Before spring break, we had our penultimate classes, reading and discussing Alberto Ríos‘ “Don’t Go in the Library.” The poem starts, claiming, “The library is dangerous,” and Ríos repeats that same line toward the end, but how is it dangerous? What happens when you go inside? How is it “like a pet store or a bakery”? And what does the ending mean—“You may not come out / The same person who went in”? Written in unrhyming couplets, I asked about the effect of having two-line stanzas throughout; we then talked about the language in the poem, focusing on such phrases as “no nonsense,” “the library is the book of books,” “the doughnut scent of it all,” and “the deli offerings of civilization itself,” as well as the poet’s use of personification, a type of figurative language we’ve encountered in many poems this year. Is it effective here? What’s at stake when you personify something?
The students were then asked to write a poem about being transformed. In what ways are we changed—physically, mentally, others? What does it take to change a person? How are you different from this time last year, last month, last week, or even this morning?
Mr. O’Brien, 4th Grade
Last Year
Mac I.
I turned a year older
on July 22 now I’m 5’3”
and I go to Skinner West
I got two brothers and
a Mom and a Dad
I have a PSU and play
2K
Untitled
Kaidan K.
yesterday I had a whole tooth
and today I chipped my tooth.
Untitled
Alex M.
I changed a lot over one year.
First I only knew how to swim a 25 free
style in 35 sec now I can do it in 15 sec!
I changed a lot in 1 year?
Untitled
Jackson M.
Ever since I was little I was
energetic. Always happy, and smart.
I loved to play sports like
I do now. I used to go
to a school called Blaine. Now
since kindergarten I am in
Skinner. When I was little I
played soccer, football, and basketball.
Now I play basketball and soccer.
I grey a lot. In first grade
I was 3 feet 11 inches. In 2nd
grade I was 4 feet 2 inches. In
3rd grade I was 4 feet
5 inches. Now I am 4 feet 7 inches.
I was very little. Now I
am stronger and taller.
Untitled
Jaden M.
A year
ago I felt like
I wasn’t ready for 4th
grade. Going all
the way back when I
was a baby I did not
know anything but
now I do.
Untitled
Arjun S.
I am smarter
I am faster
I am more intelligent
I am stronger
I work harder
I push harder
I root more
I have grown
I am taller
I will not stop getting better.
By the way I am still growing
now.
Mrs. Rupp, 4th Grade
Change I Guess
Nia A.
I haven’t changed at all
know all the same stuff
do all the same things
I haven’t changed at all.
Years Ago
Miriam B.
5 years ago
I was short
4 years ago
I grew a little taller
3 years ago
I grew a lot stronger
2 years ago
I got a little smarter
1 year ago
I was in 3rd grade
15 minutes ago
I wasn’t writing this poem
Poem
Adrian F.
I liked
pizza
but now
I don’t
like it,
I love
it. I
also used
to read
but I
still read.
I used
to like
movies
but
I don’t
anymore.
I love
it. I
used to
dislike
homework
but I
still
dislike
like.
You better
like this
poem.
I like
tacos.
Too Much
Aiden F.
Too much
too much
too much
knowledge
means…
No
school
Untitled
Tyler L.
I didn’t have this
now I do
I didn’t have that
now I do
I didn’t have those
now I do
I didn’t have these
now I do
Change
Solomon P.
From the future, looking down
you see
2 seconds ago
I wrote the P in my name.
5 years ago, I learned to walk,
and read
and write and
draw
and the time before that
I cannot remember
so don’t ask.
But if you question
reality, the origin, faith,
you notice
this world
is from
the past,
looking up.
Aging Knowledge
Alex R.
When I was a small little boy, only
2 years of age, I was reading books, every page.
My parents thought I was as smart as a sage!
I learned that time goes on and on,
and most people were going to be a mom!
I learned about Heaven and Heck, and I
hope that I wasn’t in a spell.
In the library is my real heaven to
me, I live there, practically and in
reality!
But one day I was stuck with
you guys, and I have books every-
where.
People say that it is a waste of time,
and they might be right, but
I do it anyway!
Changes
Jordan W.
In the past I was the shortest the weakest
and other things now all of that is the
opposite I’m so tall I’m like 4’5” now
I used to be 3’7” I can do military pushups!
This to That
Erika W.
From this to that that
to this I am sad I am
mad this to that
Ms. Travis, 4th Grade
How We Can Change….
Matasia C.
We can change by age we can
change by color
it’s not racist
dark people get darker or
burnt
light people get a
tan.
We change by height foot
size clothing and good
or bad.
And people can change to
light to light up the world.
Untitled
Lucas C.
My grades were bad in 3rd now
4th grade they are good A and B’s.
Untitled
Leo J.
How you change
you act fine
to read books
so you can
become smart
to 3 grade to
4 grade.
Throw Back
Tahlia L.
Smaller to bigger
sidekick to burglar (not true haheha)
sous chef to chef
lonely to 4 friends
long hair to short hair
smart to brilliant
crazy to crazier
fun to funny
bad artist to bad artist
short to short
no fashion to fashionista
don’t eat clams to eat clams
no glasses to no glasses
(my name) Tahlia to Tahlia (ta leah)
not able to do backhandspring to
I GOT MY BACKHANDSPRING
Danger TIMES
Mikayla M.
This is the poem of billions, bad PRESIDENT,
no good GOVERNMENT
PEOPLE getting SHOT
Even before was BAD
The GREAT DEPRESSION
THE PRESIDENTs were BAD at that
TIME
so you see there’s
always going to be something BAD
but we will get there
SOMETIME…
Untitled
Isis O.
I have changed
by.
I turn from a
baker to a
baker and
cook
I have reunited with
my friends
but I am still me and
nothing’s going
to change
that
Untitled
Olive P.
3rd grade
red hair secret dancer very shy
4th grade
purple hair, great dancer
not that shy
smart and strong and
very athletic
I Used to
Mitra S.
I used to be small
but now I am big
I used to be quiet
but now I am loud
I used to be gloomy
but now I am all happy
I used to play with toys
but now I never
I used to do this and I used
to do
that
but now I changed and that is
just how I am.
Change
Vishal S.
3rd grade was
basically the great
depression of my life
(no, seriously, it was terrible)
but I’ve changed
in many ways to be
exact
I got taller by 2 inches
so did my personality &
intelligence
plus my skills
in athletic
achievement
like basketball,
track, and stuff
But that doesn’t
matter
at least I grew.
3rd to 4th
Ayden S.
It wasn’t hard at Budlong in
3rd grade.
I was sad when I transferred.
Budlong to Skinner.
But I was happy to have new
friends and happy to have my old
friends.
I was sad to happy.
Mrs. Johnson, 4th Grade
Untitled
Deondre C.
I have changed by me knowing more
stuff and my height and age.
And I didn’t like to read now
I love to.
To
Roxie L.
hungry—>starving
sad—>mad
shorter—>taller
less knowledgable—>smarter
sleep—>awake
clothes—>PANTS
The Trapdoor
Jacob L.
DON’T go through
the trapdoor,
It’s dangerous.
There are serpents
Burning wood
Bows and arrows
Swordsmen
DON’T go through
the trapdoor
Untitled
Aarav M.
Hmm, how have I changed? I honestly don’t know. Wait,
I do know! I’ve grown taller, I’ve become smarter.
Change…what you were in the past and what you are in
the present. I’ve changed by becoming more mature during the
years have gone by. Changing could be good or bad.
Untitled
Calvin M.
I loved myself now I hate myself.
Untitled
Moses N.
I changed when I got
blown up! I changed because
I look different.
Untitled
Albert S.
I’ve changed my life how
going on spring break
Untitled
Anthony S.
5 years ago I had a 4 pack and
now I have an 8 pack couple of years ago
I liked pizza now I don’t.
Don’t Walk into the Bakery
Howard W.
Don’t walk into the bakery you will get
full very fast you want
something else then you will
find someone you don’t like.
Walk out and you will
feel mixed up.
Dogs
Sirun Z.
This is REAL
When I was 6, I was scared of dogs.
And now I have a dog.
Mrs. Oluewu, 4th Grade
Untitled
Courtney B.
I was happy
I was sad
I am upset
I’m glad
I am mad
Now I’m OK
You Over There
Kyndall F.
Have you ever changed in personality? I have I
used to be sassy but now I’m not. I know you over
there wouldn’t agree. Did you know that we have a
math test tomorrow? I know you over there don’t.
If you haven’t noticed you are like the future unpredictable
on how you are going to act today
Change
Aurelie G.
I was sad
Now I’m mad
Then I feel bad
I want my dad
I’m me nad
I’m feel aad
And now I’m just
making up words
Untitled
Erik I.
I’m happy
I’m sad
I’m mad
I’m calm
I’m hysterical
I’m calm
Untitled
Kayla K.
I used to not have glasses, but now I
do!
Or
do
I?
I just remembered that I forgot
to bring my
glasses to
school!!
so now I don’t have
glasses…or
do
I?
DUN
DUN
DUN!
OMG I Changed!!!
Kyle L.
I have changed
Or have I changed?
I don’t remember if I have changed
Oh yeah! I remember.
Oh wait I forgot
OMG I changed!!!!
Dark Days
Alexis M.
I used to see the world not through my eyes, or
heart but instead my head then I saw it through
my eyes now I see it through a foggy glass cup only
half full cool or not I’ve sought out a difficult
life of broken dreams & dark days & that’s how
I will forever stay & see the world like so.
I’ve Changed, but Not Much
Opal P.
I have changed
but not much
I’ve changed only as I grew older
but really
I’m no
different than
before
I’m me
not you
I’ve changed but
not much
How I Have Changed
Josiah R.
I used to be wearing pajamas
now I am wearing a hoodie and jogging pants
Changed
Sophia S.
Look at the skies
so bright and blue
I would not see
with eyes blind hurt
I thought I could
live but I was
wrong with the thought
I need hope joy
Soon I found that
I love my new
them they are perfect
for me and eyes
THIS IS ME
Londyn W.
I used to be the
shortest person in
my class. Now I’m
not that short.
I sucked my pacifier
till I was about 3.
Now, I like hard
candies because
they remind me of
my pacifier.
I barely wore
diapers. Now
I don’t use
one. (I’m a big
kid now.)
