New Shields Blog!

As the 2008-2009 school year begins, The Poetry Center has made some exciting changes. One major change is the re-launch of our web site. From there, you may access Shields' blog of student writing for the new year, and beyond.

Go here for direct access to the new blog! It's now easier than ever to find terrific poetry.

If there's no student work posted yet, be patient...we're just getting underway. Check back soon -- check back often -- and feel free to tell anyone who might be interested all about the Hands on Stanzas program.

Here's looking forward to another productive year with Shields students!

Last post of the year for me: "My Poems"

N.B.: This will be my last posting from the 2007 - 2008 school year at Shields. Some of the other teachers may continue to post for a few more entries. Posting will resume in fall of 2008, when the new residencies begin. Thank you for reading!

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After reading Nita Penfold's "My Poem,"--in which she describes her poems as "not polite ladies," who "won't sit still"--we discussed Penfold's method of describing her poems as people with their own will. We also talked about her use of the title as also the first line of the poem. I then asked them to write their own poems, "My Poems," or alternately, "My Words" (which could extend into other areas of language). These entertaining poems resulted; I felt like they were integrating a lot of the various imagery and tools we've experimented with this year.



Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade


My Poem Speaks
Andrea P.

My poem talks to me when
I don’t have nobody to
talk with. Or when I am sad
he confesses me and he
says funny jokes and words. But
my poem is a really good
speaker. He confesses me when
I am angry. But my poem
is the best.


My Poem Speaks to Me
Daniel R.

My poem speaks to me all the time
and we always play and in the night we
talk and we go to eat. We speak to
each other and we play games and
we go to sleep. My poem wanted to
sleep with me and always be nice
to each other, and my poem is the
biggest poem in the world, and he
acts weird and dumb. And he is
a bird and his wings are too small,
and when he speaks to me and then
he always falls down the stairs
and he is nice to me, and we go to
the park. We speak to each other.


My Poems
Sergio H.

My poems speak to me when I want
to read. My poems share the stories with
other people. My poem is a paper and on top
of the paper is a bird
that flies. And shows the paper
to other people.


Loud People in the Halls
Nicole O.

Loud people are in the halls
making lots of noise. Sometimes I
say to myself to be not
loud. When there’s lots of noise
I feel when there’s lots of noise
in the hallway I say to myself,
The girls and boys are so loud
and annoying and they’re so loud. I am
not loud at all.


My Poems
Maricela E.

appear on papers how the appear
in different ways
they appear like people
they could appear the
same poem once and
again it could
appear many ways
however you write it will
appear it could
be any way you want
they tell what to do


Mrs. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade


My Poems
Victor P.

Cuando escribo, siento que me voy
a ser un niño inteligente.

Cuando escribo yo siento que
el papel se siente feliz.


Untitled
Luis M.

My poems keep my secrets.
My poems tell me, Run as fast as
you can, you can’t catch me.” My poems
act like two little brothers.
My poems don’t keep secrets from me.
My poems look like a sun because
they jump like in the folder. My poems
say thank you to me.


My Poems
Andrea R.

My poems come to my brain and come with me.
The peoples the teacher bring are scary sick.
When is Valentine’s? The teacher
is really beautiful.
When the teacher comes I write a poem to babies.
The day of moms I write a poem.
The teacher is really good poems because the poems,
the poems I write are not good.
I like the poems.
The poems are my favorite. When I write.
The people are really happy when I write the poems.
When the people see, and my mom says it’s the best writing.


My Poems
Esmeralda P.

The poems inspire me and
my poems are like family.
They are nice and sometimes
mean.

But they are always going to
love me and that’s never going
to change.

And I am going to love them
forever forever.

And I’m happy. I like my life.
March 26, 2008
Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade


My Poems
Angelica A.

My poems get that screaming.
They get annoying.
They get crazy.
They get nosy.
They get tired.
They get loud.
They get red.
They get heart.
They get too blue.
They get too mad.
They get too bloody.
They get blood on their hands.
They get too heart.
They get furious.
They get too much look.
They get very furious.
They get very sweaty.
They get burning.
They get drums in their head.
They get too loud.
They get too mad.
They get scared.
They get an idea.
They get too personal.
They get too sleepy.
They get too watery.
They get too much furious.
They get too softy.
They get too mad.


My Words
Sergio P.

come by my mouth
They give me answers
to make me smart and to
give me a start.
They’re not mean and they
don’t shout. They’re good
and nice.


My Poem
Moises A.

Writing poetry is like kicking a soccer ball.
But when I see it I go crazy. When I eat I think
my plate is a paper of poetry. I like dancing
with my friend Miss Poetry. I like dancing with
my friend Miss Poetry. I will have so much fun.


My Poems
Marcos B.

They’re like a man with
words all over him. Or like a
shoe but the words are shoelaces.
My poems come if I imagine
this. They come if I’m happy but
they come quiet. When I’m
sad they come to me screaming.
I like my poems and I’ll write them
all until it’s too late to play
with the words in all.


My Poems
Joel D.

My mouth is loud
My car is in the parking lot.
My mind is getting find.
My mouth is in the President’s house.
My car is far, in the Pacific Ocean.
My mouse is in the house.
My March is in the garage.
My name is in flame.
My friends are friends.
My bank is thank.


My Poems
Nestor H.

are the stars in the beautiful
night sky. How I get my
poems is like hair; when you
are a baby you start
out with little bits of hair.
Then as you get older
you get more hair. This is
how I get my thoughts.


My Poems
Jordy D.

keep making me write more
I feel my poem is going to
rip the paper if I stop
he’s not nice and he keeps
tapping me on the
shoulder,
I get mad sometimes
I tell my dad


My Poems
Jazmin N.

They way the wind blows me
and tells me something. They way the
clouds tell me what to writea dn
the way the air tells me to do.
The way in the night the soul of
me tells me to write this. The
soul of me wakes me up just
to write and write. When I go to
sleep my poems come to me
and would not let me sleep. Until
I write it.


My Poems
Giselle H.

My words come to me when I’m in a middle
of a dream. The words are like if they
jump out and say, “This is boring. I’m
leaving.” And suddenly you wake up and have
an idea. If you think it stinks don’t throw it
in the sink. They rhyme doesn’t need to
follow. They point isn’t needed. All you need is
inspiration. If at first you don’t succeed don’t
give up. And don’t fuss just try again.
If I daydream a word
stretches me back.

Picture Poems

Kenneth Patchen is an American original: poet, dramatist, fiction writer, proto-Beat, and multi-media artist. His picture poems were the subject of this week's classes. Students read a short illustrated poem, "Like I Told You," from one of Patchen's books, then looked at and discussed other picture poems in color and black & white for inspiration. They were then asked to create decorated poems on any theme they chose. Click on the images for larger views.

Color Poems

Brazilian poet, Adelia Prado, writes passionately and intensely about the color "Purple," sometimes using it in unusual ways. After I read Prado's poem in English, a student read it in Portuguese; students were asked which words 'sounded' more purple to them -- "purple," "morado" or "púrpura" -- and which version of the poem they preferred, regardless of whether they understood it in Portuguese. We discussed parts of speech and personification as well. Students were then asked to write their own poems, using a favorite color in as many ways as possible.


Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Colors
Bella R.

Green like a beautiful garden
black the deep side inside you
yellow like a sun
the beautiful blue like the ocean
divine colors
brown is eager
the bright color pink
that Navy blue color
the passion of red
white like a construction
paper
orange the color of the
juicy orange fruit
purple the purple grapes
one by one
those beautiful colors
there and here comes and
goes
those colors
I love those colors

Pink
Katy R.

Pink feels soft
like a soft petal
of a rose blooming under
the shining sun,

pink looks bright
like the blue sky
shining in the
morning with the sun.

Pink sounds like a
quiet ant trying to
escape from the
anteater,

pink tastes like
a pink cake with
strawberry ice cream inside
with red juicy strawberries
on top.

White
Johnny S.

White is a silky web
White is creamy white milk
White is a splashing white wail
White is a big ice cream cone
White has been in Egypt
or likely France
but the reason I like
is not the big blue it is
red white and blue

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Rainbow
Vanessa L.

I am painting with pink
I love blue
I love a good shower and a hot sun
and love a curve so come out of the sky stop
hiding rain come out rainbow so
I can see the world.

Black
Magdalena R.

Black bananas.
Black hair.
Black is a TV screen when it is off.
Black coffee.
Black bags.
Black shirt or pants.
Black pens, pencils.

Blue
Daisy V.

Blue is when it is sunny
outside. Blue like the ocean.
Blue as a blue house. Blue
like my blue pen.

Blue like the blue color.

Blue sky when I went
to Mexico.

Blue as my blue socks.

Blue as my sister's gym
shoes.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

Color Blue
Claudia A.

Blue sky at morning
and at dark at night.
Blue shoe that goes
and comes.

I like blue and
red likes blue
how narrow can it
be. Blue's what name, can it
flight Blue's Clues?

Blue ocean blue
morning. Oh blue
oh blue what can
you do?

Blue December
and blue planet.
Oh oh oh blue
shy blue.

Brown
Jose B.

Brown is the color of
chocolate cake, chocolate milk.
Brown is mean, a brown dog
barking, trying to bite.
Mud is mean to me too
it gets you dirty. Brown
reminds me of a football
when they throw it.

Green
Carlos M.

Green is light of the grass. Green
is a rich color because the dollars are
green. The sky in Antarctica has
a green color. I smell like fresh
trees. I taste like green Doritos.
I sound like the air blowing
the trees. Green is an interesting
color you see it all around you.
When I see it it makes me
think like dirty water. Even though
green is a very special color.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Black
Ivan M.

Black – really dark
Spooky maybe
Some people's favorite color, some not
Black like a wolf for attack
So sad
A hollow word
So mysterious
Black really ferocious
A bright color's enemy
People's nightmares
Black like enemy's attack
Black so evil
Black

Yellow
Cristian O.

yellow brings out the light
and sprouts like a blooming
flower rises from the ground
and lets us see the world
nothing like a sour lemon
but actually like a
dandelion just waiting
to sprout

Blue the Color of Life
Diana R.

Blue is the color
of life, passing
by light blue in
the morning dark
blue at night
blue like the rain
crystal like a
diamond blue
is the ocean
blue is the dolphins
blue is a violet
blue is too many
things with or
without movement
blue is to that
night when stars
were alive blue
is when the
stars are moving
through the night
or the moon
shining bright.
Blue is to
the ice age
but blue will
always be the
color of life.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Green
Magdalena F.

Green is everywhere you look.
A green sky morning and night.
Green trees and flowers
And even snow
Green rain
But one little thing is not green
The huge bright yellow sun.

Blue
Jacob S.

The sky is blue
it's blue. The ocean
is blue I see
my reflection in it
as if it were a
mirror. Splash I
hear from sea
animals when
it's raining. The
sky purples I hear
splash from blue
rain drops dropping
blue, blue, blue, blue.

Blue
Osvaldo T.

Blue, the color of the sky
added with white of the clouds.
The color of the ocean, rivers, lakes,
streams, flow, flow, flow.
Blueberries, sweet and juicy.
Blue color of the world with green.
Favorite colors of many people,
and I am one of them. Blue.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Red
Deisy C.

Red puts me in a
good mood. Red
is the color of
an ugly sweater
my aunt gave
me. Wine that
is red that
looks like blood.
A red car speeding
and passing the
red light. Red
the color of
my necklace.
Red the color I
chose to
like. The red
cheeks on
someones face
in the winter.
Red the color
of hearts
on Valentine's.
Red the color
of my favorite
team, Las
Chivas.

Gray
Carina G.

The sky is gray
oh I see a yellow
crazy man running
oh wait a minute
it's Homer Simpson.
A rose turning black.
A gray man walking
with a cane.
I see small pink children
with curly tails,
a brown reindeer without
antlers,
a brown and black fly flying
everywhere.
The clouds have danger.
A pink man shoveling.

Lavender Lilac
Stephanie M.

Lavender makes the world color.
Like a lilac.
The lilac lavenders into a flower.

A lavender lilacs into a color.

Me, lilac and lavender walking
down lilac garden.

Lavender such a rich, radiant
natural color that expresses
the fresh rivers, nature, and
style.

Me, lilac and lavender.

Collaborative Poems

For our last class before the holiday and new year break, I wanted to try something that would (hopefully) be fun. We read several two-line poems from Joshua Beckman & Matthew Rohrer's collaborative book, Nice Hat. Thanks, and talked a bit about the process the two poets used when writing poems together. Students then counted off, and were put in groups based on their number. Each wrote three starting lines for as many separate poems, passing them on to others in their group, who added their own lines, creating a series of short group poems. Students were encouraged to think fast, and make "sense" only if they wanted to, or could.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Ivory G., Angel H., Marbella R., Johnny S., Kayla S.

I can't wait to walk my friend
to the garbage can
I'm a rain drop
Justin Timberlake

That's the smallest tree
Superman once fell down
spilling
purple milk

Edgar A., Sergio M., Julissa S., Luis V.

I saw a dog.
You got dog mail.
I fell in a mailbox
scary.

I hear noise outside my house.
It was a dog and cat.
They were fighting.
A kangaroo came and they all kick-boxed.

Erica A., Jose D., Daniel G.

Destroy all humans
voices are screaming in the house.
Then the people that were screaming, I kick them out.
They stayed there.

I fell in the store for fun.
I saw some candy.
It was furry and fungy but I couldn't resist
and gobbled it up.

Oscar M., Vanessa P., Ricardo R., Samantha T.

Have you seen a red sky?
What are you talking about?
The sky is not red,
it's blue. Also bigger than Earth.
Earth is big but blue is more blues.

I hear
you talk
about race cars.
What is important about race cars?
Nothing.

Claudia A., Virginia B., Norberto M., Jonathan R.

Who ate the last cookie?
Santa Claus.
He was very hungry, he drank milk.
Do you like chips?
“With soda!”

The island,
is very peaceful.
“Why are you so hairy?”
I am so not!
You are not what?

Janet H., Crecesio P., David V.

I saw a man with a saw.
I like to throw snowballs at cars.
I'm happy when I get presents.
My feet are freezing, the door is creaking.

The streets have snow.
The snow is cold oh how cold am I.
I will like to have a bulldog.
But I hate Barney.

Ezequiel A., Katy R., Steven S., Damian V.

Jennifer Lopez
Crazy Frog
Super Mario
Rontu-Aru

Spongebob
King of Queens
Still Standing
Alvin

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Daniel A., Samuel G., Vanessa L., Eddie L., Jose M., Liliana R.

My dog is dancing
on the stage
and then he fell
and continued dancing
and fell again
and kept on dancing.

I love frogs
because they are cool
bouncing everywhere
and eating my tail
and I like the dog biting his tail
I bit the dog's tail.

Griselda A., Gerardo C., Selena L., Alex R., Magdalena R., Jeremy S.

run away
from your mom
and never come back
and scream
loud.

It is almost Christmas.
I get a lot of presents
so cool I got chills
and snow on my face
and got a cold.

Christian A., Alondra B., Jennifer P., Karen R., Daisy V., Joanna Z.

I felt sad.
Think of something happy
like when you're at a party
with your family.

20 people brought cake.
We could eat the cake.
The cake was so good
I ate 4 pieces.

Angel B., Jessica M., Emmanuel R., Yulissa R., Javier S., Alvaro S.

I get to
play soccer in the rain and
set a picnic
but it is ruined by the rain.

The frog said
I like playing at night
before
my mom calls me in.

Servando C., Giovanni F., Angel G., Luis O., Jennyfer O.

Place value.
Flag.
We got to Six Flags.
Space
mission
to Mexico.

Only 25¢
office
snow
snow fight
cool pop.
Wow.

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

Jose B., Marlene C., Cesar M., Jesus N., Everardo P.

The park.
The trees
are filled with kids.
Mr. Dean
not a kid!

Purple cat
with the giant hat
made a big splash.
It got wet
on the cold winter day.

Diego B., Nancy C., Itzamari C., Omar C., Yvette T.

Sometimes I like school
because we have parties
and play games.
The bunny is
in the classroom.

Cat is
too small
and too fat
and I can't even carry him
it's 2,000 pounds

Salena C., David F., Luz G., Rodalfo P., Jessica Z.

My dog.
Sun is very hot
like a hot pot.
In summer
play with me.

green clouds
are dark
are greenish
yuck
pencil make us writing

Anheli D., Belen F., Abel G., Brenda R., Gustavo R.

I like dogs.
Perfect chaos.
They walk home.
I have a Maltese.
I like cats.

Oranges
are bananas
good
strawberries.
The end of a fruit poem and now I'm hungry.

Claudia A., Brian D., Carlos M., Maria M., Miguel R.

And every thing is broken.
Buy other things,
buy everything in the store.
But don't waste your money
on that ugly sweater.

The Blue December.
It stinks like snow.
It is white and shiny.
It is white and nasty
but is not hot.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Daisy A., Roberto A., Ramiro G., Jovonne M., Alexis R., Diana R.

Loud
noisy and aggravating too.
Also like a fire alarm,
like a police car?
Blue and red.

The tiled floors
are white & green,
I like them
they are nice.
They are a pattern.

Jennifer A., Ana C., Diana H., Michelle M., Vani P., Louis Z.

I love my family
cuz they are nice.
And they love me
because I am not mean.
Her family is nice to her.

Because I was
mad
and sad
I am not sad
I am sad.

Janet B., Monica M., Jose P., Aaron R., Juan R., Natalie T.

My name is Janet.
My mom put me like that.
She makes me eat.
I hate onions,
they make me cry.

I am going to school.
Yo tambien.
I go to Shields school.
Even me
but it is called Branch.

Cynthia G., Omar G., Yadid G., Juan J., Ivan M., Cristian O.

The tree is made of
apples,
life
or death
and more tree.

The body
has skin, bones, and veins,
is colored peach
and has a lot of cells,
is many sizes.

Alfredo C., Linet L., Anibal M., Fatima M., Eric P., Jesus P.

I like volleyball.
It floats like a balloon.
It flies.
Soccer rules.
Over the net.

I fell out the window.
I fell from the Sears Tower.
I fell out of the car.
I lost my potato.
I fell out too.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Alejandro A., Vanessa C., Magdalena F., Diana G., Robert R., Jose Z.

Not like the color blue
because it looks ugly.
Oh my gosh!
Are you serious?
Dog.

Hello, bye bye!
The astronaut went into space.
Like the car.
The car goes into the sky also.
No it doesn't.

Elva C., Alexandra C., Oscar C., Mercedes L., Salvador M., Silvia R., Osvaldo T.

Hello
little star.
How are you?
Good and you?
So-so.

Pencil
is made of wood
from trees.
Lead pencils,
you are wasting trees.

Cesar G., Marco O., Jesus P., Alejandro R.

Adventure
camp is
fun.
Six Flags.
Playing games.

My brother is tall,
my sister is tall too.
I don't have a tall sister.
What?
What?

Maggie M., Rocio M., Laela M., Jacob S., Anthony S.

The home
was messy
and ugly
and dirty
and for sale.

Hate
spiders
eyes and
legs
feet.

Diego C., Isaac G., Mirella H., Eliliana L., Veronica S.

Before I forget.
Do my chores
make juice.
I forgot
I gots to go.

I hate blue.
I punch blue.
Blue is nice
blue is a very cool color! And that's that!
Why would you punch blue?

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Jorge A., Daryl C., Keith D., Jesus G., Cristian M., Carlos Z.

Michael Jordan
photosynthesis
helps plants
in
city

Ball
plant
picture
Michael Myers
can never beat Jason

Carina G., Amanda H., Eibar N., Edwin O., Jasmine R., Daniel V.

go for it
Spain
I ate all the pizza
look
do not go for it

I felt terrible
psych.
No homework turned in,
punishment's
shame on you.

Jacquelin A., Edgar O., Cesar P., Jesse R., Ricardo R., Leslie S.

I love baseball,
running and running,
I hit it,
I throw the ball.
It went high.

Dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs were extinct
then humans came along.
The dinosaurs were ugly,
big and ugly.

Brenda A., Deisy C., Stefanie M., Mayra S., Adelia S.

I ate the banana, the peel is still there.
The rabbits ate bananas.
They even ate the banana's peel.
I didn't get a chance to eat some bananas.
I slipped on the peel.

Oatmeal.
A bug fell in my oatmeal.
The monster ate me.
I ate the bug on the oatmeal.
The oatmeal ate me and the bug.

Andrea A., Samantha B., Ana C., Javier C., Yoni D.

Thousands
of people came to celebrate,
bounce balls,
are jumping around.
It's a good day.

The class has Christmas lights, they shine.
The tree is little.
The tree is ugly
like a piece of taco
in my heart.

Body Part Poems

In her poem, "Anatomy Lesson #2: The Palpation of Bony Landmarks," Katrina Vandenberg urges readers to see beyond the surface of things, beyond the cold and confusing language of science, using "the art of finding" to explore deeper issues of love, compassion and understanding. The poem's anatomical jargon was discussed, and students were asked to consider an under-appreciated body part in poems of their own.

Ms. Fialkowski (402)

Skin & Body

Janet H.

Skin covers your inside.

Your skin sometimes feels

cold. Your skin is different

colors. Your skin is in all

the body. Your eyes help you

see. Your eyes help you sleep

ZZZ. Your eyes are different

colors. Your bones help you

walk and move. Now I am

waving goodbye with my

hand.

My Body

David V.

The body has

skin to

protect it

from germs.

The

legs help you

run

fast.

The

hands are to

grab things.

The arm helps

the hands to

move. Feet are

to walk. Eyes

are to see.

Ears are to

hear. Nose is to

breathe.

My Body!!!

Damian V.

My body is special. I crack my body every day.

My knee, my fingers, my elbow, my toes. My body

is smooth and soft, it is always skin.

Ms. Michel (403)

Guess What Am I?

Griselda A.

I am as big as your fist. I

pump blood when I beat. When

you eat candy I make you

go hyper. When you run I

beat so much that you

have to sit for a while.

Also when you are scared

I beat too much. Guess what

am I? (A heart.)

Untitled (Body Part Poem)

Jose M.

One

day my

friend told

me that he

broke his

arm because

he fell on the

playground.

And I asked

him did it

hurt and he said no.

Then he told

me that he

was going

to go to

the slide

and he

fell there

and his

mom said

let's go

to the

doctor

and

the

doctor

said

that

his

arm

was

broken

from

the

fall

and

he

was

okay.

The

doctor

said

okay.

And

we

were

friends

again

for

ever

and

we

went

to

the

movies

and

we

go.

The Brain

Yulissa R.

The brain is

on your

head. It

helps you think,

and if you

didn't have a brain

you wouldn't

know nothing,

and you wouldn't

know who you

are if

they called

your name,

you would just

be standing

there. That's

why we have

a brain

and by eating

healthy food

you're feeding

your brain

and you and your

brain have energy.

Ms. Hughesdon (407)

The Skull

Diego B.

The skull protects our brain

from the headers in soccer

and crazy falls

and carrying our eyes.

The skull touches our skin

and it holds our hair.

Eyes

Jose B.

Eyes make you see and to

see your friends, your TV, your

parents. And see cake.

The Hands

David F.

My hands with

five fingers they

look like five

long trees with

lines the lines

look like a

long tree with

long lines the

palm of my

hand the veins

look like stripes

of the color green

the line in the

palm looks like

a deep dark valley.

Skin

Rodolfo P.

My skin so soft and smooth but kind

of hard and has a lot of bruises and

hairy and my green veins and some birthmarks

on it. My skin is also white and tan.

The thickest part of the body.

Ms. Montoya (405)

Untitled (Body Part Poem)

Jennifer A.

In my head

I can learn

by teaching

me like my brain I

can learn math and

reading and writing too

and I can do maps like

to find some states and

any mouth I can talk

and eat too and I can

laugh and make

jokes too.

My Head

Ramiro G.

My head, where my eyes are in place

so I can see the world, where my

nose is so I can smell the wind,

where my mouth is so I can taste

food, where my brain is, where my in-

formation is in my head.

The Nose

Yadid G.

The nose,

small, with two holes

on the bottom,

in your head

with mucus inside

all green or all

gooey. The nose,

where you breathe,

where you smell,

the nose.

Teeth

Jose P.

Teeth is what you chew with, and so

you need to brush them. Sometimes I think

when will a tooth fall out, wondering. I

almost never think about it. Only when

I brush them or look into the mirror.

Once the second set is there, you need

to take care. And sharks, when teeth fall out, they

just keep growing and growing. I wonder

how do teeth grow out of the pink stuff

in your mouth, where does it come from?

Where is it when you have baby teeth, where's

the new one? I'm just wondering.

Untitled (Body Part Poem)

Aaron R.

My friends have different bones.

I have my bones, I have a stomach.

I have a body, I have lots of

bones in my body. One of my bones

is funny, they are called funny bones.

I have a stomach where my

food goes to. I am made

out of bones, I have about

200 bones in my body. I am really

happy, boy it is just really funny.

Ms. Graefen (404)

Untitled (Body Part Poem)

Alejandro A.

We all have elbows.

Our elbows are joints.

The joints meet an-

other part of the

body.

The elbow has other

partners that are

joints, like our knee

joint, hip joint, and

the last but not least

is the shoulder joint.

My Hand!

Vanessa C.

My hand has five fingers.

My hand is big.

My hand has a ring.

My hand is cool.

My hand could hold things.

I could write with my hand.

My hand works hard!

Pinkie

Diego C.

My pinkie, it's

small, funny looking,

with its friend Mr. Nail.

Flexible, sometimes cracking.

Very loud. Two lines in between.

Larynx, Trachea, Bronchial Tubes

Isaac G.

So small is the larynx, no larynx,

no talking. Such a little part,

so big a role. Trachea, a part of life

is breathing, no trachea, no breathing.

Suffering, the life of no breathing

is a painful experience. Bronchial tubes,

carry air, carbon dioxide, inhale, exhale.

No tubes, no air, no bronchial tubes, no

trachea, no trachea, no larynx, no larynx,

no throat, no life.

Mr. Heredia (414)

My Broken Arm

Deisy C.

It was a day in

my life when

I broke

my arm.

I was screaming

“aaa.”

I broke

my arm.

It healed

in three

weeks.

Alright

I can

climb the

tree again.

Body Parts

Fernando P.

The eyes are the

littlest are

lightest

thing in

the body.

The eyes look

like little bouncing

balls, and sometimes

they look

like they are going

to bounce away.

The eyes are wet

and squishy.

Untitled (Body Part Poem)

Jasmine R.

How you crack to never acknowledge

the thought about arthritis.

To ache and to pull them apart.

Able to move them in a bendable

way. A bump of writing at the

most.

Odes

One consistently popular poetic form among students is the ode. They are drawn to its exalted style, used to celebrate everyday things otherwise taken for granted. We read Pablo Neruda's "Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market" and discussed how he describes the tuna, as well as how he feels about it. Students were then given the choice of writing either an ode to something they love, or an anti-ode to something they hate. There were so many excellent responses, it was difficult to choose, but here is a representative selection.

Ms. Fialkowski (402)

Ode to a Tiny Kitten
Virginia B.

That kitten has a
little little nose, a
very little tail and
a very cute face.
That kitten, that kitten
she has cute eyes
she is so small,
and very very cute.

This kitten fits in
my hand, she
fits perfectly in
my hands. She
gets in trouble, she
comes by my house,
she hides under
this very big crate.
She has a button nose.
This kitten!

Ode to My Dog
Ivory G.

I love my dog.
But lately he is
a pain! But still, he
is so cute and
cuddly! He always wants
tummy rubs! He wants
to lick you when
you get some! Yuck!
He is such a cutie
when he jumps in
the air for doggy
treats! But, all in
all, he loves to be
happy and jumpy!
I love my dog
because he makes me
feel special and goofy!

Anti-Ode to Olives
Sergio M.

I hate olives very
much, they look at
me and make me
weird. They're green and
red and make my
stomach growl.
They make me
feel sick when
they're on my plate
so I feed them
to my dog. I hate
olives, I hate olives
so I wrote this
ode.

Ode to Genius People
Ricardo P.

For the things they made
so they made
a TV and Game Cube
so no more bad
things like board games
but I am amazed
that they made
some good things.

These genius people
are great to make
these things.

So they also made
video games for fun.

Ode to My Family
David V.

My family
takes care of me.
They're the ones
how they
love me. They
are nice to
me when sometimes
I'm a jerk
to them. They
feed
me when
I am
hungry. Without them
I'd be in the
streets. They buy
me stuff when
they
don't have to.
I am the luckiest
kid
in the world.

Ms. Michel (403)

My Ode to Swimming
Daniel A.

Ode to swimming,
boy it is so
fun.
I love to go
swimming but
sometimes I am
alone and I
am so sad.

I love to swim
I can even flip
swimming swimming
I
want to
swim to the depths
of an ocean. I hope
to discover many new
things on my journey.

Only if I had
gills I could swim
with
all of
the beautiful fishes
in the depths of the
ocean. This is all
of my ode to
swimming and how
much I love it.

Ode to a Dog
Luis O.

Outside in the open
field, I see a dog
rubbing my shoe.
Poor dog, you must
be hungry, maybe
some water so
you won't
get thirsty.
Maybe I'll give
you a whole
pack of bones
for your whole
life, only if
you won't
come back. But if
you do I'll take
care of you forever.
If you do come back
I'll give you a
dog house, pool table,
bed, a mini fridge and
more only if
you come back.

Ode to Football Players
Alexander R.

Among the
big, strong
protected
football
players
I see
them
as kings
of sports,
surviving
hits and
falls.

Everything
around them
there are
yards to
run, they
are fast
like a
cheetah.

Only you will
cheer them
up. They
will be in
pain but they
never quit
they are like
machines knowing
what to do
at the right
time.

They are
all evil out
there, hitting
other players
just to get
good team
work. That's
why I write an ode
to football players.

Ode to Pizza
Daisy V.

Smells good
Cold pizza
Lots of ingredient
Cheese, pepperoni, green peppers
Big and fat crust
Shaped like a circle
Slices like a square
And triangle

Ms. Hughesdon (407)

Ode to My New Puppy
Salena C.

My puppy, my puppy
I think she is
great
she's a pit bull
no muzzles
hates puzzles
loves to fish
thinks I'm its mother
like no other
I got my wish
she has her favorite
dish
hates my brother
sister, father and mother
she likes my aunt
Daisy's cat, Chico Aguirre
loves me and Daisy
which is quite lazy

The Ode to Mac and Cheese
Omar C.

I saw mac and
cheese at school
I ate some
it was good
I ate more it
was very, very good
I couldn't stop
eating I finished
asked for
more they all
said no so I
stopped asking
and eating.

Ode to Christmas
Brenda R.

I like Christmas
because the
tree with
the different color lights
shining
it
looks
real
with presents all
around it
on Christmas my mom
cooks cake and a lot
of things to eat
my family in my
house celebrating the wonder-
ful holiday the thing
I like most is opening the
presents on Christmas
night.

Anti-Ode to Erasers
Miguel R.

Erasers
I hate them
some they rip paper
some don't erase right
some just rip by themselves.
Some erase nasty
leave marks on your paper
some are small or huge
soft or dry
and some just fly off
that's why I hate erasers.

Ms. Montoya (405)

Ode to Technology
Daisy A.

Oh technology, how
I love you.
You give me
computers,
phones,
and TV too.
Without you,
I would feel
so glum.
You give me
light,
iPods,
and help me too.
Without you,
I would feel
so mad.
The way you
do everything,
it's so cool and
great.
Oh technology, how
I love you.
You give me
CD players,
DVDs,
and music too.
Without you,
I would feel
so sad!

Ode to TV of Fighting
Roberto A.

I like seeing fighting.
On TV or computer.
There's cool fighting people.
With good fighting skills.
We like seeing fighting.
They have no fright.
That's when they fight.
I have fighting games.
I like to play.
My cousin fights too.
We both do.

Ode to Cats
Cynthia G.

Among the cats
their furry
skins, white and
black, almost
always cry for
food, milk, or
games to play with
them, always love
playing. Don't dare
to ignore them
they will scratch
you and they
will never stop
crying so you
better listen to
them they really
scratch hard.
Some of them
look cute but
are really devils
because you
will never
imagine how
mean they
are
and when
they are
kitties they
are really cool
they just
stay still
they're not like
real cats.

Because they
are really cool
no matter
what.

Ode to Birds
Michelle M.

I like my birds
because they are
a lot of fun to
play with.

I take them out
to my mom's room
and they always look
at the mirror.

They're very funny.
One day we took
them to the veterinarian
and she said the woman
was going to have baby birds.

When I first got the woman bird
the male was happy to see her,
they were excited. We bought
them their house and a little
next for their babies.

Ode to Television Sobre Todo las Novelas
Monica M.

A mi me gusta
la television sobre todo las
novelas. Son interesante y
divertidas. Siempre me acuesto
a verlas novelas. Me
gustan mucho por que
hay de muchas clases.
Hay algunas que son
sensibles y romanticas. Tambien
hay de encuentros. Yo
me entretengo hay. Ademas
en la television salen
peliculas, videos, entrevistas, programas
y de todo. En
la television te puedes
aprender de muchas cosas
que pasan al rededor
del mundo. La television
es algo que necesita
electricidad pues es electronico.
Te divierte mucho el
televisor tambien por sus comedias.

Ms. Graefen (404)

Ode to Christmas
Elva C.

I like
Christmas
'cause it has
presents
get to be
with family
eat mole and
tamales
laugh
play
and sleep
'cause it takes
a lot to open
presents
when it's
time
for presents
we get
crazy!
That's the only
word to say.
I like Christmas,
whoever invented
Christmas, thank you!!!

Ode to Playing Dodge Ball
Eliliana L.

Dodge ball is cool fun
I love playing it
you get to pick
partners. If you're
out, you're out. If
you catch the ball
you get one in
from your team.

Dodge ball is for
people who know
how to move
very fast and run
too. That's why I
like dodge ball
because I
know I
run very very
fast. Also I move
fast too.

Ode to Running
Anthony S.

you feel
the fresh air
in your face
while running

running is fast
you pass a lot of
grass, trees and
also animals

animals like
squirrels, dogs
and also birds
running is having fun

you exercise
while running
when you race
you could win

because
you practice
running, while running
you see lots of
things

you are fast
if you run
and run and
don't give up

you play
while running
you can play
tag, cops and
robbers or
freeze tag

you run
and run
and don't
let them
catch you

running is
fun and it
is also
cool.

Mr. Heredia (414)

Ode to Basketball
Keith D.

I like
basketball
how it
bounces
how
it
sounds
if I
don't
play
it might
make
me
frown.
When I make the
shot I like
the sound
of the net
going
swish.
If I don't
hear
that I
might make
a hiss.

Ode to My Mom
Carina G.

My mom has always
been there for me
through the pain, crying
and suffering she does
anything to make me
happy she helps me
when I need her
she is always there
for me all the

time when I grow
up I want to
be just like her
my mom is the
world to me everything
when I cry she
helps me when I
go through pain she
helps me she is
the best mom in

the world I love
her so much one
day I will tell
her mom I want
to be just like
you when I grow
up even though we

pretend to dislike each
other we still like
to have fun mother
and daughter time my
mom always says I never
want you to grow
up so I tell
her in four years
I will be fifteen
and she always gets
mad and I love
it

Ode to Video Games
Edgar O.

I like video games.
Video games are cool.
Video games are like
computers. Games are cool, there
are cool systems and
games. How do they
make the game
I say?
How do they put
the game on the
disc?
I wonder how, when
you put them on
your TV, how does
it work?
Wow.
Games are cool, wow.
How do you make
it? You're amazed when
you get to a
new level. Wow so
cool when you pass
the game.

Ode to Christmas
Carlos Z.

I write an ode
to Christmas because
when I see the
tree it brightens my
eyes.

Then when you wake
up you see all
of the presents and
you want to open
them but it's better
when you open them
with your family!