Dear… Epistle Poetry

At Nettelhorst 7th Grade, we listened to Dr. Joshua Bennett’s poem “Dear Stevie.”
In this poem, Dr. Bennett writes a letter to Stevie Wonder about the influences his music has had on his life, his family’s life, and the family he imagines he will have one day. Students learned about the power of writing intimate and direct poetry to people they love and know well or even might imagine meeting! Students were tasked to write an epistle poem to an artist they admire and has meant a good deal to them. Read below for this week’s featured poets!

Mrs. Hempe's 7th Grade Group 1

"Just Might" Taonga Z.

Bruno Mars, you’re the only musician
I listen to the most currently,
if I could listen
to any of your songs
I might just pick “Just Might”
on repeat endlessly.

Every time I think about your
line “I just might”
it makes me feel like just
taking the chance to just doing it,
either way
I just might.

"Dear Tyler" Jackson W.

You create the music that can get
anybody out of their seat
you mix R&B music with so many things
where it creates a symphony just by you
I remember when I first listened to your
music and I felt uplifted
I felt stronger in a way so that I
could get through what I ahd in front
of me
From “Cherrys” to “Glass” you continue
to show why you’re the best
Dear Tyler, you showed me a type of
music I didn’t know I liked and cemented
yourself as the best.

Like sunshine as music you turn
music into something better than it is
Dear Tyler…

"Dear Sombr" Iva L.

me and my mom don’t have many things in
common, but to love listening to your
music, we do.
I love it when your music takes me
back in time to when I was on a
night drive with my mom, screaming
the lyrics of 12 to 12, screaming like
my life depended on it.

The way the rhythm flows through my
body while I stomp my feet, thinking
of all of the times I felt like
someone or I messed up, or even
had my heart broken.

Sometimes it makes me think if my
mom ever feels the same about his
music, or if she had those teenage
years like me.

But every morning I get up and
play my 24/7 playlist on spotify and
of course I have more than 10 of
your songs on there.

You inspire me and keep on
doing that.

"Ed Sheeren" Arn S.

Ed Sheeren is the
best. He is the first
artist I listened to when I came to America.

He is also the
best British artist.
The best guitarist.

His music is really influential,
And has changed many minds.

Mrs. Hempe's 7th Grade Group 2

"Dear My King Frank" Sabreeah L.

You changed my life just from
the first note it hit like a knife
to the chest but it felt good but
now you’re gone god knows where
and I don’t think you’re ever coming
back I wish you were but you’re
not but I can try like everyone
else to continue you for just
one more song like the old
times just please come back.

"Dear Tate" Alessandra C.

Dear Tate,
I remember the first time I went to your concert,
I instantly fell in love with your music.

You are important to me because
the way you sing
is very smooth
and the lyrics make me feel
upbeat, confident,
and empowered.

Your music has impacted me
because every time I need something
to listen to
or everywhere I go,
your music always is on repeat.

Thank you for your amazing songs
that make me feel confident,
and that make me feel
important.

"One Ear Wonder" Juan A.

Dear Picasso [Van Gough],
I truly admire the way you make paint transform
into tones that resonate in my mind
yellow to joy,
green to life,
blue to deep calmness
Sometimes I look at your paintings and think
if one day I could turn a cityscape
into a historical masterpiece
if I could take a plain night sky
and convert it into a
swirly and swirly deep blue that grabs
the attention of a room
a room of people that understand you now,
Picasso

"Dear Ms. Nicks" Mira R.

I first heard one of your songs
in School of Rock
The actors were
dancing
But I could see
through the mask of their
characters
That they were enjoying
themselves
I’m sure that there were
plenty of Rumors
about you
But you stood through the
“Landslide”
You really did
“Go your own way”
When you turned solo
There’s no Stevie Nicks
in Fleetwood Mac.
It always confused me
That they did not name
Their band
after their blonde vocalist
Dressed in only the most
Bohemian clothing
singing about their drummer
Because those “Chains”
couldn’t hold you
And you wanted to make the
“Dreams”
of yours and girls “Everywhere”
Come true.