In celebration of the imminent summer and great summer food, we read “Oda al tomate” or “Ode to the Tomato” by Pablo Neruda. We followed his example and wrote poems of high praise for our favorite foods and other things that give us joy.
Room 314
Ode to Mangos
Yahaira E.
The market’s
populated with mangoes,
as one runs down
the street it lands
on my feet.
I take it home for
a little rest,
it peels itself as it
takes a
shower, revealing
its yellow beauty.
But then, I take
it, sinking my teeth into
it.
Ode to Scissors
Chainida P.
The office
aisle filled
with beautiful
scissors
plain,
decorative
whatever scissors
you can think
of
Small ones
in my jacket
protecting me
from evil
criminal
scumbags
trying to attack
me
big ones
for chopping
paper
These simple
objects make
me feel safe
and happy
Scissors have
many
uses
they can
be used for
cutting,
chopping,
dicing and
more
They have
cool
patterns
on them
like cats,
watermelons,
pineapples
and the
list goes on
Once you
start using
them you
can’t stop
Scissors are like
magnets for
your hands
They’re very addicting
and I can’t explain
why they
make me
feel special
like a single
dandelion on a
field and the
scissors are the little
girl who comes to
talk to me
Ode to Mangos
Daisy H.
The yellow.
It’s so
delicious.
It’s so
juicy.
Once you
try a
mango,
it starts
calling your
name.
The juice
won’t leave
you alone.
It’ll follow
you,
until you
drink the
juice.
The mango
follows you
and once
you peel it,
the mango is
headed towards
your mouth.
If it misses
it’ll attack
again.
Ode to Peach
Enrique V.
I am
so beautiful
My peaches
grown in
trees
We light
up the
sun
People
love
us
so
much.
In December
no one buys us
We’re in cans,
plastic cups,
also candy
They mix
us up
with
our BFFs
Strawberry
also Grapes
and Mango
The Apple
knocks,
hi good
bye.
Room 322
Ode to Watermelon
Lysa Marie A.
It’s big and
small, rolling
around
the counter as
I
try
to cut it,
carving the
green skin
off, cutting
them in little squares.
Biting into it
with the juice running
down
my hand.
Mostly on hot summer
days.
They put it in drinks to
make it
colorful and tropical.
Ode to Potatoes
Ashley B.
At the market
Mom buys groceries…
potatoes are on the list.
Potatoes sent to McDonald’s
Burger King
Wendy’s
to be slaughtered,
to be cut into slices
then fried.
Dipped in ketchup and eaten
or drop that potato in
boiling water.
It’s burning and crying of steam
then its skin dissolves—
But wait!
It gets dropped into yummy soup
and then gets eaten.
Or the Potato can be fried or baked
drowned in artificial flavors,
colorings,
in a bag mostly full of air,
becomes chips
and gets people fatter.
Ode to Orange
Giovanni G.
The tree
filled with oranges
in the morning,
summer,
light
outside
orange is
juice in
a cup,
runs through
the blender
In July
juicy oranges
take over the
fruit bowl,
at lunch
time make
orange juice,
a finger
opening
a piece,
getting bigger,
it populates the
cup
Room 320
Ode to Joy
Justin B.
People filled with joy
every day, hour, minute and second,
every season weather and climate
in their brain
in their heart
spreading like the plague
from one person to another
people wanting more
businesses sell it for free
it kills all other emotions
Emmies, Oscars and awards
it is Joy
Ode to Pineapple
Ashley H.
1.
The market has
what I want!
Delicious
tropical fruit!
When
I
run
into my
kitchen, it’s there!
Yellow with the huge
spikes, spines
that don’t hurt at
all.
Eat me! OK!
Yay today
was
perfect
as long as
I have
my
pineapple.
2.
Yellow, with
spikes
gentle spikes
that want to be held
in the hands of the
hungry.
Beautiful, bright color
shines through
like the morning sun
once you cut open
the delight.
Here
comes
happiness.
Ode to Watermelon
Nora O.
The boxes
are filled with
delicious watermelons.
Summer, beautifully green.
Slice it open and beautiful
delicious redness.
Close your eyes and take a bite
of the sweet freshness.
The watermelon is still round
but barely
So good!
Wrap the watermelon up.
Boom! The watermelon slips out of my hands
Ooh Yeah! TACOS!
Leslie R.
The cart filled with burning tortillas
afternoon, warm day
Mom yelling out
“Tenemos tacos!”
Me jumping on the inside!
Tortillas on the grill
*tzz* *tzz*
the sound of it burning.
Carne asada grilling
then in the middle of the taco.
“mmmm” “mmm”
Sun hitting on my taco.
Carne asada melting in my mouth.
The last bit of the taco…
is a piece of tortilla.
Ode to Habanero
Gregory R.
AAAAA!!
the spicy
juicy
taste of habanero
firefighters come
extinguish the fire
in my
mouth
in the
ground every
thing is okay
I take another
bite
What do you think will happen?
Ode to Bacon
Mauricio C.
Juicy flavor
You get nervous
When you eat
and maybe a little sweaty
Touch it,
mouth feels watery,
getting too intense,
censor that Bacon!
I take one bite,
it’s taste, just right
So much intensity,
just one item.
So much heat,
because it’s a team to beat
sizzly, sizzling flavor
just mocking you
with that sizzle.
