On the first day of our 5th Grade poetry residency at Sayre Elementary, we went over what poetry is, as well as the poetic terms “line” and stanza.” We then read a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye about a very strange gift. The poem was called “Valentine for Ernest Mann” and featured a man giving his wife two skunks for Valentine’s Day. Just like poetry, we talked about how there’s something beautiful to be found in most things. After that, students chose to either write about a weird gift they have received or given, or even make up their own weird gift they would give or receive. We shared some very strange gifts…
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Mrs. Childs’ Classroom
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100 Slimy Snails
By Swyft B.
If I could, I would give a stranger
100 snails in a box with bowties.
The stranger might get a
Grossed out feeling.
To me, I think snails are cool.
I would take care of them and
Help them learn how to
Swim in a pool.
Even though snails are slimy,
I still think they’re beautiful in
My eyes. God made them for a reason.
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The Weirdest Gift in Space
By Abigail K.
Today, someone by the name of Alyssa gave me a
Solar system
I really wonder why
Should I teleport?
Or should I fly?
I don’t know how she expects me to not forget the way
I probably won’t live to see it anyway,
What’s the purpose of it all?
Are there aliens?
I thought they were only on Mars
If see this someday
That day will be better than any day
Filled with planets
I’ll use my gift to be rich.
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The Rainbow Socks
Londyn C.
The rainbow socks were colorful
My grandma said they look very wonderful
I had a frown on my face
Wishing the socks were something else
My father asked me why I look so sad
I said I didn’t want socks, Dad!
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Mr. Goldner’s Classroom
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Chocolates
By Ella P.
I have a big box. Not a box
Full of rocks. But a box full
Of chocolate hearts. It reaches
The sky high and tall as you
Don’t have to worry about it
being small. If you eat all the
Chocolates it will give you
The ick as later you will
Be sick! Some with caramels
Some with apples.
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A Single Starburst as a Gift
By Alanis A.
A single starburst as a gift, how weird?
Expecting more, wondering what else was in store.
You can’t expect any more from siblings, I guess
But at least a dollar to fix this mess.
I single starburst, I eat in confusion and joy
But boy, at least it’s a gift
The first gift from him at least
I treasure it like it’s a feast.
A few months past, but not fast
In confusion and joy, I treasure this gift
This gift of a single, pink
Starburst.
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The Paper Gift
By Jayson P.
A paper, anything I can do
With 10,000 pieces of paper is
Draw on it, fold it, and maybe make
A comic. I know it’s the weirdest
Gift, but there is so much that
I can do with 10,000
Pieces of paper.
