For our 4th week of poetry, 6th graders discovered odes. An ode is a poem that gives praise and celebrates a person, place, or object. Together we read Marcus Jackson’s poem “Ode to Kool-Aid.” Jackson creates unique similes to describe this beloved sugary drink from his childhood, “Extra sugar whirlpooling to the pitcher-bottom like gypsum sand.” Jackson also included lines of alliteration, the repetition of letter sounds, to describe the Kool-Aid flavors, “Purplesaurus Rex, Roarin’ Rock-A-Red, Ice Blue Island Twist, Sharkleberry Finn.” I asked students what flavor of Kool-aid was their favorite. Red and Grape were the popular flavors.
Inspired by Marcus Jackson, students wrote their own odes to celebrate the people and things they love. Enjoy this week’s published poems.
Mr. Barr 6th grade
Group 1
Ode to My Dog
By Madelyn G.
My dog who smells like Fritos.
A dog as cute as a kitten,
a dog as magical as a unicorn.
My dog is meaningful, magical,
beautiful.
My dog is cute and colorful.
My dog, a mixture of two breeds,
it’s a like a giant bear.
Ode to Christmas
by Axel G.
The big bright
tree with ornaments,
shining like diamonds,
lights so bright
like the sun in
the corner of the room.
Ode to Pepsi
by Jezebeth M.
Pepsi, why am I celebrating this?
Well, Pepsi is like sugary drink,
and better than Coca Cola.
My Pepsi, as a cool drink.
My Pepsi is like Coca Cola,
Pepsi is fizzy, Pepsi is chilly,
my Pepsi is like a pool.
Pepsi is blue, Pepsi ice
cold drink, bubbly drink,
different Pepsi, Diet Pepsi.
Frozen Pepsi, ice cream
Pepsi, Zero Sugar Pepsi,
Cola Pepsi.
Mr. Barr 6th grade
Group 2
O to Volleyball
By Daniela A.
Oh, Volleyball,
you look like someone has
drawn perpendicular lines
onto your surface.
You roll around us,
people push you.
You come in a variety
of colors.
You fly over the net,
fast as 73 miles per hour.
People seem as if they
hate you, but really that’s
our sport.
Passing may be difficult,
but really it comes
from my heart.
It isn’t just you, they volleyball
on the court, there are six other
girls that care about the sport.
You aren’t just a piece of junk,
you are a source of happiness,
opportunities, time and luck.
Ode to My Cat
By Melissa T.
Her eyes piercing through her prey.
Her claws are sharp as knives.
Her fur is gray,
like a snowy and gray mountain.
She’s quiet like a mouse.
Fast and ferocious like the
feral beast she is.
She is silly, scary, and spirited.
Nala’s her name, in Swahili
her name means queen.
Nala makes a great, qualified,
quintessential queen.
Ode to My Wonderful Mom
By Samantha H.
My mom’s glasses sparkle like the stars.
My mom’s purse is small like a dog.
My mom’s slippers are big as a desk.
My mom is magical, musical,
and mature
My brother is brave, buff,
and bratty.
My sister is smart, strong,
and sad.
Mr. Barr 6th grade
Group 3
Ode to Mom
By Kaylene C.
My mom is as sweer as a mouthful of sugar.
She is as smart as a book.
She is as beautiful as a painting.
My mom is fun, fierce, and fair.
She is awesome, amazing, aware.
She likes peach pink.
Thunder Takis
By Catalina S.
Takis are as hot as summer.
Takis move in your mouth likes a tornado.
Red as lava when it explodes in your mouth.
Tiny Takis is like tasty thunder.
thought tornados, Think Trash, but hot Takis.
Takis, trust the hot thrill.
Track
By Melanie V.
Wind blowing through my hair
as I’m running.
Track people trot through the trees.
Tired as Ms. Gawlak’s homework.
Hot as a hot shower.
People running, hard breathing,
saying, “I Quit.”
I am the cool mid
air when you go play
outside with your ball.
Mr. Barr 6th grade
Group 4
Ode to Friends
By Gabriella C.
Jackie’s eyes sparkle like diamonds.
She is joyful, jolly, and jazzy.
She is gorgeous, stunning, lovely,
and exquisite.
Alejandra’s eyes are pretty
like fallen leaves.
She is also adventurous,
amazing, and agreeable.
She is wonderful, alluring,
and magnificent.
Grace’s eyes are like
butterflies.
She is gentle, genuine,
and glamourous.
She is gorgeous, lovely,
and enchanting.
Ode to Mr. Barr
By Jackie M.
He’s as cool as a cucumber.
As busy as a bee.
And as mysterious as the sea.
Mr. Barr.
Mr. Barr, brave, brilliant, bright,
bubbly, the best busy, bright
as the sun. Bold and Brillant
Mr. Barr!
He gives candy,
And always comes in handy.
He’s bold and brilliant Mr. Barr.
He teaches us new things.
shows us how to spread our wings.
So, we can fly high.
Because he’s an awesome guy.
Mr. Barr, brave, brilliant, bright,
bubbly, the best busy, bright
as the sun. Bold and Brillant
Mr. Barr!
