This week at McCutcheon we reviewed elements of poetry such as imagery, sensory details, simile, and metaphor, and looked at the ways Natalie Goldberg uses all these elements in her poem Remember This Place to create a strong picture of her memories of New Mexico. The poets then chose memories of their own to bring to life on the page. Enjoy!

Ms. Koerner's Class

So Beautiful, So Normal, So Mine
by Joy E.

If I took you to the past when I was 4 years old
you will see rose bushes blushing out
kids everywhere playing soccer and double-dutch
Dogs in rusty gates

The smell of sweat, dog droppings in
Certain houses the smell of roses too

I will feel the fur of dogs
like grass but smoother
laying flat like lazy students
heads.

You will see houses for giants and
All types of cultures.

You will hear dogs barking
The sweet sound of chirping birds
Girls singing "1, 2, 3, Salami"
Boys yelling "I'm open!"

But you'll still love it
Just so beautiful
So normal
So mine

The Year of 2009
by Jacky P.

In the year 2009
every day I go to school
I would hear this round
clock Buzz in my ear as
if a cow had Moo! in
my ear. I go to school
hold a pencil. Always
at 12 o'clock I always
smell cheese pizza. Everyday
I touch an paper

I hear people saying
my name every day like
they just want to
scream. I sit on a
chair I learn everyday
as if I was forced
to work. Every day I play
basket ball I smell
sweat on me like if
rain had just poured on
me.

2009 is starting to
be good I don't know
what's going to happen
next.

The year of 2008
by Christian C.

If I brought you back in the
year of 2008, you would hop
out of your seat

You would see fire trucks
and police everywhere.
Cars moving fast as a rocket.

It was a mess, a big big mess.
Fires, fires, and more fires
happened in the south.
Gangs fighting in the north.
You could smell smoke and
screaming almost everywhere.
This mess was as bad as
Hitler.

A new year has finally
come. Let's see what fate
has for us.

Ms. Askounis's Class

The Vacation
by Paul N.

In summer of 2008
in Florida Orlando
at Universal Studios
fast like a little racecar
moving in the speed of sound
the smell of churros
people screaming of happiness
flash
the picture is taken
all on theaters
of amusement
making a decision
to go on each
ride a hulk
water splashing
water making a
roar as soon
as you speed
pass. Universal
Studios.

It's Really Windy
by Michael A.

Have you ever been to Chicago
The greatest town on earth.
Summertime stories
And Wintertime Blues

Have you ever tasted the food
Barbeque when family gathers
Deep Dish Pizza and Famous Hot Dogs
Smells invade the air like World
War II

Downtown stores and shops
Noisy people and cars
That's what I love
Chi-Town

In Chicago it's all about weather
The cold is Sun
The warmth is Wind
Windy City News!

Memories
by Danielle B.

If I took you back to the day in Alabama
you would be thankful
If I took you across the rivers
you would see beavers
water so deep
that you can hardly speak.
You would smell fresh Air
and feel wind blowing through your hair.
You would walk a great waterfall
and see dark skulls
The smell of great cornbread
that would make you feel like you
were in bed.
I'll tell you where all the famous
stores are
then you can go but not
too far.
Remember the great water
fall.