I Used to Be... Poems

This week, we read Ted Berrigan's "I Used to Be but Now I Am." In this short poem, he appears to be experimenting with opposites, but as students looked more closely they found some unusual relationships between the words Berrigan chose to compare in his poem. They were then asked to write their own poems, using a structure similar to Berrigan's. Once they began writing, and got into the rhythm of the idea, it was difficult for students to stop!

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

I used to be a car
But now I am an old car

I used to be a dinosaur
But now I am a bunch of bones

I used to be a pencil
But now I am a pen

I used to be nice
But now I am mean

I used to be a Diet Pepsi
But now I am regular Pepsi

I used to be a crayon box
But now I am a broken crayon box

I used to be a frog
But now I am a tadpole

I used to be a cop
But now I am FBI

Edgar A.

I used to be dark
But now I am light

I used to be pants
But now I am shorts

I used to be pencil
But now I am pen

I used to be short
But now I am tall

I used to be think
But now I am thick

I used to be shoes
But now I am boots

I used to be slow
But now I am fast

I used to be water
But now I am pop

I used to be a dog
But now I am a cat

I used to be a bush
But now I am a tree

I used to be you
But now I am me

I used to be left
But now I am right

I used to be bright
But now I am shine

I used to think
But now I believe

Ezequiel A.

I used to be a hamburger,
But now I am a cheeseburger.

I used to be an elephant,
But now I am a mouse.

I used to be a little seed,
But now I am a giant tree.

I used to be delightful,
But now I am mad.

I used to say yes,
But now I say no!

I used to be a dog,
But now I am a cat.

I used to be a pencil,
But now I am an eraser!

Virginia B.

I used to be a hero,
But now I am a villain

I used to be a cat,
But now I am a dog

I used to be a story,
But now I am a book

I used to be a lion,
But now I am a dragon

I used to be a ghost,
But now I am a person

I used to be a dime
But now I am a buck

I used to be a hero to my family,
But now I am a hero

Jose D.

I used to be small now I am
big. I used to be a flower now
I am grass. I used to be Mickey
now I am Daisy. I used to be
naughty but now I am nice.

Daisy F.

I used to be pizza
but now I am spaghetti.

I used to be crayon
but now I am marker.

I used to be folder
but now I am book.

I used to be sweater
but now I am jacket.

I used to be pencil
but now I am sharpener.

I used to be smart
and now I am smart.

I used to be mustard
But now I am ketchup.

Angel H.

I used to be a playful child
But now I am a busy child

I used to be a Pepsi
But now I am a Diet Pepsi

I used to be a soccer ball
But now I am a dodge ball

I used to be a tiger
But now I am a lion

I used to be a door
But now I am a closet

I used to be a VCR
But now I am a DVD

I used to be water
But now I am lemonade

I used to be lemon
But now I am lime

I used to be a soccer player
But now I am a football player

I used to be 7-Up
But now I am Mountain Dew

I used to be a house
But now I am a school

I used to be an apple
But now I am a pear

I used to be a car
But now I am a race car

I used to be a star
But now I am a sun

I used to be a radio
But now I am a T.V.

Crecesio P.

I used to be Sprite,
But now I am Pepsi,

I used to be early,
But now I am late,

I used to be February,
But now I am December,

I used to be Valentine's,
But now I am Christmas,

I used to be mean,
But now I am nice,

I used to be dirty,
But now I am clean,

I used to be wrong,
But now I am right,

I used to be no,
But now I am yes,

I used to be party,
But now I am school,

I used to be pen,
But now I am pencil,

I used to be boring,
But now I am cool,

I used to be hotels,
But now I am houses,

I used to be cars,
But now I am walking,

I used to be Mexico,
But now I am America,

I used to be magazines,
But now I am books,

I used to be playing,
But now I am homework,

I used to be me
But now I am you!

Katy R.

I used to be bright
but now I am shine

I used to glide
but now I fly

I used to be shiny
but now I am a jewel

I used to be simple
but now I am sweet

I used to be petals
but now I am a flower

I used to be you
But now I am me

Marbella R.

I used to be $1,000,000
but now I am $5.00.
I used to be a chalkboard
but now I am a notebook.
I used to be kittens but now I am
a cat.
I used to be mean and rowdy
but now I am nice and
sweet.
I used to be a jungle cat
but now I am a house cat.
I used to be water but now
I am Gatorade.
I used to be a tape
but now I am a CD.

Samantha T.

I used to be small,
But now I am tall.

I used to be quiet,
But now I am loud.

I used to have long hair,
But now I have short hair.

I used to like soccer,
But now I like baseball.

I used to have $102
But now I have $93.

Damian V.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

I used to be the baseball
But now I am the winning home run.

I used to be the puppy
But now I am the mutt.

I used to be the problem
But now I bring people into the problem.

I used to be the Sox fan hater
But now I am the Cubs fan lover.

I used to be something
But now I believe we are all nothing.

Daniel A.

I used to be mean
But now I am friendly

I used to be lazy
But now I am helpful

I used to be water
But now I am ice

I used to be a gym teacher
But now I am a gymnast

I used to be a dreamer
But now I am a believer

I used to be unfavorable
But now I am lovable

I used to be a different
person
But now I am the real me

Griselda A.

I used to be cold,
But now I am hot.

I used to be winter,
But now I am fall.

I used to be nothing,
But now I am something.

I used to be corn flakes,
But now I am frosted flakes.

I used to taste bad,
But now I taste good.

I used to do my homework,
But now I don't.

Angel G.

I used to be socks
now I am a shoe

I used to be water
now I am a fish

I used to be a driver
now I am a sock

I used to be a house
now I am a floor

I used to be ice cubes
now I am water

I used to be a t-shirt
now I am pants.

Jose M.

I used to be an eagle
but now I am a bird

I used to be a folder
but now I am a notebook

I used to be a pen
but now I am a pencil

I used to be good
but now I am bad

I used to be a calculator
but now I am a T.V.

I used to be a fish
but now I am a boat

I used to be a helicopter
but now I am an air plane

Servando O.

I used to be smart
now I'm smarter

I used to be Cubs
now I'm Sox

I used to be the
problem but now my
neighbor is the problem.

I used to be a ball
now I'm a balloon

I used to be a kid
now I'm a teenager

I used to be a cub
now I'm a bear

Alex R.

I used to be snow
But now I am water

I used to be salt
But now I am sugar

I used to be a washer
But now I am a drier

I used to be an office
But now I am a Post Office

I used to be a student
But now I am a teacher

I used to be a book
But now I am paper

I used to be socks
But now I am shoes

I used to be a soccer ball
But now I am a baseball

I used to be an ice cream
But now I am a cone

I used to be a T.V.
But now I am a DVD

Magdalena R.

I used to be a dog
but now I am a cat.

I used to be an ice cube
but now I am ice cream.

I used to be a baseball
but now I am a bat.

I used to be a square
but now I am a triangle.

I used to be a hit
but now I am a home run,
wow, look at me fly.

Jeremy S.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

I used to be a snake
But now I am a lion

I used to be a villain
But now I am a hero

I used to be a circle
But now I am a square

I used to be a contract
But now I am an oath

I used to be a house
But now I am a building

I used to be a Care Bear
But now I am a bear

Claudia A.

I used to be a player
now I'm a benchwarmer
I used to be heavy
now I'm heavier
I used to be rated R
now I'm PG-13
I used to be a man
now I'm a boy
I used to be Narnia
now I'm Spiderwick

Diego B.

I used to be wanted
but now I am unwanted.

I used to be a time waster
but now I am not.

I used to be nice
but now I am hateful.

I used to be a girly girl
but now I am a tomboy.

I used to be jogging pants
but now I am Capris.

I used to be sausage
but now I am pepperoni.

I used to be spinach
but now I am goat cheese.

I used to be wood
but now I am a desk.

I used to be eyes
but now I am a mask.

Salena C.

I used to be a tree
but now I am a leaf.

I used to be alive
but now I am dead.

I used to be a human
but now I am a skeleton.

I used to be melted
but now I am frozen.

I used to be poor
but now I am rich.

I used to be a cloud
but now I am the sky.

Marlene C.

I used to be an angel,
but now I am a devil.

I used to be a student,
but now I am a teacher.

I used to be a pencil,
but now I'm a pen.

I used to be a daisy,
But now I'm a rose.

I used to be young
but now I'm old.

I used to be day,
but now I'm night.

I used to be famous,
but now I'm poor.

I used to be a pizza party,
but now I'm a pajama party.

I used to be something,
But now I'm nothing.

I used to be a right,
but now I'm a left.

Maria M.

I used to be a board now I am a teacher

I used to be a pencil now I am lead

I used to be the game now I am the player

I used to be a basketball now I am Michael Jordan

I used to be Larry now I am vocabulary

I used to be hair now I am body

Everardo P.

I used to be a dreamer
But now I am the dream

I used to be French
But now I am fries

I used to be
But now I am

I used to be invisible
But now I am visible

I used to be top dog
But now I am top cat

I used to be a boy
But now I am a man

I used to be Pizza Hut
But now I am Pasta Hut

Gustavo R.

I used to be you
but now I'm I
I used to say bye
but now I say hi
I used to be up
but now I'm down
I used to be serious
but now I'm furious
I used to lie
but now I'm shy
I used to be the one and only
but now I'm lonely
I used to dream
but now I believe

Jessica Z.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

I used to be a board
now I am a skateboard

I used to be mean now
I am nice

I used to be a computer
now I am technology

I used to be full
now I am empty

I used to be a girl
now I am a woman

Ana C.

I used to be Japan
But now I am Japanese

I used to be school
But now I am a scholar

I used to be fold
But now I am a folder

I used to be a pen
But now I am a pencil

I used to be
But now I am

I used to be class
But now I am classy

I used to be a copy
But now I am a computer

I used to be sweet
But now I am evil

Yadid G.

I used to be a fish and
now I'm a dolphin.

I used to be a baby girl
now I'm a girl.

I used to be a student
now I'm a teacher.

I used to be a shoe now
I'm a sock.

I used to be
But now I am

I used to be a flower
now I am a cup of water.

I used to be a bee
now I am a letter b.

I used to be a computer
now I'm a calculator.

I used to be a pencil
now I'm a paper.

I used to be a book
now I'm a suit.

I used to be a pop
now I'm an empty
can.

I used to be tea
now I'm a letter T.

Linet L.

I used to be nobody,
but now I am somebody

I used to be numbers,
but now I am math

I used to be letters
but now I am words

I used to be a folder,
but now I am a notebook

I used to be alive,
but now I am a life

I used to be flexible,
but now I am mixable

I used to be Santa Ana,
but now I am Santa

I used to be having a lot of hair,
now I have extra hair.

Alexis R.

I used to be washable
but now I'm permanent

I used to be a paper
but now I'm a book

I used to be a jewel
now I am a diamond

I used to be dim
now I am bright

I used to be the pencil
now I am the eraser

I used to be the smart one
now I am intelligent

I used to be full
now I am empty

I used to be nice
now I am mean

I used to be a circle
now I am a triangle

I used to be alone
now I'm in the collection

I used to be a month
now I am a year

I used to be away
but now I'm close

Diana R.

I used to be crazy
But now I'm annoyed

I used to be a spider
But now I'm a spy

I used to be a lamp
But now I'm a lamb

I used to be a boy
But now I'm a toy

I used to be 0
But now I'm 100

I used to be a wall
But now I'm a ball

I used to be a cat
But now I'm a rat

I used to be a bat
But now I'm a hat

I used to be soggy
But now I'm dry

I used to be hot
But now I'm warm

I used to be a car
But now I'm a bar

I used to be smart
But now I'm stupid

I used to be A
But now I'm b

I used to be Louis Z.
But now I'm Louis Z., Jr.

I used to start
But now I'm finished

Louis Z.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

I used to be a dog
But now I am a cat

I used to be cheap
But now I am a cow

I used to be a pen
But now I am a pencil

I used to be hot
But now I am cool

I used to be a box
But now I am a folder

I used to be a sharpener
But now I am a highlighter

I used to be a notebook
But now I am the moon

Diana G.

I used to be mean
now I have meaning

I used to be the fish
now I'm the hook

I used to be a quarter
now I am a quarter of a quarter

I used to be a dance
now I am the feet

I used to be letters in this poem
now I am the poem

I used to be done
now I am finished

Isaac G.

I used to be a seed but
now I am a flower.

I used to be a caterpillar
now I am a cat.

I used to be a baby
now I am a kid.

I used to be water
now I am soda.

I am Eli. I will
always be Eli.

Eli L.

I used to be a tree
but now I am paper

I used to be earth
but now I am junk

I used to be dead
but now I am a ghost

I used to be green
but now I am brown

I used to be air
but now I am pollution

I used to be water
but now I am dirt

Maggie M.

I used to be so girly
Now I am not that girly

I used to be a cupcake
Now I am a cake

I used to be Rocio
Now I am Rose

I used to be a paper
Now I am a book

I used to be a star
Now I am the sun

I used to be a flower
Now I am a tree

I used to be a bag
Now I am a basket

I used to be a heart
Now I am a star

I used to be lead
Now I am ink.

Rocio M.

I used to be the water now I am wind.

I used to be the sun that shines
bright but now I am the moon in the
sky that has dim light.

I was the past now I am the
future.

I used to be a someone but now
I am a star that shines at night.

I used to be sour but now I
am sweet.

Silvia R.

I used to be the bun
now I am a hamburger

I used to be lead
but now I am the ink

I used to be a hotdog
now I am a hot dog

I used to be the paper
but now I am a pencil

I used to be a page
but now I am the book

I used to be playful
but now I am boring

I used to hate reading
but now I love reading

I used to be the writer
but now I am the reader

Anthony S.

I used to be a baby
But now I am a kid

I used to be shorty
But now I am a youngster

I used to be 5 years old
But now I am 11 years old

I used to be old
But now I am dead

Jose Z.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

I used to be a puppy
But now I am a dog

I used to be a lake
But now I am an ocean

I used to be a fraction
But now I am a whole number

I used to be a picture book
But now I am a novel

I used to be a store
But now I am a mall

Amanda H.

I used to be a turtle but now
I'm a shell.

I used to be black but now
I'm white.

I used to be smart but
now I'm intelligent.

I used to be unstoppable
but now I'm stoppable.

I used to be thunder but now
I'm rain.

Stephanie M.

I used to be ice cream
But now I scream.

I used to see
But now I'm the sea.

I used to go
But now I go.

I used to be
But I'm the bee.

I used to play
But now I play.

I used to be 5
But now I'm 10.

I used to be a kitten
But now I'm a cat.

I used to be a planet
But now I'm the solar system.

Cristian M.

I used to be Diet Coke.
But now I am Coca Cola.

I used to be a jacket.
But now I am a sweater.

I used to be a cake.
But now I am a piece of cake.

I used to be Earth.
But now I am the moon.

I used to be a star.
But now I am the sun.

I used to be Math.
But now I am Science.

I used to be a boot.
But now I am a shoe.

I used to be Hershey's.
But now I am Reese's.

Edwin O.

I used to be indescribable
But now I am unpredictable

I used to be unknown
But now I am unanimous

I used to be hope
But now I am faith

I used to be uncomfortable
But now I am believable

I used to be oblique
But now I am on an angle

Jasmine R.

I used to be intense,
But now I am feeble.

I used to be loud,
But now I am pensive.

I used to be a roadrunner,
But now I am a bird.

I used to be a monkey,
But now I am a giraffe.

I used to not care,
But now I am amused by how
much I've grown.

I used to be a pencil,
But now I am a pen.

I used to be seven,
But now I am eleven.

Leslie S.

I used to be an eye,
but now I am a nose.

I used to be a student,
but now I am a teacher.

I used to be an America fan,
but now I am a Chivas fan.

I used to be a clock,
but now I am a watch.

I used to be a Mexican,
but now I am an American.

Mayra S.

Lies, All Lies!!

For this week's class, I brought in one of my favorite poems, "Lies" by Eva Skrande:

I was a baby born in the arms of a tree.
I had no grandmother, not even
a father or mother.
The few caps I wore, I threw
into a headless river.

I was a boat born without food or wine.
I swam amongst the flotsam of stars.
I had only four fingers

to hold the moon.

I was a window, a church,
an old pair of shoes, an owl in martyrdom
of night.

I became a flower.
I had one ear to listen for enemies.

I became a song.
I became a heart, lucky and green.

I became a liar.
I rewrote my past.
On the last page of my life
I lulled the wind to sleep
in my arms.

...

We talked about why a poet might decide to lie in a poem, and in particular, why this poet decided to let us know that she was lying. Sometimes it's more fun and interesting to lie, and of course, we want to catch our readers' interest with our poems. But, more importantly, a poem is a safe place in which to make up outrageous lies - we can't get in trouble for lying in a poem, especially if we disclose that we're lying! So, taking a cue from the last stanza of the poem, I asked my students to re-write their life stories in lies. This was an exercise they just dove into - all their poems were awesome!


Mr. K, Rm. 204
3rd Grade

Anthony P.

I was born in Edgar's eyes and I was touching
Edgar's eye and when I was 9 I moved to Angel's
head, it was big! I was cooking in Angel's head
and Angel's head was on fire! And I moved because
Angel's head was on fire and I moved to David
and David's head had a lot of smart things
and I moved outside and see my mom.

Lies, Lies and Liars
Asil P.

I was born in France with no
hands or mother. I was the ugliest
person. No one liked me. I was trash
that was thrown away. I was a dime,
people spent me. I was a deer, I
was shot and eaten. I became
a flower, I got splat. I became
the maddest person in the world.
I became to start dying.

Alone
David C.

I was born in a forest. I only had
myself to care about. I was a tree at
night, wolves howled and tigers growled and
fought all night leaving me freezing alone. I
was the moon looking over my home.
I was dirt, ugly. I became a liar
but lucky too. I let the wind make
me sleep forever.

I am a Liar!
Reymundo

I was born in a lollipop
I licked my way out. The lollipop
tasted like cotton candy. When
I came out I was in candy land
I ate the mayor of candy land, he
tasted like a burned cookie. And
I became mayor of candy land
I ate all the candy except black
licorice - I don't like it. I ate all
the gingerbread houses and all ice cream
and the grass tasted like gum
the real bunnies tasted like chocolate
and I ate the gingerbread man
called Gingy. He was tasty. Then I ate
a snowman made of strawberry ice cream
until I saw an ocean of
hot chocolate then I saw
the biggest ice cream ever
with chocolate, strawberry and
all the different flavors of ice
cream in the world, when I
finished, I blew up

Michael D.

I was born in heaven.
I was an angel
Then I turned into a planet
I was candy
I was a liar
I was an alien
I was the solar system
Then I was a snake
I was a bumblebee
I was an ant
I was a list of names
Then I was a math book
I was a double decker bus
I was Tony when I was 3

Lies of my Life
Jossaira S.

I was born in Mexico.
I was born without a grandmother.

I was a leaf born without chlorophyll.
I was flying around the tree.

...

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Lies
Luis P.

I was born in the hands of Captain Underpants
and all he fed me was underpants
I had no grandmother, no grandfather, and
no mother and father
I was born with 4 eyes and 70 fingers
and 100 toes
I was born with 100 mouths
I was born so small that Danny stepped
on me
I was a gun so I shot Danny because
he stepped on me
I was Danny and beat me up so
Danny could feel the pain
I was Shawn and I stayed there forever
That's the
true story
of me...
Psyche!!!

The Liar
Alejandra I.

I was born with Santa Claus.
I was born with 25 toes and
11 fingers, I used those for people.
I was born with 3 noses.
I became a chipmunk chewing
houses.
I became a cupcake, but a
person ate me.
I became a monkey in a zoo.
I became a sun and I burned
people.
I became a bug and got
squished.
I was a famous Hannah
Montana singer.

I Lie to my Parents
Giselle S.

I was born in a beehive
I became honey and I was
becoming very juicy and they
sold me, I got scared. So they
didn't sell me. I got squished but a
dog came and ate me.

My Story About Lies
Roayma M.

I was born in outer space. I got burned by the sun.
I became Pluto in a barn. I became a book someone
ate me up. I became a robot and then I exploded.
I became a nerd, everyone laughed at me. I
became appetite, I couldn't stop eating. I became
a car, I ran over myself. I ate myself.
I became a monster, I ate myself. I became a
mom, I had a baby and it was a monster.

My Life Lies
Cesar N.

I was born in a clock with no tick tock.
I went to school, I was not prepared
I had no mom or dad so I grounded myself.
I turned weakling so I couldn't carry my
pencil to do my homework.
So my nose grew very tall for lying to
my cousin. So then I went to the clock
where I had no tick tock.

Lies About Me
Jasmine O.

I was born in a volcano in the arms of the
lava. I had no family or friends. The few caps I wore, I threw
into a headless river. I was a boat born without food or drinks.
I go into the shoes and back out again. I rewrote my past.
I became a liar. I told a dog all lies about me and my life.
I looked at the moon and I looked like a moon and I was
burning the moon.

Shawn

I was born in the army in Iraq. I got
shot 8 times. It was 9/11. My parents
are hippies. Then I moved to China. I
became a rat.

...

Mrs. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

Life Lies
Veronica G.

I was born in Venus.
I had nobody in my family.
I could turn into a vampire.
I threw fireballs from my hands.
I flew to Mexico.
I ran to the North Pole and helped
Santa pack his toys.
I accidentally ate one of his elves.
I hate being a vampire.

Lies
Isabel

I was born with a cow.
I had no family except the cow.
I was born in the sun.
And there were kids full of fire.
I was born in a cake.
And the cake was delicious.
I was born in a feather.
But I don't really like feathers
getting in my mouth.
I was born in a chocolate bunny...
And that was the best part.

Liar
Uriel S.

I was born from Amores
body, I came out of her
eye. I went to Shields School,
they kicked me out. I had no
name, no dad. I thought I had a
dad. I lied to Ms. Santer to not
get suspended. I stuck a middle
finger to Lily. I live in a
piece of junk. I am 1,000,000,000
years old, I was still alive.
I told my mom, how dare
you give me no name. I
thought that I had a dad
because how could i be
born?

Andres E.

I was born in a panda's hands, they raised me
I became one of them, they hunted
me down. I became a caveman
I was poor, I fought, I died, then
I became a dinosaur - the T Rex - I
lost and died. I had my girlfriend
she had no parents, neither did I,
so I lived there. All we ate
was cereal, even though we
had a mansion. She kicked me out
of the mansion. I lived, I died.
I was a seal, I saw Miguel Diaz,
we fought, I won, but then we both
died, we never knew we
would ever see each other
Miguel and I, we were
cavemen again, we were
brothers, we ate chickens.
We both became hippies.

...

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

Isabel C.

I was born in the
ocean. All I had to
drink was salt water. I
ate starfish. I saw a
mermaid. I was about
to be eaten by a gray
fat shark. I saw an eel,
I got electrocuted. I saw
an octopus. He sprayed me
with this P.U. stuff. I stand
really bad. Finally, I found
a family. I love them, they
are mermaids and a starfish
who is my dad. My name
is Fishica. For a pet, I got
an eel.

I Love You Lie
Denise N.

I was born in a little kid's
desk
I would eat
his sandwich
when he brought
a sandwich

I would tell
the kid to buy
me a sundae
every Sunday
and I would
invite my friends
to play snowball
fight

I would eat
the kid's nametag
every day, whenever
I wanted to and
the teacher would get
mad at the little kid.

Then I would
go to lunch and eat all
the food.

Omar N.

I was born in a cave
I was little, I turned
100, it looked like I was
9. I ate bats, I turned
into a vampire. I saw
a person, I drank their
blood, then I was a bat
I didn't know what to do
trapped in a cage, I felt
something, I was in a cage
I was silver, I saw my dad,
he was gold, my mom
was pink, my two brothers
were blue, we turned into a
bear, instead of the three
bears, the four bears,
I told my dad, where is
Goldilocks, he said I don't
know. When Goldilocks came
we turned into a bomb, we
exploded.

Ariana C.

I was born on top of a mountain
with no family and no clothes
I became a star
I became an adult
I met a person with
old shoes, t-shirt, pants, and
clothes for me
she was so nice
to get me something
I said "get me something
because I am poor, and
I don't have money or food
so I'm poor." She gave me
some stuff and she said,
"I'll give you money so you
can buy a house." She said,
Shoo-shoo
Bye!
And so I bought a house.

...

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade

House
Samuel V.

I was born on top of a house
I had no family
The roofs I had had gone
away.

I was a house without hands
and fingers.
I got torn down and never
was seen.

I was a church, a house, a farm house
made of wood.

I was a little house, I had nothing
to hear.

I had one big heart full of
love.

I was built again and was seen
again.

Vanessa F.

I was born in the water
My parents are lilies
I was sick of the water, so I went to
the zoo.
They kept me because they thought I
was a shark.

Outer Space
Sigitas A.

I was born on Glea 436B.
I was a star.
Then, I was a black hole.
But I had the heart of
a pulsar.
As you can tell, this is
a metaphor.

Lizeth H.

I was born on the bush, lived
with lots of grass and monkeys.
I was 10 feet tall and very small.
I was a girl full of trees
all over my body. That's
how I was born. I
was so smart.

...

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Lies!!!
Julie G.

I was born in Mississippi in
a pencil

I had 50 brothers and sisters
and my parents were coconuts

I wear a lion on my
body

I was a paper, Paris, an
old t-shirt, and a frog.

I did have food
a bottle of juice and
bread.

I became a beautiful
liar. I rewrote my lies and
a monkey pulls me away.

My Lies to People
Kristal R.

I was born in a
cloud with no food or
ketchup to drink. I didn't
have a family because they flew
away on a cloud. I had a
skirt on with a long-sleeved
shirt. I was half animal
and half person. Later, I
became a whole animal.

Jennifer F.

I was born in the waves of the ocean
in a really quiet place
where there was no danger
No one was with me

I wore a little ripped shirt
some old dark little shorts
I only had three fingers
After a sharked swallowed me
But he burped and spit me out

Then I suddenly lived in a castle
and my cousin too
But my cousin was a princess ape
It was not funny. (giggles)

My cousin was funny and weird
when he was outside he wore his
underwear and inside his royalty suit.

Jose V.

I was born in a math book
I am 1 and my sister and
brother are numbers
2 and 3. I am a problem
and a solution. People count
on me.

Alejandro C.

What did you
become? A bed.
I was born
in the jungle.
I look like a
bed jungle.

Elizabeth

I was born in the arms of the moon.
I had no friends, not even a brother or a sister.
The few ribbons I wore became a stringy river.
I was a star with no toys or food.
At night I'd float above the clouds.
I'd tickle the sun with my 10 fingers.

I was a TV, a house
an old pair of pants and a cat in the black dark
night.

I became the grass, I had hair to feel people
and animals.
I became a pencil.
I became a heart, red and loving.

I became a liar
I wrote all my
lies. On the last
page of my heart
I lulled the clouds
to sleep in my
arms.

Permutation / Spare Parts Poems

Permutation, a variation on cut-up poetry, involves taking a set of words and rearranging them to create a new phrase or poem. Making sense is not a requirement of permutation poetry, but it is a challenge to try. As an example, we read and discussed Brion Gysin's "Rub out the Write Word." We then took Emily Dickinson's poem, "It's all I have to bring today," and created brand new permutations from its text. Students were asked to use as many words as possible, without adding or duplicating any, and/or changing verb tenses, agreeing that certain words could be left out of their final poems if necessary – thus the subtitle, Spare Parts Poems.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Untitled
Ezekiel A.

Should I bring all the bees. It's all
I have my heart the fields which in
clover dwell. Some meadows could be beside
my heart. My heart this wide all you count
sure the sum could tell one and all.

Untitled
Virginia B.

All I forget this one heart
I bring beside this clover
and in the meadows wide. Bees
dwell. Is all today my heart. Some
could tell you count the fields.

My Spare Parts Poem
Ivory G.

I have today, This, my heart,
beside my fields, wide, be sure
count, forget one, which my heart,
and dwell.

Untitled
Oscar M.

I bring this heart today.
It's my heart I should forget.
My heart and all bees.

Untitled
Crecesio P.

Today it's all I have to bring.
Beside my heart and this.
My heart and this and all the fields.
Meadows wide and all the.
Sure you count I forget.
Sum could tell the one some.
My heart and the Bees and all this.
The clover dwell which in should be.

Passion
Jonathan R.

It's my heart, my wide heart beside,
The heart in all meadows and fields,
Bring this sum, this someone
could tell, the Bees today, all to
a clover, and you should count,
I forget, I have to be sure, all and
my!

I bring the.....
Marbella R.

I bring my heart
beside all the meadows
wide.
It's all I should
tell you today
the bees which
count sum fields
this, in the clover dwell
this and my heart
be sure to have
some one and
forget all
and my heart
and this
and could
all and
the,
the...

Untitled
Johnny S.

I bring this heart today.
And all the Bees in which the clover dwell.
And all the meadows wide.

Untitled
Steven S.

I forget to bring. Clovers
and Bees at the fields. Today
this heart beside meadows could
tell this heart to count. It's
all my heart to Be dwell and
wide. I should have all the clovers
and Bees.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Untitled
Angel B.

Today beside fields I forget
to count the Bees I have.

Untitled
Giovanni F.

All the wide meadows tell my
heart clover and bees dwell.
Sum. This in which I forget all
fields. Today bring my heart beside
this. Be sure it's my heart.
Some one should count. And all
could have this.

Untitled
Eddie L.

My heart and all meadows
beside you. It's all my
heart could tell the
Bees. Be sure to bring
today my heart. Should
I forget the clover
dwell. All the fields wide
count.

Untitled
Jessica M.

Today I have my heart
to bring and beside all
the fields should I count
clover and the sum and
all this meadows one sure
my heart some all
and this the
which tell
my
Heart

Untitled
Emmanuel R.

All the wide meadows all
the Bees in the Clover
dwell to Bring today in my
heart I forget that they belong
in the field.

Untitled
Magdalena R.

The Bees clover dwell
This heart brings meadows
This heart could tell
Today It's all I have
should the fields count
I forget the sum
beside my heart which
wide the all same
The
This
This
Today
Should
I
beside
Wide

Untitled
Yulissa R.

Its all my heart clover.
One this count you.
And could fields forget
The heart which sum.
Should be sure some bees.

Untitled
Alvaro S.

All bees and meadows beside
my heart. You should count the
sum. I could tell some one
this. I bring my heart today.
Which the fields sure wide.

Untitled
Daisy V.

The heart I have to
bring today I should forget
all the Bees. Be sure
you count on the heart.
Someone could tell the
wide meadows.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

My Heart
Claudia A.

The heart goes to all
the fields. Be sure
you count all the
Bees. It's all I
have to bring today.
Beside this heart
could tell which
clover dwell. I
should forget the
meadow wide.

Untitled
Itzamari C.

Today I should count Bees
in the Clover dwell. This heart
could tell all the fields. I forget
to bring all my heart and beside
all the wide Meadows. Some you
one my heart. This Which the
sum and all the sure.

Untitled
Marlene C.

It's all to bring today
This heart beside this
heart all fields
All meadows wide
Be sure count Bees
I forget Clover dwell
Some
Heart
tell
one
This

Untitled
Brian D.

I bring my heart wide
you count one heart
one the heart
I should forget
the sum.

Untitled
Anheli D.

I bring today
My heart all wide
The Bees in the dwell, fields
I forget the meadows you could tell
This should count sum my heart
It's all Clover
Which meadows my heart.

Untitled
David F.

All the Bees and meadows
could Be in wide fields – I
forget the sum. Beside, all
could tell. Sure you count all
the Clover.

Untitled
Abel G.

clover fields and meadows I have to
bring

all the Bees beside my heart could
tell I forget.

Be sure you count this and my wide
heart.

Untitled
Maria M.

All I have today it's my heart.
All the fields you count
it's in my heart.
This clover dwell one
meadows.
I could tell the wide.
All the Bees should
forget.
Be sure I bring my heart
today in the sum.

Untitled
Jesus N.

It's today have bring
this heart beside wide
Be my heart sure
This dwell one the sum
This my heart and fields and Meadows
you count Bees which in
the clover
this and all the all
And all the some should I
forget
some tell
my heart could bring to
and all the

Untitled
Brenda R.

It's All I have to bring today
besides my heart. You count all the
Bees and clover in the fields.
Should I forget my heart.
Some of the sum could tell.

Untitled
Gustavo R.

be sure you count the Bees

and all the wide meadows

which my heart should forget

I have to bring today the clover

my heart and this heart

beside the fields

It's all one sum

Someone could tell this and all

Untitled
Yvette T.

This today bring my
heart in the fields –
The Bees forget
I tell the Clover to
dwell –
This it's my heart
beside the meadows
wide –

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Untitled
Ramiro G.

my fields and meadows
bring bring bees beside my
heart which I forget

Untitled
Cynthia G.

I forget I have this heart
It's all my heart, today my heart
could tell beside this and this
should count to bring all the fields
and my wide meadows, you and
the sum, and be sure all the
Clover dwell. Which in the
Bees all the some one, and, and.....

My heart
Juan J.

Clover dwell in my heart. My heart, should I
forget? Be sure to count all the bees in my
heart. All the fields, and all the meadows, could
tell the sum. Beside this, it's all I have to
bring today.

Untitled
Ivan M.

It's all wide, I could tell
the fields and clover dwell
My heart, this heart
I should, one forget
I bring today the heart
one count

Untitled
Eric P.

It's This be This this And some which
and all one in and sure all I you the heart
bees forget fields heart heart meadows today I
my my the have my to sum count clover
could should dwell bring tell and wide and
all the all beside I

Untitled
Diana R.

meadows bring Bees beside
my heart count some clover
fields this wide dwell
all I forget should be
one sum all I could
tell in this it's my
heart which today you
have

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Untitled
Elva C.

I have to bring my heart, my heart, my
heart. Besides the field.
All meadows wide be sure you
count, all bees clover dwell, I could tell
someone that's all.

Untitled
Alyssa D.

It's my heart. Beside
the fields – Meadows wide
Bees all dwell – which
my clover heart could tell
sum count, sure you be
all my heart could bring
today.

Something
Isaac G.

I bring Bees today
My Heart, and all the fields, sum
My Heart, it's beside
count, all the wide meadows
My Heart, could tell all I forget
In clover dwell

Untitled
Mirella H.

Today I bring my heart to my bees
the meadows the fields
that. I count the sum and my
Clover dwell in my heart.
This my heart all my wide I forget
and could tell this.

Untitled
Eliliana L.

today all I have to bring
my heart and this

my heart and the fields
the tell I have to tell

Untitled
Rocio M.

Bees could tell the clover dwell
My heart all field
Be sure the meadows and
heart I some forget.
Today beside the wide I should
sum It all.

Untitled
Roberto R.

I bring fields
to my heart.
All the bees
on meadows.
I have to forget
my heart.

Untitled
Silvia R.

It's all to bring today
Be sure some one
could tell this and
the bees. All the
fields – should my heart
forget. You count all
the meadows. This, this
and my heart.
Beside the wide
Which in my heart I
have to be sure.

Untitled
Anthony S.

I bring my heart today beside the
fields, all the Bees, should I count, sure,
could you tell the sum, it's one.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Untitled
Brenda A.

It's all I have my heart,
and all the meadows wide –
beside my heart and the fields –
should I forget to bring today –
all the Bees which in the
clover dwell.

Untitled
Samantha B.

I have bees in my heart
My heart and clover beside
Today this all bring
My heart fields wide
This meadow I forget and some
sure.

Untitled
Ana C.

I and my heart beside this

the Bees in the Clover

My heart forget Some one

the Sum Could tell this
Be sure

It's all and all the meadows
wide.

Untitled
Carina G.

My heart and the
fields
I count the Bees
It's dwell today
I bring my heart to
you
some forget my heart
All beside and one all
And this sum meadows

Untitled
Stephanie M.

I should count all my meadows
and my fields. The bees
beside my heart dwell. I forget
someone in this heart today. I
could tell it's wide.

Untitled
Cristian M.

I bring this heart, and my count today, all fields
could tell my heart. All meadows and heart and
Bees dwell in the clover. I forget the sum. Beside
you should. It's all wide, have this.

Untitled
Jesse R.

I bring my heart today.
Be someone beside this
fields. It's this all I
bring. Sure you count my heart.
This sum could tell my heart.

I and my heart beside
Adela S.

I and my heart beside –
and all the Clover dwell –
my heart and all the
Fields –
This meadows wide and all
the bees could tell I
forget –
Be sure my heart count
the sum –
It's all I have to bring
you.

All Shields Reading!

This past week was the All Shields Reading. An amazing sixteen (!) classrooms participated, including both 3rd and 5th grade students from the main and branch buildings. Their classmates cheered them on, along with parents and other family who made a special trip to Shields for the reading.

Here are some pictures showing students reading their poems. Even though the microphone was sometimes cutting in and out, poets-in-residence, Mr. Dean and Ms. Bell (Ms. Javellana could not be present), used their technical expertise (banging the mic in their hands) to keep the assembly running as smoothly as possible.






























































Congratulations to all the students, and a big thanks to teachers and administrators for making this annual event the best All Shields Reading yet!

Sound Poems: Alliteration

This week, I brought in a recording of sound poet bpNichol's "Flower Eyes" (which you can find here). We talked about how the poem doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, but there are a lot of similar consonant and vowel sounds (alliteration). We then made lists of alliterative words and for their poems, the students were to choose a set of these words (or come up with a list of their own) and build poems, letting the sounds of the words determine the course or narrative of their poems. The results were very pleasing to the ear!

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Luis P.

A snake
will sink
a star fish
will sing sharing
the shoes
superman will
be seventy in
September
I will break
Shields School
by throwing socks
at the building

Alejandra I.

I sing with a
snake and the squid plays the
drums. The star plays the guitar.
The book sunk into small bits of
paper. The snake tries to
bite me. The squid quits
the band. The star quits the
band too. The squid comes back
in 3 days and joins the band again.
And the star comes back in
5 days. The band starts playing
again.

Bernice A.

Alligators make babies and
apples in April. Alligators
heart art. Alvie thinks the
animal alligators are awesome.
Alligators are in America.
An alligator can live in the
alley or in the attic.
Alligators love Annisette very
much. Alvina can live any
where in America. Alligators
can live anywhere in
America too.

...

Mrs. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

Noise
Shalynn S.

The moon harp is invisible
in the afternoon with the
steam of the cream on
coffee with the piano with
the nano ipod. With the
empty can with the pan
and the pancakes.

Slow Sally
Troy S.

Slow
Sally
slides
slithery
silently
down
silent
hill
eating
chunky
chocolate
chip
cookies
looking
at
a
streaky
stream

Ciro Q.

Pretty but strange a professional
skater but lived in a dungeon
one day she came tired from
skating in a professional
contest but it was her turn then
she got nervous and didn't
look on the ice and mice
were chasing to get the mice
and she fell and lost

...

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

The Shark
Leandro D.

The Shark
swims and
then he shakes his
little tail shot. The shark wants
to get the little fish but he needs
to be quiet shh!! then he
gets the little fish with
gray and white, yum it's
very good it tastes like chicken

The Flying Balloon!
Yenci S.

The balloon, the balloon is
flying on the noon from my
room it'll soon go through the
moon. Goodbye, goodbye here
is a broom so you can fly through
the shiny moon.

Flea
Nelly Q.

I saw a flea
that flicked to the flower
then it flossed his teeth
his fist flew to the floor
it was snowing he saw snowflakes
he decided to eat frosted flakes

Marlen N.

Yum food...moo cows said shh!
I am going to sleep moon shine on
the sky oh gosh I'm having
a bad day my spoon my food there
on the floor! Hot hot soup yuck
nothing to eat smells like fish a
kiwi of the ocean on the ocean
floor go to your room - no fair! Sister
watches TV, I hop. My room was my
house soon! My birth. Finally my
faith came back. Shhh! Cows again.
I said I hope I will smack them
in the face! Or, or hope I NEVER
was on the farm living here.
I will be a prince soon. I will
become a superstar in Hollywood or
New York. Cakes! Oh boy,
another day!

Isabel C.

I cut myself
With a cup
A cat saw me
I ran downstairs
To the store
I saw something
That stopped me
A lady opened the
Door so I was just
In time before the
Door shut closed
Then I stared to
Look around and
See I was stuck
In the store I
Was scared that
I couldn't get
Out of the store
My mom came and
got me out I
told her I don't
Remember us having
A cat.
I loved the cat
So much I started
To kiss him and
Sleep with him all
Day so I started to
Cry because the cat got
Lost in a dark alley
Full of trash and yucky
Stuff.

...

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade

Tasty
Alexandra

I ate
a tasty strawberry cake
it hides in my heart
where I can't find it now

Hidden and Hide
Ryan V.

Cowards have hidden hope.
Grown up men have hidden hair.
Your heart burns your hidden hate.
You keep most things hidden because you have a horse.
And you hide your haircut under your jacket.
When robbers are chasing you where do you hide?
In the mountains where it is high.
So remember don't try to hide -
soon your hidden things will be revealed.

Cool Moon
Andrea

The cool moon sites in the dark night
as the cool moon sits in the dark night
the fool tools dance in the night
when the cool moon sits in the dark night
and the fool tools dance in the night
the cuckoo spoons spoons work
in the night.

...

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Alejandro C.

Moon monkeys jump, they
like to jump and they like to eat and they
like water and they go to sleep
and they wake up.

Strawberry
Julie

A strawberry is a strong fruit. A
strawberry will never strike. Maybe
you won't find a strawberry
in the street because it is
such a special fruit. A strawberry
doesn't have stripes.

The Poem That Starts With Oo
Celeste P.

Boo!! I could see you
I see you too
I see a moon
I have a loose tooth
In June I made stew with a
spoon I sat in the stairs in
June to watch the moon I
see a cool boy the rhymes
with Troy

Ekphrastic Poems

The word ekphrasis (or, ecphrasis) comes from the Greek, literally meaning "speak out." The magnetism between literary and visual art speaks to our desire as poets to evoke the visual, as well as the painter's desire to evoke the textual. Writing an ekphrastic poem, or a poem that responds to a work of visual art (usually painting), is like having a conversation. For my part, I would ask the painting "how do you do it?!"

For this class, I brought in William Carlos Williams' "The Great Figure," along with its inspiration, Charles Demuth's "I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold." On a side note, I wish I'd had the time to share this multimedia feast of figure fives! However, we did discuss some of the similarities and dissimilarities between the two pieces, and what was effective about both the painting and the poem.

For the students' own poems, I brought around thirty print-outs of paintings, spanning many styles and centuries, from realistic landscapes and portraits to modern works with fantastic elements and abstractions. It was quite exciting to see their reactions to the paintings! I asked them to describe what they saw, but also to go further and tell the "story" of their painting. Their reactions to this prompt were broad and imaginative - it was real pleasure to read them!

Mr. K., Rm. 205
3rd Grade

Hokusai, The Great Wave
David C.

Waves splashing in deep water,
woosh woosh, happening at
sunset. People struggling to survive.
I feel a little sad if they
die. The colors are white, blue, yellow.
The author drew this picture
to show how people traveled on
water.


Marla Olmstead, Fairy Map
Reymundo A.

The painting of
love. I would hear a whisper
of the wind and birds chirping.
It is in a magical wonderland
full of clouds, yellow rain, some hearts
and a blue person or monster,
and a snake shaped like an
S, also a firefighter hat. The
artist painted it because he
wanted people to find certain
things. It makes me feel calm.
The colors are red, black, purple,
white, dark purple, forest green,
yellow and blue.


Jackson Pollack, [Title Unknown]
Virgen S.

Fall because
of the crunchy leaves. The leaves
would make crunchy leaves. It
is in fall on the ground.
It happens in fall. They are
leaves that live on the
ground. He painted it to be
created. It makes me feel
happy. Gray, blue, red, black, orange,
yellow, tan.

***

Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade

Jane Frank, Dorado No. 2
Alejandra I.

I see a green and black
dress blowing in the air. The
dress is blown away from
a mountain. I see a horse
And I see a small lake. The
dress has a pocket. And a sandy
place. And water.


Manet, Boating
Brenda B.

I see a man and a woman and a dog sitting in a
boat.
I see the water back and forth.
I see a dog wearing people clothes.
The old lady is crying.
The man is trying to
catch fish.
The dog is wearing
a life jacket.
The old lady's
dress looks like
a big fish.
And lady's
hat looks
like a
garbage.


Mary Cassatt, Woman with Red Zinnia
Samuel P.

A tree and a person
sad sitting
all alone
on the bench
grabbing a
flower just
her no one
in back
of her
only a lot
of trees
in the
sunny
day
nothing moves
and the
grass said
Mary Cassatt
and she is
red like
a tomato
is black
on the
other
side
and
so green
on the
other
side
she
is
looking
down
so down
way down
down
ya down
uh down

***

Mrs. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade

Magritte, Golconda
Myriam R.

A lot of men coming
down from space
They are coming down to work
beacuse they work at a factory
to get more money. To buy
a house. Because they need to
so they can live. And because
they lost a job. And because
they gave people days off when
the boss said not to give people
a no work day and that is why
they are coming here.

Picasso, The Bullfight
Jose C.

They will go
to Rome they will
fight and who
ever wins gets
the trust.

One day a man said
that he was better
than any other man
then along came another
man and said you want
to fight? So
they went to Rome then
the fight started.
And the men were very
scared, the fight was
on and the man
that said he's
better died.

Jean-Francois Millet, Man with a Hoe
You Are Strong
Shalynn S.

Below the sun like a bird
steaming hot like a running bath
the ground is like an almond
no green grass.
You are strong, don't give up
or else you'll feel like a
piece of dust.

***

Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade

Jane Frank, Dorado No. 2
Isabel C.

There once was a
desert, the sand was rushing
down very fast like a flute
playing lovely music. It is
like a tree covering a little
pond of water for a man and
his horse. There is a guy
that is Japanese. The man
is lost in the desert looking
for food and water. It is in
1962. There is yellow sand
as yellow as the sun burning
on somebody. The tree is
green as a man's pants and
overalls. The red is so red
it looks like a rose
shimmering very beautiful.


Diego Rivera, The Flower Vendor
Nancy M.

Picking flowers
look like hair
decorate flowers for her house
give to friends
the black looks like night
foot looks like a hexagon.



Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, Marcelle Lender Dancing the Bolero in "Chilpéric"
The Dance
Nelly Q.

The lady dancing without a man,
The man just staring like he doesn't care
Music so soft like a cat
Midnight so dark and cold
Colors so dark, so sad and lonely
King and Queen looking at the lady
The man so handsome just staring there
Darkish colors black and white
The lady dancing merrily
The lady even worried, so sad.


Frida Kahlo, Roots
Kiara M.

Back in old Mexico
I love the view
I fall asleep
I find out I fell asleep for millions
of years
I'm wrapped up in leaves
They took my heart
It's gone forever
The vines are like ropes
I'm stuck
The leaves talk to me
They tell me I'm the queen
of grass, leaves, herbs, trees.
I'm the queen of nature
My nature is dying
I wonder why
I sing
They love how I sing.
My nature is alive once again.


Mary Cassatt, Woman with Red Zinnia
My Boyfriend Joe
Laura D.

I went to the park in the warm air.
My boyfriend Joe dumped me for
her. Nature is Joe, everything is Joe. I
feel sad and mad, mixed up in a blender.
I feel I'm trapped in a cube alone with
no one to share the space. My rose demands
me to go back to Joe. I feel part of me
is ripped up and thrown away.

***

Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade


DeMorgan, The Prisoner
Andrea T.

The young beautiful princess
wearing a blue dress
looking outside the window
in a fall afternoon. She is
sad because her prince
has not come to free her
from her dark misery.

Vermeer, The Girl with the Pearl Earring
Sigitas A.

Loneliness
a lonely girl
in a dark room
who has nothing to cheer about
she has blond hair
with hazel eyes
a brown overcoat
rests on her shoulders
I can tell
she is saying "goodbye"

Monet, Waterlillies (1914)
Ryan V.

A large lake
a giant rainbow
full of lily pads
a frog's heaven
tulips in bloom
such a cheery pond

Nakamura Daizaburo, Woman Seated by a Stream
Jacqueline M.

Of a Japanese Mona Lisa
It's nature running on her
Like 2D figures.
It's making me feel
A lot of feelings
Right! so he could let his
feelings. A Japanese lady sitting
quietly.

Bracquemond, On the Terrace
The Wedding
Alexandra

A wedding
The sound is the song for the wedding
They are orange, brown, white and rectangles
It feels sad or happy
Yes, someone from your family is getting married
So it could be nice and colorful
People, somebody is getting married.

***

Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade

Bracquemond, On the Terrace
Diego L.

3 fancy people from the 1800s
they are making a deal
for a house the lowest it costs is
$20,001. I will take it. They are
in the backyard.

Mary Cassatt, Woman with Red Zinnia
A Guy in a Party Dress
Jocelyn M.

A boy in a dress
and a flower in her hand and he's
sitting on a bench waiting for a
bus and he's thinking if she
looks like a girl in a dancing
beauty dress in dress shoes.

Picasso, Three Musicians
Julie G.

3 musicians
2 instruments
an opening mouth
tiny hands
sounds like Mexican
music
music notes for you
and me to follow
forever

Paul Cezanne, L'Estaque
The Purple Lake
Jennifer F.

A big purple lake
is part of the big blue ocean
The lake has land lots and lots
of people travel in that purple lake.
Anyone who sails in the purple lake
never comes back to tell the story
so that's why people walk on land
to the other side
when they get there
a boat picks them up
after the sailor take them
around the purple lake
to where they want to go.

Picasso, The Old Guitarist
Jose V.

Man playing
guitar
laying down on the floor
looking straight
at his feet
man white hair
ripped shirt
with pants
old and sad
guitar

Marla Olmstead, Fairy Map
A Quilt
Cynthia M.

A quilt
with
lots
of
colors
flowers
white
necklace
green
person
white
blue
buttons
hats
watermelon
spine
birds
seahorse
eating
food
hearts
butterflies
seas