This week our 7th graders read Ada Limon’s The Quiet Machine. This prose poem by the 2022 U.S. Poet Laureate, describes all of the different kinds of quiet she experiences, based on her state of being, or where she is on any given day. Students then brainstormed on a specific emotion of their own, and described different facets and experiences of this emotion. They also experimented with the prose poem form and got to work drafting their own emotion machine poem. It was truly a pleasure reading all of their poems this week. I felt like I got a deeper glimpse into their stories and experiences as young people. I hope you enjoy this week’s pieces.
Untitled
Karlo
I’m learning so many different ways to be confused. There’s how people talk and what language they speak or what they’re talking about. There’s also how I want to buy a billboard but how much does it cost. There’s what kinda game is that, or why is it shaped like that. But the worst of them all is video games, like how do I find the objective, or where can I find the person to help me play the game. Also how do I get the weapons to play or what button do I press to play the game.
The Nervous Machine
Yarel M.
I’m learning so many different ways to be nervous. There’s having to present your projection in front of the whole class, messing up in volleyball by serving it a whole different way. Then there’s testing, the worst kind of nervous, afraid of getting everything wrong, nervous that you’re the only one that got it wrong. Being nervous as a mouse getting hunted, feeling yourself getting hot, and your hands getting cold, fidgeting your fingers to distract yourself from getting nervous.
Awkward
Jaylah B.
I’m learning many different ways to be AWKWARD.
When I’m surrounded by people I don’t know.
When someone makes a joke and no one laughs.
When people are watching you on stage.
The awkwardness of peeing in a public bathroom,
or coughing in a quiet room.
This is how my machine works.
