On the last day of our 2nd grade poetry residency at Swift – we looked at Carl Sandburg‘s poem “Pencils,” in which I omitted a number of words and lines. Students came up with their own ideas to fill in the blanks. Read on for a cut-and-pasted-collage of a Carl Sandburg + Students version of “Pencils,” followed by Carl Sandburg’s original poem.
Pencils Collage By Ms. Brist’s class
Pencils are wild, magical, usable, and so cool.
Pencils come loose with no magic when you make them mad.
One pencil writes many thousand words, if you read books for one hour.
Pencils too pointed break their points and
then laugh at you.
Blunt pencils write hard words and fancy flower and verdaderas words for you
even if the words mean nothing.
Proud pencils get furious waiting to be sharpened.
Long pencils say, “I will write un libra entero, a song, or a story about a cat and a dog hugging.”
Short pencil stubs say, “I write and I forget and l
leave it to long pencils, monsters, and the trouble-makers to remember.”
Pencils in pockets on short paper with chocolates shove each other and
nearly come to fighting.
They wait to be alone, hungry, and sharpened before they write again—the
lost pencils.
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Pencils
By Carl Sandburg
Pencils are to hold when you write.
Pencils come loose unless you hold them.
One pencil writes many thousand words, if
you know the words.
Pencils too pointed break their points and
then laugh at you.
Blunt pencils write big long words for you
even if the words mean nothing.
Proud pencils get furious waiting to be sharpened.
Long pencils say, “I will write a little book for you
if you will find the little words.”
Short pencil stubs say, “I write and I forget and l
leave it to the paper to remember.”
Pencils in pockets and boxes shove each other and
nearly come to fighting.
They wait to be found before they write again—the
lost pencils.
**************************************************************
Ms. Brist’s class graced me with delightful creative gifts made from their hands and hearts. Thank you so much! I was honored to have the chance to meet and work with all of you! ❤️💚🩷🧡🩵🤎💐
