A lesson on Personification, giving human qualities to something non-human via the poem: A True Account of Talking to the Sun at Fire Island. We looked at Frank O’Hara’s touching and somewhat mystifying poem. Among the illuminating things in this text, our speaker converses with the Sun. The Sun imparts opinions and wisdom to the speaker. It is a Lyric poem that reflects some of the poet’s feelings. Over the years, many have discussed its meaning.
Lesson Note: To help spark imagination, each student was given an image and invited to create a Lyric poem using Personification to create voices/speakers/situations. This exercise is partly based on The Poetry Center’s ‘Poet’s Look At Pictures’ call for submissions, where local writers were asked to respond to an image through poetry. Students were also encouraged to go with any other ideas that might be sparked during the creation process. Writer Nick Flynn is quoted as saying: ‘A poet’s job is not to play fast and loose with the facts of this world. [But rather to] imagine.”
Ms. Wright, 7th Grade
My Shoes
By: Yaodong T.
The shoes woke me up this morning loud and clear, and it was 7 am at my home,
it said,” Hey!, I have been trying to get you to wake up for the last 20 minutes”.
You would have to get ready to go to school or you are going to be late.
After I say what are you talking about?
The shoe said, “So why are you not listening to me at all”?
I am sorry I said, “still sleepy and dreaming.”
My shoes then said, “I would give you a note every day: You must wake up on time, or you might lose an opportunity.” I felt like I had just lost everything I could have had when I had finally woken up on time and gone to school.
Then it said that’s ok you would have a second chance and don’t waste it.
Second thing is you should set up an alarm clock so you would not mess up your schedule. Then he climbed on the bed and said, “One more thing before you go remember this one always pay attention you need that important skill”.
Then it stopped talking I was confused then I woke up confused about what happened then I noticed I was sleeping the whole time. Then I just smile and get ready for school.
Untitled
by Brooklynn T.
I woke up early, the sun barely bright,
The world outside still covered in night.
I grabbed my backpack, ready to go,
Hoping today would be better than slow.
I saw my friend sitting alone,
Her face was sad like she was stone.
I asked her, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
She smiled a little and just walked away.
At school, I noticed the crowded halls,
People talking, walking, but no one calls.
Everyone’s busy, too much to do,
And I just want to know what’s really true.
Lunch was quiet, no one to talk,
I sat by myself and watched the clock.
But then a kid, who was always loud,
Came over and sat, making me proud.
He said, “You look lonely, wanna hang out?”
I smiled and nodded, feeling a shout.
Sometimes, it’s hard to find what’s real,
But friends can help you know how you feel.
So here’s the truth that I’ve learned today:
We all have feelings in our own way.
We’re not alone, though we might think,
We all just need someone to stop and think.
Ms. Wright, 7th Grade
Talking To A Donut
by Chun Hei Y.
A donut woke me up this morning with the sweet smell,
saying, “Hello! I’ve been waiting for you to wake up and
eat up for breakfast. Don’t be so rude, you spent money
to buy me. So why have you personally chosen to buy me?
If I could, I would have run away because you took so long.”
“Sorry, donut, I stayed up late last night.” “ Could you be more
attentive and take your chances more seriously? If you don’t
Take them seriously; they will be gone and will probably
won’t come back.” exclaimed the donut. “Sorry, I stayed up
doing homework last night,” I explained
“When I tried waking up your friend up, he was more attentive.”
said the donut. “OK, OK. I will wake up and brush my teeth. You
don’t have to be so disrespectful.” I responded, “I wasn’t trying to be
disrespectful, I was just trying to tell you to learn good things
from your friends.” the donut explained.
I went to brush my teeth and came back. “THERE, I’m back,
what do you want me to do now,” I asked. “Now I want you to
look at what you bought yesterday and eat it before the flies
find it.” said the donut. “Just keep doing what you do and don’t
worry about others, but sometimes just control yourself.” stated the
donut. I sadly ate the donut afterward.
A True Account of Talking to the Flowers (Sorry, Nice Flowers!)
by Eric H.
The flowers woke me this morning saying, “Hey, Wake up!”
I was still asleep, the flowers yelled louder
“WAKE UP!” I woke up immediately, got out of bed, and said
“Sorry!” I said to all the flowers, then I realized who I was talking to: flowers!
Originally, the flowers thought about not waking me up
Really! I thought that I was dreaming, but no, the flowers were talking to me
Rain makes them happy, that’s what they said; they also said they
Yearned for sunlight the most as they gain all their energy from it
Nicely, the flowers told me how they don’t won’t always be here
“I will not be here for winter; it’s going to be too cold, and there will be too little sun for energy!
Currently, I’m here, so make use of that time before you won’t see me.”
Ensuring that I remembered this, I wrote this advice down as “don’t take things for granted.”
Flowers were beautiful, now I realize, they also said another piece of advice,
Listening to them, “You may be at your lowest, but you can bounce back to your highest
Over time, you can bounce back, it may take long or short, but you’ll get there.
Wait, don’t worry, you’ll come back no matter what happens to you, just time.”
Earring through my mind, I asked the flower if this was true, they confirmed it.
“Really?” I said, the flowers said “like us you can become at your highest, no matter what.
So whatever people say, just ignore them; they’ll try to get you at your low but can’t stop you.”
!
