As always, it was a treat to be back with Skinner West students. I introduced myself as well as the program and went over what to expect for the next several weeks. There were some key terms to identify upfront (line and stanza) that will help us with our class discussions; another was simile, which the students were already familiar with. I also asked if anyone had any questions or comments.
Our first poem for discussion was “Eating Poetry” by Mark Strand. I explained we should never assume the speaker of the poem is the poet, so who (or what) exactly is speaking here? Is it perhaps a dog? Why is the librarian upset? Can you “eat” poetry, and if so, how? I also asked if there was any rhyme in the poem and we examined how Strand uses it, since there is no fixed scheme.
We had a lot to cover for this initial session, so as quickly as possible pivoted from discussion to composition. The prompt was to write about something you eat, perhaps their favorite food, with the caveat that they could divert from that main idea however they wanted as long as they were writing.
Ms. Travis, 4th Grade
I Love Strawberries
Evelyn B.
I love to eat strawberries why
because they are sweet and
juicy I just do not like the leaves
on it I like all kinda of stuff with
strawberries like strawberry cake
and more!
My Favorite Food
Ollie C.
My favorite food has to be fried calamari.
If I think of it it makes me hungry.
When I eat it I never check the time.
When I eat it it makes me want to rhyme.
If I put on some lemon it will be gone in 9 seconds.
Untitled
Ava C.
I want a taco
I love the taco shell the most
I have been dying to eat tacos
The juiciness of the salad takes me to paradise
If the taco ever grew legs and ran away
I would run after it
Every night and every day
The taco would be spicy like hot sauce
Eating Pizza
Elise H.
There are sooo many
pizzas in the world.
The dough then the
sauce and can't forget
the cheese!
Then some toppings
pepperoni, pineapple,
and sausage.
So many things to
go on pizza and
so much to eat!
Yummy Pasta
Karissa L.
I can't wait to go home.
There is going to be pasta.
Pasta as soft as pillows.
I am going home.
I can't wait.
OH NO!
The pasta's not ready.
My tummy is growling like a lion.
The pasta is done.
Oh NO!
It's hot like a chili pepper.
It burns my tongue, I blow.
Taste sweet relief.
Pasta as good as tastiness.
Untitled
Eleanor M.
One day I was eating a hotdog.
And they are good.
But not my favorite.
When my unicorn was eating my hotdog
she got ketchup on my noodles
but it was good so I kept eating it.
Chicken Curry!
Alina P.
Chicken curry is my life
it's very delicious with naan
naan is a kind of bread with my life of curry
it tastes so good
you may eat a whole pot with some naan to cool for spiciness
without any hesitation you'll just chow down
it is very simple to make
all you need is gravy, chicken, spice, and that's all
but make sure you don't eat the bone!!
Kimbap
Lilou P.
Kimbap is very delicious
with rice, seaweed, and pickled radish.
You can dip in soy sauce,
or eat it when it's hot.
Heat it up or eat it cold.
Just make sure it doesn't have mold!
Rice and Seaweed
Kiefer S.
Rice and seaweed
They go together perfectly
Maybe not for everyone
But it goes well especially for me.
It's easy to make.
Simple ingredients
Just put rice on and roll it.
But that's not all because
Adding more ingredients
Makes it even better.
Ms. Nelson, 4th Grade
Tacos Everywhere
Dylan B.
There are tacos here
and there
Some with cheese
some with none
There are tacos
everywhere!
You can make a
taco slide! Or a
swing or a pie!
Some are spicy
some are not.
You should be careful
when you pick your
own!
Lunch Time
Chris C.
As I walk in
no one sits with me as usually
so I start eating my lunch.
As I'm eating
a man walks by
he sits down and asks if I want to sit with him.
I've been waiting
but every time he talks
it feels like dogs biting my heart.
Weird Sushi
Sofia C.
I'm the only one out of all my friends.
I love sushi. Sushi is my
friend.
I know I'm weird I hear
people say it.
But the only thing they
hear is me ignoring it.
The Cheetos
Xavier G.
Cheetos Cheetos in aisle 9
Only a dollar and 69
There is only one place these Cheetos must be
Down the hatch with glee
It seems these Cheetos are calling me
I must put them out of their misery
These Cheetos are great but
not healthy
The Party of Hearts
Jade L.
'Tis Valentine's Day
I'm terrified as the frosting approaches me...
Children squealing excitedly as I wait in silence
I can feel the bizarre substance spreading,
spreading across my face.
A plate is placed beneath me,
a knife is right above me,
I feel myself slowly separating in half.
Now I'm gone. Gobbled up by humans.
Untitled
Liam M.
When steak touches
my mouth just
like I had the
best food ever
Steak is the best
food ever even
smells like Gordon
Ramsay's restaurant
Food Poem (Weird Chocolate Cookies)
Grace N.
My mouth wants me to eat.
I like chocolate cookies.
Chocolate cookies look like our face with many dots.
Everyone in my family jumps up.
They look at me seriously.
Just like these dots are black pencil draw ons
That make me can't speak one word.
The Man at the Door!
Nyla P.
When I eat my mac-and-cheese
I eat it as I please
when I am done
I get some more
But then I hear a knocking
at my front door
A man is standing at the
door
He says he has more mac-and-
cheese!
Oh please, oh please I say
to the man! I want that
mac-and-cheese!
Mrs. Keffer, 4th Grade
The Decision
Maxim C.
I wanted it so badly
It was just sitting there
On the table
Just waiting to be eaten
It was shining in the light
Just like glass would
I couldn't help it
I started running
I froze
I wondered
I decided
I walked away
And once I walked away
I saw it
I felt it
I knew I made the right choice
And there
Sitting on the table
It was still sitting
Just waiting to be eaten
Hungry
Yesha D.
I've set the table,
oh so clean,
then I start to eat everything,
even the green beans!
I eat the table.
Tablecloth included.
I eat the cat,
because I'm starving.
I eat the house, the neighborhood,
the city,
I eat Illinois,
the USA,
North America,
and then I eat the world,
and finish it up with a drink from the oceans.
Now I eat myself,
just a mouth,
starving for more.
Dinner in the Cold
Haven H.
I am eating udon
the savory goodness
runs through my
mouth, the soup
warms my body
in the bitter cold
I sit on the
ground as I
sip the last drip
I fall asleep on the log
Boba Tea
Derek H.
mmm the taste of the tea
wow the tea tastes so sweet
the boba inside can be big and be small
The sweetness depends on you
whether you want it sweet or
not sweet
Untitled
Kaspian K.
The fizz and the crack
of opening the can
and the lemon-lime taste
The sweetness of the sip
and small sourness on the tongue
Sprite
what would I do without it
Untitled
Skylar M.
McDonald's fries
They contain no lies
To me
They're even better than pie.
It's always better when
I have a McFlurry to go with it.
I almost break
When someone says
McDonald's fries is something they hate.
McDonald's fries
McDonald's fries
When I say I love them
That's no lie
Receipt
Amil M.
I am at
the restaurant
waiting to
eat
he is at the
table with
the receipt
I am
confused
I want
to eat
but then
I look at
the receipt
it says
look up
at the
sky
in my
mind I
say why
but then
I look
up and
see
a really
big plate
of
spaghetti!
Untitled
Harry O.
Salmon, it is very good
Everybody eats it, especially in my neighborhood
It tastes fishy like a fish,
Yet it's my favorite dish
It comes from the ocean and it's cooked up
And then you get to eat the yummy fish
The fish gets sad but you get happy
Then someone asks you to share with them
And then you gobble it up real quick
Because you don't want to share the yummy
Yummy fish
S'more
Thomas S.
The warmth in my mouth,
the sweet flavor.
I taste the smooth
sweet taste
of the marshmallow
with the toastly shell, a shade of yellow.
I hear the cracker's crunch
as I eat, chew, and munch.
I taste the rich flavor of the chocolate,
the snap of the bar in my mouth,
it's amazing.
The graham cracker
with the goo of the marshmallow,
goo like slime,
the chocolate so sweet.
The s'more. An amazing treat.
Kibble
Lea V.
I am wandering around the room
My owner is going out to shop
She won't give me any sort of kibble
I can't bite, devour or even nibble
When my owner comes, I am asleep
I'm fast asleep, so I can dream
I dream of yummy kibble clouds
I wake up in the middle of the night
There's kibble waiting by my side
I fall asleep since I'm very full
I ate too many kibble clouds
Mr. O’Brien, 4th Grade
Untitled
Stella C.
It's hard to list it in order,
but if I have to list it,
here is my list...
Fresh fruits are sweet and healthy.
This includes cherries and berries!
Olives have a sour, tangy taste.
It can be used many ways. So there is no waste.
Oysters are the great shell. When cooked, it
can ring a bell! Who knew that fish is great!
Dairy includes milk and cheese. I would
even say “please!”
Every food is great, but like I
said it's hard.
So not to blame me.
It's just life.
Spicy Treat
Lottie M.
Today I ate a special treat.
But it burns my tummy like hot meat.
It's something hot or something steamy.
I don't know what it is but it's something tempting.
I drool and drool all around
but making no sound.
It's something very red.
But now I'm lying on my bed.
Untitled
Archer P.
I take a step.
To a land of food.
Where all is good.
Finally I see it.
The greatest food of all.
For none shall say no.
Though catastrophe rings,
for the meaty burger goes up in
flames.
I take a wish.
It goes extinguishes itself.
I take a bite
I blip out.
Maybe another night.
The Sunny Meal
Cameron P.
Beef goes into my mouth
Yolk runs down the sides
If I get chili cheese fries
I will be very fine
Cinnamon Flames
Shay S.
I watch it sizzle & burn.
The heat is over extraordinary.
Flames fill my eyes.
I can smell the burnt crust.
I can feel the cinnamon.
My hands get sweaty as I hold the torch.
I stare at the perfect cut.
Everything tastes better than usual.
I can't help but “What a great pie.”
Yummy, yummy thoughts fill my head.
Thick and perfect.
I could eat this forever.
Ice Cream
Ann S.
The sweet smell of it!
Makes my sweet tooth go bananas.
I scream when I don't get ice cream!
The cream in there makes me scream.
After ice cream I go on the balance beam.
The ice in there is pretty pretty nice.
Ramen
Logan W.
I slurp with joy, and slam down my bowl.
“Can I order another?”
The sweet savory taste of the broth excites me.
And the noodles, oh!
And the egg, even though I'm allergic, I don't care!
The seaweed is so good, especially the sides that come.
The dumplings, the egg rolls, oh!
I can't escape the savory flavor the sauce has.
It's ramen!
The best of the best of all food.
No one can beat it...
Except for fried rice!