For our last class before the winter break and new year, we read Fons, by Pura López-Colomé, briefly discussing the poem's language, images, and use of mythology, especially the myth of Pandora's Box. Students then drew folded pieces of paper out of a box I had brought to class, writing down the single sentence on each piece of paper at the top of their page set aside for the day's writing; this was to be the title, and inspiration for their poem. (Sentences were taken from famous first and last lines from a variety of movies.) Then, with each classroom teacher's help, another piece of paper was drawn from a separate box, providing limitations for the students' work. Those limitations are noted after teacher names, below.

Many excellent and surprising poems were written by students! Some of the best are below.

Take Off the Red Shoes
Leslie F.

A man
taking off the
red shoes.

A whole family
does tradition
and each takes
off the red shoes.

A woman taking
off the red shoes
and puts them outside.

I see many
people taking
off the red shoes.

I Hope the Pacific Is as Blue as My Dreams
Brian M.

I dream about Antarctica,
I dream about the
ocean, I dream about
the South Pole.

I dream about sky,
I dream about the
ice and the snow.
I dream about the
North Pole.

I dream about the
Earth from space,
I dream about Neptune,
I dream about a
Nintendo PS that is
blue.

I dream about the globe,
I dream about Pokemon.

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship
Jessica R.

friendship is the best
friendship
best friends forever

beginning is first
friendship beginning is cool
friendship is beautiful

beauty is friendship
looking for friendship
looking out the window

friendship
beginning
the best

You Can Go Now
Rosa T.

I can go and
get my good pizza

My poor pizza
waiting to be eaten

I am going to
get my pizza now

Goodbye everyone I
am leaving to get
my lovely pizza

I Hurried Home
Genesis V.

I hurried home to
get my surprise birthday
party.

I hurried home to
feed my pet biscuits.

I hurried home to
do my homework early.
I hurried home to
watch my favorite TV
show.

I hurried home to
end the day.

Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade (2 stanzas + 6 or less words per line)

I Saw Her
Alonzo A.

I saw her when I came
out from the house. I
saw her when I
came out
from the school.

I knew her. She
was my cousin.

The Lobsters Are Back!
Maria J.

The lobsters are back!
The fish and starfish said.
They were glad that the
lobsters were back to

their island. It was boring
without you said the fish
I'm glad you're back.

As I Look Down on My Homeland
Jose M.

As I die and went to
heaven I look down at earth
and see my homeland
there was my family having
a good time without me.
As I watch my family
I feel loneliness in my
heart. But as they pray
for me I feel better.

Then they went to sleep.
As I watch them sleep
I always wonder what
will they dream.
There was no place
like home.

In the Distance You Hear a Cow
Sergio P.

I hear a cow in the
outfield I think she
is lost cause I
hear it closer and
closer.

I see the cow
and I hear her
owner trying to catch
her and she is
running at me. And I
was in front of it
I had to move.

A Bee Should Be Able to Fly
Hector S.

A bee should
be able to fly
because it has wings
to fly and plus
it has its home
on top of a tree
a beehive

Plus it stings
us and we make
them mad
by trying
to kill
them so they have
to fly away
so they won't
be dead

Hello, Everybody
Manuel V.

The earth tells everybody hello.
People say hello to the earth.
Animals say something too.

Aliens say hello in different ways.
Aliens use hello in a poem.
Aliens say hello to their planet.

Ms. Rodriguez, 5th Grade (4 stanzas + 4 words or less per line)

You See What I Mean?
Jannelly A.

as I walk down
the hall with
bare feet and cut
myself

see what I mean

when I mess with
the dog it
bites me
and
my grandma
says

see what I mean
I
warned you

Trust Me
Yasmin C.

Trust me if you
could. I will trust
you whatever happens, I
would. You like my
best friend could
be just like a
reason why I should
be happy/sad.

Whoever is
hearing me
please trust
me. I will
not be telling
you to trust
me.

I would like
people to
trust me if
they believe
me.

        If I say
something and you think
I'm wrong just trust
me.

I'm Always Around
Cieli G.

I'm always around school.
And I run around.

And I'm around stores.
There is ball around.

I always being houses.
The park I always
run around. And

being around is fun.

I Wonder How Many Others That Are Like Me
Jessica G.

I wonder how many
others that are
like me

do people talk to
your friends weird
things that you don't
even know about

do they wear
clothes that don't even
match

do you spend your
whole life outside
finding an adventure

Gone Are My Blues and My Tears
Dainius S.

      I was feeling sad,
and the blues was
coming up around me,

and I wanted to
talk to a human
being, so my tears
can take off,

and I was feeling
good and

gone my blues and
my tears.

I Want Some More
Brenda T.

I want some more
food some more candy

I want some more
I want some more
toys

I want some more
coffee I want some
more food

I want some more
peace in the world
I want some more
everything

I Sometimes Catch Myself Looking up at the Moon
Erica V.

It's so hard to
stop it looks
so bright I try
not to stare
I try not to
glare I can't stop
thinking of it

I am so tired
of it I just
can't stop.

I wish it
was there
during the day
but the sun is
out.

It doesn't
burn when I
stare I look
at it all night
I can't help
that it is so
beautiful it is so
just... I enjoy you
moon you're bright
white like a ghost
you're wonderful.

Yes, I Can See Now
Israel V.

I can see now
I see the
beauty of the earth

I have even seen
the nice birds
I see the flower

the grass the big
blue sky and a

rainbow I love to
see!

Mrs. Maxwell, 5th Grade (6 stanzas + 3-6 words per line)

Who's to Say What Magic Is?
Mario C.

Magic is fun and difficult
Magic is like make a
Person float in the air

Practice magic to be famous
Practicing makes you a perfectionist

Magic is what people like
Magic is cool to some people

Magic makes people powerful
People use magic to make things

Magic makes people surprised
Magic is the best thing

Magic is awesome
Magic is the best thing
In my life

It's Raining
Cristian L.

When it rains, the earth cries.
It is sad or hurt.
Making puddles of tears on land.

Dark clouds take out sun
and bring darkness.

Sun makes earth happy
rain makes earth cry.

Ants are hiding from rain (tears)
so it won't get them.

Earth cries a lot in spring,
but helps plants grow.

Earth please don't cry,
so we can play outside.

Somebody's Coming
Carolina M.

Somebody is coming I don't know.

I could feel it
by the weeks.

My aunt is coming
to our Christmas party.

There are many people
in my house.

It is so much fun.

My cousin came
to the party.

It All Works Out
Diana S.

It all works for everybody.
That time you think you can't.
That time you say it is
over and are
not going to do it.

Don't give up.
Keep trying for your dream.

It all works out you just
have to believe.

It all works out you just
have to go for it.

It all works out if you
really want it.
You just have to

fight for it and really
want it very much.
It all works out for everybody.

I Wonder Where I'll End up?
Efrain S.

I feel like I am going
to end up with
a good job.

I also feel I am going
to end up with
a great family.

I feel I am going
to end up going to college.

I am going to end up
with a great life.

I wonder if I am going
to end up in heaven?

I wonder where I'll end up?

My Mind Was Hanging Outside the Window
Cristian U.

As I came home,
I went inside.
I look outside the window.

I looked at the sky.
I saw the birds fly.
The birds were heading south.

I looked at the people.
As I look at them,
they look like ants.

They were coming in and out.
I look at the trains,
it looks like a snake.

Then the clouds
look like cotton.

I left my house.

Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade (5 stanzas + 3 or less words per line)

It's Not As Easy
Xavier A.

It's not as
easy as it
looks climbing high
in a tree

It's not as
easy as it
looks playing video
games

It's not as
easy as it
looks playing dodgeball

It's not as
easy as it
looks by running
fast in a
race

It's not as
easy as it
looks playing baseball
and hitting good

I Shall Never Return
Christian A.

I am
not
here today

I
am not
here

Never
here

I am not
going to
return

I shall
never
come

And Then One Day
Ivan C.

And then one
day I felt
bad, because I
thought the world
was ending sometimes.

But a day
I was wrong
but miserable because
I thought that
the world ended.

And then one
day I saw
people very miserable.
I was thinking
if they were.

But I thought
if they were
thinking as me
that the world
was ending for

us.

Those Great Big Houses
Yajaira G.

Those great houses
tall and strong
they stand straight
and high.

They have pools
I can jump
on
and a swing
to swing.

They are mansions!

They are mansions!
Don't you see

I love mansions.

The Man With the Power
Carlos O.

The man is
strong. The man
is powerful. The
man is mean.

The man is
hungry. The man
is painful. The
man is helpful.

The man is
lazy. The man
is dirty. The
man is careful.

The man is
cheerful. The man
is weird. The
man is watchful.

The man's a
worker. The man
is sleepy. The
man is thirsty.

You Can't Shake It Out of Your Heart
Fidel R.

I can't shake
it out of
my heart.

But I could
shake the
box of hearts.

I hope
I could shake
my hands.

But I could
shake my
maracas.

I hope
I could shake
my heart
again.

He's With Her
Hector R.

He is with
her never lets
her go she
is beginning to
like it because.

He's always happy
when he's close
to her and
when she goes.

He is sad
when. He can't
find her because.

She is here
forever he cannot.

So he is
sad because
he wants to
be with her
but he
can't find her
never again.

It Started Last Thursday
Cristian S.

It was
last
Thursday

started
last
Thursday

next
Thursday.

It's
last
Thursday.

It's
Thursday.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade (4 stanzas + 4 words or less per line)

Always the Same
Gelacio A.

The sun is like
a ball but it
doesn't bounce

it is
always the same it
doesn't move.

It stays in one
place.

It's bright like a
fire in the sky.
It helps the other
planets rotate but if
they get too close--

You Talk, I'll Listen
Isaac A.

When you talk I'll
listen to your words.

Your secrets, your
feelings, everything
you want me to
hear.

I'll always listen to
your words, I'll always
keep them as a
secret.

I'll always listen
to your dreams.

A Bee Should Be Able to Fly
Jorge A.

A bee should be
able to fly for
it has wings.

A bee should be
able to fly for
it is its way
of life.

A bee should be
able to fly for
it is an insect
and many have wings.

A bee should be
able to fly.

Concrete & Steel
Yarisa M.

I see
a person.
When they
walk on
the sidewalk

I know that
the buildings all
around that
are made out
of steel.

I see a jet
with a steel
wing and another
one.

I see the
ceiling
with pictures
and drawings
everywhere.

We Have the Stars
Cynthia R.

We have the stars
I caught them yesterday.
When I'm scared I
just turn them on.

When I see them
glow I feel safe.
I just don't know.

I feel they're taking
care of me always.
I know I could
trust them always.

And I share them
with others. Then they
would feel very safe.

That's What Makes Us Tough
Ana S.

That's what makes us
tough by being brave

by believing our rights
standing by each other's
side

who makes us who
we are who makes
us people by believing
in us and our
people

to have faith in
us and our people
we believe!!!

The Sun Is Breaking Through
Yadira T.

The sun is not
resistante, aguado, peligroso.
The sun is very peligroso.

The sun is aguado.
Person se sube,
se puede caer.
The moon es mas
resistante que the sun.

Alguna person pudo
breaking in two.

The sun is very
very good.

Mr. Hughesdon, 5th Grade (5 stanzas + 3 or less words per line)

You Can't Shake It Out of Your Heart
Guadalupe B.

Mom and dad
brother and me
I cannot
take them out
of me.

They are nice
and sweet
they take care
of me.

My grandma and
grandpa
my uncle and
aunt
when I was
a baby
I sat on
their lap.

My friends are
sweet
and nice with
me.

No matter what
I do
I cannot take
them out of
me.

Look up at the Stars
Susan E.

The sky so
dark and gray
with beautiful stars

to shine
with brightness
as the sun

so clear like
the clouds

stars look like
light bulbs

or even lights
up in the
sky so dark
and blue like
the clouds.

And Then One Day
Roman M.

Then one day
I saw it

I saw it
run so fast

and then it
ran up

the trees
got away

and never saw
it never again

We Eat, We Sleep, We Rest
Sofia M.

On Christmas day,
we all have
lots of fun
with our family.

When it's over,
we sleep a-
while then after
that we wake
up.

After that we
open some presents,
then we rest
and have more
family time.

The next day,
we use our
new things
with a smile
on our face.

Oh yes I
like Christmas day
it's family time.

I'm Grateful to You
Jackie O.

Grateful to you
you not me

why not us
but more you
than me

I think about
you more
than me

grateful for you
us but you

me and you
I'm grateful for
you and you're
to me

You Talk, I'll Listen
Jessie P.

A new person
moved in she
is mean, but

I think she
wants to be
friends. I

will tell her
it's okay are
you shy? She

will not talk.
I think she
is sad, but

I said you
talk, I'll listen
friend.

You Hear the Birds
Eduardo R.

hear that
birds singing

for their joy
happy birds

birds fly
to the place
they want

newborns
flying happy
what happy birds

hear the birds
sing flying for
their freedom

You Are Interested in the Unknown
Omar S.

The unknown is
strange.

But you can
learn new things
about the
unknown world.

It could be
land, caves, and
family,

when you find
the unknown world.
You will feel

that won't be
strange, when
you know it.

I Wonder How Many Others Are Like Me
Jerrol S.

Yes I do
wonder how many
are like me
but I do
I see some
every day

but then they
do something I
would do and
then I walk
away but
one is like

me and he
is me

I am just
kidding it's my

cousin we act
just alike
but there really
isn't anyone
like me because
I am one
of a kind

You Look at That River Gently Flowing By
Amairani Z.

The river moves
gently through the
air.

It moves as
gently as it
can through the
air.

What does this
mean?

Well nobody knows.

What are they
trying to say
to us?