
My Words
Christy Z.
slip like water through a roofless
roof.
Break a bone or seven, they’re
hot as ice.
Why don’t you ever sew it shut?
Always getting lost, having trouble
finding their way back.
Wanting to know what he thinks,
zip! zaaap!
Burning through water, don’t
give me the chance.
Here to take your hopes,
sweet as sugar, huh?
Torn apart and torn against.
Waiting until I’m deaf, blind, and
numb.
My poems
Alexis R.
are worthless like a monster
in a tree. My poems are wordless slike
a star in the sea. My words are
shattered like a bomb. My words were
scattered far away too long. My poems
are ridiculous like a cat who ate too
much and that is that. My words
fly in the air like a bird.
My poems cry all the way to third.
My words ran that awful race and now
it may be late. My poems are sick,
they need a doctor, they’ll never make
it to somber.
My Words
Elizabeth M.
sometimes don’t mean anything at all.
All people use words,
just not the way I do.
Huh, I feel like the greenest
person in this class.
Nobody understands me.
Well, one person does.
My words get taken the
wrong way most of the time
just like when an itty-bitty
seed was taken in the
wrong direction by the wind
Jeez, I wish it was still summer.
Everyone loved me.
My words,
are they useless to you?
My Poems
Joshua R.
They stare at me
They laugh at me
but they cry for me
They bite me, chew me, and spit me out
but they will always be there for me
Poetry, My Words
Anissa V.
My Words
mean nothing,
trying and hoping for the day
they’ll be heard,
sometimes mean and horrible,
or sweet and thoughtful.
I searched everywhere
for someone to promise me
they’ll listen,
don’t like ugly words,
it’s not on purpose.
Sometimes something else puts words in my
mouth,
I’m sorry for that.
My words aren’t perfect,
but maybe they will be if
someone actually heard them.
They might be.
My Words…
Mayra S.
are like ocean waves
with peaceful sounds
come with laughing people
are free ’til the sunsets
become birds chirping tin the sunrise
are listened
can feel what I feel
gentle as a puppy
see what I see
know what I know
Mrs. Jamen, Rm. 207, 7th grade
Mi poema
Daniela G.
Yo platico contigo,
por medio de mi poema,
por medio de el yo digo
lo que pienso, y siento,
porque un poema
es más que simples
palabras escritas sobre
una hoja de papel,
es la puerta
por la que salen
todas tus palabras, todos
tus sentimientos
un poema es como
tu alma, como tu corazón
y lo abres a todas
aquellas personas
que lo quieren ver,
y tus sentimientos
quieren saber.
My Poems
Paola S.
come to other people hard
bringing out “her,”
envious, competitive, calm
emotions that want to unravel
and I can’t control,
they want to come out
and let the world know
but I won’t let “her,”
trying to look flawless,
so she unravels herself
in the lines of paper,
while I crumbple it up
throw it in the garbage,
butr soon she’ll come back
and won’t rest
until she lets my soul free.
My Words
Sergio S.
come to me from vast, fast-thinking
mind. Like wild berries they
have to be carefully picked out.
They come with great forces
almost like a tsunami.
They move at the speed
of sound, from my mind to
my mouth
like a tornado when they
are released, they can’t be
stopped.
They won’t stop until
I’m gone.
Like assassins they can
kill…
Mr. Czoski, Rm. 209, 7th grade
My Poems
Louis B.
hold me down
their hands clench my legs
they go to stores here and there
will they stop?
when they’re 50?
when, when, when!!
they won’t let me free
I struggle and struggle
let me freeee!!
I’m screaming at the top of my lungs
they’re making me crazy
My Poems
Jesus J.
They’re mean sometimes about hatred
my soul will tell you anything
I need it out of me
because it’s mean
get away from
me I need
to write
it out
they
won’t let
me sleep ’til
I write it out
help me somebody
help my soul won’t
let me sleep finally
it’s out of me now I can
go to sleep and have a
good day in school tomorrow
’til the next time I’m mean and
hate I now know to let them out
My Poems
Mario M.
come faster to me than a train
I’m not looking for fame
trying to get myself a name
my poems aren’t the same
what am I trying to aim
trying to light my flame
Mrs. Harris, Rm. 210, 7th grade
My Words
Christy Z.
slip like water through a roofless
roof.
Break a bone or seven, they’re
hot as ice.
Why don’t you ever sew it shut?
Always getting lost, having trouble
finding their way back.
Wanting to know what he thinks,
zip! zaaap!
Burning through water, don’t
give me the chance.
Here to take your hopes,
sweet as sugar, huh?
Torn apart and torn against.
Waiting until I’m deaf, blind, and
numb.
My poems
Alexis R.
are worthless like a monster
in a tree. My poems are wordless slike
a star in the sea. My words are
shattered like a bomb. My words were
scattered far away too long. My poems
are ridiculous like a cat who ate too
much and that is that. My words
fly in the air like a bird.
My poems cry all the way to third.
My words ran that awful race and now
it may be late. My poems are sick,
they need a doctor, they’ll never make
it to somber.
My Words
Elizabeth M.
sometimes don’t mean anything at all.
All people use words,
just not the way I do.
Huh, I feel like the greenest
person in this class.
Nobody understands me.
Well, one person does.
My words get taken the
wrong way most of the time
just like when an itty-bitty
seed was taken in the
wrong direction by the wind
Jeez, I wish it was still summer.
Everyone loved me.
My words,
are they useless to you?
My Poems
Joshua R.
They stare at me
They laugh at me
but they cry for me
They bite me, chew me, and spit me out
but they will always be there for me
Poetry, My Words
Anissa V.
My Words
mean nothing,
trying and hoping for the day
they’ll be heard,
sometimes mean and horrible,
or sweet and thoughtful.
I searched everywhere
for someone to promise me
they’ll listen,
don’t like ugly words,
it’s not on purpose.
Sometimes something else puts words in my
mouth,
I’m sorry for that.
My words aren’t perfect,
but maybe they will be if
someone actually heard them.
They might be.
My Words…
Mayra S.
are like ocean waves
with peaceful sounds
come with laughing people
are free ’til the sunsets
become birds chirping tin the sunrise
are listened
can feel what I feel
gentle as a puppy
see what I see
know what I know
Thursday, March 27, 2008
My Heart--7th grade
This sizable posting contains poems inspired by "Little Clown, My Heart" by Sandra Cisneros.
###
Changing Stone
Andy M.
Sometimes my heart’s as smooth
as a stone with a waterfall
running aside it, accepting,
calm and peaceful. Sometimes it’s a
jagged rock at the edge
of a cliff, can’t hold anything,
angry, alone, and depressed, unaccepting.
Untitled
Daniel S.
Happy and sorrow
are in my heart.
These are the emotions
that can never drift
apart.
Not even death, hate,
nor anger can hurt the
emotions.
My Heart
Pamela H.
Blue sky, my heart,
beautiful as can be.
Birds gazing through it,
and clouds flowing too.
It’s happy but sometimes
raining, blue sky, my
heart will always be.
Mariposa de colores, mi corazón
Daniela G.
Mariposa de colores, mi corazón,
la es y la será siempre,
ella está conmigo,
siempre la está,
ella es mi amiga
la que me ayuda
y ríe siempre junto a mí.
Ella puede volar
y yo junto a ella
aunque no tengo alas,
pero en mi mente y corazón
sí las ahí.
Mariposa de colores alegres
que ilumina todo mi ser,
y todo mi corazón,
sin ella yo no puedo vivir
porque ella toda mi vida es.
Plastic Tree, My Heart
Sergio S.
Plastic tree, my heart,
doesn’t know if it’s real or fake.
Like a ghost it poses me to
do things I don’t want to.
My plastic tree of a heart
prevents me from real emotions.
Fake smile, my heart.
Just like a fake smile my heart
deceives people.
My fake smile is not to be
trusted.
My plastic tree heart
has no real emotions.
My Heart
Erik V.
My heart beats again and
again when I’m lost in a
stranded place, no water, no
food, except the cold breeze.
Untitled
Braulio R.
My heart, so full of hatred,
burns hot like there’s no tomorrow.
So full of rage
it might just explode.
It’s inside me, my heart
Jesus T.
Whenever I’m nervous or
lie my heart pulses
faster and faster.
Whenever I speak
in front of a class I
get nervous and I
feel my heart wants
to get out.
I love my heart.
It keeps me alive
and sometimes tired.
I love my heart.
My Heart Broken
Kimberly U.
You knew that
my heart wasn’t
in stores.
There are some traps
that life always
has. Why did you take
my heart? You are
not the right person
for me. You didn’t know
how to love me.
And you missed your
chance. Now I
have to keep moving.
Life keeps on
and I am not letting a
boy hurt me again,
now the only
two words I
am saying: Good
bye!
My Heart
Myriam L.
Hopeless apparatus, my heart,
different confusing feelings,
twisted and turned inside.
I suspect it is easily broken,
but of course, I wouldn’t know,
my heart hasn’t belonged to anyone before.
I wish I could feel,
but my heart is empty,
filled with air and webs.
My Heart
Ever B.
My heart, why all that
suffering? Why did my
uncle have to die?
Emotions
Paola S.
Paper, my heart,
easy to rip,
smooth and nice,
but be careful:
it cuts too.
Hard as a rock,
doesn’t let no one get through,
always being stomped on,
it hurts too,
hardly ever picked up.
Gentle as a puppy
crying out for help,
like an actor
sometimes acting,
scared,
like a little kid about roller coasters,
scared,
for love and trust.
###
Mr. Czoski, Rm. 209, 7th grade
Awesome Soccer, My Heart
Edgar
Awesome soccer, my heart
I live for soccer
I breathe soccer
I sleep soccer
I eat soccer
I bleed soccer
I dream soccer
Without soccer my world wouldn’t be the same
If I don’t play my hardest I am ashamed
I want to be in the hall of fame
It could happen if you let me play my game
It’s like a drug to me
I’m addicted to it
I’m in it to win it
My Heart
Shawn P.
Dark and empty, that’s what
my heart is, that’s what it’ll
always be. That’s just what
people can’t seem to see about
me. They say I’m mean, they
say I show no compassion
for anything, they all say the
same thing, but they just don’t
know me, the real me, but sometimes
I don’t know the real me.
I can’t believe, I couldn’t see
what was happening to me.
Flipping Jelly Bean, My Heart
?
The flipping jelly bean, my heart.
It bounces and hops, hop,
hop, hop, so confused, don’t know
what to do.
Turning doing flips then
stops, the sign of death—no—
it’s the sign of being heart-
broken sitting not moving
at all.
The flipping jelly bean starts hopping
again so high it feels like
it could fly, it must be
love.
No one will ever understand
why the flipping jelly bean
does these things, like I will
never understand why my
heart feels like this.
Blue Notebook, My Heart
Alejandra R.
Blue notebook, my heart
coming to me with a key.
Holding to me and saying, “Write
to me.
It sees me crying day
through night. Telling me,
“Let go of it and write.”
It’s a diary, it
tells me, “Write in me.”
###
Mrs. Harris, Rm. 210, 7th grade
heavy backpack, my heart
Dalia C.
Heavy backpack, my heart,
carried around with so much work.
Taken advantage and thrown on the dirt.
Torn on the inside and out,
no one can hear it shout.
Heavy sorrows and no help,
always thinking the same thought:
How can I make it all stop?
It cannot move or walk,
but to itself, it talks.
lala
Daniela M.
Smal little girl, my heart
Cheery, happy, torn
Stands tall, doesn’t look down
Her arms open waiting for…
Someone
No one bothers, she’s left alone
Her dignity is gone
Her addiction is him
The sweet apple rots
The hills are too high
The sun is shining bright
She gives up on life
In front of her eyes
everything dies
Maze
Esmeralda G.
Maze, my heart.
Needles…dark my heart
Rainbow, candy, my heart…
Berlin…fire, my heart
Red fruit punch…my heart…
White-’n-blue stars
Cancun waves…mí
corazón…
Paper, plastic, pencil…
Bratz, Barbie dolls…
My red and pink heart!
Sitting down holding
hands in front of the
screen…
My bloody heart!
Untitled
Angelica U.
Little girl, my heart
turned around and upside-down
beautiful butterflies in my stomach
turning and spinning
out of control
Light feather, my arms
spinning out of space
bears growling inside of my heart
but nothing comes out but a whisper
Loud music in my ears
but nothing is seen
just heard with sense
peace and quiet is what I’ve become
###
Mrs. Bourret, Rm. 208, 7th grade
Crystal-Shining Star, My Heart
Karina A.
Playing games with me, wherever I go,
calling my name and telling me to go for it,
but I say, “No, this is not me.”
My heart pounding, every time I need to
breathe.
Little Boy
Gerardo I.
Little boy, my heart, I
miss you and I want
you back. I need you,
little boy. I miss you
so much. Will you come
back?
Fearless Moon, My Heart
Mayra S.
Fearless moon, my heart
I’m here, I’m there, I’m everywhere
spicy like hot sauce
feeling better than ever
I feel like the moon shining all day
swaying with the ocean
monkey jumping around
laughing like an elephant
dreaming a dream no one understands
Big Volcano, My Heart
Jonathan N.
Big volcano, my heart,
hot and almost about to erupt,
people running and screaming
rocks shooting out like
baseballs traveling at 70 mph.
Soon I will erupt into anger,
I’m trying to keep cool,
It’s like a countdown from 5
all the way to 1,
I’m trying to keep cool.
The lava is running down the side of the mountain
like tears coming from a face,
I can’t hold it,
I’m going to explode,
I’m trying to keep cool.
I Hear
Eric W.
I hear I hear something pounding inside
of me it’s pounding like a basketball
hitting the floor I’m holding my
chest it’s pounding it’s pounding I can’t see
my breath in this cold weather
I’m falling to the ground I’m blind
I can’t hear I can’t see what’s
wrong with me it’s my heart
it’s pounding
Tiny Star, My Heart
Ariel C.
Tiny star, my heart,
pounding again so hard.
It’s like frozen stars
standing so lonely.
###
Changing Stone
Andy M.
Sometimes my heart’s as smooth
as a stone with a waterfall
running aside it, accepting,
calm and peaceful. Sometimes it’s a
jagged rock at the edge
of a cliff, can’t hold anything,
angry, alone, and depressed, unaccepting.
Untitled
Daniel S.
Happy and sorrow
are in my heart.
These are the emotions
that can never drift
apart.
Not even death, hate,
nor anger can hurt the
emotions.
My Heart
Pamela H.
Blue sky, my heart,
beautiful as can be.
Birds gazing through it,
and clouds flowing too.
It’s happy but sometimes
raining, blue sky, my
heart will always be.
Mariposa de colores, mi corazón
Daniela G.
Mariposa de colores, mi corazón,
la es y la será siempre,
ella está conmigo,
siempre la está,
ella es mi amiga
la que me ayuda
y ríe siempre junto a mí.
Ella puede volar
y yo junto a ella
aunque no tengo alas,
pero en mi mente y corazón
sí las ahí.
Mariposa de colores alegres
que ilumina todo mi ser,
y todo mi corazón,
sin ella yo no puedo vivir
porque ella toda mi vida es.
Plastic Tree, My Heart
Sergio S.
Plastic tree, my heart,
doesn’t know if it’s real or fake.
Like a ghost it poses me to
do things I don’t want to.
My plastic tree of a heart
prevents me from real emotions.
Fake smile, my heart.
Just like a fake smile my heart
deceives people.
My fake smile is not to be
trusted.
My plastic tree heart
has no real emotions.
My Heart
Erik V.
My heart beats again and
again when I’m lost in a
stranded place, no water, no
food, except the cold breeze.
Untitled
Braulio R.
My heart, so full of hatred,
burns hot like there’s no tomorrow.
So full of rage
it might just explode.
It’s inside me, my heart
Jesus T.
Whenever I’m nervous or
lie my heart pulses
faster and faster.
Whenever I speak
in front of a class I
get nervous and I
feel my heart wants
to get out.
I love my heart.
It keeps me alive
and sometimes tired.
I love my heart.
My Heart Broken
Kimberly U.
You knew that
my heart wasn’t
in stores.
There are some traps
that life always
has. Why did you take
my heart? You are
not the right person
for me. You didn’t know
how to love me.
And you missed your
chance. Now I
have to keep moving.
Life keeps on
and I am not letting a
boy hurt me again,
now the only
two words I
am saying: Good
bye!
My Heart
Myriam L.
Hopeless apparatus, my heart,
different confusing feelings,
twisted and turned inside.
I suspect it is easily broken,
but of course, I wouldn’t know,
my heart hasn’t belonged to anyone before.
I wish I could feel,
but my heart is empty,
filled with air and webs.
My Heart
Ever B.
My heart, why all that
suffering? Why did my
uncle have to die?
Emotions
Paola S.
Paper, my heart,
easy to rip,
smooth and nice,
but be careful:
it cuts too.
Hard as a rock,
doesn’t let no one get through,
always being stomped on,
it hurts too,
hardly ever picked up.
Gentle as a puppy
crying out for help,
like an actor
sometimes acting,
scared,
like a little kid about roller coasters,
scared,
for love and trust.
###
Mr. Czoski, Rm. 209, 7th grade
Awesome Soccer, My Heart
Edgar
Awesome soccer, my heart
I live for soccer
I breathe soccer
I sleep soccer
I eat soccer
I bleed soccer
I dream soccer
Without soccer my world wouldn’t be the same
If I don’t play my hardest I am ashamed
I want to be in the hall of fame
It could happen if you let me play my game
It’s like a drug to me
I’m addicted to it
I’m in it to win it
My Heart
Shawn P.
Dark and empty, that’s what
my heart is, that’s what it’ll
always be. That’s just what
people can’t seem to see about
me. They say I’m mean, they
say I show no compassion
for anything, they all say the
same thing, but they just don’t
know me, the real me, but sometimes
I don’t know the real me.
I can’t believe, I couldn’t see
what was happening to me.
Flipping Jelly Bean, My Heart
?
The flipping jelly bean, my heart.
It bounces and hops, hop,
hop, hop, so confused, don’t know
what to do.
Turning doing flips then
stops, the sign of death—no—
it’s the sign of being heart-
broken sitting not moving
at all.
The flipping jelly bean starts hopping
again so high it feels like
it could fly, it must be
love.
No one will ever understand
why the flipping jelly bean
does these things, like I will
never understand why my
heart feels like this.
Blue Notebook, My Heart
Alejandra R.
Blue notebook, my heart
coming to me with a key.
Holding to me and saying, “Write
to me.
It sees me crying day
through night. Telling me,
“Let go of it and write.”
It’s a diary, it
tells me, “Write in me.”
###
Mrs. Harris, Rm. 210, 7th grade
heavy backpack, my heart
Dalia C.
Heavy backpack, my heart,
carried around with so much work.
Taken advantage and thrown on the dirt.
Torn on the inside and out,
no one can hear it shout.
Heavy sorrows and no help,
always thinking the same thought:
How can I make it all stop?
It cannot move or walk,
but to itself, it talks.
lala
Daniela M.
Smal little girl, my heart
Cheery, happy, torn
Stands tall, doesn’t look down
Her arms open waiting for…
Someone
No one bothers, she’s left alone
Her dignity is gone
Her addiction is him
The sweet apple rots
The hills are too high
The sun is shining bright
She gives up on life
In front of her eyes
everything dies
Maze
Esmeralda G.
Maze, my heart.
Needles…dark my heart
Rainbow, candy, my heart…
Berlin…fire, my heart
Red fruit punch…my heart…
White-’n-blue stars
Cancun waves…mí
corazón…
Paper, plastic, pencil…
Bratz, Barbie dolls…
My red and pink heart!
Sitting down holding
hands in front of the
screen…
My bloody heart!
Untitled
Angelica U.
Little girl, my heart
turned around and upside-down
beautiful butterflies in my stomach
turning and spinning
out of control
Light feather, my arms
spinning out of space
bears growling inside of my heart
but nothing comes out but a whisper
Loud music in my ears
but nothing is seen
just heard with sense
peace and quiet is what I’ve become
###
Mrs. Bourret, Rm. 208, 7th grade
Crystal-Shining Star, My Heart
Karina A.
Playing games with me, wherever I go,
calling my name and telling me to go for it,
but I say, “No, this is not me.”
My heart pounding, every time I need to
breathe.
Little Boy
Gerardo I.
Little boy, my heart, I
miss you and I want
you back. I need you,
little boy. I miss you
so much. Will you come
back?
Fearless Moon, My Heart
Mayra S.
Fearless moon, my heart
I’m here, I’m there, I’m everywhere
spicy like hot sauce
feeling better than ever
I feel like the moon shining all day
swaying with the ocean
monkey jumping around
laughing like an elephant
dreaming a dream no one understands
Big Volcano, My Heart
Jonathan N.
Big volcano, my heart,
hot and almost about to erupt,
people running and screaming
rocks shooting out like
baseballs traveling at 70 mph.
Soon I will erupt into anger,
I’m trying to keep cool,
It’s like a countdown from 5
all the way to 1,
I’m trying to keep cool.
The lava is running down the side of the mountain
like tears coming from a face,
I can’t hold it,
I’m going to explode,
I’m trying to keep cool.
I Hear
Eric W.
I hear I hear something pounding inside
of me it’s pounding like a basketball
hitting the floor I’m holding my
chest it’s pounding it’s pounding I can’t see
my breath in this cold weather
I’m falling to the ground I’m blind
I can’t hear I can’t see what’s
wrong with me it’s my heart
it’s pounding
Tiny Star, My Heart
Ariel C.
Tiny star, my heart,
pounding again so hard.
It’s like frozen stars
standing so lonely.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
My Heart - 6th
Sandra Cisneros' "Little Clown, My Heart" was the inspiration for this batch of poems.
Mrs. Hernandez, Rm. 109, 6th grade
Funny Monkey
Jocelyn R.
Funny monkey, my heart,
cute and furry with lipstick on.
Juggles and tells jokes at the
same time.
He hops he runs but most of all
he just walks.
Little Hands, a Mom’s Heart
Destiny M.
Little hands, as they meet
She hugs her little one
and plays with her feet
She giggles, she laughs
Little hands, little hearts
Music
Yaneliz R.
loud music, my heart
spinning and dancing
falling and practice
and making a mess
Little Monster, My Heart
Vanessa A.
Little monster, my heart,
hiding in closets and under the beds,
scaring away little kids,
wants to play but everyone’s afraid, like
a tornado just hit the earth.
Little hairy feet walking
into a dark room.
He’s so scared and no one’s there,
happiness is gone,
all there is is emptiness.
My Heart
Daisy A.
loud fireworks, my heart,
with the boom and the pump.
With the happiness outside and inside
filling and willing to do what I want.
Little heart little heart as you
hear the loud fireworks I sigh.
Hurry, hurry heart, fill me with
love like fireworks fill the sky.
My Lonely Heart
Daisy A.
Lonely me, my heart.
I sleep while you are trying to talk.
I wake up, you’re asleep, I try
to talk to you but you don’t
hear. We both can’t talk, you
take care of me, I take care
of you. At least we’re together.
Mrs. Hernandez, Rm. 109, 6th grade
Funny Monkey
Jocelyn R.
Funny monkey, my heart,
cute and furry with lipstick on.
Juggles and tells jokes at the
same time.
He hops he runs but most of all
he just walks.
Little Hands, a Mom’s Heart
Destiny M.
Little hands, as they meet
She hugs her little one
and plays with her feet
She giggles, she laughs
Little hands, little hearts
Music
Yaneliz R.
loud music, my heart
spinning and dancing
falling and practice
and making a mess
Little Monster, My Heart
Vanessa A.
Little monster, my heart,
hiding in closets and under the beds,
scaring away little kids,
wants to play but everyone’s afraid, like
a tornado just hit the earth.
Little hairy feet walking
into a dark room.
He’s so scared and no one’s there,
happiness is gone,
all there is is emptiness.
My Heart
Daisy A.
loud fireworks, my heart,
with the boom and the pump.
With the happiness outside and inside
filling and willing to do what I want.
Little heart little heart as you
hear the loud fireworks I sigh.
Hurry, hurry heart, fill me with
love like fireworks fill the sky.
My Lonely Heart
Daisy A.
Lonely me, my heart.
I sleep while you are trying to talk.
I wake up, you’re asleep, I try
to talk to you but you don’t
hear. We both can’t talk, you
take care of me, I take care
of you. At least we’re together.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
"My Heart" - 8th Grade
"Little Clown, My Heart" by Sandra Cisneros was the inspiration for the following poems. We first began, however, by brainstorming words that we associate with the heart. Many common associations came up: love, red, family, blood, etc. I then sprang a twist on them: they had to write a poem "(adjective noun), my heart..." but were not allowed to use the words we had brainstormed on the board. Oh, the groans! But fascinating and inventive poems resulted.
###
Mr. Stalla, Rm. 201, 8th grade
The Story Inside
Monica C.
My heart, predictable,
is a hurtful book,
it cares not who opens it,
but who looks through it.
The fool in my mind
takes leaps from far too high.
The risks there are
don’t matter.
Small and fragile like a baby,
hidden underneath the warm blanket,
not knowing the truths from the outside,
but knowing enough.
Daring Corazón
Carina A.
My heart,
filled with emotions,
searching,
solving.
My daring, loving corazón,
playing laughing,
place of heartaches,
my heart
one in a million,
happy, laughing
me.
Emotion Machine
Kevin C.
emotion machine emotion machine
beating like a drum
not knowing hwat would happen next.
emotion machine emotion machine
gets bigger and bigger when I laugh
tickles my insides, then I smile.
emotion machine, emotion machine
sinking, sinking when sad.
Something
Ismael A.
my heart is strong and sometimes brave
a heart is red and is full of life
and scared and fronted some things
goes faster and faster
comes many sizes big or small
it is sealed on a protected shield
Tough
Raul G.
Fighter, my heart
never stays down
through the ups and downs
on a rollercoaster ride
always gets up.
It is an icebox
melted by her smile
never to be frozen again
never to be forgotten.
A believer of what’s true
a dreamer of what’s next
and a wisher of what hasn’t happened.
Even after death, it will never die.
My Heart, My Eyes
Jacqueline L.
My heart, it is my eyes,
they observe all that is around me,
they take me and I follow,
never can they be deceived or fooled.
Showing me all that I can’t,
they need no glasses,
they can’t see the sorrow.
My heart, it is my eyes,
so sharp and pointy,
it is my most prized possession,
I am so addicted,
they are needed,
’til the day that they go blind.
Ms. Catinella, Rm. 202, 8th grade
Wandering Heart
Oscar V.
My heart is lost on an open road
Straightening and curving
Stopping and going like
A passenger bus on a city street
Shining stars on a black sky
Twinkling and burning a magic glow
Music, My Heart
Joe F.
music, my heart
fills me with emotions
which I can’t control
fills me with joy
and new meanings
My Heart, Moving like a Maniac
Alberto M.
Vibrating, my heart
sounds like a phone on vibrate
watching a scary movie in theaters
playing a sport for a long time
moving up and down like
a person on a trampoline.
Storm
Alejandra S.
My heart is in the middle of a storm,
Is like it has longs that fill with water,
Pushing it to my eyes like a salty ocean,
Turning black-red like it’s bruised with
blood.
Cut in half like meat,
So dark, so lonely, so sad,
Hot water inside me burning me so much.
God help.
The Unique Heart
Maria L.
The unique heart
dives in the pond of fishes
inside a lonely forest.
It opens up like a rose in its
early days.
Pinches when it’s touched
but cries like a child for a toy.
My Heart like a Warrior
Eric C.
My heart like a warrior
staggering and limping
like a soldier coming
back from war
and looking forward to
that big home meal.
It doesn’t know when
to give up on it
and it’s hoping for that big
home meal from her.
What is My Heart?
Francisco M.
A pond full of cranberry
juice. A bag full of
roses. A home made out
of red bricks.
Mr. Balcazar, Rm. 203, 8th grade
Rainbow Fairy, My Heart
Rosalina A.
Rainbow fairy, my heart,
dancing around and making wishes
come true,
like a little kid never wanting
to grow up,
pink, purple, yellow, red, colorful like a clown,
loves to say “DUDE” like a surfer dude,
the center of attention.
Tip-toed like a dancer,
soars in the sky like a bird,
funky and fabulous,
full of joy and wonder,
the queen inside of me.
The Heart
Leonardo M.
The heart is the organ that we need,
hear it clearly, it’s the sound of the beat.
It’s red, it’s like heat,
without organs like this it’s the least,
with no heart there’s no love.
My Heart Is
Andrea S.
My heart is
a little box of emotion,
full of life and happiness,
jumping up and down and side to side,
a beautiful thing that makes me survive.
My heart is an afternoon at the beach,
sunset sand and water,
a rich chocolate full of caramel,
strong and hard.
My heart is
a rich red liquid
dripping from inside,
a fire getting stronger
and stronger,
it’s my life.
###
Mr. Stalla, Rm. 201, 8th grade
The Story Inside
Monica C.
My heart, predictable,
is a hurtful book,
it cares not who opens it,
but who looks through it.
The fool in my mind
takes leaps from far too high.
The risks there are
don’t matter.
Small and fragile like a baby,
hidden underneath the warm blanket,
not knowing the truths from the outside,
but knowing enough.
Daring Corazón
Carina A.
My heart,
filled with emotions,
searching,
solving.
My daring, loving corazón,
playing laughing,
place of heartaches,
my heart
one in a million,
happy, laughing
me.
Emotion Machine
Kevin C.
emotion machine emotion machine
beating like a drum
not knowing hwat would happen next.
emotion machine emotion machine
gets bigger and bigger when I laugh
tickles my insides, then I smile.
emotion machine, emotion machine
sinking, sinking when sad.
Something
Ismael A.
my heart is strong and sometimes brave
a heart is red and is full of life
and scared and fronted some things
goes faster and faster
comes many sizes big or small
it is sealed on a protected shield
Tough
Raul G.
Fighter, my heart
never stays down
through the ups and downs
on a rollercoaster ride
always gets up.
It is an icebox
melted by her smile
never to be frozen again
never to be forgotten.
A believer of what’s true
a dreamer of what’s next
and a wisher of what hasn’t happened.
Even after death, it will never die.
My Heart, My Eyes
Jacqueline L.
My heart, it is my eyes,
they observe all that is around me,
they take me and I follow,
never can they be deceived or fooled.
Showing me all that I can’t,
they need no glasses,
they can’t see the sorrow.
My heart, it is my eyes,
so sharp and pointy,
it is my most prized possession,
I am so addicted,
they are needed,
’til the day that they go blind.
Ms. Catinella, Rm. 202, 8th grade
Wandering Heart
Oscar V.
My heart is lost on an open road
Straightening and curving
Stopping and going like
A passenger bus on a city street
Shining stars on a black sky
Twinkling and burning a magic glow
Music, My Heart
Joe F.
music, my heart
fills me with emotions
which I can’t control
fills me with joy
and new meanings
My Heart, Moving like a Maniac
Alberto M.
Vibrating, my heart
sounds like a phone on vibrate
watching a scary movie in theaters
playing a sport for a long time
moving up and down like
a person on a trampoline.
Storm
Alejandra S.
My heart is in the middle of a storm,
Is like it has longs that fill with water,
Pushing it to my eyes like a salty ocean,
Turning black-red like it’s bruised with
blood.
Cut in half like meat,
So dark, so lonely, so sad,
Hot water inside me burning me so much.
God help.
The Unique Heart
Maria L.
The unique heart
dives in the pond of fishes
inside a lonely forest.
It opens up like a rose in its
early days.
Pinches when it’s touched
but cries like a child for a toy.
My Heart like a Warrior
Eric C.
My heart like a warrior
staggering and limping
like a soldier coming
back from war
and looking forward to
that big home meal.
It doesn’t know when
to give up on it
and it’s hoping for that big
home meal from her.
What is My Heart?
Francisco M.
A pond full of cranberry
juice. A bag full of
roses. A home made out
of red bricks.
Mr. Balcazar, Rm. 203, 8th grade
Rainbow Fairy, My Heart
Rosalina A.
Rainbow fairy, my heart,
dancing around and making wishes
come true,
like a little kid never wanting
to grow up,
pink, purple, yellow, red, colorful like a clown,
loves to say “DUDE” like a surfer dude,
the center of attention.
Tip-toed like a dancer,
soars in the sky like a bird,
funky and fabulous,
full of joy and wonder,
the queen inside of me.
The Heart
Leonardo M.
The heart is the organ that we need,
hear it clearly, it’s the sound of the beat.
It’s red, it’s like heat,
without organs like this it’s the least,
with no heart there’s no love.
My Heart Is
Andrea S.
My heart is
a little box of emotion,
full of life and happiness,
jumping up and down and side to side,
a beautiful thing that makes me survive.
My heart is an afternoon at the beach,
sunset sand and water,
a rich chocolate full of caramel,
strong and hard.
My heart is
a rich red liquid
dripping from inside,
a fire getting stronger
and stronger,
it’s my life.
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, October 25, 2007
Portrait Poems--6th graders
In my one 6th grade classroom at Lee--Mrs. Hernandez' class in room 109--I presented "Abuelito Who" by Sandra Cisneros, from her book My Wicked Wicked Ways. We talked about the voice and narrative of the poem, and had an easy entree into metaphor discussing how the speaker compares her abuelito to, or associates him with, certain objects. I asked them to write a poem that "paints a picture" of someone with whom they are close, using similar methods to Cisneros': What they DO (or LIKE TO DO), what they SAY or HAVE SAID (call you, advice, etc.), and several objects that REMIND YOU OF THEM (or that you ASSOCIATE WITH THEM).
###
My Dad
Stephanie M.
My dad
My dad is like a saw.
who snores like a lion roaring
who calls me free
who is like an elf
who loves to laugh
is crazy for his family.
He is help when you
need it
who loves to play.
He is like a toll man
workin' all day.
My dad my wonderful
dad.
My Grandma
Daisy A.
My grandma who cooks with the
recipe books.
She tells me I'm a twinkle star
At night she calls me the moon
My grandma is a chocolate chip cookie
who lives in the bakery all day
She's the heart who gives me all
of her love
Grandpa
Christian H.
Grandpa who is tools and
medicine. Who is dogs
and work. Who says
to me buddy. Who works
like the tools of a worker. Whose head is
full of lice. Grandpa
who is like tools.
###
My Dad
Stephanie M.
My dad
My dad is like a saw.
who snores like a lion roaring
who calls me free
who is like an elf
who loves to laugh
is crazy for his family.
He is help when you
need it
who loves to play.
He is like a toll man
workin' all day.
My dad my wonderful
dad.
My Grandma
Daisy A.
My grandma who cooks with the
recipe books.
She tells me I'm a twinkle star
At night she calls me the moon
My grandma is a chocolate chip cookie
who lives in the bakery all day
She's the heart who gives me all
of her love
Grandpa
Christian H.
Grandpa who is tools and
medicine. Who is dogs
and work. Who says
to me buddy. Who works
like the tools of a worker. Whose head is
full of lice. Grandpa
who is like tools.
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