Students wrote Odes, using personification, after reading Francisco X. Alarcon’s poem, ‘Ode to My Shoes.’
Lesson Note: “If it were up to me, everything I love would have a poem in praise of it. I mean everything: homemade chocolate cookies, park benches, sinuous roads beside city rivers — even that clear plastic cap on a newly purchased deodorant stick that I only figured out the best way to remove this morning. Turn the dial” .-Major Jackson, Poet.
Ms. Wright, 7th Grade
Untitled
by Mackenzie R.
my coat hugged me
protecting me from
the cold Wind
that flows through the air
stretching its arms
It spoke to me
blowing the cold
air away as it did
It spoke to the
wind, telling it which
direction to go
as we walked together
the coat moved its arms
the wind howled
me and my coat
set off into the city
Untitled
by Austin H.
My hoodie keeps
Me warm, everyday
I wear my hoodie.
I wear my hoodie when
I’m cold. I wear my hoodie
Just in case I left my jacket
Whenever my jacket isn’t
Dried out yet, I will just wear
My hoodie
Because it is soft and
Comfortable and prevents
Me from getting a cold.
Ms. Wright, 7th Grade
Untitled
by Katie M.
I still remember
Cold during December
Me in my UGGs ’cause
My mother said
it looked better
On me then
It did her
Only if I knew,
The child I was
Things that wouldn’t
be the way
They came
Nor looked thru’.
As I walk with
my UGGs.
To the times
of pure glee
Making snowmen,
and snow angels
gliding through ice.
Standing with
my UGGs, no fret.
My childhood,
I still remember.
My Favorite Shoes
by Jayden M.
The first time
I got these Adidas shoes,
I was excited to wear them
For the new school year.
I never wanted to take them off.
They were cozy,
Nice, fashionable,
And, of course, Adidas—
Gray with the white Adidas symbol,
Surrounded by blue.
One day, my shoes slipped
Right off my toes.
Then someone passed
The soccer ball my way.
My shoes felt happy—
They even smiled
When they touched the ball.
They started attacking the goal,
Dribbling past defenders.
I asked them,
“Should we use the
Power Shot of Doom?”
And they shouted, “Yes!”
Boom!
The ball flew into the goal.
My shoes cheered, “Wow!”
I kicked the soccer ball
With my powerful shot.
The recess monitors complained,
But I thought that shot
Was insane.
My shoes said,
“Woah, that power—
That shot was crazy!”
And I replied,
“We brought the boom to that ball!
We make a mean team,
My Adidas and me.”
Every time I wore them,
They felt so soft and cozy.
Blue and black,
Because we’re chill—
And, of course, Adidas.
