For our most recent session, we read and discussed Justin Danzy’s “A rickety door, a back one or side, not stable.” At the midpoint of the residency, this poem is the first to include a few more challenging words, such as domineering, apocryphal, and officiant. That said, it was still easy enough to follow the narrative, where the speaker describes a family interacting with each other in their home, one member working on a car in the driveway, another making food, and a third playing on a GameCube—a seemingly typical domestic scene. We ascertained the speaker’s relationship to the others, parsed their attitude about them, and enjoyed the poet’s powers of description.
The students’ open-ended prompt was to write about family. As George Santayana famously said, “The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” Here are more.
Ms. Travis
4th Grade
Mom's Birthday
Avika A.
Tomorrow is my mom's birthday and
this time me, my dad, and my little sis are
going to plan a good birthday party!
So, I asked, where should we go?
My dad said, “We will go to
Disney World!” Yay! Shouted me and
my sis. It is going to be an awesome
surprise for mom's birthday.
Soon, I went to school. I was
so excited. I made a card for mom. I
kind of felt envious that my sis
didn't have to go to school.
(Next day)
Now today is my mom's birthday!
So I quickly went to mom's room.
When I went I wished her.
She was so happy about the
surprise!
We were soon at Disney World!
Bear
Kree B.
My bear is never bad
but he always makes
me so sad
I will always
tuck you in
at night so you'll
sleep so bright
Don't cry it's alright
because I'll always give
you a lullaby
Hi I'm Bob
Samuel D.
Hi I'm Bob and I'm a good person
here are some good things I've done
once, I was at the supermarket
gonna buy some rhubarb
I reached into my pocket, it's time to
get charged, I know what happens
next is strange. I flash a stunning
smile and say “you can keep
the change.” Oh yeah I'm a good
person. I'm chillin out at home mom steps
inside the lair, she says, “I'm smellin
like sewer you should get some air.”
I stand stretched my arms out wide. I
opened up the door and put a single
foot outside. Oh yeah I'm a good person.
I leave my house so healthy I think
I'll put my foot inside my house now
uh.
It Is a Morning By the Way
Elise H.
My brother
is yelling at
my father.
I
am
trying
to
go
back
to
sleep.
I want to
go back to
sleep.
My Crazy Family
Eleanor M.
My family is crazy
while my mom is feeding the fish
my dad is trying to sleep
and my dog is pulling me around the room
When we eat dinner it is even crazier
while my dog is all done
and my mom and dad are watching the TV
I am watching my video
And that is my crazy life
My House
Kiefer S.
When you step in my house
you see lights, tables, chairs,
and a couch.
You'll mostly see my dad,
sitting doing work
and rarely see my mom
standing doing chores.
When you walk downstairs,
my sister is doing homework.
Then, there's a creepy hall.
There's a bedroom, bathroom,
and closet.
Ms. Nelson
4th Grade
My Family
Dylan B.
My brother in his bed on his
phone while my sister is with
my mom at Starbucks. My
dad is on the couch watching
football.
Untitled
Cassius H.
Me and my mom and dad took
me to a football game
and the other team lost the
game. The next day I am
going to my sister's volleyball
game and they won.
Away From My Family
Jade L.
Unlike every typical family,
I see my cousins so rarely.
“Oh yeah, my aunt lives right there!”
Being away from them I can't bear!
If only someone could understand...
It's almost as if they live in a faraway land.
“I always use my cousin's pants!”
How funny, mine live in France!
How often I see them?
Once every...two years!
Every time I think about them, I feel tears.
Untitled
Grace N.
Me and my family are happy.
I like my brother making weird moves.
Also, the lucky number of how many
people are in my family.
My parents are nice, they all care
about me.
Alone
Nyla P.
Family family
They do so much
If I could just clutch
The prospect of family
They might be old
They might be young
I just clung
To my family
I went to college
I got more knowledge
But I came back
Now I just lack
To have a family
I moved away
At first I said hooray!
But now my heart is on
The street
Eating cold meat
Mrs. Keffer
4th Grade
Here
Yesha D.
hand to hand,
bone to bone,
about as drippy
an an ice-cream cone.
hello, family,
I can't stay,
found someone new,
got to go away.
times races,
shields may form,
air blows,
it's not the norm.
as I walk home,
my end is near,
and I realize,
my family is here.
can I do this?
can I not?
'cause me and myself
that's all I've got.
Family
Haven H.
Family, family, family.
Moms, dads, brothers, and sisters.
Aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Grandmas, grandpas, and grandchildren too!
So many family members!
Family, family, family!
The Dog Family
Jiaan J.
There once was a family of
dogs. There was a mama dog, papa dog.
There was a brother dog and sister
dog. There was an evil dog and little
baby dog. There was a cannibal
dog, animal dog and Hannibal the
cannibal dog.
Each dog was doing their own
thing. Sister dog was learning how
to sing. Hannibal the cannibal was trying to
eat the pet. Little baby dog was
crying because he had to go to the vet.
Evil dog was in the basement watching
TV even though he should be dreaming
up a new scheme.
Pros and Cons
Kaspian K.
Family, sad
a funeral for a great grandma who almost struck a hundred.
They promised something
but never did.
Family, mad
a brat cousin annoying you forever.
Parents not allowing you to do anything
and letting you suffer from the mosquitos.
Family, happy
they give you gifts
and help you out.
They comfort you when you're sad.
But they punish you.
Put you in a corner and insult you.
They give you spankings
and destroy your trust.
You hate them and despise them.
But eventually forgive them.
Except for that brat cousin.
Drive, fish, eat
Amil M.
we got in
the car with
all of our stuff
we started
driving to the
lake.
we're at the
lake loading
the boat dad
started fishing
in the cold.
we put our
fish on the
fire 2 minutes
later it was
done and yum!
Sisters Are Nicer Friends
Léa V.
Sometimes friends can be a lot.
They don't get me just one speck.
The only friend I have
is a younger sister.
She has been my friend
since she was born.
I looked down at her
and knew she'd be my best friend.
She can be a lot,
and somehow annoying,
but she's too cute
to be scolded at.
But I forgive her every time,
since we share unconditional love.
Mr. O’Brien
4th Grade
The Family Tree Express
Lottie M.
It all starts with me.
The family tree. Then it's
my sis with happy cheer.
Then comes my parents while drinking beer.
OHH! Never mind that, here comes the express
to my grandparents' home! This is where my mom
lived long, long ago!
Oh, hear that? Time to go to where my
grandparents live, my dad's side to be more
clear. Now it's getting old, if you were
ever told, it's up in the sky up high.
Up in heaven is where my great-grandparents
stay, both of them. Well, is this the end?
There's way more but no more time to explore!
Family
Archer P.
Help!
My mom comes.
I get out the room.
My dad plays games.
My sister reads.
My brother does my piano.
My other sister watches my dad.
My mom is at work.
Wait who am I?
Untitled
Gray S.
My family is good. My family
is cool. I love my family. I have
a mom and dad and brother.
My Amazing Family
Shay S.
I walk into a door of a big home.
One bedroom on the first floor.
Home to my grandma on my mom's side.
She is kind and sweet, and she helps me out around the house.
I already miss her, as she has landed in Thailand.
As I head up to the second floor, I hear joy and laughter.
I look over at my dad watching Saturday Night Live.
A bowl of nachos in his hands.
The dogs are by his side.
They are until they run into the kitchen chasing the cats.
They run past my mom.
She's a brilliant chef.
She cooks, and laughs, and fills me with joy.
I love it when she smiles.
My family is amazing, and I'm glad I'm an only child.
