This week, students revised poems about place, meditation, and food that they had worked on earlier in the residency.
Lesson Note: “In working on a poem, I love to revise….in the process of revision I discover things.”-Poet, Rita Dove
Ms. Ruan, 7th and 8th Grade
Chicago, Illinois
by
Junjie K.
I like summer best
Memories of China
Best of all seasons
homemade sushi
and pizza
and juice
Playing video games with friend
Day passed so fast
It’s suddenly time for school
Chicago, Illinois
by
Jiewei C.
I like squirting best
memories of china
egg tarts
and ramen
and delicious fried noodles
and fragrant fried rice
and ice cream
Ms. Wright, 8th Grade
(Original)
Dining Table
By Yuying M.
Humans need food, humans love food. The dining table is half of our life.
At this table, an abundance of food is in front of us and waiting for us to eat.
Be respectful, no sounds while eating.
Be politeful, not making unnecessary noise.
Be courteous, not picking food and stealing food from others.
At this table, the family shared about the day. We are all patient and joyful.
A reunion dining table is full of happiness and fun.
(Revision)
Dining Table
By Yuying M.
Every living thing needs food, humans love food.
At this table, an abundance of food is in front of us,
Incense flows through the room.
Be respectful,
no sounds while eating.
Be politeful,
not making unnecessary noise.
Be courteous,
not picking food and stealing food from others.
During dinner time,
the family shared about the day. We are all patient and joyful.
A reunion dining table is full of happiness and fun.
Summer (Revised)
By Ying Qi, W. C.
The warm heat of the sun hits my face
telling me that it’s summer
Reminding me that there’s no school and no work to do
Free of all the burdens
Able to spend time with family and friends
With a nice slice of watermelon
Ms. Wright, 8th Grade
(Original)
Calm Silence
by
Serena M.
Comfortable stillness
Closed eyes
Breaths taken in and out
Imagination spirals
The sky is filled with clouds
The clear water moves gently
The routine used every night comes to thought
Everything done before sinking into bed
Drifting off into slumber
Thoughts about the present
The past, the future
But now we sit in the quietness
Meditating to peaceful breathe
(Revision)
Meditation in Silence
by
Serena M.
Eyes kept close as you slowly still
The comfortable atmosphere is enjoyable, relaxing, soothing
A rhythm of steady breaths going in and out
Imagination creeps over slowly
Thoughts are created and suddenly
Clouds paint over the sky, moving ever so gently
Down, there is a stream of water glistening in the sun and ever so clear
And further through these thoughts is the moon, signal of the night
The homely presence of your room
The comfy bed you sink into, falling to slumber
Time drifts through the night of sleep
Time is like the present of now, or the past of before
Even the future is time, unknown to you
The silence settling in this present moment
Meditating to the calm atmosphere
(Original)
Meditation
By Matthew T.
I am very
tired
I don’t want to
move
I just want to
go home and sleep
Moving takes too much
energy
I just want to
sit here with my
head down for the rest
of the day
I don’t want to do anything at all.
Meditation
(Revised)
By Matthew T.
I am very tired
I just want to lie down
I just want to go home and sleep
Nevermind, I can’t go home
I’m in school, but I also can’t move
it takes too much out of me
I don’t have the energy for that
My legs are dead
I just want to sit here with my
head down for the rest of the day
I don’t want to do anything at all
except for resting my head on my
desk and slowly falling asleep.
(Original)
Reflection of Night
By Ailin C.
Deep in the endless night,
your light guide us all
You shimmer and shine,
as an angel from above
Does it ever get lonely
to be high and mighty
As the blanket of darkness
carve in
Your very presence,
Give us strength
To give in our heart’s desire,
to give in hope
As the warm light creep in,
you fade away
Let us meet again
for the night sky will be back
(Revision)
Reflection of Night
By Ailin C.
Deep in the endless night, your brilliance guide us all
You shimmer and shine, as the one from above
But does it ever get lonely, for you can’t return
Where the blanket of darkness, are brighten by your sight
Your very presence, give us strength
To give in our inner strength, to give in hope
As the golden ray creep in, you fade away
Let us meet again, for night shall return
