"Dark and light both fill the page..." - The Chicago Poetry Center

“Dark and light both fill the page…”

Last Friday Swift 2nd graders began with a chat about things that are small enough to fit in one’s pocket, such as coins, crumbs, pieces of candy, and folded up pieces of paper. We were thinking in miniature. From there we looked at two little – or, miniature – poems written by Nikki Grimes, before students composed their own itty-bitty poems.

Ms. Pendola 2nd Grade

The Night Sky Melita S.

tiny and sparkly, like a bridesmaid’s dress. moon
pops out. hours later, it’s back to day.
moon following stars, and stars following
moon. Stars glittering night and day. Dark
and light both fill the page.

The big sun Ishan B.

Bright and big is the sun
like a moon that is mixed with silver
Just looking to each country for hours
then the sun switches with the moon.
Big sun just spying on the countries.
Happy sun!

The World's Smallest Pencil Daniel J.

it’s hard to write
it’s too small, it’s teeny-tiny
good for teeny-tiny words
and nano drawings
to fit inside a teensy box.

A Swing Xena W.

It goes so high
I can see the sun and birds
feels like I’m flying
and when I go down
I feel like I’m sitting on air.

Stars Yanika C.

tiny and sparkly
just like a little bug
shiny as a diamond
up so high
to the moon
just traveling to
each country.

203 Aaliyah J.

The kids screaming/ yelling having fun
like the kids they are. Playing, talking,
eating. All you can hear next door
is Ahhhhhhhhh! The second graders
about to be in grade three.

The world's smallest rock Pratik K.

It’s hard to see,
It’s too little, it’s too small,
good for ants. Can go
inside your eye. you can
put it inside your pencil.