Everyone loves a good ode because an ode is all about celebration! In class, we read work by latinx, midwest poet Jose Olivarez whose delicious poem Ode to Tortillas led to great discussions about identity and culture and even more heated discussions about how tortillas should be pronounced (emphasizing the middle t and ah sound at the end), how tortillas should be made (with corn), and how tortillas should be eaten (not with a fork and knife!).
Here are two odes:
Ode to Beans
by Robert
7th grade
mom smashing beans
in the morning
frying them
putting them into tortillas
eating them at every party
or just on sunday
baked beans are not real beans
beans are real beans
Ode to Camping
by Sebastian
7th grade
The warm sun beaming
down on you and your
friends while you do
activities like going
fishing, swimming, archery,
and learning about
how to use a rifle
shotguns and a musket.
Then for dinner we had
some sloppy joe and
I made it for my friend,
and they kept begging
for more as well as them
wanting more packets
of kool-aid. Then to go
sleep in the woods
with your warm sleeping
bag and soft pillow,
but before you sleep
you and your friends
will joke around. Then
finally you sleep warm
and peacefully under the
stars.