When I read Sandy Florian‘s poem, “House” to Skinner’s 4th graders, I paid special attention to the poet’s odd use of periods and capitalization. Afterward, I asked why she might’ve done that, and we decided, like so much unusual or eccentric grammar in poetry, it was for emphasis. So what is the poem about? The title seems to suggest it is focused on a particular house, or the more general idea of home, but interestingly, the students honed in on the poem’s underlying emotional tone—how the poet (or poem) feels about home. We also identified and discussed some of the various definitions of “home” in the poem, such as “a burrow or nest or / cave,” “a place / of worship,” and “the harder / shell of a snail. Or. A tortoise,” and considered Florian’s employment of long, prosy lines and their overall effect. Although this poem is quite complex the students reacted to it immediately, with deep thinking, thoughtful comments, and enthusiasm!
They were then asked to write their own poems about where they live, or would like to live. Enjoy these examples from each class.
Mrs. Carlson, 4th Grade
In a Sunny Neighborhood
Eloise G.
In a sunny neighborhood,
there is a red brick house.
Oh, those bricks,
so very pretty.
Through the door of my pretty
red bricked house
is a long hallway.
What a slippery hallway,
it’s perfect for
sock sliding.
To the right of my
slippery hallway is some
broad, brown stairs.
I love sliding down those
stairs! It just hurts my,
um,
you know what I’m talking about.
Farther up the stairs is a second
and third floor. Second floor:
bedrooms, library. Third floor:
one bedroom, one den, and then the big, big window.
Chicago
Tiara H.
I live in Chicago.
A city where hot dogs are popular.
Chicago is my home.
Chicago is where I’m from.
One day, I will make Chicago better than it is.
It has so many fun things to do.
The Children’s Museum, Navy Pier, Museum of
Science, etc.
Many people who have changed the
world have come from Chicago.
I will always love Chicago.
My home is Chicago.
Chicago is a place where you don’t have to
worry about sharks, crazy animals, tornados or
hurricanes.
Home
Ailey K.
My home – my shelter in this strange world.
My light, through the darkness of time.
My world, which reassures me I will always have
somewhere to go.
My life, where the magic of memories are
made.
Me – I am my home, and my home is where
I will always be.
Where I Live
Darian K.
I live in a house where I feel good.
I live in a house with red bricks on the outside.
I live in a house that I know is safe.
I live in a house with a huge basement.
I live in a house that almost nobody can find.
I live in a house that has an alleyway.
That house is where I live.
Bronzeville House
Lillie M.
Bronzeville House
oh you may be short
you have 3 floors
Although you may have problems
leaks and stuff
you are my favorite and my only home
Have you ever seen a Bronzeville
House?
You are tall to me
you will be
my house
You are You are You are
I think you are ten years old
You’re a special house
I have so many memories
in you
You will always be in my
heart
You are my HOME A Bronzeville home
You are my everything
HOME
Home Sweet Home
Brooklyn N.
My home
My home is like a big diary
I let out my feelings in silence
It has now my grandmother
whose house is now
gone
Never shall I be
happy about that
Home Sweet Home
It is my Soul.
Home
Ayden S.
My Home
is a house
with a roof
in well condition
it carries many things
it carries clothes
it carries toys
it carries food
it carries water
it carries books
it carries people
but
the one thing I love the most
that it carries is its memories
Mrs. Rupp, 4th Grade
My House
Kennedy B.
Big. Beautiful. Cozy.
My house.
It is My House.
My House.
My house to love.
My house to care for.
My house to live in.
my house.
Where I Live
Jessica G.
I live in the city.
The very busy city.
Many cars run past.
Many people walk by.
The house I live,
big but cozy.
The house I live,
busy, and loud, and quiet.
The house I live
nice and warm.
A lot of kids.
A lot of people.
A lot of fun.
Snowflake
Eliana K.
I live like a
snowflake.
No two the same.
My house is not like others.
And that is not
lame.
Some snowflakes have
3 sides or 5.
Some houses have
6 floors or 2.
But even though snowflakes
fall together
House lives together too.
Brrrrrrrr!
Home to Me
Audrey N.
My home
to me
Joyful
Happy
Alive
A family
laughs
at a
dog
By day
The house
is lonely
Only
a woman
and dog
are
inside
Dark
Concealed
Alone
A lone
dog
whines
By Night
Whole
Open
Together
The family
is
Finally
Together
A long day
of
Work
A day
of
School
The family
rejoices
the happiness
of the family
At night
the
house
doesn’t
stir
The House
falls
asleep
Guarded
by
security
Sweet
sounds
Asleep
Zzzzzzzzzzz
The next
day
is
the same
Home
to
Me
Crazy Place
Michaela W.
Neighborhood, crazy place
My neighborhood
Unsmart people
Loud
Not good parties
Very upsetting
I don’t like it
Crazy place
Unclean
Unsafe
Crazy place
Uncool
Unwelcoming
Crazy place
Unkind
Uneverything
I want to move
Mrs. Travis, 4th Grade
Untitled
Hannah B.
I have a house it
is wonderful I love
the house it makes
me feel good.
My House
Curtis B.
I live in a condo. My favorite room
in the house is my room. My house is
usually noisy.
Home
Alexandra M.
Home. Home is where I eat and sleep. Where the water runs for
the radishes. I live here, come here after what I have done. I stay
here before I go somewhere. The ocean is home for fish.
Shells are homes for little creatures. A burrow is a home for
a bunny. But that’s not my home. I live in a condo, with lots
of neighbors. It’s made with red and brown bricks. I know I won’t
live in the same one in the future, but I will get one just the
same, but more modern! This is that what is my home and sitting
at the table.
House
Sophia N.
I went to my old house it was
broken down, hard, rough what happened?
Well I didn’t care about it I didn’t want
it I never loved it and that is why
it is the way it is today my old
house because of my fault.
My House
Harmony O.
My home has this sweet sweet
smell that welcomes me when I
walk in through the door I feel
comfortable and safe and warm.
I like when I go home I feel
happy and thrilled.
Eat, Sleep, Swim
Ari R.
My condo has simple rules
Eat, sleep, swim. I eat pancakes
I sleep in a bed, I swim swimming.
The Clouds My House
Molly S.
I live in the clouds with rainbows
and a dream it’s in Ireland. There are
dogs there tons the people there always
go to pubs. I Irish dance and take lessons
in the clouds I never come down I live
in clouds of blue and white
pillows around
me.
My Old House
Katelyn T.
No memory,
forgot.
Old house,
but better than my new.
Some say out goes the old and in comes the new,
but opposite.
Again forgot,
never remember.
Had a dog,
had good life,
when I remember,
will never forget.
Penthouse
Maximo T.
My penthouse is big. It makes. Me. Feel like
a rich person but we are not rich we are
average. I like being average. So I
belong.
I live.
I live.
I live.
I live.
I live.
I live.
I live.
I live.
An average life……
Mr. O’Brien, 4th Grade
My House
Aarna A.
My house looks like a
TV wood under the TV. We
also have carpet inside it we have
a bed and I have an apartment.
I am looking for a bunk bed in
the apartment. On the carpet there
are toys a lot of toys.
Untitled
Johnna B.
Home is a place where you can
be yourself and have fun and enjoy life
with your family.
A Penguin’s Home
Daniel B.
A penguin’s home may
not be home to you
but to them it’s paradise
fish water everything
they need.
Untitled
Lina C.
I live in an apartment
I like it I have a room
I have a family and
I love my family
House
Rakiya C.
A big mansion, 10 rooms,
11 bathrooms with a 120
inch screen TV.
A big 50×50 swimming pool
a condo, with a gaming
room and 2 kitchens.
I love a black and
white themed
house so my house is
black and white themed.
I would have a butler
and he would be amazing.
Untitled
Brad J.
I will describe my house. I have
13 rooms and I have a small
house to fit 13 rooms.
My basement has four
rooms nine rooms upstairs.
Nowhere
Lindora K.
An apartment sitting alone in a place called
nowhere, where is this place? I guess it’s not
called nowhere for nothing. Where am I? I guess
in nowhere. Well bye for now nowhere.
Untitled
Roman M.
I live in a big house. I have a big backyard.
I have seven rooms with four floors. The color of the
house is reddish, brownish, orange. I have five bathrooms.
House
Bruce R.
My house is a yellow brown house with
6 bedrooms 25 windows 1 dog 3 kitchens
5 energy sources and 5 pairs of
shoes. This is a description
of
my
HOUSE.
The Red House
Aspen T.
I used to live in a Red House
and now that is what we call it.
We would sled down our giant hill
in winter and pick dandelions in summer.
My best friend Bella used to live
down the street and she came with me
on the bus on my first day of kinder-
garten. Now, I barely see her anymore.
That was the house where it
all started . . . bad things and good
things.
Once, I got a splinter on the
deck and I worse shoes after that.
There was a giant pool (circle) and
I played in it all day long. Bella had
one that was huge and looked like
the number eight. Hers also had
a slide.
We would always prank-call people
and it was so fun. This house
was in Indiana.
