Imagism, Minimalism, Objectivism, Haiku

This week, we read three poems by 18th century Japanese poet and painter, Yosa Buson: "Coolness," "Early Summer Rain," and "Sparrow Singing." Then we looked at William Carlos Williams' classic minimalist poem, "The Red Wheelbarrow." Students were asked what these four poems had in common, and in what ways were they different? Some were familiar with haiku, but instead of sticking with the traditional haiku syllabic formula, students were encouraged to write poems that created a simple, but evocative image in the mind of the reader, in three lines with no more than five words per line.

There were many terrific responses to this idea -- here's a selection.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

The Acorn
Angel H.

The acorn falls
on a leaf then
grows.

Dark in Sky
Vanessa P.

So dark in sky
and you could see dark
anywhere with your eyes.

The Sun
Jonathan R.

The highlight of the sun
the trees of nature glowing
goodbye sun, goodbye

Waterfall
Marbella R.

Waterfall –
the water falling
the roar of water

Life
Steven S.

Life is
some thing
special

Baby Birds
Samantha T.

Beautiful baby birds
staring at their mom
wondering why she won't eat

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Forest
Daniel A.

the sound of one
bird that sounds more beautiful
than a chorus of millions

Branches
Alondra B.

Branches –
sway around
in the dark night

Rain
Gerardo C.

Rain
sometimes hard in the summer
you wonder is it gone

The Red Book
Samuel G.

The red book laying down
as the rain pours over
it the words vanish

Shells
Jessica M.

beach is a place
where shells are
next to the shore.

Rainbow
Luis O.

A big glowing rainbow outside,
two of them from
rain.

Fall
Karen R.

Fall –
is turning to
orange and yellow, and brown

The Cheetah
Yulissa R.

The cheetah runs
in the forest for its
freedom.

Orange Juice
Jeremy S.

The orange juice –
the orange juice is
sitting on the table empty

The Lonely Baseball
Javier S.

the lonely baseball
sits on the lonely
ground

Waves
Alvaro S.

crashing down
like a plate
falling and breaking.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

The Wolf
Salena C.

The Wolf –
dragging its prey
its pup playing around.

Nature
Anheli D.

The squirrels running from animals.
The crickets making sounds.
The smoke of the chimney.

Lake Michigan
David F.

Lake Michigan
boats pass by
shadows reflect.

The Dog
Belen F.

The dog is
barking at the
stranger the dog doesn't stop.

Tree
Jessica Z.

That growth of the tree
is from small
to leaves.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Fly
Daisy A.

Two big wings,
things inside,
soaring through the clouds.

Night
Janet B.

Night is time to
close your eyes
and go to sleep

Wind
Ramiro G.

Wind it blows to your
skin as you hear it
whisper in your ear.

Outside
Omar G.

Outside bird humming
for hunger at the
middle of daylight

Tigers
Anibal M.

Tigers are
dangerous
tigers eat people

Waterfall
Ivan M.

waterfall –
falling water but,
never fills up

La Rosa
Monica M.

En el campo hay una
rosa, roja, con su tallo
verde, que espera verde.

Morning
Jose P.

Waking early –
a new day,
after tired sleep.

Shark Attack
Eric P.

There's a hungry shark.
He's in the distance.
All the fish swim away.

Rain
Jesus P.

you see rain every-
where around the streets
you see your reflection

Birds
Diana R.

Birds chirping while flying, almost
look like dancing, feeding those
little beaks up that tree

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

The Lake
Magdalena F.

The lake
flowers facing the lake,
five of them.

The School
Cesar G.

The school is full in
the morning and empty and
spooky at night.

Snow
Eliliana L.

Snow is cold
soft and melts
it's like ice cream

A Pig
Rocio M.

A pig on a
tree, how weird
don't you think?

Birds
Julian V.

When I'm walking sometimes
I hear spring
birds in the sky

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

wet dogs
Deisy C.

wet dogs
that smell
horrible.

Forest
Daryl C.

A hoot and the blowing
wind. Animals are awake, and
asleep, coming in, and out.

Basketball
Keith D.

Basketball –
the sound of it
makes an echo

Rain
Fernando P.

The rain is dropping,
drip by drop down the
streets.

The Country Flag
Leslie S.

Red, white, blue
waves
on the pole

Winter
Adela S.

it's cold outside
drink hot cocoa
time to build a snowman.