Sometimes poetry can be a way to express what is really hurting us, what makes us want to yell out in frustration and or fall down sobbing. Poetry can be a way of to find solace and meaningful connection in what sometimes feels to be the overwhelming injustice of the world. It’s remarkable to be able to read words from strangers, sometimes from different generations or thousands of miles away and be able to resonate and relate to their experience.
Other times, poetry, like all art is about expressing yourself as silly and as ridiculous as you can be. It’s all valid. That’s why for this class the students prompt was to write about hosting a seance: who would they bring back, what would they need, how would conduct the seance, what will their characters be doing?!
How to Summon A Snail
by Natalie
7th grade
Summoning the small creature
will be tough as a result
of the small creatures
slow slimy bodies
trying to make it through the small seance portal
Remember there are three different types of snails
the help snail
these snails help fix all the past, the present,
and the future (even though these snails are the
ones who end up getting stepped on
they still are unique),
the turbo snail
these snails have a small glowing body
with a orange shell
they are not fully turbo
but they can go 5% faster than usual
the last one is the x-snail
they look like ghosts and their shells
have a x mark
don’t deal with these snails as they will
end up taking something special
from you
To summon these snails
you need to wait
until dusk
To set up
make sure there are three
primary sacrifices
As you enter the “other” realm
you need
a bowl of salt
dead animal carcass
and a small offering of wine
wait until nightfall
the moon needs to be full for this to work
Light three candles
black for the x-snail
green for the turbo snail
and a red candle for the help snail
Instructions for a Seance with Cheto
by Zarissy
8th grade
Possible pastimes of Cheto in the afterlife
Cheeto eating a daddy long legs
Cheto running along a dry grassy field
Cheto wondering what it is like to be a bird
Cheto sniffling the baby turtles that never
made it to the ocean
Cheto wishing he could use a toilet
Cheto eating a pig’s nasty leftovers
Cheto wanting an elephant nose
Cheto sticking his tongue out while
riding a horse
