Ms. Widman
High School Creative Writing
This week the students at Amundsen were just as excited for poetry as spring break. We explored reportage poems or poems that acted as journalistic reflection of the author’s life. We read Muriel Rukeyser’s “Poem (I lived in the first century of world wars)” and “Groundswell” by Mark Jarman and discussed how both poets use facts and personal/collective history to tell a story. We then did a fun brainstorm of researching interesting things that happened locally and globally on one’s birthday. They were then tasked with writing a poem about their life in relation to current events/history. I am so proud of the poets I’m publishing below!
I wish I was born on 9/11
by Thalia K.
I wish I was born on 9/11
my bday sucks
it rained
someone apparently got married
but who cares honestly about that?
I was born!
and I think everyone needs me honestly
so happy bday to me!
I still wish I was born on 9/11 though, nothing historical happened on June 22,
because you wouldn’t forget me.
A Nobody
by Anonymous
a child who walks on earth in a 21st century
used to Hippy Hop around my room when birthday
was the day
Wishes to hear nor see them one last time
before going up toward the cloud
Even though I was just a no one
with want to run around a kid used to have full energy
nearly lost a brother who I deeply care about
A man offers a bag of something
but asks for help in a van
Tries to, observer of how the world currently works here
November 29, 2005
by Anonymous
I am born in a country about to re-elect its’ 43rd President
while present day the 45th just got indicted in a hush
money case.
I am born in a country dealing with Hurricane Katrina, now
with floods in California.
months before I was born, Minnesota was dealing with the Red Lake
shootings which resulted in 10 deaths.
A few days ago in Nashville a shooting occurred
at a Catholic school which resulted in 6 deaths,
including three 9 year olds.
While children are sent off to school and killed,
senators are only worried about restricting Black
History from school books
because Black History isn’t American History,
but the 2nd Amendment will always be guaranteed
“But dead kids can’t read.”
An Untold Story
by Koraima A.
14 years old
unimaginable age for a love story
You don’t know what you want
You don’t know what you’ll get
You tell me I’m crazy,
but not as crazy as Frederick Fennell
He died at age 90
He lived his life and accomplished a lot;
I hope I’ll get to 90 with the love of my life.
But as kids right now, school shootings is what’s happening
I say it’s strange
like the streak that imaged in Australia
4 years and counting
crazy to think
if you can die in a shooting,
why can’t you be in love?
