James Tate’s poem, “Untitled” begins, “I sat at my desk and contemplated all that I had accomplished / this year.” The speaker then runs through a litany of ‘accomplishments’ growing more and more nutty, including winning a hot dog eating contest, “catching the largest boa constrictor / in Southern Brazil,” marrying the Princess of Monaco, falling off Mount Everest, “snoring longer than anybody,” and more! We also examined examples of Tate’s use of imagery—language that engages the senses—and pondered the ethics of lying. It was a typically engaging and lively session.
Here are the poems inspired by our discussion.
Ms. Travis
4th Grade
A Bunch of Lies
Ghalya A.
When I was a baby I spoke all the
languages. False, my dream is to be speaking
everything. Incorrect, my real dream is to be a
writer. I won the mega certificate of writing
and a medal. False, but I did get a medal. I was
known for being the star student in my class.
I went to the White House, the president
was there. I snuck to the roof and fell
down and Ow! I was hurt, I keep on
lying, none of this even happened.
Don't Listen
Enzo B.
Don't listen to me, I lie a lot
but I've never seen a parking lot.
Oops there's a lie.
My nose grows like Pinocchio.
There's a lie for Guillermo del Toro.
I got lost again.
Please go away. I'm feeding you bad information.
I was part of world wars nation!
I'm leaving now.
Lies?
Mason G.
Today I won my soccer game.
The score was 8-1.
Nope.
It was 8-7.
When I went home I played
Fortnite.
I got to unreal.
At least I thought. I was the
same old champion 68%.
But then I realized I was
hungry. So I ordered some McDonald's.
But then they sent me Burger King.
And it wasn't even the same
order. It was a salad. With
tomatoes. I hate tomatoes!
The Super Real Story at New York
Ava M.
So one day I flew to New York
by myself then I went to a hotel
when I was only 6 I went to a dragon
shop and bought a 1 million meter big
dragon then I jumped off a cliff and
landed on my feet then I ran to all the
people and slapped them in their faces
then I jumped all the way up the tallest
building and jumped off but I landed
on my head I didn't feel like getting up.
Lie Time
Riya S.
Lies, lies, lies.
Flipping the switch, rolling the dice.
I told a lie, it feels like a heist.
I got myself in trouble tonight.
I watched the movie they say was a fright.
My parents say not to watch it oh so nice
of them to protect me but I have lies!
I wanna go to the Sahara Desert, no too hot.
Maybe vacation in the alps? My parents won't let
me go. More lies! More more more! Get infinite
money, PS5! More lies! 13 ice creams!
Hot pot! Ramen! White lies! Black lies!
Rainbow lies! It doesn't matter I want
lies no matter the madder! Tame a dragon!
Fly to the sun! Live on it for 1 month!
Become a goddess! But wait—My mom
says “Maybe someday it'll happen.”
Feels so nice. Maybe lying isn't so
bad after all. Oops that's another lie.
Ms. Nelson
4th Grade
Liar Liar Pants on Fire
Vihaan A.
I ate 20 hamburgers
in ten seconds. Wow.
I broke all my bones
in a day. Ow. I used
a stick to kill an
elephant. What? I made
25 pyramids as big as
a blue whale in 1
day. How? I eat a police
car every day. Bruh! I lived
before Adam and Eve!
Then die. I have a time
machine. Wow! Can I try?
My Secret Super Power
Harlow B.
Lying, my secret super power.
When I unleash it
everyone believes me.
It's beautiful the amount
of stuff you can do.
The surprise parties, sneak
outs, I never let it
go until someone found it.
They exposed me.
I crumble like a
cookie. I fall, I weep,
I sleep and wake up
into a fantasy land.
I realize my power is
gone. I see everyone
so happy in a world
without lying. I realize
what I have done.
I have ruined humanity.
I wake up gasping for
air. The only thing I have
left.
I have destroyed everything.
My life, my parents, my
friends, but more importantly
the world.
I'm the only left.
Wow my secret super
power still works.
5 Things I Totally Did
Reya D.
5. I went to the moon and back.
FAKE!
4. I won Squid Game 1,000,000 million times.
JUST KIDDING!
3. I can fit 20 pizzas in my mouth at once.
I WISH!
2. I was born on Mars moved to Jupiter then
died.
WRONG!
1. I am alive!
Finally something true!
Busy Life
Morris N.
Me and my family go to my dad's friends to
eat dinner and talking. We can see there was a cat.
Go to the tunnel and we can see the house was
so huge. We can see there was a computer in
the front door. We had some gifts to give dad's
friends and there was a busy life.
The Knight and the Princess
Peter Z.
Once upon a time there was a knight
and a princess. The knight lied to the princess
all the time.
But then she found out and punished him
and the knight became a peasant.
Mrs. Keffer
4th Grade
Lies and the Slumber
Steven H.
I laid on my bed as still as a rock.
Thinking of all the things I would do.
I've already lifted 1,000 pounds,
juggled 15 babies at once,
and even destroyed a rock with
the flick of my finger. Oh yes!
Actually I already ate a 5 pound
steak in one bite. But I haven't
climbed the world's tallest mountain
500 times. So I did it in 5
minutes. Then I was bored so
I woke up.
Untitled
Alvin L.
I beat a rock in a boxing match. No, how
does a rock fight? I talked to a 6 month
old baseball bat. Just kidding. How is that
possible? I got on the news. For a bad
thing. I went to the Mariana Trench.
Not possible. I saw a 6 month old baby
talking perfect English. Not today baby!
I slept in a box getting shipped across
the Pacific Ocean. It sure is dark! I jumped
off a cliff. No! Bye. Just kidding. I have
a pet dragon with orange juice breath.
Huh? Li'l Jim Bob. Yay! Eep!
How I Became an Animal
Ellis M.
When I was a baby I turned into
a hippo. As a hippo I would eat a lot
of food.
As a bird I would climb walls and
drive a ship then I would fly away
and never come back.
Then I would eat crocodiles but
the crocodiles turned into Big
Macs.
After that I turned into a
Big Mac.
Forgetful
Mei'yanna W.
Once upon a time,
a girl, wait no, a boy
went to a castle on
a mountain or was it
a haunted house on the ground? Anyway
he went to do his dog and
pet his homework, wait no,
do his homework and pet
his dog, or was it dig?
Well, he finally got stuck
on a question and ripped the whole page
apart. Oh wait he has to get a
grade oh no, he told his teacher that
his cat ate her book. His teacher
give him an F-. The boy said “oh no I
meant my dog ate my homework.” The
teacher didn't believe him and gave him
the worst grade of all.
Z--!
lies lies lies truths truths truths
Vivien W.
I'm a daughter of Poseidon
lies lies lies
I have 7 dogs
truths truths truths
my name is Veronica
lies lies lies
my best friend's name is Winnifred
truths truths truths
lies lies lies
truths truths truths
done done done
yeah yeah yeah
Mr. O’Brien
4th Grade
Untitled
Briohny B.
I can walk on water.
In your dreams. I can eat
100 muffins. Yeah right.
Untitled
Koda B.
I'm on a diet
of burgers, JK.
I'm a cop stopping
burglars, not true.
I'm the burglar
stealing the burgers.
Then I wake up
to a burger. Uhh, not again!
Untitled
Nico C.
is lying a good thing
Nope
is lying appropriate
Ha
is lying something you should do
Certainly not
lying is BAD.
Lies
Ariya C.
Everyone lies
Even for small things
Lying is bad
But sometimes
We have to
In big things
You should only lie
In big, bad situations
Only lie when you need to
But we lie for small things
Things that you can tell the truth
Sure, you can lie
For a surprise party
But that's the only exception
You only have a supply of lies
Don't deny a small lie
Untitled
Jayden J.
I've been thinking about completing college. Meh.
I won a cheese eating competition. No. I walked
around the world. Impossible. I bought a five story
mansion. In my dreams. I failed new years.
Confused Lying
Nicholas M.
Lying, lying, not the best
thing. You will be crying because
you are lying. I sometimes lie
I sometimes don't. If you catch
me lying I might be crying.
If I lie I might fly someone said.
But! I try to lie in hard times.
Therefore, shouldn't lie. Or should I?
Don't Lie
Viaan M.
If you lie you will die
and not get my mom's
apple pie. You're not that guy
if you lie in the sky. If
my friend lies they will
be saying goodbye cause
you're not that guy. If you
lie you will go in the sky
FYI not heaven. Don't lie!
