Last week, in honor of the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Obama, we looked at The Gift Outright by Robert Frost, who was invited to read at the 1961 swearing-in of John F. Kennedy, and Of History and Hope by Miller Williams, who read at Bill Clinton's second inauguration in 1997. (Maya Angelou also read at the behest of President Clinton in 1993.) Students discussed how each poet makes us think about the past, as well as the future, and analyzed some very complex images, poetic devices (such as Personification) and difficult language in each poem. Afterward, they were asked to brainstorm on the idea of hope and a vision for the United States of America.

This week, we read Kindness, by Yusef Komunyakaa. Students were asked if kindness could be measured, as the poem says, and if so, how? Keeping in mind concepts such as altruism, compassion, sympathy, benevolence, and neighborliness, they were then asked to use their ideas from last week in a poem exploring the themes of Hope and Change in America.

America
Edgar C.

I'm walking down the street
and I think of the things that
would help America. I close my
eyes and see kids cleaning the street
as if it were a vacuum that never
shuts down. Healthy birds flying
over the blue ocean.
Gang members dropping their
guns and shaking hands. Builders
building schools bigger than ever.
All this I see as I open my
eyes and walk toward the
White House in Washington, DC.

Dear America
George J.

Dear America, I am starting to feel
the pain that you feel because
I'm seeing ducks covered in
oil. Also, I'm seeing factories throwing
their garbage into the lakes
even though they know it's the
only pure water that we have.
I'm trying to help you out
by recycling and picking up
the garbage but there's
too much and nobody is
helping. It almost feels as if I
was stranded. I wish people
would stop making guns because
there's a lot of violence. I
think we should reverse a lot
of things because it is bad.

Dear America
Rosa T.

Dear America,

               I see people homeless.
I wish every single person that does not
have homes will have a home and no
one can be homeless ever again. I see
they suffer for food and shelter. I see them
asking for money and in bad weather they
are suffering.

                I think everyone
deserves to be with their family. I think
in my mind of all those people who aren't
with their family for birthdays and holidays.
I think their faces are sad for not being
with family or friends. I see their tears
coming down their faces for not being
together.

                I feel that there
should not be any more wars. I see
the tears down their faces and screaming. I
imagine everyone getting killed for their
country to be safe.

                I hope that all the
immigrants get to have their papers. I
hope everyone is with their family every
day.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade

Listen America
Elizabeth F.

I see America falling apart,
and now you don't look very smart.
The economy's not getting bigger
and teens are pulling the trigger.
You can't see how, but it's going on right now.
We lose one,
we lose another.
Funerals in one place,
and that's really the case.
You don't know what people have to face.
We need to lose the violence,
because really all we're doing is silence.
We really need to tell someone,
Hey that's wrong!

Dear America
Alondra R.

I see gangs shooting other
people. We could make the
world better by stopping
them. I think cars are making
our world dirty, we should stop
that by riding our bikes.
I hope that the needy are safe.
We could make them safe by
giving them food jackets. I feel
that we should put our feet
down for the first time and
speak from our words and
say I want to make the world a
better place and a safer place.
We could make our dreams of
making the world a better
place. You could make it come true.
Just speak from your heart.

America
Gabriela T.

Hey America,
maybe you think you are doing the
right thing but you're not. I mean there
is so much pollution I can't even
see anything but black fog outside my window.
There is so much global warming, all
I hear on the Discovery Channel is warmth
here warmth there.

I also have another problem, many people
are losing their jobs, not having money.
And don't make me even start with
border incidents. Just because people
don't have papers it doesn't mean they
aren't American citizens. Right?

Maybe it's our fault and we don't take
care of you. But maybe you can give
us a hand. Maybe one person can't make
a change. But if we all act right
now, we can, and change
the world.

Ms. Rodriguez, 5th Grade

Dear America
Jannelly A.

Dear America, I see dirty streets,
I see how poor you are, hungry,
your coldness. What happened
to our beloved America, that beautiful
perfume we call fresh air? One
home for everyone. That rich and
beautiful woman whom we would
call our queen, who would love
and care for us every second
of the day?

Dear America
Catherine P.

Dear America, I see people in the winter
without any coats. I see the companies closing
down and people lose their money, can't feed
their family. I feel that there's too much high
gas prices. I feel there are too many cars that
cause pollution on Earth. I think America needs
more hope, and a better future.
I hope we don't eat meat anymore because
we just kill the animals and you wouldn't
like it if they killed you and ate you.

Dear America
Julian V.

Tell me your main problems, please,
I know you have dirty streets,
I know you have reckless drivers,
I know you have too many people hurt or
sometimes killed with weapons. We, the
Americans, can help you. We can
solve hunger and homelessness by
giving people a card so they can earn
points so they can buy things.
Let us stand together so we can
save not only you but the world.

Mrs. Maxwell, 5th Grade

Dear America
Jacqueline C.

     Dear America,
You are doing a bad job.
I hope that in the future you will
improve the economy because
I see people losing their
homes. I think you should let
people in from other countries because
you will feel bad if they let you
out of America and separated from
your family members. I think you
should also lower prices so everybody
could have money to buy other stuff.
I hope homeless people would
be able to eat, wear better clothes,
and be able to afford a house.
I would like to have better air
to breathe because there is a lot
of pollution from smoking, gasoline, and
garbage. I would also like to have
a safer place from gangbangers and
robbers by getting more police, ambulances,
and firefighters.

Dear America
Pedro F.

People have loved the things that we have
but they are too happy to stop and wonder at all
of the poor homeless people and the people who are
in the hospital that don't have money to pay their
bills. I'm coming home from my basketball game
when I stop on a block where there is a
cop. I see a person who broke his mouth and stomach.
I feel sad for the person because no one is
helping him. I think of him in my head having
surgery. I hope that people will give him
the money for he could pay his bills.
America is a good place to live but we
need to make it better by giving money to
the poor, dropping gas prices, stop robbing, and stop
making taxes and things cost more. America, we
need to stop for a minute and think of all the
things we need to make America better, for the
kids should not get involved with drugs, and gangs.
Make America better for the kids.

Untitled (America)
Guadalupe P.

America, you are doing a bad job, why? Because
gas and light bills sometimes go up and some people
don't have enough money to pay the bill.
I see poor people in the winter with dirty clothes
and no jackets. I go to help them.
I think that the bills can get lower so people can
not lose their house. I can hear moms crying when
they lose their house.
I feel sometimes sad for them and I get scared
if they keep looking at me. I sometimes hope that
they will someday get a house to keep and a job.

Dear America
Erica V.

     Dear America,
I would like to start
by saying let's make our
life a better place to live.
I see our gas prices 10₵.
I see more adoption homes
for the homeless, I feel
icy and melting inside,
I feel bad yet sorry inside.
I see a family no food
no shelter. Give us our
day to forgive others,
for others to forgive us,
stop polluting, recycle.
I see people sick because
of these. I would comfort
people for them comforting
me, on Christmas bells ringing,
homeless shivering. I hope
to make America a better
place to live, and lastly
thank you!

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade

Dear America
Jaqueline H.

I see people being deported with
their children left behind,
I think we should plant more
trees for more oxygen,
I feel that I am not safe because
of the violence,
I hope in the future we have
a better economy.
I think we should have more
schools with more education.
I see every day some crashes
because of no safer cars,
I feel like my dad isn't the same
because there are no cures.
I hope we have more hospitals
and more police.
I think people are losing their
jobs so more jobs.
I see every day less animals,
I feel lots of war going on,
I hope that we have more
freedom.
Less hungry people.
No tobacco for kids.
I think more clean water for us.
No more pollution.

Dear America
Ariane M.

I see people writing on
walls. Keep our communities
clean. I want to see
more schools for grown-ups.
No more gangsters, they
are bad. More colleges for
the people that need it.
More hospitals, they are
always full. No more poor
people. More police. More police
officers. More fire-
fighters to save lives. No
stealing, pay for things,
be fair. I don't want to
see more hungry people,
give them food. Be fair to
that, don't steal, kill.

Dear America
Vanessa Q.

Violence is not the way

I see kids laughing playing

I have hope for the war to end

I see children staying in
school, learning, having fun

violence is not the way

I feel hope in the big
blue sky

I see great lives, happy
spirits, and genuine souls

cures for cancer

Dear America
Roberto V.

I think there should be more schools.
I see children that are not educated.
I feel sad for them.
I hope there would be more schools.

I think there should be more books.
I see children not reading
I'm sad for those children.
I hope there would be more books.

I think there should be less drugs.
I see people smoking drugs.
I feel sad for those people.
I hope there would be less drugs.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

Dear America
Guadalupe C.

You have been doing a good job but open
your eyes and ears and see what I
have to show you. The world is
having fights, that has to stop. Kids that
are having a bad influence. We need
more health insurance. People
hardly have jobs, the pay is little.
We need free college.
Homes for everyone, people's
homes foreclosed on them.
Stop smoking, it hurts your lungs,
it doesn't help others. Lower
the gas prices, it's not fair.
We need the money for food,
for better homes. So please
listen to me and see I'm not
the only one who has ideas.
So listen to everyone, please.

Untitled (America)
Juan E.

America so big and bright
we keep you safe and clean you like
lights.
We try to keep you safe from harm and
we clean your streets from grease and
grime.
Stop pollution and stop a heat wave.
And give good gifts to you. Give
good soil and we like to hug you
but you're too big.
Oh America, so big and bright,
I'd like to give you a big big hug
but I'm not the only one.
Oh America so big and bright
everybody likes to clean.

Dear America
Jennifer F.

Dear America,
Over the years it has been great
but you need to change a little.

Like immigrants can live here,
they just want to live a better
life. Don't you too?

Dear America,
there's a lot of litter, people
should recycle.

Dear America, no more racism,
everyone's the same.

Dear America, no more war,
why do we have war, so people
could fight?

Dear America, no more terrorist
attacks, a lot of people died
because of that.

Mr. Hughesdon, 5th Grade

Hope for the Future of America
Guadalupe B.

Imagine a world without danger, without
wars, and no violence. Imagine a world with
flowers, trees, animals, and valleys to play in.
imagine the sadness, imagine the
happiness. Imagine the good times,
and the bad times. Imagine a world
with hope and faith. Imagine a world
of quietness and sadness. America,
there are things to be done, and
things that are done. I hope
that the world would change.
I see the children tremble in the cold.
I feel the sadness for the animals.
I wish the world to be a better
place.
I think that anything could
change.

Dear America
Jakari G.

Dear America, I think that you put
too much pressure on poor people. It's
too expensive for them to buy stuff. I
see some families with kids or even
pregnant women on the street with
dirty clothes and one blanket.
      I feel that I should donate more,
especially rich people, they, well,
some never donate anything to shelters,
or help the poor!
      I hope that one day my wish
will come true and the money for
gas and everything will go down.
      I wish that everything was
free, but life isn't fair, but I just
wish that someone, somewhere will
make a change one day!

Untitled (People of America)
Jerrol S.

People of America
I see dead trees
people not breathing
because of pollution.

I hope that
you can keep your
keep America
clean, pollution
free.

And that
everyone in
America will
have a home
and everyone
will have health
care.

Taxes will
be lowered and
we will save
the bald eagles.

I think we should
let everyone who wanted
to be an American
be an American.

And we should stop
the wars for
the sake of kids.

Hope for the Future of America
Emily V.

Dear America,
      I think you have done good the
past years. But there is still so much
to do. The homeless is one of them.
When I'm toasty warm in the car,
I see a family in the cold rainy weather.
I see their faces, they look sad, it's
raining so much I don't even know
if they're crying. That is why everyone
should have somewhere, anywhere
to live. I wish them the best!
Pollution is the second thing I
think America can change. I think
there should be less pollution, that is
if we want a good future, and also
we should all work together for a
good future. We should not think for
only ourselves, we should think for
the animals!