For their seventh week of poetry Shoesmith 5th and 6th graders explored persona poetry. Persona is the Greek word for mask. In ancient Greece actors use to wear several mask to represent different characters. Poets use personas to understand the point-of-views of diverse people, places, and things.
Together we read “The Unhappy Tea Cup,” by 8th grader Adriana T. In her poem she takes on the persona, the voice of a tea cup who is owned by nice old lady, yet is sad about being put away in a cabinet. I’m always in the casa/ I never go outside/that’s why I always dream big. Instead of being used to drink and pour tea, this little tea cup wants more for her life.
Inspired by Adriana students wrote their own poem, exploring the personas of various people and things.
Ms. Yassky’s 5th Grade
Group 1
Joe Biden
By Siyaar Clark.
I need to protect my country.
Cause no war and have friendship
with other countries.
I need to have respect, friendship,
and I need to save my country,
and have protection over my family.
My Life As A Pencil
by Prentice C.
I am orange with a red eraser and a sharp led.
People always get sharpened and people
use my head to erase mistakes and it hurts.
Also people put me in their dark desks
over the weekends.
People chew on me and I hate it
because then people won’t use me
and I’ll be useless.
Dijonay (from The Proud Family)
By Aleah G.
I’m Dijonay from The Proud Family.
I am Penny’s best friend.
I’m helpful and sometimes bossy.
I’m brown skin, I have big lips
and I have blonde hair.
I want the ashy sisters to stop bullying
me for money.
I want my mom and dad to stop
making me do baby sitting.
Ms. Yassky’s 5th Grade
Group 2
Bipolar Hand Sanitizer
By Damirra H.
My name is Hand Sanitizer.
I am very strange.
I am a liquid.
I hate being not used.
I love being spread on hands.
I love killing germs.
I hate when people use too much of me.
I love smelling like rubbing alcohol.
I love being warm and wet.
I hate being used for unnecessary things.
I am Hand Sanitizer.
New White Shoes
By Zinanta N.
I describe myself as
Nice
Clean
New and Fresh
Be gentle with me.
Don’t crease me.
Don’t get me muddy.
Why do you run with my hoodie untied
and get my hoodie dirty.
T Cells
By Javier Y.
We are T Cells.
We T Cells are your protection.
We T Cells are your shield,
protecting you.
Calling B Cells to make antibodies
to kill bad things.
We T Cells are your body!
Ms. Henry’s 6th Grade
Group 1
Flare Gun
By Ayron B.
Flare gun, flare gun
fly through the sky saving
the people who can’t get by.
They are shocked and scared
with only one shot.
But I try and fly as far as I can.
I am confident, cool, and calm,
and no matter the distance I will fly.
I will always help, even if I fail.
Flare gun, flare gun
I fly through the sky saving
the people who can’t get by.
They’re shock and scared
with only one shot.
But I fly as far as I can.
I am confident, cool, and calm,
and no matter the distance I will fly.
I will always help, even if I fail.
A Dog Named Rose
By Joseph D.
Hi, my name is Rose and I’m a dog.
I like to eat food.
I like to play with my toys.
I don’t like dog food.
I like people food, especially pizza.
I am naughty.
I am crazy.
I run around the house and beg for food.
I love playing with Joseph by biting his fingers.
I am a happy dog.
The Non-Perfect Flower
by Xochitl H.
I m not perfect.
I wish I was positive flower.
Bell is a special green eyed beauty.
I live in a bright colorful workshop.
People see me as a weird green eyed freak.
Bell loves people waving to her.
People ring my bell saying hi.
I’m very bright and energetic.
I get made when people think I’m weird.
I am a normal, happy, positive, green eyed flower.
I am Bell.
The Play Station vs. Xbox
By Luke J.
Make way for the best Christmas gift
in the universe.
Yes, its me the Play Station.
I get played everyday, more than
a trash Xbox.
I am way smoother than the Xbox
and have more storage.
I have the best games.
I don’t have to beg my owner
for him to turn me on.
When kids walk past me in stores,
they be their parents.
My games are so good, kids take
their parents debit cards.
Ms. Henry’s 6th Grade
Group 2
Life of a Basketball
by Leon H.
Hi am a basketball.
I love the feeling of going through the hoop.
The feeling of going through the air,
the adrenaline is amazing.
I don’t really like the feeling of hitting the ground.
But I love the game, first starting when I go
through the air, when the jump ball starts
and I go to one of the sides of the cart.
I go through the hoop a lot and I love it.
But when the game is over, I get put
away in the dark and then I go to sleep
until the next game.
The Diner
By Marysol T.
Waitress:
Oh no!
I feel overwhelmed.
This weight is on my shoulders.
I’m tired and stressed
As I pick up the plate
and pass them around
*Crash* *Shatter*
I can hear the yells.
There goes my pay check
down the drain.
I must clean up this mess.
Chef:
Oh God! Here she goes again
making a mess.
I frown and yell.
Nod my head to show my disappointment.
As I prepare these dishes
complaints are made about the same
waitress doing her own thing.
