For their sixteenth week of poetry O-School students explored Spoken Word poetry. Spoken Word poems are made for the stage, its storytelling told through elements of rhythm, rhyme, repetition, and even hip-hop. Most students were familiar with
Together we read and listened to a student named Nikoli’s spoken word poem, “Mathematical Blues,” that he performed at the Fall Leaf Kids Poetry Slam. Nikoli uses unique rhymes and rhythm to describe his feelings about math. The teaching staff will feel my wrath/ for taking me down the wrong math path/ I want to fly,/not to divide and multiply.
Students enjoy Nikoli’s performance and practiced coming up with their own rhymes and write spoken word poems about things that gives them the blues.
Group A (Middle School)
Olivia’s Keys Blues
Booooooooooooooooo
(thumbs down)
I hope that Olivia doesn’t
get locked out of her house.
I hope that Olivia doesn’t
get locked out of her house.
To Be at School Blues
I have to work.
When can I be a stork?
I have math.
When can I choose my path?
I have school.
When can I go to the pool?
I have staff.
When all I can do is laugh.
I Got the Kitty Blues
I’ve got the kitty blues, because
my kitty is ignoring me.
He used to love to play,
but now just sleeps all day.
He used to sleep in bed with me,
but now he sleeps on the floor.
I still love him, I just wish he would,
put in a little more effort to love me.
I’ve Got the School Blues (Sometimes I feel this way)
I’ve got the school blues, in every
P.E. game, I always lose.
This place is a waste of time,
I don’t even know how to rhyme.
This school makes me wanna
lay and cry.
This school doesn’t make me cool,
we don’t even have a pool.
The kids are always rude,
and the lunch is always
hard to chew.
I’ve been here for years
and so far, nothing is clear.
My skin here is always dry,
and sometimes people
here think I lie . . . .
I’m Tired
I don’t wanna go to school.
School is boring.
I’m tired.
I’d rather just play on my Switch-o-led.
I hate school.
I basically don’t want to be
writing this down right now.
That’s the end.
Signed,
E. Dubes
I’ve Got the Dyspnoria Blues
I’ve got the dyspnoria blues.
I am no clitoria
I feel no euphoria.
I feel like a zeal for looking masculine.
My mind is vascular.
Thoughts flowing like a river.
I’m bestowing my feelings,
because I feel like I have
to hide.
I’m bestowing my feelings.
I Got the School Blues
School is bull.
Makes me wanna drown in a pool.
Makes me wanna drool.
It’s not cool. . . .
I wanna play football,
with my cousin Kevaughn.
I got the school blues.
Group B (Middle School)
Bulling Blues Haiku
They antagonize
with contrasting, wistful eyes.
The Bullying Blue.
I Got the Family Blues
In my house, even my sister
would fight over a rabid mouse.
I am sad whenever I am
stuck with my mom and dad.
I am not understood,
my parents act like
a board of wood.
I’ve Got the First Day of School Blues
I’ve got the first day of school blues.
It make me feel so bored, I’d rather
being doing chores.
When I wake up early with the sun,
mom drags me out. I have to run,
No time to eat, no time to play;
the bus is about to pull away!
What else can I say?
It’s just the first day.
The Hangry Blues
I have the hangry blues.
It makes me want some food.
I would choose some steak and eggs
or maybe Soul Food.
My goal is to bear this growly stomach,
and maybe pour this coffee,
maybe with some toffee.
Maybe pop me a bag of chips,
that are salty and greasy.
I can rhyme easy.
This growly stomach
makes me queasy
drink some coffee
feel breezy and
overcaffeinated.
Maybe get my first
confession laminated.
Annoying Older Brother Blues
I get home to see,
there is no more food for me.
I get mad,
so, I yell and scream for Dad
All I wanted was some food,
now I’m in a bad mood.
Now my brother’s not home,
and I’m all alone.
now I want to die, cause
I’m a hangry mess.
Now I am totally depressed.
Now my Bro got home,
I’m not longer alone.
I’m still made,
but less sad.
