After getting off to a rocky start for our 3rd and 4th sessions, 4th graders in Mr. Adenuga’s class began to open-up to poetry. This week I shared Kwame Alexander’s book, How to Write a Poem. We also looked at my poem, “Life is For Us and It Shines.” Later, we talked about comparisons. For inspiration we watched two videos: first of poet Nate Marshall at age 18 performing his poem, “Look;” and then Theresa the Songbird performing her poem “You So Black.” Students worked to contribute individual lines to create a group poem. Take note of their comparisons.
I Am Black
I am black and soft like a piece of velvet
I am black and beautiful
like a violet or a lily or
a poetry teacher
I am black like a dark night
or a piece of dark chocolate
and just as sweet
but sometimes sour, sometimes salty
Black Lives Matter
I am black and breathtaking like an Egyptian Queen
