This week at Shoesmith we experimented with question poetry, where poets ask a series of questions as a form of self-reflection and deeper meaning. Why do people ask questions? Does every question have to have an answer? One student thought of questions as mysteries that make us seek information to solve them. Another student brought up rhetorical questions, questions that are often asked to emphasis a point such as “Is water wet?” Or are asked without expecting a clear answer like “What’s the meaning of life?”
Together we read “Trust,” by Natalia D, a young poet from Taft High School who participated last year in the Hands On Stanzas program. In her poem, Natalia D. directly asks readers about trusting others with their secrets, “What do you do when that trust, one of the most important things is broken?” Based on the text students determined that the poet’s secrets were exposed by someone close to her and she’s struggling with how to deal with this betrayal. “Do you confront them? Do you ignore it? Pretend like it never happened?” These questions are universal, everyone at one time in their lives has placed their trust in the wrong people. Natalia D. never provides any concrete answers but leaves it up for the reader to determine the answers for themselves.
Inspired by Natalia D. students wrote poems that focused on questions that reflected on love, friendship, family, life, death, and the future. Enjoy this week’s published poems.
Ms. Wesson’s 5th Grade
Group 1
My Future
De‘Anna A .
Will I ever become a teacher?
Will I grow taller?
How old will I be when I learn to drive?
Will I ever be a mother?
Who will be my future husband?
Will I grow up to be a kind person?
What will my achievements be?
Will I have great friends when I’m older?
Will I ever become a teacher?
Will I grow taller?
Future Laylaa
Laylaa M.
Will I grow up to have a future?
Will I have a great future?
What will my accomplishments be?
Dear Laylaa of the future, what are you
going to look like?
Are you going to trust yourself in life?
Are you going to be confident?
Will I grow up to have a future?
Will I have a great future?
Questions for Life
Kayla W.
What’s wrong with me?
I’m normal, but is that true?
Is there something that I’m missing?
Because it’s all I’ve been led to believe?
I’m so “academically advanced,” but is that true?
Compared to everyone,
Am I just a grain of sand?
Am I a nobody without talent?
Only passions?
Why can’t anyone see the ground from
the skyscraper?
I assume it’s because they never jump.
But why?
What’s wrong with me?
I’m normal, but is that true?
Ms. Wesson’s 5th Grade
Group 2
Hope
London A.
Do you have hope in me?
Do you hope that I win?
Why does hope make you turn out
to be better?
Why is hope important to you?
Why is it too hard to let go of hope?
Does hope push you to move on?
Why does hope make you try harder?
Do you have hope in me?
Do you hope that I win?
Kobe
John F.
Did your first game help you get better?
Did you like all your fans?
Did you win every game you had?
Did your fans boost your confidence?
Did your mom help you play basketball
as a kid?
Who was your favorite basketball player?
Did your first game help you get better?
Did you like all your fans?
Why Grandma
Sharmari P.
Will today be the day?
Will today be the day we lock eyes?
Will today be today we meet?
Why did you leave the family?
Did my sisters and I make you leave?
Do you regret smoking?
Did you smoke because of stress?
Did you die because of smoking?
Are you at peace?
Will today be the day?
Will today be the day we lock eyes?
Ms. Henry’s 6th Grade
Group 1
The Hood Questions
Xorla F.
Why is there always violence?
Why can’t I even walk to school
without no weapon on me?
Is it just like Amir said?
“It’s always black on black
from back to back.”
When I walk to school, I wish
I could fly. Why do we kill?
Fight? We all brothers from
another mother and sisters
from a different mister.
Why is there always violence?
Why can’t I even walk to school
without no weapon on me?
Fit In
Lena L.
How do you feel about it?
Ever feel lonely?
Feel loved?
Does love turn into pain?
Does pain turn into suffering?
Ever hold back a tsunami of tears?
Or an ocean of spooky fears?
Held back your true self?
Like a natural face full of makeup?
What does it feel like to fit in?
How do you feel about it?
Ever feel lonely?
Dad Questions
Skylar R.
Will you ever call me?
Did I do something wrong?
Why don’t you ever agree with me?
Why can’t we just have a day with
me and you?
Do you even listen when I talk?
Do you even see me for who I am?
Do you regret leaving me when I
was seven years old?
Do you even miss me?
Do you even love me?
Why did you leave me?
Will you ever call me?
Did I do something wrong?
Ms. Henry’s 6th Grade
Group 2
Friend Questions
Aubre D.
Will we ever stop talking cause of another person?
If we got into an argument, would you help solve it?
Would you ever tell my secrets? If we meet new
people, do we have to stop being friends?
If we go to a new school, would we ever
speak again?
If you’re my friend, would you betray me?
Will we stay best friends?
Would you ever be untruthful and lie to me?
Would you facetime all night while laughing
about tik tok boys? Would we get into
disagreements every 30 seconds?
Will we ever stop talking cause of another person?
If we got into an argument, would you help solve it?
Legend Questions
Caleb J.
How does it feel to grind every day?
How do you feel when you die a legend?
How does it feel when you’ve change
the world? How does it feel to have
young black boys and girls to look up
to you every day?
How is life after fame?
Did fame bring you happiness?
Why is death taking away our
legends? How can we protect
them?
How does it feel to grind every day?
How do you feel when you die a legend?
Sad Life Questions
Taylor S.
Do we live for people?
Just because they say they love us?
What if you don’t love yourself?
What if you don’t know how to love?
What is the real meaning of life?
Does it matter if anyone cares
about you?
Do people really mean it when they
say I love you?
What if we hate ourselves?
What would people think if we die
on purpose?
Do we live for people?
Just because they say they love us?
