This week we took a look at some examples of erasure poetry. Students saw many different forms, using the page they were given for their own poems to make a variety of poems with interesting orders, illustrations, and blacking out techniques. Please enjoy a selection of their work.
Ms. Smallwood
6th Grade
The Watcher
Jonah
Plain Text:
I, the watcher evil smirking / in that intense / stare
gazes directly into his visage / aimlessly moving
such / things ought not to be, not even dreams.
to grow another fear. / on toward waking
strongly knows and dreads more violent
part of his fear / who am I? / The moon glows
nearly awake drowsy vision / the Face / No no, I will not open my eyes
dreadful flash / expressing mad / Face is ever coming closer
the moon grins insanely / The man on the bed / silence reigns
sunlight is pouring / look upon his face
Iowa Summer
Amelia B.
Plain Text:
Pleasant drive / Indiana / Iowa / ’63 maroon Ford Galaxy
it muffled / road noise / fan carpe / to a ten-year-old
first brand-new car / then / new-car smell
older sister Cyndi and I never got / along
long. periods / back seat of a car / as thin as spring ice
cut it out back there / never going on a vacation again
annual event / flat fertile farmland / north- / central Iowa
hot Iowa sun / rust-red corn crib / scarecrow’s hair / its hat
There it sat / along the / road / grandparents’ lane on our left
big black mailbox on the right / narrow dirt path / better suited to horse
Dead Bird
Ben W.
Plain Text:
Its still sitting there / sitting resting / lying down
day-by-day-by-day / Its colors / flesh red
intestine orange / feather gray soon
dry-bone white / flat like a fish / not the work
Ms. Hernandez
7th Grade
Before Dark
Daniel G.
Plain Text:
Before Dark / food was restored / the water / stopped paddling
The / feeling / along / the water / most of the time / it / was seeping
There was no / clear sky / it / was / emptied / a / black pitch
The Sea
Michael D.
Plain Text:
The sea was black / The waves / only faint noises
I was / hungry / because of my fear. / I / gaze / upon
a serpent / I / came / from / a manner / place / I knew
how far away the dawn was / this time I found / The sun
was calm / As I reached / the waves / The Island
Dolphins had disappeared. / There were only hills and
a valley / ocean / and / Night / cooled my throat
Today?
Nathan B.
Plain Text:
today? / I / think so / more likely
Tomorrow I am going to where the canoes are
hidden / We will / go looking around
You will see
