For their twelfth virtual lesson Shoesmith 5th and 6th graders learned to laugh at themselves. Together we read and discussed the poem, “I Finished My Homework,” by children’s poet Kenn Nesbitt. In poem the speaker a young boy describes his experience completing his homework. Nesbitt uses hyperbole, a figure of speech that uses exaggeration that often creates an over-the-top comic effect. I studied each problem/until my eyes burned/Researched each detail/ leaving no stone unturned. The boy claims that not only did he finished his assignments he even checked is work. Yet, when he turns in his homework something goes terribly wrong. The teacher looked puzzled/I felt my heart sink/ I’d used my trick pen/with invisible ink. The poem ends in a ironic twist, the boy uses his trick pen instead of a regular one. All that work just disappeared. After reading the poem, some students believed that this poem is full of lies that the boy is telling his teacher, because he might not have actually completed his homework.
Inspired by Kenn Nesbitt, students wrote their own poems using hyperboles. Please enjoy this week’s humorous poems.
Ms. Yassky’s 5th Grade
Group 1
I finished my work
By Jamylah B.
It took me years
I wanted to give my teachers my work
But it blew away
It started raining cats and dogs
My work was dead
It caught a ride to the vent
I was so mad because I took me years to finish that home work
When a goat try to fly
Kamren M.
When I saw the goat jumped, I died
But when I looked back up he was soaring
My jaw dropped on the floor so I had to pick it back up
But I tried to tell my friends they looked and the goat was passed out
My mouth open so wide that you can fit a full size car in it
Ms. Yassky 5th Grade
Group 2
I Finished a Horrible Day
By Ophelia H.S.
I woke up early, dazed and dizzy
And I scratched my chin
I knew today would be very busy
So I got dressed and grabbed my violin
I am in a yearly talent show
I have to play the violin in front of the school
I don’t think I’ll like it as much as I know
I will get so frightened I think I will drool
I make my breakfast, and gobble it up quick
I hear the school bus outside of my door
And one last time I practice a performance trick
I can’t handle today anymore
As the lunch bell rings, I walk into the cafeteria
The smell makes me want to puke
The lunch lady says “It’s made of dried Bacteria”
“And on the side is deliciously fried liver fluke”
As I leave the lunchroom and walk up on stage
I hear tiny voices in my head saying “We don’t like you”
I get on to playing, but then I stop in a rage
As the crowd starts shouting “BOO”
I Finished My Notes/Homework
By Aboubacar K.
I finished my notes/homework
it took a long time
but my little brother ripped it
all my hard work is gone
Now I have to do it again
I have to stay up all night to finish it
I was going to sleep
thinking of what would happen
If I told the teacher my ripped my work
Will I get in trouble?
Will I have to do it again?
And waste all my time doing my work again
Untitled
By Khary N.
The day I start driving, I can go home
Today its raining cats and dogs
On a plane I can go to Rome
I’m going to fail this test.
I’m going to pop.
Ms. Henry’s 6th Grade
Group 1
I Finished Cleaning My Room
By De’Anna A.
I finished cleaning have a million toys in my room
I picked up a million my toys off the floor
I picked up my clothes
I hung them up on the door
I vacuumed the rug
Then I made up the bed
I took the books off the chair
and made sure the fish were fed
I went to get an apple from the fridge
And when I came back in
The floor was a mess and the bed was flipped
My sister messed it all up so I did it again
I Finished Making Jerk Chicken
By Peace Finley
I get down the bowl
The seasoning scares me
I’m making jerk chicken
UGH please let me be
Grabbing a piece whole
I open the jar
I can’t stop blinking
I want to run far
ACHOOOOOO!
That sneeze was a roar
I then pour it in
This could be the next virus
It smells like a sin
I mix the seasoning in the chicken
My lungs start to give out
One by One
I know they gave out with no doubt
It gets in my eye
It burns, grab a hose!
My eye won’t even open
I have to pinch my nose
It has a mind of its own
In my eye it stays
Please, just get out!
Uncle Captain Man saves the day
I Finished My Project
By Keith J.
I finished my project
I stayed up all night
I did it on the weekends last minute
I did it on my computer it was so bright
I look at the time its 2 o’clock
I’m so tired I could downright sink in my bed
I read my poem and practice
This makes me so angry I have veins popping out my head
I look at my poem so happy I’m done
Then look to see I used all caps
I see I spelled everything wrong
No I’m done I’m going to take a nap
Ms. Henry’s 6th Grade
Group 2
Wanda Finished Cooking
By Layla A.
Wanda was so angry her blood was boiling
Why did Vision have to be so annoying
Going to work, every day in the morning and working for a million hours
She decides to cook using her powers
Vision walks into the kitchen
Scares Wanda half to death
A plate crashes on Vision’s head like a meteor
Wanda has to stop and take a breath
Wanda and Vision laugh so hard they might choke
Wanda goes into the fridge to grab a coke
Wanda and vision are so hungry they could eat a horse
But let’s not forget, of course
They’ve got two children
Who could eat a billion
The dinner is done, there’s a kiss of peace
Then, everyone eats
Except Vision, and either way we all know he’s deceased
Untitled
By Alyce J.
I laugh so hard my tongue fell out
I fell on my knees so hard my bones almost fell out
I ate something so good I felt like I was about to die
I hit my head so hard after it felt like a rock
I bit my hand accidentally and it felt bad
I was playing Minecraft on my game and hit my head while I was on stream
I was playing games and got my finger stuck
I was so mad my mouth burst out steam
Untiled
Iyanna W.
I just got home from school
My mom is finishing up dinner
I got started on my homework
In math I am a beginner
My nose feels like it is about to fall in love
My moms’ food is a magic palace
My mom gives me a dead rat on my plate
I think in my head why did I smell amazing casserole
and seasoned broccoli
