Jordan Jace’s “I want” was the poem we examined this week. Unlike the prior selection, Jace’s effort reads as ‘normal,’ with its standard grammar and lack of blank space, and incorporates repetition as a literary device, something we’ve experienced before. Language-wise, there was some vocabulary we had to define, such as revolutionaries and deadbeats, along with the speaker’s evocation of musical figures (Frank Ocean, Stevie Wonder, Brent Faiyaz aka Sonder, Mereba) and philosopher, Frantz Fanon. Yet none of that got in the way of feeling the speaker’s desire to want things both tangible (“pave every road,” “clean my room,” “make my bed”) and intangible (“patch every heart,” “eat the rich,” “move like water”). Jace explains, “I wanted to write a poem about optimism and fostering a culture of revolution,” but even if we didn’t know that intellectually, it comes through via his words.
Want is such a potent concept that students had no trouble expressing their own desires and needs.
Ms. Kawa
4th Grade
J.E.F. James B. I want to be known I want to have friends I want to be funny and I want to be popular. That sounds greedy. But I want to be known for something that changes the world. Want Sports Jeffrey E. I want sports all the time. I want NASCAR, tennis, basketball, curling, baseball, hockey, swimming, fishing, volleyball, football, rugby, kickball, track & field, soccer, MMA, eating contests, pickleball, I want to play all the time, I want to watch all the time. I just want that. That's it. Just sports! I Want Divya K. I want life, safety, and happiness in the world I want the negative to stop and the positive to start I want peace and prosperity I want all the problems in the world to go away I want all the illnesses viruses, diseases, and health problems to go away I want every- one to have a better life I want the world to be a whole better place I want everything in the world the way people want it I Want to Go to Asia Adelyn N. I want to go to Asia fly on my first really long flight have meals on a plane. I want to go to a place nothing like home explore a place that speaks a different language try new foods, do new things. I want to go to Asia and celebrate my 10th birthday but wait it's true. I'm going there this summer. My Wishlist of Wants Josephine P. I want to buy Roblox and Minecraft I want my baby brother to stop crying so loud and so early in the morning that my mom gets no sleep. I want a bigger house where each family member has their own room. I want a TV in the kids' room, an iPhone, and a touchscreen computer. I want my siblings to not be annoying to me. I want Squishmallows and 5 millions dollars which might not be possible Wants Malcolm S. I want food I want water I want life with father I want life with mother I want a wife I want happiness I want to stop war
Ms. Makris
4th Grade
Needs and Wants Ryan B. I want I need needs are things you need. Wants are things you want. But what I want is to dream. We don't want peace, we need peace. I want to be nice. I want to be a good swimmer. But I only need one thing, peace of mind. What I Want Olivia C. I want peace. I want leaves to live. I want to save the world. To save the earth. I want seeds to grow. I want my family to be happy. I want to accomplish my goal. I want the ball to roll. To save people. To save animals. I want. To live a happy life. I Want to Dream Camille D. I want to paint I want to build I want to dream. Dream about what life is or what it could be. Life could be anything. I want to dream about the day. The day I become older and can do what I do. I could build bake paint love dream I want to dream. Untitled Andrew J. I want a PS5 but I don't have enough and I want to have a lot of money but I have to wait for it. Untitled Manny M. I want an Xbox so I can play games with my friends I would feel happy. Wanting Mariangel V. I want peace. I want kindness in the air. No bullying no hurt feelings, just peace and freedom. I want people to be happy, to be safe, to feel calm and free. I want fresh air and kindness in our midst. I guess all I want is people to be calm, free, happy, and safe.
Mr. O’Brien
4th Grade
Unity Is All We Need Selene G. As I walk on the street I wonder what the world turned into. I wondered what happened to the unity? What about equality? I don't know what to feel anymore. Grief, anger, confused and scared. I wanted unity again. I wanted to stop all the wars. I wanted to stop people from getting injured, killed. I felt like our world came from happiness to grief and anger. But all we really need was equality and unity. We need to stop racism. Unity is all we need. For me nowhere felt safe anymore. I feel scared. I thought that unity is too late for the world. But unity, equality is never too late. It's never too late to have unity. Some people don't change. But most of the people in the world want to change. And sometimes it might hurt to see someone die. But it's okay to feel these feelings. Because all you need is unity. Untitled Anna I. Para a mi algo pegajoso y que se estira y es de colores y tiene decoraciones es magnifico y se llama slime para mi es algo gracioso como los chister de mi abuela jajaja gracias por leer Universally Kevin M. Hello world. We universally want no homeless- ness. Also, I want a Windows computer at my Mom's house. We universally want no cheat- ers. I want to be able to play Fortnite. Un Carro Para Jugar Valerie N. Y un taller para guardalo y manejar tambien para areglarlo sera rojo y negro para muchas cosas My Barklet List Simon R. I want a bigger kennel I want some extra treats I want to have an owner I want to be known for something other than a tiny little spot I Want a Lot Zoe W. I want all people off the streets. I want no bad hair days. I want a lot and one is for happiness for all. I want to have new clothes for me. I want to be smarter for school and I want for everyone to be pretty or handsome. I want to become a doctor. I want for no blind or deaf people. I want no more bad people. I want a lot. Untitled Arthur W. MK3 for all robottttttttts 300,000,000 K that's for mc^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 60,000,000,000 dollars it will be fun enjoy 🙂 I Want Jiyoon W. I want my friends to be kind for being friends I don't want to get in trouble because if I get in trouble then teachers gonna tell my parents I wanna be wizard because I can do some magic.
Ms. Nelson
4th Grade
Deep Wishes, Deep Meaning Adysun A. I want to live in a mansion, where I would run around all day. I want everything to be fair, that way no one stresses. I wish no one ever judges, that way you'll be yourself. I wish people never did violence, I want the world to be safer. I want joy everywhere, that way no one's bad day would affect others. “Man, I wish a shooting star would visit me!” What I Want Vivian B. My friend asks what I want I say I want a lot. Better get a paper. Better get a pencil. I'm gonna start with no hesitation. Be ready for no humiliation. I want to end pollution. I want to go all clean. I want not to litter. No garbage, no trash, no anything. I want to end racism, homelessness, poverty, kidnapping, stealing, scamming. I want more nurses, doctors too. I want more love for me and you. I want no wars. I want some peace. I want people to appreciate the small things people do. Like Dinner Ladies who give us free food. And actions that make people move. Untitled Sophia L. I want to get more sleep every day when I wake up it feels like the bed is telling me to go back to sleep. I hear my mom's voice telling me to come and eat breakfast. I tell myself to get out of bed but I just stay there. 3 minutes later I get out of bed slumping over to the dining table. I wish I could sleep for just 10 more minutes but if I do, I will be late for school. When the weekend comes I'm going to sleep all day. I Wish Alex M. I want my dad back. I want good grades. I want my old life back. I want to stop swearing. I want my friends back. I want to sleep more. D-Day Marco P. I want the Nazis to be driven out. I want the Allies to win. I want the Nazis to stop torturing the Jews. As I write this I am on a boat to France. I Want the World Ella R. I want to know everything in the world I want there to be unlimited books I want there to be . . . . . . everything to be good I want nothing . . . bad ever I want everything in the world to be good not bad I Wish Zoe Y. I wish I could say goodbye before he passed. I wish I had a cat so it could cheer me up when I feel emotions I don't like. I wish I could have my own room so I could peace and quiet without a kid yapping away right above me. I wish I could sing out loud and not be shy about it. I wish I could hang out with my cousins every day so we could laugh at really bad jokes. I wish racism was gone, like a magic trick but to never come back. But only if I had done that sooner. I'm 100 years old and in heaven now. I wish younger kids would make a change.
