Some of the most interesting poems are nothing more than lists of things. In a list poem, the writer is telling you something—pointing something out—saying, "Look at this," or, "Think about that." This week, we read Arithmetic by Carl Sandburg, discussing the differences and similarities between math and poetry. I asked students why they thought he had written this poem—did he like math, or not? Does it matter when you read the poem? How many ways does he describe arithmetic? We then brainstormed on some of the most common types of lists: grocery lists, to do lists, laundry lists, wish lists, birthday present want lists, and so on. Students were encouraged to do variations on them, making their own funny, strange, creative, and/or thoughtful list poems.

Grocery List
Maria-Eleni D.

Mac and cheese, peas, corn, turkey please!
What a list! What a storm we need
much, much more! Mac and
cheese, peas, corn, turkey please!
Apples, bananas, asparagus, carrots.
Oh I want a pet parrot!
Instead of grapes I'd eat apes! Instead
of peas I'd rather eat bees. Oh please!
I'd rather eat parrots than carrots, rather
at least eat bears than icky wicky
pears. Get me Pepsi! Just no
pears! Oh please mommy! I
can't bear! Get me burgers, more
fries and pop. I need ice cream
or else I'll die. I don't need to
fast on greens. Mommy, mommy, please,
please, please! Don't kill puppies
you people you don't need hot
dogs! It's a dream. No a grocery
nightmare!

I Wish
Monica L.

I wish for a penguin to waddle
around my house.

I wish that I could have my own room so my
sister would keep her things off my bed.

I wish for a good job that pays
millions of dollars every year when I
am older.

Oh I wish!

What To Do
Vanessa M.

Today I wake up with a
beautiful shining light.

I get dressed with some
summer clothes.

I go downstairs to eat
breakfast. We eat eggs, hot dogs,
and bread.

After breakfast, I go to the
park and play because my
sister is driving me craaazy.

When I finish playing, I
go to my cousin's birthday.

We party like wild
animals.

Grocery List
Xavier M.

Milk
for cereal

pickles
for hotdog
cookies
for
cupcakes
and
candy
for Halloween

chips
for
dips

What to Do When I'm 100
Nina Y.

1. Paint my nails
2. Get highlights
3. Be a super star
4. Shop at the mall
with my new virtual motor bike
5. and I will go
       HOME!
p.s. For god sakes.

Mr. Sandlass, 4th Grade

To Don't List
Michelle A.

I'll never be Demi Lovato, even if I wish!
I'll never be George Lopez, a Latin American!
I always say always, and say never even if
they tell me not to!
I'll never be a hexagon or a cube, or under
water sponge like Spongebob Squarepants.
I will never EVER stop using capital letters in
the middle of my sentences!
I will never stop loving my family or
my cousin's dogs!
I'll never be another classmate with a perfect
life!
I never liked bananas, or in the future!
I'll never be Mr. Dean!
I'm not sure I'm writing a to don't list, either!

I Choose
Jericho C.

I choose not to go to school,
I choose 1 toy but my mom brought 2.
Then I choose not to do chores.
And I choose not to promise forever,
and I want to have only 1 candy but they gave me a lot.
Then I will not do anything I don't like to do.

I Will Never Do Laundry
Naomi G.

• No cleaning cloths
• Don't do anything about it
• Leave it alone
• Stand there
• Wait for 5 minutes
• And then leave
• Say nothing about it

My To Don't List
Aleena I.

1. I won't listen to mom and dad
2. I won't ever take a bath
3. I won't ever wear red
4. I won't ever never never ever eat a
cow's tongue.
5. I'll never watch Hannah Montana
6. I won't do 10x9=90 (oops!)
7. I'll never be mad, or sad, or bad
8. I won't have black and white hair
or white and gray hair. (I like my
hair one color)
9. I won't buy a mouse again (note to
self: tell mom and dad before we go
to Petsmart)
10. There is no number ten (note to
self: make a number 10)

To Don't List
Sophie L.

1. Not throw brother out of car.
2. Not buy monkey, wait too late
forgot, I am one!
3. Not buy a tour bus.
4. Buy brother's room
(because it is deadly).
5. Do math homework.
6. Not make golden cheesy pie
really!

Shopping on Pluto
Jerry T.

Gee, it's pretty cold,
I think I'll buy a sweater.

Not so much light,
I will probably get a lamp.

Oops, I forgot,
I could use an oxygen tank.

What else do I need?
Oh, that space-suit would
look great on me.

What next?
I wonder what brand of—

Store Closed.

Mrs. Goode, 5th Grade

Stuff to Do While You Are Bored In Class
Waleed A.

1) Blow a beach ball and throw it around the class.

2) Dig an escape tunnel to your class and outside.

3) Play rock paper scissors and say your left
hand cheated until someone noticed it.

4) Run around the room and tag someone and say
"You're it."

5) Every 3 minutes into an exam move a desk
somewhere else.

6) Run to the window and say "Sorry I
thought I saw a Batman signal."

7) Exercise until someone noticed you.

8) Pretend you're a baby and scream until your
parents come.

9) Make up a game.

10) Make up a language.

Returns
Madison B.

I want to return this awesome stuff:

• Giant blue brick
• Talking refrigerator
• Ugly black sweater
• Bad book
• Catapult
• Yellow paint
• Purple elephant
• Prune that looks like Thomas Jefferson
• Pink garbage can
• Atomic bomb
• Cheese
• Mohammad's toupee
• Darius
• A laptop that's shaped like a cat
• Mrs. Smith's glasses
• And the planet Venus

Don't
Stephen D.

I won't eat snakes because they
taste like peas.
I won't clean my room because
it has lead paint.
I won't adopt a monkey,
and I will never ever, ever smell a 5-year old
chimpanzee.

Get
Elana D.

lion
money
peace
salad
haircut
jeans
music
smiles
bracelet
brick

List of That's There's No Laws
Diana P.

People will be mean each
other. Some people
would not
go to school.
Maybe no one
in the world
and goodbye.

Don't Eat List
Vivian T.

broccoli
paper
carrots
toilet paper
peas
tables
celery
banana peels
cardboard
hair
yourself

The Pre-birth List
Darius V.

If I would be smart enough inside my
mother's womb I would do all my homework so
I wouldn't do it after school. I would learn
to swim so I can maybe become a life guard.
I would do weights so I can impress the ladies.
I will show off all my muscles. I will buy all the
video games I want like Halo Wars and
Grand Theft Auto. I will learn to be good with
animals so I can be a vet. If I was smart
enough I would escape out of here!