Self-Portraits in Poetry

In our first class meeting, Waters 6th and 7th graders read “Self-Portrait with my hijab” by Noora S. a 7th grader at Peterson Elementary. In class students discussed the use emotion and the idea of a significant object in this poem. Students used these ideas as a jumping off point to write their own Self Portrait Poems. We also talked about lines and how they help separate different ideas within a poem. Below are some of the students poems.

Ms. Smallwood

6th Grade 

My Brain lets me think

Nathaniel P.

My Brain lets me think

my soul is real

I tear my ace of spades into pieces

I read my atlas

I do politics on my computer

[Map of the US drawn by Nathaniel P.]

I watch as Neptune flys around the house

Leila 

I watch as Neptune flys around the house

back to me. She circles back and lands on

me and climbs onto my shoulder to join

Pluto. Pluto flys around my head and

lands on one of the many things

to find something. I call him back

and he flys to Neptune to

share a treat. I watch

with a huge smile as

I pick up my book

and look deep into the

pages. I curl up with the

birds on my shoulder to

call my best friend and after

I take my birds home and collapse

on my bed and read and call my best friend –

Evelyn

Se que no soy perfecta

Sara

Se que no soy perfecta pero a go lo

que puedo A veces se que tomo

las decisiones incorrectas pero también se

de que los errores se aprende y me a

afectado mucho el pasado pero sign adelante

y como dije el pasado es pasado

Ms. Hernandez

7th Grade

I see myself as a Soccer player

Kiera W.

I see myself as a Soccer player

I’ve worked really hard, but when I see my

awards, it drives me to work harder.

Soccer reminds me to be grateful,

because I’ve had so many opportunities

When I see a soccer field I feel

excited because I want to see

the ball go in the net.

When I look at myself I feel

a sense of joy, because I

love the sport.

When I play all I hear are loud

and noisy parents saying “Go, go, go!”

When I’m on the sidelines I think about

How excited I am to go see my dog

and play with her after the game and take off my sweaty cleats.

All these things make who I am

A soccer player.

In the morning

Abbie L.

In the morning, my chestnut brown hair is

thick and wavy, I straighten

it and it becomes thin, the

way I like it.

I put my flower necklace, cold

against my skin, circle shaped, from my cousin, it makes me

feel confident

I smile, my silver braces

showing, only a few more months

with them I think to myself

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TESTIMONIALS

“Writing poetry makes me feel like I can see myself, like I can see my reflection, but not in a mirror, in the world. I write and I know I can be reflected.”
-Oscar S.

“Writing poetry makes me feel free.”
-Buenda D.

“Writing poetry is like your best friend.”
-Jessica M.