This week at Washington, we reflected on our names, inspired by a session with Mrs. Mild-Thomas’s class at Haugan led by poet-in-residence Teresa Dzieglewicz. We admired the images, similes, and metaphors in “JJ” by student poet Jocelyn N. and “On Listening to Your Teacher Take Attendance” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. Here are the poems we came up with!
Miss Davis
Eighth Grade
Yellow Group
Winter Warmth
By Summer M.
I feel the warmth
in my name, but
don’t understand why
My mother gave it
to me once I was
born, on a cold
winter storm, I
get called winter
sometimes, though
I don’t mind
Born in winter like
the cold breeze
I feel relaxed like
a seal on a rock
When I hear my name
and I feel no pain
Andrew
By Andrew P.
Webs flying everywhere
love how my favorite Spiderman
has the same name.
I hated when my old teacher
called me Andy
She must’ve really liked Toy Story.
I got this name because my
parents named me this and I like it.
Miss Davis
Eighth Grade
Red Group
Xavier A.
By Xavier A.
Xavier
I love how I share a name with so many people I know
I see how common it is but how rare it sounds
I hear someone call my name but don’t know which Xavier they are calling
I smell each flower of emotion each Xavier has,
how different we are but how close we resemble each other
I feel welcomed and proud to be one new Xavier added to this world
Xavier
My Name
By Matthew G.
My name isn’t weird
but it isn’t fun
nor is it formal
it’s just normal
no rough pronunciations
no needed aggravation
[Daniella]
By Daniella S.
Daniella
Has never bothered me
It’s plain like an empty room
Sounds like Daniel and Danielle
The nicknames feel like home
Knowing only my family calls me by them
I love when they call me Dani
I like the way the letters balance
each other out like a new box of crayons
I love how my name rhymes with my sister’s, Gabriella
People pronounce my name correctly
If I could pick my own name
I don’t think I’d choose Daniella
Dahlila
By Dahlila V.
It’s pronounced like
Dah/lie/la
not spelled like the flower.
But still waits to bloom
and will wait
till it can show its beauty.
Miss Davis
Eighth Grade
Green Group
[Sturdy as bricks]
By Xavier C.
Sturdy as bricks
Hard like a rock
XJC is the name
New house is the symbol
Unique
By Natalia M.
Christmas day,
That’s what my name means
it means the holiday where
you get to open presents and
spend time with your family.
Mispronouncing my name most the
time is the teachers’ specialty,
they say it wrong once and
there goes the year. My name is
pretty unique I mean it’s so unique
you can’t find it anywhere. With that
being said, my name keeps me unique
so I love my name.
my name
By Genesis R.
unexpected,
much like when a
river’s peace is
disrupted by big
waves that come
crashing in like
a war about to unleash
its power.
my name, the
begining of something
huge about to unfold,
the truth being told…
