After working through the more advanced middle-school level poem of “Our Land” by Langston Hughes, our 4th and 5th graders were able to discuss and reflect on how they might want their own imaginary lands to be.
My Land
Lily
5th grade
My land has no need for money
My land doesn’t have bugs
because bugs smell bad like fish guts
there’s no need for money
because money is as bad as the chupacabra
You stay young forever
because old people are cranky like a bat
No dying
because dying is as sad as a baby
Girls only
because boys are stinky as poop
No work because work is no fun
My Land Dream
by Alexcia
4th grade
My land has rainbow flowers.
My land has pineapple trees that are yellowish.
It is a land where bad guys are not allowed.
No looney Trump (you can eat poop).
Yes, there will be fruit
and a nice chocolate river
so you can eat with the fruit
and here you can have a free mansion
and free food and a nice LED-lighted pool.
You can learn as much as you can
and get into a good college
and you can have a colorful life
with hotels and joy.
My Dream Land
by Olivia
4th grade
I need a land
where there are no critics
with flowers and apples all around
and smells that are exotic like marigold.
No flies or mosquitoes
to ruin your day
and tress and flowers can whoosh in the wind.
I need a land with no politics
and a land where people are fair
and have peace like two peas in a pod
and the afternoons are as pretty as models.