Today was Election Day across the US, so in response to the occasion we read American poet, Larry Levis' In a Country. The poem talks about inventing a country but in a manner that is elusive and maybe a little mysterious. Carrying over our discussion from last week we talked about certain line-breaks in the poem and why Levis might have made his choices; we also looked at repeating elements in the poem—birds, river, sky, wheel tracks—and thought about how they worked together to create images and feelings in the poem. Finally, students were asked to write their own perfect world/invented country poems.

My Own World
Diana A.

My own world would be perfect
filled with joy. So sweet. And
so neat. We would recycle
and take care of my world
planting flowers and
picking up garbage. Filled
with happiness. Building a river
that sounds so silent and soothing.
Water falling gently on the ground.
I realized that my world
was great. And I wouldn't
have it any other way.

My Own Country
Nancy M.

One day I'm going to rule my own country.
I'm going to keep it, rule it, and save it. If I
ruled my country I will keep it fair.

Oh...America
Celeste P.

O America so big
and strong beautiful
and healthy. Houses, trees,
bushes, and stores. O
America please help
us out with us
losing our jobs there's
nowhere to go.

My Imagination
Esmerelda P.

I would invent a world that would
have so many good things but
so many good things
I would be the president
but I want to put a salon
but it would be a problem
I would have a camera store
I would put a school on
top of a hill so we can have
fun on our way to school.

Ms. Rodriguez, 5th Grade

Planet Raymond
Raymond C.

Planet Raymond
where the fun begins
no parents allowed
only kids
all you
can do
and eat
no sun
and
no moon
means
no morning
and
no night

In a Perfect Country
Maricarmen J.

My family and I went to
the perfect country. We were
deciding if we put a river. But
if we put a big river then
it would flow away and there
wouldn't be no away to go out of
the best or perfect country.
My dad would like to make
even more houses that they
are. My brother is playing with
our cousin. Moms, moms like
always cooking. My sister,
she just reads and listens to
music. As we enter that country
I feel that someone is touching
my shoulders lightly.

Magical Place
Asil P.

There's a place where I go where nobody knows
where the river flows and I call it home and
there's no more lies where there is no more
darkness and nobody cries there's only butter-
flies take me away to my secret place to my
away to my magical place!!

Untitled
Emmanuel R.

I would love if there was a world of toys.
If I would invent a world it would be
only of animals. So we could all have the
experience of the animals. No houses no
buildings only jungle and trees. Fruit trees
will surround you there would be miles
and miles of grass land and water.
And if you get lost you shall just wish
to be with someone or somewhere.
And there would be only one rule and that
rule is there are no rules. And if you want
you shall explore the whole world.

Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade

My World of Broccoli
Yulyssa A.

If I invented my world will be full of
broccoli, delicious. If I had a house of
broccoli, I will gobble it up. The playgrounds
will be of broccoli. Only the clothes and
the shoes have to be cloth. But if I
invent money out of broccoli. Oh my
broccoli will be perfect. Chips will not
be chips it will be broccoli chips with
hot sauce. Oh my perfect world I
wish you were invented.

My Country
Michelle B.

It's like new.
It's my country.
It's wonderful.
It's candilicious.
It's chocolaty.
It's full of colors.
It has trees with
Hershey's growing
on it. It's like
a land that goes
on forever. It
looks like an
island full
of trees with
fruity smells.

It's like an
imaginary playhouse.
There's so many
excitement. It sounds
like flowers sprouting
from the ground.

Untitled
Joshua B.

in my country there is
a dog laying on the
stars in my country
the leaves are blowing
the country

The Perfect World
Alexis J.

If I will ever be able
to build a world, I will
build a country called
perfect world. I will put machines,
airplanes, a river, a huge store,
a car in the air. If I will
build this I will call
it perfect world.