In his poem, “A Blessing,” James Wright tells the relatively simple story of two people and their encounter with a pair of ponies. What is really interesting is how little actual information the writer provides, so we discussed who the speaker might be and who their friend is, as well as their actions—how did they find the ponies? Were they driving by, see them and just stop? Was it a surprise or a planned visit? What about the “barbed wire” they had to step over—isn’t that dangerous? And what about the ponies—how do they look, act, feel? How can their eyes “darken with kindness”? Finally, what happens in the end? How can you step out of your body, and “break / Into blossom”?
I then asked about the title. Aside from a short prayer, “a blessing” can also mean giving approval, or something that makes a person at ease, satisfied, or contented. In that same spirit, I had students write poems about whatever makes them happy.
Mrs. Haddad, 2nd Grade
I Will Show My Feelings
Molly M.
You cannot
copy any more
if you want
my friendship now
you can only look
at my drawings
if you go too
far one more
time you will
not see happy
me because
these drawings
make me
happy but when
you copy it
it makes
me sad I love
art I will let
you know when
you can copy
don’t just do
it.
Football
Mara M.
I like football it is my favorite
sport you
can score touchdowns
yeah! You catch balls, or
run balls, you get trophies or
medals,
you get snacks.
It is very fun that is
my opinion what’s yours? It gives
you exercise, it makes you fit, and
healthy.
My Favorites
Anoushka T.
I’m so happy to have my
cat, Nicky. He is cute
and cuddly. He loves loves loves
his food. Whenever I see
him, I feel like he’s thinking
something and cats have their own
language that we hear as meow
meow meow. Rollerskating makes me
happy too. It feels like I’m
free when I wear them. Anky
(un-ky) also makes
me happy. She is scared
of me. She is very
cute just like Nicky. I
love her and Nicky. Nia,
my best friend shares
a secret with me. She
is very very nice and
is 6. Nicky is 11 or 55.
Anky is 8 or 45.
Playing With My Friends
Cypress T.
Playing with my friends
makes me very happy
they never disinclude me
that’s
why they
are
my
friends
Mrs. Ward, 2nd Grade
Lizard
Sydney B.
A kind gentle lizard has skin
like dirt. Its color is pretty like
the night sky. It leaps it jumps
it leaps like a lion. It jumps like
kids on a trampoline but today
it’s silent. Silent as night. It roams
the desert like a king.
Now today it’s spry. It jumps
it leaps it runs. It runs like a
cheetah. Now it’s calm from all
those exercises. It lays down
it takes a rest. When it wakes
up it goes around the desert
as it’s really hungry…but wait
it’s fast crunch…chomp…yum
it’s done. It goes back to rest
and goes to sleep next
morning it finds some food
crunch…crunch…I’m done the lizard
looked like it was saying
that but it was not it was
night.
Mercy Watson
Azyriah D.
Mercy is a pig and
she is pink as pink
lemonade Mercy is special.
An Amazing Moment
Sophia K.
We got out of our driveway and started
driving.
Then I saw something we almost
stopped but we didn’t.
I said “wait go
back” but we just kept
driving.
Then they started dimming
but they looked like ghosts!
I rubbed my eyes and woke
up.
Oh it was
just a
dream.
If it was real
it would
still feel
like a dream.
Vacation
Claire R.
Vacation makes me happy. I like vacation because
I get to have a lot of fun. On one vacation I
went in salt water and it got in my mouth. It
tasted very salty and bad. But I had a great time
in the sea. That was when I was in Mexico and
Mexico is fun. I feel that on vacations I get
to eat treats and go to hot places and
miss school. That is why vacations are special.
On vacations I get to see the very hot sun
come out. On vacations there are warm colors everywhere.
Turtles
Elliott S.
I
love
turtles
I
like
turtles
they
are
cool
and
weird
they
are
magic
to
me
but
not
to
some
body
else.
Painting a Portrait
Anaya S.
I love painting. Colors of Red
Blue
Purple Pink while
black brown
green yellow orange
so many colors. When I
paint I always paint
people doing sports. I’ve drawn a
Ballerina
gymnast
soccer player
tennis racket
Basketball
The bright colors the dark
colors oh what a
sight
Mrs. Daigle, 2nd Grade
I’m Happy!
Katie B.
I’m happy. I’m happy because of Mr. Dean.
I’m happy because of Mr. Sanders. I’m
happy because of Mrs. Daigle. I’m happy because
of my family. I’m happy because of my friends.
Video Games
Sebastien D.
Playing video games. It’s cool
and I can’t stop playing. It’s
so fun. It’s too fun. I love it.
Untitled
Quinn E.
I am happy
that my
grandma is with
God. I am
happy that I did
an adoption video.
And my dad
chose me.
Untitled
Sasha F.
Christmas makes me
happy. Because you
get presents it’s
snowing, cookies
for Santa I’m so
happy!
Untitled
Morgan H.
Poetry makes me happy. And
play because in poetry there are
no rules. And when you play
there are no rules but there’s one
that I hate cleaning up.
Gymnastics
Heidi P.
Handstands, cartwheels, backbends and more,
Gymnastics, Gymnastics, Gymnastics galore
fun in the sun!
Bright in the night!
It makes me
happy wherever I
go. I go here and
there.
I go everywhere.
My Hoverboard
Noah R.
My hoverboard makes
me happy because that’s my favorite
thing to do in fact I want to ride
it now
Untitled
Nathan S.
playing on my iPad makes
me
happy
great
awesome
wow!
Blocky
Football
Blocky
Basketball
Blocky Hockey
Blocky Soccer
Untitled
Vedika S.
A dog makes me happy
happier than a pig
it’s OK if I don’t have one
so I say every dog should
have a child not every
child should have a dog
But still dogs are good fa la la!
Untitled
Pavit Y.
Hard cover, soft cover, books Wimpy
Kid books. Any kind books are
still books!
Ms. O’Connor, 2nd Grade
Friends
Darwin B.
I play
with them
run
all day
we also
talk we
also share
we also
draw I
also write
we watch
we watch
we watch
all night
we learn
we read
all together
please bring
more of
these
we take
walks
I have
many of these
friends.
Cheer
Jordyn B.
Cheer is very fun.
Cheer makes you learn flips.
Cheer makes you strong.
Cheer can be easy, medium or hard.
Cheer can make you fit.
Cheer can make you learn things you didn’t
know before.
You can be a flyer or a backspot.
It is important to do things the right
way.
Cheer.
Barbies
Payton C.
I love Barbies they can do
anything you want drama girly girl and
anything else they are the best thing since
American Girl dolls!
Happy
Allison C.
happy makes me go
crazy and the
last time was
when I heard
Preston’s poem about
a taco eating monkey
dancing on the Titanic
Pizza
Maxim F.
I like pizza
I will die without pizza
I will eat pizza every day
It’s warm and yummy!
It’s tasty!
Love
Mekhi G.
so love makes me happy
because I love my family
I Love Dogs and They Love Me
Mireya L.
Pugs, Pugs, Pugs and Dachshunds
I love Pugs, Pugs love hugs, hugs
love Dachshunds, Dachshunds
love me and I love them
all. Hugs, Pugs, and Dach-
shunds
This poem
is about Dogs
because they
make me happy.
And when I grow
up I want to
rescue Dogs from the pound.
Hotdogs
Lawrence N.
Hotdogs have buns the buns are good
the sausage is good inside and I sometimes
put ketchup on them I like hotdogs.
Gymnastics
Nyah T.
Gymnastics is my
life you
tumble and
swing high
on bars
you learn to
do new
tricks some
dangerous some
not. Landing
on your feet
is important
do not fall
on your head.
You might get
into a competition
but not always
be careful what
you do in gymnastics.
iPad
Aiden Y.
The iPad
can be played
on like games.
You can also
watch videos on
the iPad. You
can play on the
iPad all day.
