Has 2020 given you the blues? Have you felt like lamenting?
I wanted to create a poetry lesson that allowed creative exploration and expression of our bluesy feelings, so, for our 5th session together, Avondale-Logandale 5th graders were invited to share their reasons for feeling sadness, hurt and woe. Some of those reasons include missing someone special who has died, getting a bad score on a test, the ways the corona virus has changed our lives, and the death of a beloved pet. We talked about poems that express loss and grief, known as laments. And then learned about the musical form originated by African-Americans in the Deep South in the 1800s, popularly known as the blues.
Students watched a video of “Pretty Bones Jefferson” (Leslie Reese 😁) reciting “Everyday I Have the Blues” written by Pinetop and Milton Sparks, and then – because in the past, many blues artists had stage names* – we had a fun time using a blues name generator to find out our blues names. Students then composed their own blues poems while keeping the rhythms and repetitions of blues lyrics in mind.
*Stage names of blues artists often described things like their physical characteristics, geographic origin, musical sound, and more. Some examples include: “Big Mama Thornton,” “Kansas Joe McCoy,” and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.*
Ms. Pannell (aka Skinny Liver Jones Bradley)
Room 204 – 5th Grade
My Blues
by Peg Leg Bad Boy Jones (Nialaney G.)
I’ve got the blues because I lost two fishes
Oh I’ve got the blues cause I am lonely
Oh yes I’ve got the blues because no friends want to play
I got the blues because my best friend moved away
I got the blues oh yea because Covid exists
I have the blues-blue-blues because there is no cuarto guitar performance
Oh yes-yes-yes this is my blues
La dee da
I have the blues
By Old Lemon Green (Daisy E.)
I have the blues because I got in a fight with my sister.
I have the blues because I miss all my cousins.
I have the blues because I can’t see my family that lives in Mexico.
I have the blues because I can’t go play outside.
I have the blues because my uncle died.
I have the blues because my drawing got ruined.
I have the blues because my birds flew away.
I have the blues because it’s raining outside.
Brittany Y.’s Braces Blues
My braces
My braces are so annoying
My braces are bothering me all the time
My braces make it so hard to eat some food
My braces are so mean to me because sometimes when I talk it hooks with my mouth
My braces are red and grey and they are very cool sometimes
And yea that’s it
What I talk about
My braces
And I sometimes get the blues for my braces.
My Blues
By Fat Lips Jackson (Angelina A,)
Everyday I have the blues because
My poor dog passed away last week
And its been pouring rain for a month now
Since her dog died she has been lonely ever since
But since she works as a gardener she can’t really work outside
And ever since she’s been working
her head’s been hurting from being inside all day
Then another week ago her best friend left for another friend
Then yet again her family is sick so she can’t even go visit them
But she took the risk and went over. But then she got sick
And since everyone is gone, she’s been home alone
And now her heart is colder than ice
Room 206 – 5th Grade
Rain
Megan T.
Rain, rain is sad every time it drops
When the rain plops, so does my heart
Just like the rain, my happiness will wash away
Rain, rain is sad every time it drops
When the rain plops, so does my heart
Just like the rain, my happiness will wash away
Just like the rain, my sadness will fade
Texas Lips Tompkins (Elicia N.)
I had a dog who was nice and kind and missed me,
We had all fun times but then he died because he got old
I cry about him because I keep on thinking about my dog Max
When I go to sleep, I will always miss him
Blind McGee (Sophia B.)
I’m worried, About this Virus.
Yea I’m worried all right
When can this end for us?
We will never know.
The word Covid itself sounds blue
Like if the night sky was blue
Oh, the blue feeling
It damages my heart.
When can this end for us?
When can this go away?
When can this stop!?
We will never know.
All we know is….
To stay Blue like a wicked dream
In a Blue night sky
Fat Fingers Jefferson (Alexander R.)
I worried that I was going to get bad grades
I worried that I would get in trouble
I worried I will be sad forever
I worried that my parents would be mad forever
I worried….
Boney Gumbo Hopkins (Jocyana C.)
It’s snowing outside, ice on the ground
Not happy for this
Why is it this way?
Winter is coming to town
A crunch when I walk, chill down my spine
Not happy for this
It’s here isn’t it?
Winter is coming to town
It haunts you in the morning
It’s haunts you in the night
It makes sure you get c-c-cold
It makes you go “Oh Oh OH!”
It WINTER!
It’s WINTER!
It’s WINTER!
Winter is coming to town!
Leah F.
I have blues when I can’t have ice cream!
I have blues when I go to school.
I have blues when I don’t see my best friend.
I have blues when there is no more candy.
I have blues when I cry.
I have blues in the shower.
I have blues when I go home from a friend’s house.
Well worries and trouble darling –
Whoa nobody loves me –
Everyday I have the blues.
Jailhouse Fingers Tompkins (Michael N.)
Everyday I have the blues.
My fish cared about me
I cared about my fish
But sadly, he died.
I was so sad
I felt dark blue
That was the last fish I got.
Everyday, Everyday I have the blues.
My fish cared about me.
I cared about my fish
But sadly, he died.
I was so sad.
I felt dark blue.
That was the last fish I got.
