Poetry & Play: How to Splash Around in Sound
created by Dawn Lonsinger
I. Course Description
Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, writes of his ―Poetry 180‖ project – ―high school is all too often the place where poetry goes to die.‖ What he means is threefold – 1. that too often the poetry taught to students is inaccessible, in its language (meaning an English not their own; for ex: 18th century romantic poets), as well as in the choice of topics (how is this young audience to relate to such archaic worlds?); meanwhile, there are volumes of poems today that are smart, clear and contemporary; 2. that poetry is often taught in a ―literary‖ way rather than exposing students to the many-layers on which a poem might move them, such as pleasure in sound, metaphor, and imaginative travel; and 3. that often the learning of poetry is not combined with the practice of poetry, and so the students do not learn the potentially cathartic power of creative acts. I hope in this mini-course to combine the study of contemporary poems with exercises of creative writing, so that these fences (delineated above) between the students and poetry might diminish. I plan to incorporate various creative writing exercises, to reveal all the ways in which poetry can be provoked, derived, and inspired, and then relate those acts to select poems, as well as talk about sound and lyricism, in a way that makes students realize poetry is not so far from their often closer comrade, music. Overall Suggestions: This course can really be adapted to any grade level. This particular course is designed, as is, for Third Graders. A good author to look at if you are teaching poetry to elementary students is Georgia Heard. If, on the other hand, you are teaching middle or high school you may want to look at Kenneth Koch, as well as some movies, such as Slam, and The United States of Poetry.
II. Graduate Student Biography
Dawn Lonsinger is a graduate student in the English department, working toward her MFA in the writing of poetry. She has been published in national journals, and studied art & poetry in South Korea on a Fulbright from 2000-01. She has also taught creative writing for the Center for Talented Youth camps for the past five summers.
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III. Individual Session Descriptions Session 1: Where does poetry Live?
1. I brought in a stuffed animal of mine (a chameleon named Darwin) to be the classes Muse. This was a good way to start, by explaining that a Muse is something that helps us write and think, that inspires us. 2. Read a poem or two to get the students thinking in terms of poetry. I read ―Foghorn‖ by Lilian Moore & ―This Is Just to Say‖ by William Carlos Williams. 3. A few questions about what they think poetry is: What makes a poem a poem? Any ideas? How is a poem different than other writing (a sentence, a story, etc.)? How is a poem different or similar to a painting? Are there other things that are like poems? (I tried to unlearn the idea that poetry is entirely about rhyme/form; I talked about how rhyme can make you write things you don‘t mean or feel) 4. Give them Reading Journals (just little 5.5 x 8.5 stapled paper pamphlets I made) & tell them how I use a journal – to write down things I see or feel or that happen to me in the day that make me think, to copy down lines of poems I like a lot, for ideas that pop up. Then I gave them some examples: Today I noticed that morning glories open with the light; This morning I realized that my alarm sounds like a fox crying; Yesterday I felt happy because I love the smell of rain; When I was walking to class a big water drop fell from a building onto my nose. 5. Now you think of something from today—everyone write it in your Journal. Does anyone want to share theirs? 6. Exercise: hand out ―Where Poetry Lives/Where Poetry Hides‖ worksheet, and come up with a few ideas together as a class. Then have them work on them individually for about 15 minutes (worksheets attached at the end).
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Session 2: Metaphor & Simile
1. Read a few of last week‘s exercises as a group (in circle on the floor; this is where we always begin the session) 2. Last week, I told you that after I get a strong feeling I try to get a picture in my mind. For example, yesterday I felt sad, but I can‘t just write: I am sad I am sad I am sad That wouldn‘t make a poem. You need to make people understand your feelings through images or pictures. So if I think about it, I realize I‘m sad because the warm weather went away. So this helps me to get pictures in my head & I write this: The sun ran away, The sun disappeared, The sun is a lost dog, and I am looking, looking, looking but cannot find her. How did this make you feel? How is this better than ―I am sad. I am sad‖…? Well, in this poem there is something called a METAPHOR. A metaphor is when you make one thing the same as another thing. For example: The sun is a lost dog, etc. 3. I show them a sheet of other metaphors, written as: My desk is a boat. The lemon is a bright sun. The pudding is a velvet cream. Sugar is sparkling sand. Then I show them a sheet that reads: My house is a big aquarium. My house is really big. Which of the House sentences is a metaphor? Why isn‘t the other one a metaphor? Because you need to compare two things that are usually unlike one another, not just describe something with adjectives. 4. Okay, one more story – Last year I was camping in Africa, and I was sleeping in a tent I woke up to the sound of a hippopotamus chewing. When I opened my eyes, I could see that the hippo, which is as big as a car was right outside of my tent eating!! I felt both scared & excited, so I wrote this poem: The hippo‘s shadow swallowed our tent. The hippo‘s mouth churned like heavy machinery, Ripping up the helpless grass. And I lie as still as cardboard, 4
Listened to the magnificent THUMP of the hippo‘s heart, just inches away from my tiny bird heart. See how this is better than: ―I am scared and excited‖. Well, in this poem there is something called a SIMILE. A simile is when you say something is LIKE something else. For Example: The hippo‘s mouth is like heavy machinery, etc. 5. I show them a sheet of similes: A dictionary is like a toy store. My bedroom is like a spaceship. Noise is like wind. Eating a Snickers bar is like going to a party. The chocolate melts like a brown river flowing. The soup is steaming like an active volcano. We talk about why these things are ―like‖ these other things. 6. Now, we‘re going to play a little game. I‘m going to give you all one word and you have to walk around and find someone else who has a word that could describe your word, or that MATCHES your word somehow, just like with a SIMILE. When you‘ve found each other talk about how/why you are alike. Then raise your hand so I know you‘re done. Share with the group. 7. Return to your desks: Hand out Worksheet (worksheet attached at the end).
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Session 3: More Simile & Personification
Simile Review 1. when you compare two unlike things with ―like‖ or ―as‖ that‘s a SIMILE 2. read a poem by Natalia M. Belting: The dark gray clouds, The great gray clouds, The black rolling clouds as elephants Going down to the sea for water. They draw up the water in their trunks. They march back again across the sky. They spray the earth again with the water, and men say it is raining. 3. write COW on the board – what are some things that describe a cow? Then describe parts/attributes of COW via simile: Ex. His body is like a small truck. His eyes are as black as olives. His skin is like a sky with clouds. Do this as a group. Let students shout out descriptions. 4. GAME: write on board these words:: Clown, Apple, Baby, House, Ocean, Monkey, Tree, Socks. In your journal/slip of paper, write down a simile using one word, For EX: An Apple is like a suitcase of snow. The Ocean is as quiet as a pillow. Socks are like the sun wrapped around my feet. 5. Don‘t tell anyone. Read them out loud and the class will guess which thing You‘re describing, so read your SIMILE by saying ―This is…‖ 6. Complete the SIMILE side of last week‘s handout If they have, or AFTER they have, have them choice their favorite one and start a poem with it, think more about the topic/thing & write. 7. Introduce Personification April Rain Song [by Langston Hughes] Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk. The rain making running pools in the gutter. The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night – And I love the rain. How does that make you feel? Can rain really kiss? Can rain really sing? This is PERSONification. A poet gives human or animal qualities to something that is normally not alive, a stone might breath, a car might smile, a bed might walk. You try to think how the thing would feel or act. 6
Work on Personification handout (worksheets attached at the end).
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Session 4: Ways of Looking
1. Read some of their personification worksheets. 2. Read a poem that introduces the idea of looking at an object in many different ways...freshly. Ways of Looking at a Blackbird I. Among twenty snowy mountains The only moving thing Was the eye of the blackbird. II. The river is moving. The blackbird must be flying. III. Blackbirds in the green light of the sky Look like little pools of ink. Four Ways of Looking at Scissors In scissors I see people dancing, I see a piece of paper being cut. And when I look at a broken branch, I see a pair of scissors. Five Ways of Looking at My Pen My pen is a machine that runs and runs and never stops. The ink inside is like a purse of gold. My pen is a human being. My pen is like the Empire State Building. My pen is like never erasing. 3. I've brought in an object. So let's try as a group to see this object in lots of different & exciting ways. Just think for a minute. Okay. How can we describe this in different ways? What can you tell me about this object? Write on the board what the students come up with & try to encourage them to look at the object in new ways. (How else might we say that that would be more like poetry?) 4. I've brought in one object for each of you, and when I give you your object you should find the place in the room where you are most comfortable, but alone. First, spend a few minutes just looking at it (without writing), thinking about your object in lots of different ways - where it comes from, what it looks like, how it is used, how does it feel, etc. If you look at something long enough it might begin to look STRANGE to you – this is a good thing for poetry! So then, I want you to write about your object (don't worry about spelling - except for class words; and remember the things you've learned - metaphor, simile and personification!). Try to describe it in different ways. It might even be fun to pretend like you don‘t know what your object is at all. (Go 8
around & help students who seem stuck, are having difficulty. Share. Leave Handout.
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Session 5: Poetry of Place, Imagining There
1. Did you have a nice spring break? 2. Read poems written about a certain place/locale/culture. Alaska by Helen Booker Alaska, a land of mountains and hills Of forests and woodlands, of vastness that thrills, Whose dark shadows hide moose, coyote and bear, Wolves, porcupine, foxes and the swift-footed hare. Seeing a Friend Off by Lao Bei Green mountains range beyond the northern wall. White water rushes round the eastern town. Right here is where, alone and restless, he Begins a journey of a thousand miles through a land of a thousand red curtains, and lanterns that glow like small suns. Don‘t fear, my friend, the tigers and the people with teeth like tigers are not in this land. 3. Today we‘re going to write poems about places we‘ve never been, about how we imagine they will be. First, a Group Poem: I want you all to hold hands. I‘m going to start a poem about Jamaica, a place I‘ve never been…& then I‘ll squeeze the person‘s hand next to me & then it‘s their turn to add something to the poem – it can be anything – a word, a few words, a phrase, a sentence. So when you‘re done you squeeze the person of the hand next to you. Speak loudly & clearly so I can write down what you say. Think of smells, colors, foods, animals, weather, people, dress, etc. 4. Now, we are going to write POSTCARD POEMS. What that means is that you will first have to decide who you want to write it to – it can be a relative, a friend, a pet, a teacher, a superstar—and write Dear & the name of the person, like you would start a letter. This is your Title. Then I will give you the name of a beautiful strange place you have never been to & you will have to write about what that place is like. Remember you are writing to someone, and you want them to know what it‘s like for you to be in this special place, so describe as much as you can. A good way to start is: Jamaica is ______________. Give the students the rest of the time to write. Go around & help. All of the places I handed out were far away, for example: Turkey, Iceland, Botswana, Peru, Bali, etc. 5. Share our poems out loud (in a circle on the floor). 6. IF TIME ALLOWS: 10
Introduce Spanish words (Listen to the music; try using some of these words without knowing their meaning) Federico García Lorca: Romance Sonambulo Verde que te quiero verde. Verde viento. Verdes ramas. El barco sobre la mar Y el caballo en la moñtana. Con la sombra en la cintura Ella sueña en su baranda, Verde carne, pelo verde, Con ojos de fría plata. Verde que te quiero verde. Sleepwalking Ballad
Green, how I want you green. Green wind. Green branches. The ship out on the sea and the horse on the mountain. With the shade around her waist she dreams on her balcony green flesh, her hair green, with eyes of cold silver. Green, how I want you green.
…and a poem by 5th grader, Jennie Ortiz: Rojo rojo Que bonito caballo rojo Me da gana de llorar Porque rojo rojo es un color maravilloso. Red, red What a pretty horse When I look at my horse I feel Like crying because red is a wonderful color. 7. Leave CHINA Handout (attached below).
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Session 6: What is Wild in Us
1. Read China poems 2. Read animal poems (explain about writing an animal poem without mentioning the name of the animal & from the perspective of the animal) Goat in the Garden by Zoe Harris We are home-wreckers, stubborn as donkeys, hard to catch, so when you go out, make sure you lock the latch. Sleek coat, black as the night, We will eat anything: grass, trash, tomatoes. All day we graze and in the stable when it‘s dark, we sleep like babies. Spider by Javier Sanchez Swiftly moving, tappety tap, I Prowl around in corners. I will not hurt you. I only spin & weave & wait. My eight legs Dance across your ceiling. I love the dark, might Emerge from your basement, but people don‘t seem to like me, they scream & stomp. 3. Group poem: Remember last week‘s Jamaica Poem? Well we‘re going to write another group poem. Remember metaphor, simile, personification (write ON Board: For Ex.: a whale is a house of fat; a whale is like a water fountain spitting; a whale cries like a baby underwater). Also think about colors, sounds, smells, sights, think about what it‘s like to be a whale, living deep down in the ocean in the ocean. START by writing on the Board/pamphlet: A whale glides through water like an airplane through clouds. Each student writes a line of the poem. 4. Now I‘m going to give you each an animal (or two, you choose): First I want you to just brainstorm: Write as many words as you can think of that your animal makes you think of (give them 3 minutes for this). Now I want you to write a poem as if you are the animal. Don‘t show anyone your animal because later we will try to guess what animal you wrote about. In your poem don‘t mention what kind of animal! Share the poems & have the students guess which animal each of them is. Handout the other two Animal worksheets (see below).
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Session 7: Dada / Cut & Paste Poetry
This session you will need almost the entire time for the students to actually work. The prep. for this activity includes: finding appropriate pages from magazines that have lots of words, preferably in large font; making sure that each student has a pile of at least 10 pages to work from (from varying magazines); also, bring extra magazines (for ex: Highlights, Smithsonian, National Geographic, Home & Garden) that students can use if need be). You‘ll also need to make sure that there is plenty of scissors, construction paper & glue in the classroom to use. 1. Read some of last week‘s Animal poems from handouts. 2. Ask anyone if they know what Magnetic Poetry is…? Explain that they will do something similar, use broken up words to create a poem. Brainstorm random words and write them on the board. Then create a little poem from them to show them how it works. You can either make a poem from just the words you find, or you can just include the words you find in a poem. Paste the words on the page where they fit in your poem. 3. Give them packets of pages & tell them to cut out at least 10 words, no more than 15, and to be sure to find Nouns, Verbs & Adjectives. Give them 15 minutes for this. 4. Now, throw away everything, but your words. Look at them, move them around – what do they make you think of? Write a poem about it. 5. Some students will need a lot more guidance than others with this exercise, as it is not as concrete as other ones we‘ve done. In the end, the students wrote fantastic poems! 6. We found the students needed another time period to finish (they did this with the teacher when I was not there & we shared some of the poems the following week).
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Session 8: Poetry inspired by Music
1. Share a Langston Hughes or e.e. cummings poem (or another inspired by music). 2. Set the room up so that students are sitting in their chairs in a circle, but facing out so that they are not distracted by one another. Have them get their poetry journals, a pencil, and a clipboard that they can lean on. 3. I‘m going to turn on some music. I want you to close your eyes and listen for the first 30 seconds. I‘ll tell you when to open your eyes. What does the music make you feel? What does it make you see? What is happening? When you open your eyes I want you to write down 4 verbs, 4 adjectives, and 4 nouns that the music makes you think of. Don‘t write about the music (for ex.: violin, slow, etc.). For this first piece I used one of Albinoni‘s Adagios. 4. Now turn your page to a new page. We‘re going to do the same thing, but to a totally different kind of music. This time I used a jazz piece—Artie Shaw & His Orchestra‘s It Had To Be You. The students do the same thing. 5. Now Go back to the first piece and write a poem from the words you wrote down. I‘ll put the music back on while you write, so you can feel the mood. 6. Do the same for the second piece. Remind them to use the tools they‘ve learned like metaphor, simile, imagery, and personification. 7. This last session worked so well. They loved the music, and were prepared to write on their own. We ended by sharing some of their poems.
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Session 9: Poetry Reading
I created an Anthology of their work and brought everyone a copy. They were totally thrilled by this – to see their work in print! I would highly recommend making one (be sure to include all the student‘s work evenly!). We then had a reading. Each student picked one poem to read from the anthology, and then stood at the front of the class and read. We emphasized reading slow & loud. The other students should listen intently (and in my case, did), and clap after each Reading. I‘ve attached the Anthology at the end of the Appendices.
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IV. Resource Materials Kennoth Koch‘s Georgia Heard‘s Awakening the Heart: Exploring Poetry in Elementary & Middle School Billy Collins‘ Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry V. Appendices (Handouts & Class Anthology)
Where Poetry Lives
Sometimes when I read poetry I feel like it takes me to a place far away, but I don‘t know where, so…poetry is like driving in the backseat of a car. Sometimes when I read poetry I feel very close to something that I usually can‘t get close to, so…poetry is like petting a giraffe. Sometimes when I write poetry I feel warm and full, so…poetry is like drinking a cup of hot chocolate.
Now you try:
Sometimes when I read poetry I feel _________________ ________________, so…poetry is like ________________ ________________. Sometimes when I read poetry I feel _________________
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________________, so…poetry is like ________________ ________________. Sometimes when I write poetry I feel _________________ ________________, so…poetry is like ________________ ________________.
…poems hide. In the bottoms of our shoes, they are sleeping. They are the shadows drifting across our ceilings the moment before we wake up… ~ by Naomi Shihab Nye
Where does Poetry Hide?
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6.
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Metaphors
The playground is a ______________________________ _______________________________________________. The school bus is a _______________________________ _______________________________________________. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a _______________ _______________________________________________. The jellyfish is a _________________________________ _______________________________________________. The mailbox is a _________________________________ _______________________________________________. The library is a __________________________________ _______________________________________________.
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My socks are ____________________________________ _______________________________________________. A book is a _____________________________________ _______________________________________________.
…& Similes
The bed is like ___________________________________ _______________________________________________. The clouds are like _______________________________ _______________________________________________. Seatbelts are like _________________________________ _______________________________________________. Paper is like _____________________________________ _______________________________________________. The backyard is like ______________________________ _______________________________________________.
My hair is as ______________ as ______________,
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My eyes are as _____________ as ______________, My mouth is as ______________ as _____________, My teeth are as ______________ as _____________, My ears are as ______________ as ______________.
Personification
For example: The large rock refused to budge. The word refused is something a person would do. Underline the word that gives a quality of a person. 1. The sun stretches its warmth across the land. 2. The chair danced as the baby bounced to and fro. 3. The darkness wrapped its arms around me. Look at the words below. Try to give each word a quality of a human and write a sentence. mirror _________________________________________________________ bananas _________________________________________________________ flashlight
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_________________________________________________________ winter _________________________________________________________ television _________________________________________________________ grass
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The Many Ways of Looking at…
Now try writing three ways of looking at a window: ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Now try four ways of looking at your shirt: ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
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___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Now try five ways of looking at the blackboard: ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
China Poem
Using the form below, write a poem about China. Start each phrase with the letter that is on the line.
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TAKING AN ANIMAL TO SCHOOL
While walking to school, what if you met an animal and decided to take it to school with you...?
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Elephant at School I came across an elephant On the way to school His trunk was very hot And his eyes very cool I hid him in my desk So that teacher would not see He stayed there very quietly Until frightened by a bee Now try changing some of my words with the words from the list below. Or change them for words of your own.
__________ at School I came across a __________ On the way to school His __________ was very _______ And his __________ was very _______ I hid him in my __________ So that teacher would not see He stayed there very quietly Until frightened by a __________
Some words/things you might consider:
aardvark camel ant-eater sparrow hippo spider giant rat alien monster dinosaur bright-blue pig coat legs paws eyes trunk tail mouth tusks jaws teeth nose wings spiky smooth ugly pretty soft rough wobbly knobbly sharp pink black pointy flat wavy smart pencil-case lunch-box pocket handbag purse shoe PE kit noise bang squeak crash wasp bell whistle laugh
Animal Families
If the people in your family were animals, what animals would they be?
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Would your brother be a monkey? Would your mom be a beautiful gazelle or a cuddly Koala bear? Choose animals that remind you of your family. You have to give reasons! Just saying your brother is like a monkey is not good enough.
My mom is like a________________________________________________ because she___________________________________________________ My________________ is like a ____________________________________ because______________________________________________________ My_________________ is like a ___________________________________ because_______________________________________________________ My_________________is like a ____________________________________ because_______________________________________________________
Family members like: Mom Dad Step-dad Uncle Aunt cousin nephew niece Grandad Grandma brother sister Animals like: monkey snake lion cat elephant giraffe eagle leopard zebra donkey tiger duck grasshopper wasp ostrich camel tortoise pig butterfly cobra horse fish whale squirrel dinosaur duck dragon chimpanzee donkey dog wolf cat koala bear hippo rhino sparrow turkey rat mouse squirrel antelope lizard dolphin slug snail frog cheetah shark
Of course you can also come up with lots of things on your own! Postcard Poems
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Dear Mom, Egypt Is Sandy Mountainous Camels Dry Hot Steamy Terrek Dear Buky Lasek,
Dearest Putser Jones, Turkey is crowded, Dry and rocky Hot, full of cities And the black sea Is blacker than ever. Alee
Dear _________, Peru is as colorful as a rainbow, Is as warm as fire, Lots of wild animals all around, Sandy neighborhood Of people, of cars. Maribel
Dear Mom & Dad, Austria is a place full of mountains And is very grassy with blue skies And flowers here and there. While tiny houses dot the land. Grown-ups shop at stores while children rock climb. Trees are as high as the clouds. Allison
Scotland is a beautiful place Lots of people live there With men in kilts, hats, and shirts, All dancin’ with a friend. Lots of red, black, and green, And little hill sides with a bend. It’s always raining & as green as Grass in the rainforest with Lots of castles & weird buildings Eric Dear Mom & Dad, Mongolia is sunny Warm and colorful Green, blue and yellow Sandy lots of animals Cloudy Lots of mountains People and grass. Johanna Dear ________, Vietnam is hot and humid Dear Eric,
Dear Barry Bonds Bolivia is a rocky Place, is as crowded As a bookshelf, Is as icy as a glacier. Is as foggy as The clouds. Ryan
Hawaii is captured by the sea. Hawaii is fun like playing tag. The sea is like blue eyes. The sea is bluer than space. The sea is shinier than space. Space is like the sea. Space is like Hawaii. Lindsey Dear Mom, Italy is cold. 26
Dear Parents, Iceland is as cold as
With orangutans, monkeys, birds, Gorillas, apes, and people there get tans. Waterfalls in rainforests, and beautiful lush, green. (there WERE tigers in Vietnam, they were pretty lean & mean) The rivers flow in harmony, The lakes filter in peace, The silence is quite beautiful, The peace will never cease. Tristan Dear Bob Birnchwist, Australia is a big island. The water is bluer than blue. You can see as far as you can see. It is very hot. I am surrounded By water. There are lots of lions, Tigers, parrots, and sharks. Sand is everywhere. Cobi Dear Randy Jackson, India is by the ocean, Mountains all over, Dry as a desert, animals: Pandas, lemurs, and more. We eat steamy spaghetti, Moist chocolate cakes. Cows all over, fields & more color, Full dresses, jewels that go on foreheads, black, beautiful hair. Olivia
Snowy, It has mountains. It is white: Hares, bobcats, Wolves & more. Italy created pizza, Good pizza, Lots of pizza, The best pizza. Marissa
A freezer, As white as a blanket, Small as a bird, Surrounded By the ocean water, As frozen as An ice cube. Matt
Dear Lil Romeo, Sweden is a mountain steam of snow, Rivers running on and on, Pine trees taller than houses, Snow leopards as quiet as mice, Jack rabbits hibernating. Miles
Dear Eric, Come to exotic Japan. Japan is a great place to live. There are mountains As tall as the clouds, Many animals to study And play with, fields As long as a palace, Many hats, and woods. It’s wonderful here, Please come. Drew
Dear Mom, Many animals About Sandy & dry as a desert Many people around. Very beautiful. Vika
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Object Poems
Potato by Eric My potato is a weird shaped ball. It’s as red as an apple that is not ripe. The potato rolls like an egg on its side. The potato looks like a reddish-pinkish moon. It’s as small as a lacrosse ball. It’s as hard as a bouncy ball. It’s as smooth as the bottom of a skateboard. A potato is like a spinning top. It smells like french fries. Pine Tree Branch by Matt Feels like a porcupine, Looks like someone’s hand, Smells like a Christmas tree When you get it in your house, Could be used as a comb Or back scratcher, feels like tacks, Looks like an alien, grows on a tree, Falls over when you set it up, Lots of nettles coming out of its skin Like if you got shot with arrows. Umbrella by Johanna My umbrella is as soft & silky As caterpillar skin, As black as night, As wet as a fish belly, As many layers as an onion, Looks like a spider when opened Flower by Lindsey A pink & black flower is in my hand, It reminds me of my mom, is silky, And looks like an ―O‖. Sunglasses by Ryan Are as dark as the night sky, Like eyes hiding behind a mask, Like a black crow perching On someone’s head.
Marshmallows by Vika Marshmallows are fluffly clouds, white Like snow. Marshmallows are stars, Squeaky when they tear in my mouh. Soft pillows, Marshmallows are Snowy mountains, rain falling And freezing in the air. Candle by Miles The candle is like a wooden cinder block. The candle is the flame of a torch. It is as smooth as the body of a skateboard. Leaves by Allison Has cracks like an old house, And the shape of hearts, Is a snake reaching for the sky, Is a shelter for a fly.
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Object Poems Continued...
Rock by Terrek Hard as a coconut, This rock is a head, Is like a dalmation with spots. It might be from the ocean floor, Like a snail in its shell, Smells like salt. Coat Hanger by Drew Hard piece of twisted wire, A hawk to pick things up, A golden bow in the hands of an archer, The wings of a plane, Fishing hawk in the water, A hard branch on the ground, A hat of steel, A large earring, Sometimes bouncy trampoline. Diary 74000 Krellin by Tristan I have discovered new science made by these people. They call it a FORK. When they push it against soft matter, it sticks! I have been incredibly fascinated. I push and prod at things, but not all of them stick. Once I pushed something they called HAM, and the FORK pierced it in two! I have been extremely careful ever since! There is a texture on it. They insist it’s supposed to be like FLOWERS, another strange creature. It looks more like the eyes of the KROOPACK, water beast. On the back there is something they call WRITING–a thing they use to communicate. It says STAINLESS KOREA...which I think must be in code. It is shiny, too, and if you look hard enough it shows you! They have said it’s like a mirror–I’m not sure what that is. Its tips are slightly blunt, not sharp enough to pierce another FORK. Maybe if I look close enough I will discover its secr– OW!! It is a war being! I shall stay safely away while I study it. They seem to communicate by sticking it to matter on a plate, and putting it in something they call MOUTH...then utter something like ―Mmm! Fantastic Karen!‖ I wonder what this means. 29 Oranges by Marissa The orange is like a squishy ball. The orange is like an orange rock. Oranges are as squishy as a banana. The orange is as round as a ball. The orange is as round As a little globe. Toy by Maribel It’s squishy. It has curvy grooves. It looks like a football. It’s soft and light. Half of it is green, half black. You can use this to throw & catch. It’s safe to play with little kids. It fits in your hand.
Younger beings put it in their MOUTH, then say ―Yuck! This is horrible!‖ Most likely a compliment. The nature of the FORK still baffles me.
Animal Poems
Polar Bear by Terrek I’m warm, As white as snow, Wet as a water balloon, As sleepy as a lazy person, As big as a big rock, As fat as a Sumo wrestler, As sharp as a fox, As loud as a trumpet. Frog by Miles I’m small and large, Clever as a robber Popping out of nowhere, Tongue sticky as Super-glue, Poisonous as poison ivy. Penguin by Alee As sleek as sky, As slow as a cloud, Black as night,
Bumblebee by Allison I’m so quick, but fat, Yellow and black-striped, Going from flower to flower Then turning pollen into honey, Buzzing around the gardners, Annoying every single one, Flying high and low, up and down, Side to side. Rhino by Ryan I am as gray as a cloudy day. I am as tough as a boxer. I am stubborn when I’m mad. My horns are strong enough to spear a tree. I have hammer pounding feet. Firefly by Vika I glow like a lantern. I’m as quiet as falling snow. I’m as tiny as a flea. 30
White as ice, Antartica is my home— Brrr!
I’m blacker than night. I fly around quickly, not getting caught.
Dolphin by Drew I am slick and silver, A shiny gem of the sea, Fast as a speeding train, Cute as a baby, a high jumper, Playful and smart, but my ears Are as small as a bee, I am a rocket of the sea. The Owl of the Night by Cobi Owls are cautious, Quiet, quick eyes Like a light bulb And also a stick. Fox by Johanna I am as red as blood, I am as swift as a fish, I am as quiet as night, I am as graceful as a ballerina, I am very clever, As sneaky as a kidnapper. My teeth are sharp as knives. Cow by Marissa I’m huge and annoying, I lay down when it rains, I walk about all day And ―moo‖ my annoying ―moo‖, I’m smelly and hairy And I stink on wet days, but
Kangaroo by Eric I’m fast. I have a stomach like a purse, Big ears, I live in the outback. I have big feet, am a vegetarian, And I have a strong kick. I can jump a fence. You can find me in Australia.
My Pig Life by Lindsey I am pinker than my tail, cuter than a dog, Muddier than mud, faster than a turtle, louder Than a bird, fatter than an alligator. I am like A child getting chased by a monkey. Mosquito by Maribel I fly all around When it’s rainy, I fly very fast, I can annoy you, I can sting, and I’m sorry I sting, but That’s how I get my food. Animal Family by Morgan My mom is like a cat Because she is so warm. My brother is like a T-Rex because he is so annoying. My dad is like a bull because he works so much. My Aunt Jean 31
Be nice to me, I make milk for you.
Is like a kitten, she’s so funny & kind.
Metaphor & Simile
My eyes are as brown as mud. [Drew] Green is as beautiful as a butterfly. [Vika] A tree is as stubborn as a mountain. [Eric] The apple is as red as Jupiter. [Terrek] The apple is as shiny as a crystal. [Allison] The jellyfish is a soft cushion. [Drew] My hair is as black as night. [Maribel] The baby is as small as an ant hill. [Cobi] Socks are as stenchy as garbage. [Tristan] A baby is as loud as a violin playing. [Marissa] The snow is like a white blanket covering me on the coldest nights. [Johanna] My grandma is like a bear because she sleeps a lot. [Marissa]
Personification
The grass swam around my feet. [Allison] The sun ran behind a hill. [Drew] Bananas protect themselves. [Maribel] The mirror copied my every move. [Ryan]
And More...
Ruby by Drew Glistening in the light Shining in the sun Glowing bright at Night sing the ruby song. Monster by Alee His belly is real big and fat, he almost ate my little cat. CATS by Johanna Cats are cuddly, As cute as a newly hatched chick. They come in different colors & sizes, Soft as a bunny’s tail. SKATE by Eric Skating around the neighborhood Knowing you won’t fall 32
His eye balls are real big and round, He always makes an awful sound. But when it comes to… STAR by Miles Stars are stretching There, paints in the black world Around the galaxy Rotating around the big star. CURSIVE by Allison Curvy Upside down Right side up Supposed to make a language Interesting Valleys of twisting turning lines Everywhere you look there is cursive! BUNNICULA by Ryan Beasty tales Unraveled Mysteries Never Boring Not Real Incredibly weird Characters are animals Usually funny Lasting memories Always nice to read. Where Does Poetry Hide? by Maribel Inside of a dog, Inside of an earring,
And trying To land an ollie, Each time you might fall. TREE by Cobi Tough and rough Ripply Especially giant Early sprouting PAJAMAS by Marissa Pajamas of all colors, As soft as hamster fur, Jumbles of sleeves & legs, Animals, stripes, stars & hearts, Make us happy, Always comfortable, Sleeping in the night. Where Poetry Hides by Lindsey In the deep sand, In a chicken’s head, In a piece of hair, In deep warm water, In a far away place, In a garden, Inside clothing. FISH by Matt Fabulous fish Inside tanks like little toys, Scales like shiny mirrors, Have you got a fish yet?
Chimp At School by Cobi I came across a chimp On the way to school His hair was very wirey And his mouth was very round I hid him in my shirt So the teacher would not see He stayed there very quietly Until frightened by a sea anemone.
BOOKS by Marissa Books of all kinds, On to anywhere you want, 33
In the closet, In the head of a ladybug, In the tongue of a tiger.
Outside of this world, Kind feeling and wonders. Sad or happy, open to your imagination.
And Even
More...
Jump Rope by Olivia My jump rope is a bridge to freedom, A snake rattling its smooth tail, a rescue line, A princess‘s beautiful necklace, a chain to lock The castle door, one of Saturn‘s rings, A cursive letter on paper, a hair bow, Lace to tie around my waist. My jump rope is the trim around a room, The edge of a crown, the rim around a volcano My jump rope is the chain around me And my best friend‘s matching lockets, An electric eel, thunderbolts. My jump rope is yards & yards of Twizzlers. Bull by Olivia I‘m frightening, people say, I‘m mean & bossy. Being chased by cowboys is a workout, trying Not to be lassoed by ropes. Trying not to poke People while eating is hard. Most of the time They think I‘m in rodeos, and always mean and Snotty, but mostly I‘m quiet, calm, and nice. Winter by Tristan Brown leaves rustle in the trees, Under the impending breeze, You can see the traveling bees On this, a day of winter. Paint is and not in thou winter‘s snowy gale. The fireplace is hot I‘ll say, But anything‘s better than out there, I warm my hands around the warmth, Madagascar by Morgan Is very mountainous, field with wild Animals that run around eating and Scaring other animals. You can find Them in creepy caves, under trees, up In mountains, underground. They are Striped, spotted, and have fangs with Rattles and killing poison.
Lizard by Morgan I am a scaley thief. I‘m sometimes spotted. I live in sandy deserts or in tanks That aren‘t that unusual. My tongue flicks in and out, And I‘m quick & slick.
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Stuck on our shed, is chipped, The bark on all our trees has slipped. It‘s also quite, and fairly ripped, Bringing forth a sharpened splinter. Inside I watch the snow blow ‗round. It looks like winter shall prevail, I‘m glad I‘m under a strong roof
And listen to the hoooowwlling air.
Poems inspired by
Artie Shaw & His Orchestra’s It Had To Be You
Dancing Spinin’Roundy Round by Olivia New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Hamburger, fries, milkshake, Leather pants, leather coat, sassy, Jazzy stylish! Pink, purple! Funky, Happy while we‘re dancing around In the 60s world, lovely little gal, Handsome little boy dancin‘ along The music night! On a Saturday, Everybody‘s clappin‘ to the beat, Everybody‘s dancin‘ in the heat, While the lovely little gal, and The handsome little boy are dancin‘ On their feet to the summer beat! Town, Dancing, Trumpets by Morgan The signs on the streets in the town are of tall skyscrapers. I see old barbershops & car shops fixing things in old fashion ways. Christmas Celebrations by Marissa Parties and opening gifts, Walking on sidewalks, Laying down, watching TV, Walking and talking And tricks all day, fishing And swinging on swings. You work, it rains. Hyper Flexible Jazzy by Ryan Hyper dancing and music as loud As a blow horn–Get the jazzy Flexible feeling, Get up And dance. Running, Jogging, Dancing Along by Eric Talking about school, you may see flowers On the way, and lots of little butterflies too. As you pass by a baseball game And no one even notices you, Your mom, dad, and sister come Joyfully walking down the road and Pick you up to go to school.
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Poetry by Lindsey Dancing fast, people, red, Cool, excited, sing, Sad, slow, blue, Green, sink.
Going Somewhere Crazy by Matt Somewhere in A ballpark in 1925, Doing stupid stunts.
Poems inspired by Albinoni’s Adagio
Blue Jays by Olivia Soaring through the sky. Standing on the fence, Singing their songs. The Baby at Night by Alee The baby sleeps near The fire with his soft Blanket and a warm cat Right beside him. The cat Purs and the baby is silent. Hopping Outside by Matt In a field of Flowers playing On a sunny Warm day. Traveling and Gliding by Marissa Like birds falling down On the streets. Falling Off something high, picking flowers in big fields To picking flowers On the plains of Africa. Water Is Flowing by Drew Water is flowing and Flowers are dancing, Slow moving swans Are swimming tonight. Very Slow by Maribel Everything is very slow. People are flying in the sky. It is very quiet & very safe. Everything is soft, sweet, and Everything is floating. People all around are sad. Slow by Allison Round and round The ladies go Twirling in and out So graceful, And sometimes sad. Kings & Queens And Princes & Princesses From long ago watch Their guests dance And spin, one step, The other step, side by side, Forward and back. How many times do they twirl?
Orchestra by Tristan The sunset closes over the ocean, The breeze ripples the cornfields. The melodious, straining song of The hills, oh yes! But suddenly I am unsure, nervous, but I am then reassured. The clouds show their goodwill, their apology. The moon is filled with silent anger. But a joyous, skipping song fills its heart With happiness, the song is high now, Dancing on the hilltops, laughing as Butterflies float, smiling at the sun, But then...It appears to be ending, closing. Instruments swaying, melodious straining, And the conductor gives a sweeping bow, And the song is over. The Music Is Graceful
Oh the Happiness & Sadness
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by Vika It is as soft as velvet. The music is like a swan gliding Through the glittering lake, Like a grandparent telling a story, Like flying through the air, And swimming through an ocean.
by Cobi For the flowers are dying And the butterflies flying And the slaves are falling Onto the soft Dry grass.
Like You
by Roque Dalton translated by Jack Hirschman
Like you I love love, life, the sweet smell of things, sky-blue landscape of January days. And my blood boils up and I laugh through eyes that have known the buds of tears. I believe the world is beautiful and that poetry, like bread, is for everyone. And that my veins don‘t end in me but in the unanimous blood of those who struggle for life, love, little things, landscape and bread, the poetry of everyone.
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