Last week at Smyser Elementary, we read Ross Gay’s poem “Sorrow is Not My Name.” Students challenged themselves to write their own poems about joy or a difficult experience utilizing metaphors and similes. Check out the student’s poems from this week!
Mrs. Showalter’s Class
Oliver L., “About Joy”
Joy is something I have learned.
Joy is something I have earned.
David R.
Joy is the
happiness in
life. Just like
joy in Inside
Out. Joy is
the amazing
details that you
have in the
happy times
in life. Joy has
colors of happiness
that include
a rainbow.
Emad H., “What I’m Grateful For”
I’m grateful for my mom,
dad, uncle, aunt, brother,
grandma, grandpa, cousins,
pets, house, houses in Palestine,
gold mosque, mosque in
Saudi Arabia, food, drinks,
money, cars, jewelry,
god, football, soccer,
basketball, basketball, boxing,
pools, oceans, animals,
nature, earth, space,
planets, the sun, the
moon, Quran, prophet
Muhammed, prophet Isa,
prophet Idals, prophet
Musa, prophet Yusuf,
prophet Yunus and
prophet Dawed.
Sienna K., “Difficult Experience”
My first day of school.
I was so scared on my first day of school.
I thought no one would like me.
I wanted to scream.
But I made a friend
that is now my best friend.
Mrs. Przeklasa’s Class
Vanessa R., “What is joy…”
joy is like your happiness, happiness is
when your enjoying your life joy is like
having a friend by your side guiding
you on your way someone that brings
you happiness someone who can
share your feelings so you’re not
alone anymore someone you can
actually trust someone that you think
is trustworthy of your feelings someone
who you don’t have to hide from anymore
joy is not just having fun it’s the
person you spend time with
Yoelvys Y., “I love most”
Cuando mi mama me
Felicito pop mi cumpleaños
y me llevo a un legar rana comer.
cuando me compro un juguete pana
jugar y me compro
un carro
when my mom
say go to school
and I say okay
when my mom says
you have folder
when my brother
says find my phone
and I say no.
my brother says okay.
when me and my mom
go to the Zoo and
my mom says okay.
Doug M., “Grateful”
I am grateful for food and water, all need them.
I am grateful for my house, as a place to keep dry, keep protected, and keep living.
I am grateful for my friends and family, they make life better.
I am grateful for electronics, awesome after a long day.
I am grateful for Sweet Oasis Ice Cream, a tasty treat in summer, the hot days.
I am grateful for 150 Freston Road, London, UK, it is a rickroll.
I am grateful for dreaming, the imagination is like the sun, unlimited power.
But most of all, I am grateful for all that make life just how it is.
Jeremy M.
the place where there is
peace the church it cost me
to understand what each thing
was and forgive my sins I
am baptized. And it is pretty.
Ryan S., “Practice before Confidence”
Practice before confidence is key to
success. When I was six I started to
skate. When I was skating, I tried
a new trick I hadn’t practiced. That
trick gave me quite the surprise. I fell
tucked and did everything I knew.
I hit a rail, and my skateboard flew!
Ever since that, I practiced a lot of
times to do something I enjoy. I’ll
never know, I might fly again!
Mrs. Edwards’ Class
Sabrina P., “My Happy Cat“
My cat is like the moon
She stares out the window
She is lost in her thoughts
Thinking about her favorite toys
That bring her so much joy
She is a happy cat when you play with her
When you spin the toy round and round like
a merry-go-round
She is as happy as she can be.
Alberto F., “Why It’s Bad and Good”
Our house is good.
The super market is
like farmers helping
us. The parks is for
people under 12 or 11.
I got in an argument
at home. I couldn’t
use electronics for a
week. My family is
the best.
Stanislav K., “Is Sorrow My Name?”
No matter what you do sorrow is
not my name I am so grateful
for my family but the war is change
my life I experience the stress like
you in world cup player but I
am grateful for everything
PS5, clothes, phone, football I always
remember I am like the spring.
Jayden R.
Joy playing football
Joy playing video games
Joy playing Uno
Joy is something you do.
Amelia S., “Depths Below Shore”
Sinking like an anchor underwater
Bubbles rising about my head
I squirmed to get up to the surface,
Yet I was a trapped fish
Locked in a tank
Trying to escape
My savior pulled me up
As I took a breath
How happy I was to be alive
