This week students explored what it means to respond through poems. We started class by exchanging some short letters. We read “Way Opposite” by Harryette Mullen which was also a response to the poem we read last week. We discussed how Mullen uses homophones to create interesting language and connect different ideas together. Students then were able to write their own response poems to their choice of subject. Below are some responses to our brainstorm, things that happened to them earlier in the day, winter, and memories. Enjoy!
Ms. Smallwood
6th Grade
Response to a hoarse horse
Aivry
I wait
standing there
with what feels like the weight of the world
I hear a hoarse cry
as a horse cries
Running, walking
I took too many stops
going two at a time
I fell into the poor animal
As the horse cried
I cried
And some of that weight lifted
Response to Ms. Smallwood getting new book
August H.
I knew the new books were hard –
to add to the library shelves,
I groan at the grown number of books,
what a nightmare to add to the small shelves,
Biggest single project there – after of course organizing 775 books
I don’t know what to do in the event of running out of space
I’ll move some stuff around – donate ones never checked out,
If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got 100 new books to shelve.
I now knew
Yaseen B.
I now knew that new stuff were few
I chose the close clothes in my
wardrobe.
I had grown the plant, but it didn’t
grow so I let out a groan.
The voice of the horse was hoarse
but that was because he took an
opera coarse.
The entire race course was made
with coarse dirt.
The weight of the wait of going to
Haiti was so long I began to hate.
Ms. Hernandez
7th Grade
In response to the season of winter
Reeve S.
In response to the season of winter, I hate the cold,
but I love Christmas. I hate the late nights,
with the cold knights. My chapped lips and long
jackets are the worst. I hate waking up with a
sore throat and runny nose. Winter is the worst.
Too many layers with a red face of coldness.
You need to leave without a bye, go by yourself,
nothing else only you.
el mar es inmenso
Nicoll M.
el mar es inmenso
y el desierto es infinito
pero estar contigo siempre
es lo mas bonito
The Nike Store
Freddy P.
When I walked into the Nike
Store I knew the smell of new
shoes and the clothes smell like the
door is closed. When I was sick
at home talking about a horse, I
hoarsed whenever I talked. And
years later afterI have grown
A groan as I think about
the years when I was a t the Nike Store
And while I write this I know
how I am right
