In a Perfect World - The Chicago Poetry Center

In a Perfect World

For our fourth week together, we looked at the big things that would make up a perfect world and the little things that make up our current world. On Tuesday, we read Joy Harjo’s poem “Once the World was Perfect” and talked about how she personifies some big abstractions, like Doubt. Then, we wrote our own poems about what a perfect world might look like. On Thursday, we read Toi Derricotte’s “On the reasons I loved Telly the fish” and talked about how she writes about her pet fish’s importance to her, even though the other people in her life may not understand that importance. After reading, students wrote about something small that matters to them. We looked at moments of simile and metaphor in both of this week’s poems, and students came up with their own similes and metaphors.

Ms. Jackson/Ms. Walker 6th Grade

Doubt Ra'Kari G. and Michaela B.

A doubt of regret
A pool of doubt
A pool of doubt and regret
Love is trust and doubt and passion
Love is doubt, trust and respect
Love and regret

Brainstorms Jakiyah J.

Kindness is about helping others in need
Fear is darkness
Stone in your hand

Inspiration Shanya P.

An inspiration of god.
An inspiration of pools.
An inspiration of reaching goals.

Love is respect and inspiration.

Happiness Marshaune B.

Happiness is
like taking
a walk
at the park.
Happiness is
like staying
home from
school. Happiness
is like
winning a
video game

A World Full of Lies Terrance W.

I feel that the world
will never be perfect

because there always
will be darkness

so saying that when
the world was perfect
is untruly a lie. But
specks of light
still appear. But

the world is still full
of darkness.

All About Dome the Snake Danya M.

One small thing I like is my snake. He is as long
as my leg
He is green like
grass
He is black like the movies
He is mean
and sometimes he’s
sweet

My Phone is Small and Important to Me Maaliyah T.

I think that my phone is important to me
but others think it isn’t.
My phone allows me to call my mom
when something isn’t right.
It allows me to call my bsf
& talk to her.
My phone is life.

What Matters to Me Nasir M.

My game matters to me
My life matters to me
My shoes matter to me
My mom matters to me

About My Room Shonnice B.

My room, I feel like I have
one of the best rooms. It’s
big, colorful, pretty and
more, it’s cold but not
as bold. When I lay down
watch the magic happen.