Hello, poetry lovers! After a bit of a holiday break/poetry hiatus, Waters 6th graders were ready to jump back in. For this session, we read Ross Gay’s “Sorrow Is Not My Name” and explored its beautiful images, and the way joy is found in big and small things. For their original poems, students pulled from the things that bring them joy and difficult experiences they’ve had to move through. Take a look below.
Ms. Smallwood’s 6th Grade Class
Sephora by Theda S.
One time I walk into a Sephora store on my birthday.
I didn’t get anything.
I learned I can’t get everything.
Ms. Hooper’s 6th Grade Class
The place in my head by Darcy A.
I’m grateful for the place in my head
it helps me calm down
Because of it I can experience new things
I can swim in a lake
read in a small cabin
and play with bunnies
It’s like that feeling
where you snuggled up in a blanket
and feel like you are the safest you have
ever been
and ever will be
Six Flags by Freddy P.
I love going to Six Flags with
my family. The screams are music
to my ears. All the rides make
me feel like I’m flying like an eagle.
The rides are so intense it squeezes
my brain with pressure. Hearing
the sound of roller coasters scraping
the metal track makes me so excited
but still kind of nervous
like butterflies playing catch in my
stomach. But I like that. The
best part of all is doing it
with my family.
Joy by Julia C.
Joy is like the first sign of the sun
after a long cold winter
break is over and back to the hard sight of friends
going into a different room
and you are going into a whole new world without them
but, keep it together even if your world is a black hole
without them you have to keep going
be thankful that they came into your life and took you in
and how you’re in the right place with the right people
the one’s who care about you the most.
Mr. D’s 6th Grade Class
Something by Abbie L.
Everything means something
Like why watching a sunset
on the beach means happy
Or why basketball means
joy, to me.
soft rain, French fries, football games, butterflies.
Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Girl Scout cookies. This
means bliss.
And Georgie.
Pitch Softball by Reeve S.
I had to pitch
in a game
not bad
not great
No practice
No work
I didn’t notice
how bad it was,
I learned
always be ready
practice
practice
practice
art by Alex L.
move your pencil up and down
side to side around and round
paints galore paper with
art all around
tape and pens all over the ground
this is art in and out
art can be anything
