For their 8th week of poetry Twain 6th graders explored epistolary poetry. Epistolary poems are poems that can be written as letters, notes, or diary entries. We discussed the different ways people communicate with each other in today’s world: texts, emails, social media posts, and Face Timing. Handwritten letters may seem outdated, but they can be more personal and meaningful.
Together we watched and listened to the animated Oscar winning short film “Dear Basketball,” which was inspired by the late Kobe Bryant’s poem of the same name. Kobe was a brilliant basketball player for the Lakers. He wrote this poem when he decided to retire from basketball which he played since he was a six-year-old practicing making shots with his dad’s rolled up tube socks. I’m ready to let you go. I want you to know now. So, we both can savor every moment we have left together. The good and the bad. We have given each other. All that we have. For Kobe, basketball was like his best friend. One he had to say goodbye to but never forget.
Thinking of Kobe Bryant’s legacy and message, students wrote epistolary “letter” poems to people and things in their lives. Check your mailboxes and read these wonderful letters.
Mr. Burford 6th Grade
Group 1
Dear Ocean
By Nadira G.
As soon as the weather gets warmer
I will come and visit you
Your hot sand on my feet
Always put a smile on my face
The salty water always
refreshes me from the hot sun
Your waves are always
The most fun to surf on
I always collect the seashells you give me,
I have way too many to count now
I enter the beach one shade
And leave so many shades darker
You bring me happiness just
Being in your presence
Letter: Rocky the Broccoli
By Estella O.
The day I met my dog, I felt like my life was completed
My dream of forever having a dog, came true when my dad brought
home my best friend .
Even during my hardest times, & I had no one by my side,
Rocky has always been there for me.
Rocky has never failed to make me smile during my stressful days
Tears turned into laughter, Frowns turned into smiles.
Dear Master Sword
By Vernon M.
As you glow in the light and fill me with nostalgic memories.
From the past and maybe the future.
How my character holds it.
Putting it into the sky pointing it into the sun
While playing its iconic theme.
My dad used to play The Legend Of Zelda when he was young.
He would play it for its puzzles and monsters.
It’s shops and weapons.
And for its legendary, Master Sword.
Its have been changing while I have been growing up
from a slick thin sword
To a thick and giant sword.
With its gold triforce
A three-triangle piece that has been in every game.
This sword will give me nostalgic memories for years to come
Love you and always remember you
-Vernon
Dear MICKLEY
Angel S.
You are my best friend
Eddie and I will never forget when we would like to play soccer
in recess and take pictures in our Chrome books.
We ate in class and didn’t get caught sorry.
Mr. Burford and Mrs. Lesnika’s.
We haven’t seen each other in a while
but you will always be my best friend.
Letter to Mom and Dad
By: Victoria C.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you for not throwing me away
Like some parents do.
You both never gave up on me when times were hard.
You guys gave me everything,
Even if you barely had any money.
Whenever you couldn’t afford something,
You always tried to make the best out of it.
We sometimes had our fights,
But there was never one time we didn’t talk again.
You only wanted what was best for me,
But I still complained.
The number of sacrifices you guys made,
Just for me to be where I am right now.
You would do anything for me to live the most extended life God could give me.
Everything you guys did was for me to be happy.
If I could thank you right now, it would never be enough.
I know that the words that I said hurt you both,
But if only I could go back in time, I would have fixed the cracks in your broken hearts.
I would do anything or you guys to be happy.
I want your hearts to be happy and pumping blood.
Seeing you guys have blood on your skin makes me wish you wouldn’t suffer as much.
Mom, you always gave me food and advice on my goals.
You were always kind and taught me the lessons I needed.
I didn’t like the pressure you put on me, but it made me who I am.
Thank you for your support, and I wish I could hug you forever.
When you needed to go to the hospital due to a problem with your leg made me cry.
I missed you so much.
I could never imagine the pain you were in.
I wished it could have never happened to you.
Hope arrived in your blood, and it made you well again.
I love you.
Dad, you work so hard for money to provide for my family.
Your hands are scarred, bruised, dirty, and bloody.
Mine are smooth and clean.
You have been through so much.
I would always wait for you to come home well and happy.
As long as you are okay, I am happy.
When I was younger, I would wait for you to come with a toy.
I should have been happy that you came home.
I was never grateful.
I’m sorry.
I love having a life with you both.
But I know you both won’t be here forever.
I don’t want you both to leave me.
The older I get, the older you both get.
I don’t like thinking about the end.
But it has to come.
I love you both;
Since the moment I opened my eyes
To the moment people will find out if there is a multiverse. (Never)
In every universe, I love you both.
I don’t know if I will see you both again,
But I will never stop loving you,
Thank you for being the best thing in my life.
There will never be parents like you both.
Thank you for not leaving or giving up on me.
Thank you for having hope in me and being there for me when no one else did.
Nothing will last forever, but this letter and my love for you both will.
Love,
Victoria.
Mr. Burford 6th Grade
Group 2
“Dear My dream Guitar”
By: Jonathan A.
Dear my dream Guitar,
I looked everywhere,
I still can’t find you.
After every color,
After every shape,
After testing how smooth it is,
After testing the great quality,
After finding a perfect strap,
I still can’t find you.
Getting a great amp,
Getting the right tone,
Getting the right sound,
I still can’t find you.
I need to find you,
Before it is too late.
Someone might take you away from me.
Send me a hint, a clue, where you are,
Because I still can’t find you.
Sincerely
– Jonathan
Dear Adeline
Vianese S.
Dear Adeline,
I’m writing this because I want you to know that you are another piece of me.
I love that you always look out for me, would fight for me, give me advice,
and give me new wardrobes. You are one of my favorite people in the entire world
and nothing could ever change that.
Thank you for always being there and taking care of me.
You might be a girl but you are my other parent, my best friend, my sister,
my cousin, and my guidance.
Whenever we hang out I come back glowing.
Thank you for teaching me new things.
I trust you with all of my secrets
and I owe you my life. Thank you for everything.
Love always,
Munchakin
Dear Softball,
By Jocelyn U.
Since the first time I saw you play with my sister
I thought you were so cool, fun to play with, and have fun with.
Ever since then I have been watching my sister grow and play with you.
Now she is in high school and she still plays till this day.
After I saw my sister play I wanted to play too so I started practicing
with both my sister and my Dad. My Dad helped me practice with
throwing and catching.
We went to the park to practice some other drills so I can get better at the game.
My Dad always told me you have to have a good mindset.
Finally, after all of those days practicing with my Dad and my sister.
My Dad put me on a team to play and I was so excited.
They all cheered and chanted songs and I joined in.
After the game we talked and I went home, my dad said I did good.
All of These games and years have gone by so fast.
But I am still playing till this day and having so much fun.
“To Past Me”
By: Veronica U.
Dear Past Me,
I do miss you.
If I were to be anybody from the past I would be you!
I have changed so much and It just got worse and worse!
I haven’t felt the same without you!
Life isn’t the same without you! Everyone misses you!
We want you back we just don’t know how to get to you.
We wish you were here! You made us all laugh,
You made us all happy 24/7,
You made us all brave,
You made us all be the best us we could be.
Mr. Barr 6th Grade
Group 1
Dear Grandpa
By Karis C.
I love you and I miss you so much.
I get it that you had to go, but I know you are in a better place.
I know that you are not suffering anymore.
Thank you for being with me and taking care of me.
All these years with you were the best. You made me laugh
and I made you laugh, I love your smile, laugh,
and how you smell, just like a baby.
I loved how your green eyes shine in the light.
I loved when the ice cream man was outside
and you always gave me money to buy myself an ice cream.
I laughed when I put a blanket on your face and
I told you I was going to disappear and I actually grabbed chips
from your shop and went to my room.
I wish cancer had a cure.
I love you so much and I just want to
let you know that you are always in my heart.
I always think about you and I remember all the memories we had.
I promise to always be a good kid just like you wanted me to be.
I hope to see you and hug you.
I love you.
Dear Edward
By Mariana L.
Dear Edward,
You make me feel happy
You are so kind and handsome
I love you so much
Because you are the best vampire ever
I fell in love with you
When I first saw you
My blood starts pumping hard
He was sitting with his beautiful
Smile and he was good looking
I’m a big fan of you My name is Mariana
And I’m 12 years old I from Chicago
I love Vampires so much you make me feel happy
LOVE YOU ALWAYS MARIA
NA 🫶🏻💙
Dear George
Aedan R.
Dear George,
I remember when you welcomed me,
I did not know anybody and I was shy.
You brought me out of that zone
and provided me with a friend
you.
In 3rd grade, we were separated, my classes
But you still came around,
You did not let that separation separate us.
In 4th grade, we were separated again.
We lost that relationship.
5th grade
It felt weird being together again since we lost our relationship.
We ignored that and we formed new friend groups.
Now our whole friend group was separated,
again.
I wish that all of us were together again,
I hope we could see each other again.
Dear Art
By Layla S.
Dear Art,
From the moment I picked up my pencil,
I fell in love.
I felt different, like a new world opened for me.
A creative mind set was sent to me.
I feel so at peace when I look a blank sheet of paper
or a blank canvas.
So many creative possibilities to unfold.
Like there’s a beast inside of me waiting to be set free
and let its rage create beauty on paper.
The way a pencil scratches on a sheet.
The way how a paint brush glides across a canvas.
The way colors collide to make a new one.
The way clay molds into your fingertips.
The way how an art piece can change your mindset.
There is no such thing as messing up an art piece.
It is just a new idea,
an idea that can improve your art peace.
Or when you get paint on your desk.
Most people want to wipe it off,
I want to leave it.
And admire that small blotch of paint.
Thank you, art,
For being with me for so many years.
For helping me when I’m stressed.
For when I feel like letting what’s in my mind come to life.
For being an inspiration.
And for letting other people be creative with me.
Love you always and forever,
Layla
Dear 5th grade me
By Nikola T.
Whatever you do don’t fall for them they are tricking you
They just want to you to leave that person
Don’t go to them
Just let them do their own things
Don’t ruin your friendship because of them
Don’t choose them over that person
Trust me you will regret it:
I got tricked by them and lost that person.
Please just don’t let them get to you
If I have to I will send you 50 dollars or more
What I did was the biggest mistake I made.
As a 10 year old girl
You may not know much the world
Everything will be better if you leave them alone
Ignore them and go to the person
If you don’t listen your life will be miserable
You will miss that person
You will cry half of the time
School, room, outside, car, everywhere
The pain is too hard to keep in
The pain just builds up.
There will be a group of girls
Go to them
They help and they are kind
They will never leave your side
When you don’t listen and let them trick you
There might not be much pain at first but you will start feeling it
The group will come with you till 6th grade and they will help you forget your pain
They are true friends.
In 6th grade you will feel mixed feeling
But it will get spilled
Every morning before school you will put makeup on and change yourself for that person
7th grade is coming around the corner
Homework and work will build up and you will get more stressed
One more thing
Try to look better in the yearbook photo because this year
I don’t think it’s our year.
Mr. Barr 6th Grade
Group 2
Dear Video Games
By Diego C.
Dear Video Games,
From the start found you
I was addicted to you.
From day and night
I would play with you.
Driving, killing, obstacles, and puzzles.
Even if I got frustrated with you-
I still found you interesting.
You made a 5 year-old interested in gaming,
You made him obsessed with you.
I always grinded, to be the best.
My two favorite parts of gaming are
Puzzles and obstacles.
They made me think,
Trying to solve it for 30 minutes.
All I’m trying to say is you’ve been a part
Of my childhood for a while
Sincerely
Diego C.
Dear Money.
By Alejandro M.
As soon as I saw you I knew.
I knew you were the one for me.
I always chased around for you.
I went looking for you.
I went around to the bank
I went to an atm.
But you never came to me.
You were always my friend.
The only friend I ever needed.
You never made me cry.
You always wiped my tears.
Benjamin Franklin,
Ulysses Grant,
Jackson.
The 3 things I love.
20$, 50$, 100$
The 3 loves of my life.
Made with soft paper.
Easy to take out
Easy to lose.
You never seemed to leave my mind.
-Alejandro M.
Dear Amaya
By Meghan O.
I sat next to you from afar.
I did not think we would talk at all
I just thought you were some girl in my class.
Little did I know you would be one of my closest friends.
I don’t know when it happened.
We just clicked.
We started talking out of nowhere.
And became super close.
We got each others numbers
And called for hours on end,
Doing stupid things and staying up too late.
It’s crazy to think I have only known you for a year.
When I am with you
We make the most boring things interesting
Just by being with each other
And laughing so hard we can’t breathe.
We laugh and laugh,
Over small things
They would not make sense to anyone else
But to us, it makes us giggle and kick our feet.
We can talk for hours and hours
Not keeping track of time
Until we both get too tired
And fall asleep
Only to do it all over again.
Now I sit next to you,
Here on this couch
Laughing and smiling
Until the teacher makes us move.
Love you forever,
Meghan O.
