Many of our 5 senses are deeply connected to memory. This week the students of MLA reflected on their favorite foods and the people, places, and things connected to them. After reading “The Tropics in New York” by Claude McKay, students reflected on their strongest food memories and how to use the 5 senses to create powerful imagery. Students wrote about a wide range of foods, reminiscing about family members, celebrating heritage, and savoring the joy of eating.
Ms. Higgins (Group A)
“Strawberries“
by Vanessa L.
Strawberries remind me of happiness
Strawberries sound
like my heart squeezing
out every droplet of blood
Strawberries smell like sugar
and acid flaring in my nostrils
Strawberries look like the color
that flows in our bodies, crimson
and flowy
Strawberries taste sweet and tangy,
filling the insides of my growling stomach
Strawberries feel like running my
fingertips across my imperfect skin,
lumps and tiny bumps.
“Untitled“
by Yahir G.
Chile de arbol sounds like the crowd
Hot soup reminds me of my mother’s cooking
Pastel de tres leches reminds me of my fat c
“Carne Asada“
by Larry M.
Asada reminds me of family
Asada sounds like fireworks
Asada smells like a smokey fire pit
Asada looks like Illinois’ shape
Asada tastes like smoke
Asada feels like butter
Ms. Higgins (Group B)
“Cheeseburgers“
by David M.
Sounds like sizzling goodness
Smells like the grill
Looks like a spaceship
Tastes like a cow smothered in cheese
Feels like a cotton ball
“Yummy Cookies“
by Lizbeth G.
Chocolate chip cookies remind me of a bakery in Chicago.
Chocolate chip cookies sound like a clock ticking.
Chocolate chip cookies smell like yummy milky and sweet, buttery goodness.
Chocolate chip cookies look like a brown moon.
Chocolate chip cookies taste like a warm hug.
Chocolate chip cookies feel like a crisp campfire marshmallow.
“Mangós“
by Julio H.
Mangós remind me of my mom because she adores Mangós.
Chopping a Mango sounds like thunder
Mangós smell like sweet flowers
Look like an orange sunset
Tastes like a cool cold water
Mangós feel like play-doh, how soft they are.
Ms. Sapa
“Caldo de Birria in Summer“
by Yolanda P.
Caldo de Birria reminds me of my Mexican
blood,
it sounds like bubbles popping when boiled,
huele a muchos picantes mezclados juntos,
se parece como oscuro red liquid with cow meat
inside,
tastes like limón fire ball,
se siente como a bunch of thin strips of carne
con spicy limón soup.
“Chocobanana“
by Eivy P.
Chocobananas remind me
of my mom
They sound like crunchy chips
Smell like a snicker’s bar
Look like a short brown minion
Taste like a cold piece of chocolate
Feel like a cold chocolate shell.
“French Fries“
by Jose M.
French Fries remind me of summer,
they sound like a crowd of people cheering,
They smell like get-togethers and BBQs
They look like yellow rectangle worms and
wood chips.
They taste like nothing but joy.
They fee like warm, shelled marshmallows
