As the old saying goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words….and writers of ekphrastic poetry would probably agree! Ekphrastic poems are poems written in response to an image, often a work of art. So for this 8th week, 6th graders at Waters wrote ekphrastic poems! First we looked at and discussed a projected Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” Then we turned to the Anne Sexton poem of the same name. Using an online image gallery, students chose an image that spoke to them and wrote poems in response. Take a look below.
Images Featured in this Post
By Andy Dixon. “Sotheby’s (Fred Leighton)”
By Diane Arbus. “Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey, 1967”
By Henri Matisse. “Goldfish with Cat”
Ms. Smallwood’s 6th Grade Class
THE RAGING BULL
by Rocky R.
As i put my lap belt on, my heart starts pounding
I want to get off but not actually thats just my nerves talking.
The announcer says you can scream you can shout but its to late to chicken out
“Great” i grumble but i didnt know what was about to happen
As we reach the top the suns bright one moment of peace 200 feet up
Then all hell breaks loose.
As we go down i scream like i never have
Pure joy thats what it is
It doesnt matter that im screaming
I feel pure joy when the ride stops
A grin that will stay there for centuries. No matter what
Fish in the Bowl
by Ava J.
A normal day approached as i awoke.
Swimming and splashing with my friends.
As soon as i think it cant get better it gets worse.
Dark, sharp claws reach into the bowl almost scoop up my
friend. A mean hungry cat swats at us.
We fight for our lives, dodging the paw. Until
he gets taken up. We all said our goodbyes.
The Sotheby’s House
by Lilian E.M.
I sit in the house,
The chair making a soft squish sound.
I look at the pattern
And brush my hand on the soft leather.
I stand up,
Reaching forward
Grabbing the book off the table
I flip it over in my hands
And see the summary on the back
I read the last sentence
“But will he his fear and anger get the best of him”
It seems interesting.
I set the book down,
gently making sure,
Not to knock the tea off the table.
I turn around examining the room
I see a tiger on the wall,
It’s in the jungle,
I imagine what it’s like.
I close my eyes and imagine,
The soft sound of birds chirping,
The soft chatter of bugs.
I open my eyes.
I sit down and close my eyes and fall into a deep sleep.
Ms. Hooper’s 6th Grade Class
Goldfish with Cat
by Simon A.
The battle begins.
The table shakes as the cat stares into the goldfish’s eyes.
The cat reaches for its dinner, like it’s saying, “My next meal!”
Goldfish escape the paws of death, as if there is an apocalypse.
Smells of the fish erupt, which the cat clearly likes.
It’s not like it’s happened before, this battle will continue for the rest of eternity.
Goldfish with Cat
by Darcy A.
I sit down on the zebra print chair
The host is preparing me some tea so the smell of tea and pastries fills the house
The tiger painting creeps me out every time I see it
The coffee table is covered in stuff
I wonder what she got that award from
The sounds of the city are almost deafening
But I’m too comfy to care
Goldfish with Cat
by Julia C.
In a cats head
I see something moving
It looks yummy
Ew water
Snif snif
Ew wet
I must finish my job
“Dips toe”
Yuck yuck yuck
Nope too yucky
Mr. D’s 6th Grade Class
The Attack
by Riley D.
I was swimming in my bowl
just swimming, swimming, and swimming
then a scary thing jumped my bowl everyone
screamed. run, run, run although it was my time
to have fun. I spun, spun, and had to run, run.
It was really fun, but it was suddenly all done.
The end!!
Havoc at The House
by Ronan H.C.
SPLASH! EOWWW!
The room erupted with the feeling and sound of a lightning storm.
I’ve been at this for hours.
My owner will be back soon. I have to hurry this up.
This is the usual at my house.
It’s like a pool party when I get home.
In the end though, I’m happy for my pets
The Twins
by Reeve S.
Why so alike
Why mysteries
Mystery
Smile or not
Still same
Who looks game
Why so alike
Why
Why
Why
