Music Poems

For this week's class, we worked on one of my favorite poetry ideas. First, we read "Two Guitars" by Victor Hernández Cruz and discussed its meaning: who (or what) is talking in the poem, and what are they saying? How does music express emotions, and create images in our minds? Each class room listened to an instrumental song chosen randomly, with students individually making lists of words or phrases describing the music they heard to be used in their poems. Click on the links to hear the songs students heard while composing their poems.


Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “DLK” by Deluxe Leisure King



People on a rainbow
running back and
forth through the
clouds. Running from
their sadness in
their life. Jumping
from cloud to cloud.
Virginia B.

Rockstars being in a concert.
Of a TV show song.
My little brother being
silly. Being part of
a band. Makes me happy.
A person that is trying
to make people laugh.
People playing a song.
My dog barking. A
really nice person that
is happy and hearing
their favorite music.
Start to get crazy.
Makes a lot of people
happy. A nice sunny
day for people to be
happy for each other.
Jasmin C.

I see happy day.
The sun is shining bright
playing with friends and
having fun. Clouds changing to
different shapes and animals.
Playing a song.
Daisy F.

I see people playing
instruments that are making me
sleepy and singing. They are
doing it outside and getting money
for it. I feel happy and want
to dance to it and I want
to keep the song.
Angel H.

I feel happy. I feel
like if it was real.
I hear a good song like
if your friends are there. It goes
like ben ben pa pa pa pa pa. I don't see it but like if
my friends are playing and have
fun and a good time. I love it.
It reminds me of good times.
I feel like if it was so so
real. I do not have nothing
to say. I just close my eyes and
imagine. I love imagining.
Julissa S.

In the music
the day is sunny.
No wind near.
A seed planted
on ground. Water,
sun, and music
are in the seed.
It gets bigger
in days. The
flower is there.
It's a happy day.
David V.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “Think” by Curtis Mayfield



A feeling inside that makes
you feel relaxed inside.
Like going on a boat
celebrating your daughter's birthday.
As you go on a
vacation to celebrate
at Hawaii, you
just lay
down watching
the sunset
as you
see the
waves so
up and down.
Samuel G.

The twinkle
of a shiny
star in the
sky. The salsa
of two people
in love. The song
the birds sing on
a silent night. The
sadness of a girl who
got cheated on by her boy
friend on a sad and rainy
day. Thinking back on all those
memories they had together
and those times they fought and
got back together, the times they
made each other gifts, and how they
surprised each other. How when they first
saw each other and fell in love, all those
wonderful times and when she felt bad
he would serenade her, and all those good
times go away and all the angels leave
and don't want anymore all of the things
they did. She came happy, left sad. The day
started out good and ended out to be bad. She
should've stayed at home like her parents
told her to, but she didn't listen. She
left to a tragedy.
Vanessa L.

The stars twinkling.
People dancing
in a slow motion.
Some people in love
and some being sad
for losing their love,
birds singing to make
them feel better and
fall in love. Like if
someone passed away
and they are remembering
his or hers good
moments and being with
them and remembering all
the good things
he or she did
for others.
Eddie L.

A sad man is seeing a star.
Kids play in the grass. A band
playing songs, people singing and
dancing, drums, flutes, and guitars
are making a beat. Then rain
is falling, kids wishing upon
a star, and people sleeping.
Luis O.

The light twinkles as
they play with the
beautiful birds
whistling. I hear
teachers telling
numbers 1, 2,
3, 4, 5 ...
People are dancing
so relaxed with
its partner. I
hear Indians
whistling to
each other.
Liliana R.

The music is a
bit sad.
Child, birds, the ocean, night sky, night
with stars, morning, sunset, children
are playing.
The world is
dancing with the
moon and the stars.
When angels are singing
like birds.
Mother, father, brother, and sister
let us sing now.
Peace to the world.
Amen.
Karen R.

It makes me
sad. And someone
is having a sad
day because
they are
lonely. It sounds
like a TV
show I
watch on
Sunday. It sounds
like he finds
a new friend
at the end.
It sounds like
my door bell.
It sounds like
someone is sitting
in school and
they have no
friend because
he or she is
a new kid.
Then when
he finds a new
friend he starts
to get happy
and plays with him
and he becomes
very very happy.
Jeremy S.

The ballerina is dancing
alone till the prince comes then
a ballerina dancing
with the prince and
other people dancing
with their loved ones.
This is all like a
romantic movie
with flowers and
doves flying every-
where. Every-
thing silence till
everybody is happy
and laughing, having
a great time. This
is like a wedding.
Joanna Z.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “I Knew You Would” by Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey



I felt like somebody
was running. The song
feels relaxed. At the
end it feels like
Christmas.
Diego B.

A guitar on the beach
the sunset
while a person
running through the
beach and swimming
with the dolphins
the guitar on the
person laying on the
sandy beach and
swimming with
the mermaids
while laying on
a
beach towel
drinking a Coke
with ice.
Nancy C.

I hear the angels
they sing in Hawaiian
happiness
comes
the happiness
dies
oh, I hear cries
this is a sad mess
happiness comes
again people rejoice
birds sing
everything fades behind.
Salena C.

Someone is in a field of grass and just playing
what his heart desires. I think he is happy to just be
alone in a field and playing what his mood is.
He may be running with his guitar because he is
in a field of flowers and then fades because
he is leaving the field of grass.
Belen F.

As the flow of music
goes, I can see the world.
The rhythm shows me the
gentle seas, quiet deserts
and peaceful jungles. The
sound brings life to
everything in nature from
animals to humans.
Gustavo R.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “Birdman of Alcatraz” by Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra remix)



Birds are chirping
fat man in a zoo
in Japan seeing an
elephant. It's showing
but he is playing
guitar and flute he
is so funny.
Alfredo C.

Footsteps of a leopard
as it looks at a bird
chirping, thunder
overhead. Everyone
is hiding.
Ramiro G.

A little bell wiggling its tail. A trumpet
getting used. The commercial of a big theater.
A little more rhythm. Drums hitting hard
and slow, soft. Someone dancing so
beautiful. A guitar with its strings.
A little band. Someone acting out
the music. A nice big flute. A band
person dancing. A nice piano who
I used to play.
Cynthia G.

There is a girl running in the forest.
Something happens. She went running home.
She goes and tells her father. They're scared. The
bells ring. There is a dance. There's a lot
of pressure.
Michelle M.

What I hear in this sweet
song is a piano, drums, a pretty
simple guitar and the nice tone of
it makes me feel that I am in the
forest. It makes me feel that
summer a fairy tale, tears of water
dripping, walking along by the street
cold and alone in the rain in a new
neighborhood. All new people about
to take the taxi asking where are
you going? I am going to a new
town.
Vani P.

The land is overtaken
by a witch, the wizard's
challenge is, winner gets
the land.
The fairy helps the
wizard, the wizard
is winning. The wizard
has won and won the land.
The new king is in the land.
Alexis R.

As the sun rises
the birds sing around
a tree.
A horse comes
by fast as if
it was lost yet
happy.
You can hear the
hollow wind, the
man on the horse
is going over
obstacles looking for
a road to somewhere
with frustration.
Finally sees the
light and goes faster
and gets closer.
The birds chirp
when he finds
the way.
Diana R.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “An Orchestra” by Stan Kenton/Robert Graettinger



This song has many feelings I can't
explain it but I'll try.
It has drama, I mean lots of drama.
Oh my it's scary.
Scary Movie. Tn, tn, tn, tn.
No clue.
Just lost.
Mixed feeling all over.
It is all over the place.
Let's dance.
Of course.
Do you want to dance?
It's very loud! I can't hear you!
60's, 50's. It's very old style.
It's all one opinion.
Alexandra C.

Mariachi are playing music. Batman in
the sky is trying to detect a bank theft.
What am I going to do? Mexicans dancing.
Big crime just hit the news, just
silence.
Diego C.

The song makes me think
that a bunch of cars are
stuck in traffic. Cars are
trying to get through. Finally
they start moving. Beep!! That's
what I hear. The music sounds
like the car horns beeping.
There is a sunset and the
street is so chaotic. So
peaceful and chaotic, not
a perfect match.
Magdalena F.

Bom bom here I come I
am the biggest giant!
La la la I can sigh?
I feel so happy I want
to dance. The music
goes high, low, don't know
what to do!!
Laela M.

Batman & Robin.
Something suspicious.
007.
Someone kissing.
A Jackie Chan movie with
Chris Tucker.
Black man with a trumpet.
Las Vegas.
A train.
The Matrix Vol. 3.
Tom & Jerry.
Star Wars.
A Marine on duty.
A Toyota.
Roberto R.

What I hear is music.
Loud music.
Scary music.
Music is loud scary.
Makes some people dance.
Music funny and fun.
It makes me say
humm.
It is weird jumpy.
And makes me say
wow.
Makes me see people in a haunted
house and looks
happy, jumpy, and scary at the
same time. Bigfoot looking for
someone. Makes
me say WOW.
Silvia R.

I exited
a house
because
my car broke
down. I said
hello, anybody
home?
I walk around
and
exited a room.
Suddenly, flying
instruments
making music
and I ran, and ran
but I could
hear it.
Julian V.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “Glue Avenue” by All Ones



It makes me think of a
sneaky cat,
a thief,
a quiet night,
a band,
a show,
a long road trip,
a bus,
a boring day.
Jacquelin A.

The sound changes.
The rhythm moves.
The band plays cool.
The sounds move.
The beat “booms.”
Javier C.

It starts normal and
spooky like Scooby-Doo.
After, it is like
someone is searching for
him. They found someone
and are chasing him. But
they lost him. Now
they start to search
again. Now it sounds like
they're getting closer.
But after a while
they lose him. And
they search and can't
find him. Lost they
leave with a surprised
face.
Daryl C.

The beat keeps getting louder
one by one instruments come
to the song
I feel like dancing
I feel like stomping my
feet to the beat
making my own lyrics
in the end the sound gets softer
and softer until it's
all over.
Amanda H.

The three spies are
in the creepy castle.
They are walking around
the castle and they
have to be super
careful not to step
on any traps or
else the ones of
the castle will get
them and they will
be busted. Also they
need to find the
mystery so they could
finish the mission and
find the mystery so
they could get out
safely from the castle.
Edgar O.

This sounds like a spooky haunted
house at the end of Death
Street.
This feels like a skeleton dancing
behind you,
like big trees falling down,
like a group working together.
Different modes (happy, excited, bored &
sad).
People dancing crazy,
a dog going up and the other
going down,
a person moving sideways,
a motor car.
Feels like calm.
Like an echo.
People playing down the street.
Adela S.

It sounds like a car
going down the street. It
goes and goes
until it sees the light.
Here now, he's
going down the street
yet again, now clapping
his hands. Down he sees
the light to greatness.
Daniel V.

The song feels as if someone is chasing
me. it is spooky, like if I was in a haunted house.
It sounds like if someone with a hat,
fancy clothes and their hands in their pocket
was walking down the street.
Carlos Z.