This week we read “Burning the Old Year” by Naomi Shihab Nye. As the titles suggests, the poem is about the New Year celebration, though it focuses on its subject obliquely, through a central metaphor comparing burning (in the title as well as the text, with such words as sizzle, flammable, flame, crackle, and blazing) to the old year vanishing. The poet also uses personification, as “letters swallow themselves,” notes “marry the air,” and “an absence shouts.” Astute students also thought “transparent scarlet paper” referred to the lucky red envelopes of Lunar New Year symbolizing good wishes and luck.
The prompt was (unsurprisingly) to write about New Year.
Ms. Travis
4th Grade
New Years
Arin B.
It's going to be new
year! It's not a cruel
year. So many ideas,
to do, what do I do?
Maybe, go to London for
new years since it is
a new year new years.
Maybe eat burgers
for fun, maybe have some
fun.
I might travel, maybe
I'll make a paper dragon!
I maybe say hi to Mars!
Poetry is my thing I will
make a poem about new
year the best day of the
year!
My New Year
Aryana B.
This new year
I need to eat
more veggies and protein
and sleep more
even though it bores me
I need to
This new year
I want to visit Dubai
I grew up there
I want to see my family
This new year I want to
be outside and go on the
slide and go to the public pool
This new year there
are more than a few things
happening and it will be
cool
Never Give Up
Ednori B.
Never give up
believe in your dreams
have hope in what you do
try new things
be a leader
do not be a follower
you lead the line
do not do something because somebody's doing it
do not forget this.
Untitled
Felix E.
It was hard to stay up we were at a
hotel and I thought it was the 30th
but it was the 31st so the hotel had
a party and I hung out with my
mom and my stepsister my
other stepsister was mad that
our cousin wasn't there so
she went back to the room and
went to sleep but then it was
11:00 they had a dancer dance
with the kids and then we
had ice cream and once it
was about 11:50 I decided I
was going to be more generous
this year and this year I wanna
run 2 miles in Wisconsin.
New Year
Sam H.
For this new year I want to erase the past
like erasing on a test if you don't like that
and the fireworks are blasting out the past.
Some people have resolutions like playing the piano
and some want all A's on the tests
they are getting older this year but age never comes down!
A lot don't like to wake up early
and some have to for work
some wish to get up later for work
so hopefully that happens for god's sake
Some will go to Mars
burning last year's calendars
with the wind blowing the ashes to space
Lunar Countdown
Emma H.
Creak-creak-creak. I tiptoe
down the stairs. I sneak outside
and bring red envelopes. 8 dollars
in each one. Never 4. I burn the
old year, a Chinese tradition, set
my phone and 3-2-1—Happy
New Year! I know it's February
and New Year started in Jan. But
it's lunar year so we must
prepare. Give the money to the
Gods!
The New Year
Alex M.
The new year comes,
as last year goes,
like a wood in a fire.
My resolution is to read,
books with some pages,
as the year ages.
One line to go,
as I write this poem.
Ms. Nelson,
4th Grade
Grow Up New Year
Naya A.
Year new year time
will pass by during
life. Life why life.
Nobody wants to
grow up. New year
make this year
fair to all.
Year year here
here make my
year better this
year. Grow up
New Year!
The Start of a New Era
Ethan B.
The new year is overwhelming
because if you have a lot of
memories in the old year but now
since it's a new year a new you
and that can get scary but
it can feel good as well because
there's probably stuff that will
come out in the new year,
and some new memories in
the new year so that's why
this year I'll finally touch grass.
Exciting New Year!
Simrin D.
It is almost time for the New Year.
The countdown is the best.
You get so excited when it gets to 1.
It will feel relieving
to know that the year has past
as far as I know it's the best.
You get to celebrate and cheer
be happy that it is a new year!
Now you can enjoy and chill on the couch
and of course you can know it is a New Year.
New Year
Alejandra E.
The new year is like a butterfly's
life.
Every year we get reborn and grow
up to the wing of the air where we
can fly and see where the year
takes us.
Year
Sofia E.
Yay! New Years.
A party and games.
New year to make mistakes.
Time to have fun on the first of January.
No school tomorrow or today.
To play with toys from Santa Claus.
New Year
Evelyn H.
I go downstairs and sit down
I never bring my frown
I click a button and see TV
Watching it is the key
I see a lot of songs right in front of me
I feel as I leave the year
Yes, it overwhelms me with glee
My fear, my hope
I love celebrating with my family
The countdown, oh the countdown
You can never forget
3, 2, 1
You feel it left
New year here I come!
Untitled
Klint K.
We are all counting down 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
we all start to shout happy new year!!!
10 new min and everybody starts to text.
The old calendar goes down and the new
one comes up.
It says 2025 the last words I say
until tomorrow are HAPPY NEW YEAR!
New Year
Valentina M.
'Tis new years eve everything from 2024 will be in the past
it will be gone. I look around the room I want to remember this year
because when I wake up it'll be the new year.
I hold the memories, I held them tight making sure
to not let them go. I look one more time around my room
and I close my eyes.
New Start
Zoe P.
It's a new year new me
new you new days
new life.
Why why does it go by so
fast?
The nights grow longer then
the days.
Today I shall change my
ways to make a better me.
Mrs. Keffer
4th Grade
Snowball Fight
Gia B.
A snowball arcs through the air.
With a New Year comes new challenges,
new fun, maybe even new friends.
January is the first month of a long
year. What waits ahead, ever mysterious, like
the fog lining the trees.
Resolutions pile up like the snow among the
road. Floss every day, clean, do the laundry.
The New Year is decisions, decisions, decisions.
Some good, some bad. The snowball hovers
in the air and shatters. Like the
New Year.
My New Year
Miracle D.
When New Year comes around all I think of is
BE A BETTER PERSON, HAVE A GOAL.
BE THE BEST YOU IN OUR NEW YEAR, and
THIS WILL BE A GREAT YEAR.
But then something tells this WON'T be a good
year.
After my bad thoughts pass by I always think
positive. FIREWORKS. NEW THINGS, and NEW YEAR.
After all of that my positive thoughts are locked
in. I choose my goal of the year and stick to it like
a pro.
I stuck to my goal and it worked.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1. 2025 IS HERE.
New Year Means Endless Possibilities
Mira G.
I wake up
I heard the fireworks clash
they symbol the new year
I could be scared, worried, or excited
wondering what will happen today
I try to make every day different
but sometimes I can't
I step outside
trying to find the differences
there are none
I realize it's only January
but in the new year
the possibilities are endless
because we are in the new year
New Year
Lillian N.
Fireworks cracking
celebrating the new year
Staying up 'til midnight
with party hats
Snuggled up on the couch
with blankets, popcorn, and a movie
Fire Works Fireworks
Rita O.
New years has fireworks
Fire heats them up
CRASH they are starting
Their sound fills the air
Booming loud noise without any care
The sound is growing louder and louder
The fireworks are starting
Thanks to fire's power
Fire works fire works
Their sounds are never shy
It is midnight and dad lights a match
Fire works fire works
They end with a CRASH
The New Year Comes
Miles R.
People make resolutions
to promise and keep
but if they don't...
they burn to the ground
not even noticed or recognized
The new year comes
and people make resolutions
do they keep them?
Because if they don't...
they're lost in the wind like shadows
untouched
The new year comes
bringing opportunities with it
and people make resolutions
but do they keep them?
Because if they don't...
they vanish
taking away the joy of it
The new year comes
and people celebrate
to bring joy to the new year
and resolutions are made
but are they kept?
Because if they aren't...
they disappear into thin air
lost, shattered, and broken
Because endless things could happen...
when the new year comes
Untitled
Arthur X.
Fireworks exploding,
fireworks crackling,
large feasts,
loud chatter,
and family.
The Lunar New Year!
Melody Z.
The lunar new year is yet to come.
What do we do when it comes?
The answer is short and easy
let me tell you before you go crazy
First of all we clean the house
nice and neat for good luck
We make cool decorations
for all the family to see
Next we prepare the food
because everyone is ready to eat!
Last but definitely not least!
We invite all the family to come and eat!
Mr. O’Brien
4th Grade
The New Year
Lilac A.
The lights come looking at me.
It was 2 am. Oh well, the new year
has come. Everyone is looking so
crushed. New year has come.
The fireworks are as loud as a
fire engine. The new year has
come. The crowds are screaming
the new year has come.
Fresh Start
Emir A.
When new year comes
a fresh start arrives.
There is always a time to
start a new thing in the new year.
New Years Resolution
William B.
It's new year. It's a new year.
I'm experiencing a new year.
I'm happy, I'm glad.
I'm going to a new year.
I have a new years resolution.
What is it what is it hmm...
Ah ha! I know what it is.
It's to get better at being QB.
Finally, finally, I got what I need.
There we go, there we go.
It's time to eat.
Oh no oh no it's
time to go to bed.
The end.
Untitled
Clementine C.
I stand on the balcony, eyes locked on the big clock. Waiting
for fireworks, cheers, and the roaring of the
crowd. As I wait for the new year, I also wait
for a new me with new hobbies, friends, and maybe
a new style. The clock strikes midnight, and
the fireworks erupt, and the audience roars.
Cheers to a happy new year, and a happy new me.
My New Year
Simone D.
Though I think the new year
has fireworks, sprinkles candles
happiness my character does not.
We think different, look different, and
sound different. Though I follow my own
path no matter what. I do what I want
to do. I hear the candles speaking
and the flowers dancing. I can
see it in my mind. My character in
this poem sees and hears the flowers
telling her what she has to do though
if that was me I would ignore.
She would listen. Though we are different
I still think she is my idol.
I think what I think is true.
The New Year
Meher G.
Every December 31st,
I wait for it to turn 12,
hear the bells, get excited,
and scream that it's twelve.
I hug my parents,
and wish them a
happy new year.
Then they say
to me, I love you dear and I hope
you have a great year!
The New Year (The Best)
Ranveer R.
The new year it's big just as
a planet.
New year has caught the atmosphere
everywhere has a new year.
New year is not tiny, small, or
big, it's gigantic.
New year is a normal day but
they celebrate.
New year everybody knows.
New year starts at Jan then
next and next Jan.
There are types, are new years
for every country.
Untitled
Genevieve R.
The clocks turn 12:00
and all the kids yell
Happy New Year.
With a big ear
just to realize
nothing happened.
New Years!
Emma R.
January 1st.
The newest day of all.
The sky is shining.
It is so blinding!
Color and color!
Lots to see!
Boom! The new year is ending soon.
January 2nd.
The sky is clear.
I shouted out with fear!
The new year passed so fast.
I knew it wouldn't last.
New Year
Dalia W.
New Year New Year I like
to cheer counting down and
around I see all of the
fireworks they perk me
up and surprise me when
I get up. They are so
loud when I throw them
up but they can burn
you up up up.
