Conversational Poetry

At Social Justice HS, we studied how to incorporate conversational language into poetry by analyzing Anis Mojgani’s “To Where the Trees Grow Tall.” How can conversations be a doorway into another world? How can we use conversations to juxtapose a setting inside of a poem, similar to how Mojgani does in his poem? I asked the students to think of a conversation they overheard on the bus, a text conversation from their phone, or one they were a part of with at least one other person as inspiration for the poem.

Social Justice HS Poetry

I Thought You loved Me Belen O.

“I shouldn’t be treating you like this,” he said
“I should be Treating you better,” he said
“Then why can’t you…” I replied
Silence… I didn’t know how to feel or act
Anger rushed, sadness & overthinking
“because I don’t know,” he said
“because you don’t know…” I repeated
sitting in the couch not knowing what to feel or think.
“I shouldn’t always be telling you,” I replied
“If you love me, you wouldn’t keep hurting me & lying to me,” I replied
Crying in the room not knowing what to do next.
not knowing if I stay or leave runs through my mind. everyday.
Does he even love me…or ever did… why couldn’t I be enough!

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