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

L-e-t-t-e-r P-o-e-m-s

This week, we read two short letter poems: "Letter," from "Lennox Avenue Mural" by Langston Hughes, and "Dear Joanne" by Lew Welch. Students discussed what was similar, as well as different in each poem, and what makes them unique from other forms of poetry. They then wrote their own letter poems.


Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Dear Poetry,
Why is it so hard to write poetry? Why
is it so short? I wish Poetry was
longer. Poetry gives me ideas. I like
what to do or what to plan. I think
Poetry is he best thing to do,
I wish every day there was Poetry
instead of math, social studies. Poetry
I write and maybe never stop.
Poetry people can write about
everything.
Edgar A.

Dear room,
When you are dirty why don't
you clean yourself because
it is so much work. I get
so tired. When my mom tells
me to clean my room I
ask my room please clean
yourself even though I make
a mess.
Claudia A.

Dear Lew,
I liked your letter a lot, it was
really cool and funny. I wish
I could be a real poet to write
about someone or something, it's
really fun to be a poet, it is cool.
Just tell me so one day I could
be just like you are right now.
Jasmin C.

Dear refrigerator,
Why don't you
work for the
ice cream?
When I want
ice cream it's
all melted
and it doesn't
stay frozen.
Daisy F.

Dear friend,
I am happy because you are my
best friend and the first friend
that I had. You are nice to me.
You are like a sister to me,
you are a good first friend for me.
You are the best friend in the world.
And in the city. I don't know
what I will do.
Julissa S.

Dear Hector,
Stop crying, stop bothering me, stop trying to
wake me up, I want to sleep, I want
to rest and stay in my own bed. I
want to rest, not to play and have
a wonderful day. I don't know what
is wrong but I think it's too much
all each day, all of them.
Luis V.

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Dear my dear dream,
Why did you have
to be real, why did
you have to make
my brother snore
in my ear? Dear
my dear dream, you
are so wonderful and
funny. You make me
imagine and dream
the good and bad
things. Thank you
for the good things.
But I don't thank
you because you
make my brother
snore in my ear.
Griselda A.

Dear Brain,
Of all the things I've lost –
my keys, my diary, my homework –
I miss my brain the most.
Brainless me (Alondra B.)
P.S. Please come
back I need you

Dear Heavy Metal and Rock,
Why are you so
loud and hard-
core on music?
Rock is always
hard but you
are 3x as hard
as Rock. You
Heavy Metal,
how do you
make people
love your
music? Both
Rock music
and Heavy Metal.
You make me
like your music.
Angel B.

Dear Brain,
Hello Brain
why don't you
work a lot
and why don't
you make
me think
I have to
think so
I could
do my
homework
because I
don't want
to guess.
Servando C.

Dear Airplane,
Why do you go so high and you're
scary but still put people in your big
roller coaster and why are you so huge?
Marcelo E.

Dear flower,
I like your
petals they
are so
red your
leaves are
green you
come from
dirt.
Liliana R.

Dear McDonald's,
I love your food
mostly the fries. My cousin
likes getting toys from
McDonald's, I always order the
number nine
because it
comes with ten chicken
nuggets and I
like dipping them
in barbecue, that is my
favorite food. I wish
I could go to McDonald's
every day because your
food is so good and
if I could go everyday
it would be like heaven.
Sincerely,
Yulissa R.

Dear someone,
I don't know
who I'm writing
to. Tell me when
you got this letter.
Is this a letter?
Where am I?
Who are you?
Please tell me.
I'm getting
confused.
Sincerely,
Alvaro
Or is this my name?
Please tell me.

Dear sister,
You are the best sister ever.
You are always really helpful.
Sister you can be the
best sister in the world.
You are the one that
is always with me
when I am sick.
Love
Daisy

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

My dear
deariest
golden sun, you
are so bright
and shy I
give you thanks
for all the
brightness in the
world. So shy,
bright I send you
wishes from here.
Claudia A.

Dear Brian Urlacher,
how do you hit people hard
like to make them fumble
the ball? How do you
jump high to get an
interception? How do you
sack a QB?
Jose B.

Dear Dad, I miss U.
But still thanks for still
coming to visit me, my
sister and brother. I hope that
with your other family you
have a good time. Even if
I don't like the idea that
you are with another
family.
Love, your daughter, Nancy

Dear Dad,
you should come to
our new house it's
really rad.
I'll tell my mom
to send a cab.
But my mom has
to fix the phone
because it's really
jad.
And my mom is
really mad at her
brother.
Sincerely,
Michael C.

Dear Me,
I really feel weird
not tired
I'm coming home
taking my dog
with me
we're going
back to D.F.
in Mexico
it's a small little
ranch
even with
pigs,
cats,
dogs,
even Pancho the Pony.
Sincerely,
Salena C.

Dear Feet,
why do you
trip me?
You are so clumsy
when you
move. Why can't
you be
normal like other
feet?
Well, bye, I need
to go
buy some new feet.
Sincerely,
Your master (Marlene C.)

Dear microwave,
Why do you always
burn my food when
I put my food in you
and then when I take
it out it's all burned up?
Also sometimes you leave
my food cold.
From your only friend, Abel G.

Dear Pencil,
I am writing this letter
to you because my handwriting is
getting sloppy because of you. If you
don't clean up your act, you're going
into the garbage.
From your master (Cesar M.)

Dear report card, I wish you don't
scare me like last quarter. I got a heart
attack and you're a paper.
Everardo P.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Dear Mr. Dean,
So nice, so smart in poetry. Thinking all over
the place. Just one question, how are you
doing? I'm great. I hope I see you next
year, to write more poems. I enjoy all the
poems that you have told me to write
about. I have looked on the Internet and
they're great poems you have.
Sincerely,
Omar

Dear Eric,
I like the way you think
and get all the work done.
I wish I was like you so
I could keep my grades like
you, and so I could have a
honor certificate like you do
all the time. You are so
smart and a good student.
Respectfully, Michelle

Dear Anibal in the future,
You will soon become
a soccer player probably. All you have
to do is go to High School and to College.
You will have to have good grades and try
getting a scholarship. You should do
all your homework all the time.

Also, try out for the school soccer team.
You need to be a good teammate
to everyone and respect them. But you
have to try your hardest in the soccer
games.
Sincerely, Anibal

P.S. You will someday become a
soccer player.

Dear heater,
you are no good. You don't make
me warm. I'm always cold.
I feel like I am an ice cream.
You're just no good!!
Fatima

Dear pencil,
Why don't you write by yourself? I should just
tell you what to do but you can't. Someone has to move
you around making lines and curves which tun into letters.
Pencils, you help me write and do work. You should do my
work and I get a day off writing. Thanks, pencil.
Jose

Dear Godfather,

Thanks for the PS2. I really appreciate
that. Thanks for the games too.

I'm almost finished with two of the
games. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas and Liberty
City Stories.

I appreciate the cordless controllers
too. But now I have a problem. I
can't play unless my sister plays.
Well thanks,
Eric P.

Dear Dog,
why did you run away
when I barely had chosen
you a name, Christian. You
might want to know how
I chose the name. It
was very simple.
They started calling you like
my brother. I don't know
why they bothered to disturb
you and let you get used to it, but
now everyone misses you.
We would like to know
if you're still alive since you
left that snowy day.
Please come home, Christian,
or send a sign that you're
alive so that it does
not look like I am
writing to a dead
dog, like a crazy girl.
Your owner,
Diana R.

Dear future Natalie,
I hope if you have kids, don't
give them spinach. I hope you don't
work at a night club or something
else. I hope you work as a fashion
designer. And a tip 4 U treat your
husband good.
Sincerely with love,
Natalie
P.S. Trust me, I'm
smart.

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

Dear mom,
I hope that when I am gone
from home you could call me
and say that you don't feel
good so I could come and help
you a lot. When you and dad
are alone I could go and
visit you and take you
to the park, to eat, or to the
store, or anywhere you
want.
With love,
your daughter,
Vanessa C.

Dear friend,
I forgot your name
but I think that
you go to another
place.
Still I miss you
but I thank you
to help me and give
me things when you
were here.
Mirella H.

Dear Luci,

Last night Susi had a dream
that we found treasure.

When we found it we were
fighting for it.

Then Susi said that you opened
it and it did not have nothing.

I hope we never fight for
something.

Silvia R.

Dear Dad,
When are you
coming
back from
Mexico? I miss you,
tell me when
you're
coming.
Julian

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Dear me,
In the future do not eat candy.
Because it's bad for you. And it's bad
for your teeth.
Your friend, Jorge A.

Dear cousin, when are you
coming? I haven't seen
you for a long time.
Some girls that I know
want to know you.
They saw a picture of
you and they say you
are cute. Please come. If
you come I would
be famous because
the girls I show
your picture, they
say you're cute.
Please come.
Ana C.

Dear Earth,

I know you can't
talk but please
hurry up, make
your revolution.

It takes you
24 hours to
orbit, that is
not hard, 365 days
is one year. Spin fast
I don't care of we
fly out.

I say this
because I
need to get
out of school.
Gosh this is
boring.

Sincerely,
Carina G.

P.S. What's the deal
with the leap year, make
up your mind. Gosh.

Dear clock,
why don't
you go fast?
I really really
want to go home.
Don't you see I'm
very very sleepy
and I have homework
to do.
Well clock, if you
go fast I'll promise
not to hate you
anymore and please please
hurry up!!
Amanda

Dear Grandpa,
I miss you,
I'm incomplete without you,
each night I think about you.
Come back.
Sincerely,
Eibar N.

Dear LEGOs,
I wish that you could
move while I watch you. So
you could look real. Because
you look very cool. So
I like you to build a soccer
stadium. I like the
way you look. I want
you to move or talk. That's
what I want.
Edwin O.

Dear pencil,
Who was the person that made
you? You make me write stuff I don't
want to. You're boring, you're out of style and
I hate the way you think. You're
so dumb. Go somewhere I'll never
see you again.
Mayra S.
P.S. If you leave you'll
make my life easier than when you
were here.

Music Poems

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


Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “DLK” by Deluxe Leisure King



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

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

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

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

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

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

Ms. Michel, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “Think” by Curtis Mayfield



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

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



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

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

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

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

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

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Poems Inspired by “Glue Avenue” by All Ones



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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