Eat These Words

It was a chilly start to this year’s residency, but this was expected, given the time of year, and ultimately offset by the palpable enthusiasm of Skinner West students. As is the norm, I explained the program, covering what to expect for the next several weeks. There were also helpful poetry terms to identify—line and stanza—that will guide us in our class discussions, along with a focus on simile: comparing unalike things using like, as, or than.

The first poem to consider was “Eating Poetry” by Mark Strand, one I often choose to begin with given its approachability as well as unpredictability. I explained that we should never assume the speaker of the poem is the poet, so who (or what) exactly is speaking here? Why is the librarian upset? Can you “eat” poetry, and if so, how? We also examined Strand’s incidental use of rhyme, whereby I introduced the concept of inexact, imperfect, or slant rhyme.

The prompt for this inaugural week was to write about something you eat.

Ms. Nelson 4th Grade AM

Seeing Taco Avaneesh G.

The taco I saw in the
store was watering from my mouth.
I looked and looked and it did not
come to me. I tried to grab it
but it did not come to me.
Every time I see it my eyes are
glued to it like paper glued to cardboard.

Flan Lucia H.

Flan is my favorite food.
It tastes like vanilla.
When I see it
my mouth waters.

My eyes are glued whenever
I see it.
Flan is my love food.

Dark Chocolate Anorah K.

Pure dark chocolate
it is so dark you
can barely see it’s
so dark you can taste
the bittersweet you
feel joy you take a
bite you feel powerful
and have a swirl in
your heart.

Watermelon Cyrus K.

Watermelon juice is dripping out
my mouth.

The yummy sweet juice is
scared.

The watermelon is running at
1 mph as I chase it.

Untitled Asher R.

Spicy chicken is super hot!

Spicy chicken tastes like 20 bottles
of hot sauce!

Spicy chicken runs through my
blood.

I cry with lots of joy
sometimes when I eat spicy
chicken.

Its juicy taste makes me fall
in love.

The chicken is afraid of my
mouth.

The chicken screams like a baby for
help!

Their brothers and sisters are
next for my taste buds!

The chicken enters my stomach
and acts like it’s dead.

My Onion Zain V.

As I cut the onion the juice sprays
out like a hose in the garden. The juice
comes out like people trying to escape in
a building on fire.

The onion is as white as the paper
you’re looking at.

As I chomp into the onion the
sour taste destroys me like I’m in a fire.

The sound of the cooking onion
relaxes me to sleep.

I had a dream of eating the
onion. I have a nightmare of fire. I have
a dream of my true love onion.

Mr. Martens 4th Grade AM

Untitled Sofia A.

I saw a cookie
it looked so good
I ran to grab it
but someone took it

Pasta Alkexander B.

The pasta…
It tastes so good!
Cheesy as cream.

So good it makes my taste buds dance!
My mouth waters as if it’s a rushing river.
I gobble it up with joy in my mouth.

The smell oh the smell.
It’s like a lullaby for your nose.
Pasta oh pasta I love it!

Brain and Power Parker C.

At school, my brain eats,
The book feeds me.
I don’t know how to stop.
I feel the power growing in me.
My stomach flips
and turns.
Brain, help me now.
I feel the power.
Power, help me now.

The Sky Is Blue Lena D.

The sky is blue. The sun is out.
I look at my food flying in
the air with me.

Sometimes when I eat I
hum this song “lalala dododooo
yahoahoyahoooo.”

When I eat I say to the worm
hello worm how are you?

But I don’t hear anything.

Pizza Lilia P.

I LOVE pizza.
The mix of sauce, cheese, and crust.
They make my taste buds dance.

The cheese drips on my plate.
I love the taste of pizza.
Truly a magnificent experience
for me.

Pizza is my bling.
Pizza is my EVERYTHING.
I LOVE pizza.

Untitled Vedika P.

My favorite food to eat is ramen.
It melts in my mouth like ice.

I desire ramen so much.
I would fill my whole body.

If I had a choice ramen of course!
Ramen restaurants I go to get ramen!

Ramen, ramen, you’re my
favorite food!

Mr. Waterman 4th Grade

Untitled Salome D.

I like eating shadows.
I eat them by myself.

Every summer or spring they come out their shell.
They twist, they turn every time I eat them.
They’re spicy that’s how I like it.

Eggos Zach G.

Chocolate chip Eggos.
The best flavor of waffles.
When the toaster pops,

Then they are ready.
I get to eat them with joy
Chocolate chip heaven!

When I finish it,
I feel I need more Eggos.
Toaster comes again.

Books Anastacia C.

Books books books books books
I eat them up like chocolate
I like romance ones

I love them so much
I have over 200
They are amazing

Untitled Samaara S.

Salad is like trees
Lots of leafy greens

Veggies of all different kinds
Bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes

Salad dressing, all sweet and salty
Balsamic, Ranch, Italian, Caesar

All together it makes a perfect
Flavored meal!

Untitled Leah T.

I love sushi
It has a mix of foods
Which really makes it taste great

Pizza is good too
But sushi is still my favorite food

Ramen is also nice
But it doesn’t compare to seaweed and rice

Untitled Annie Z.

Streaks of red run down her face.
Her mother screams at her to stop feeding.
But she continues to eat with no remorse.
She finally stops and her mother sighs.
She ate the most expensive cherries ever!

Ms. Nelson 4th Grade PM

Time Olive D.

I take it.
Take off the back.
It goes in my mouth.

It is gone!
I ate the clock.
That’s the time!
I’ve lost my mind.

Time went by too fast.
Bye bye!
says the clock.

Now I’m lost
for good.

Untitled Nibir K.

Give me the banana!
She screamed as hungry can be.
She hasn’t eaten much,
only reading poetry.

Untitled Allison N.

It makes my mouth water.
It is my tradition
in Korea.

The taste is stunning.
We eat them on special occasions.
Everybody eats them in Korea.

This is sticky.
This is hard when it’s raw.
It’s shaped like an oval.

Some people don’t know this.
But I do.
Rice cake.

Untitled Amelia S.

Hamburger, hamburger
Sit around all day
Did you have fun?
Did you have feelings?

Hot dog, hot dog
Sit around all day
Did you bark once?
Did you wag a tail?

Sometimes I wonder
Did my food laugh and play?
Did it have fun in the sun?

Untitled Kanti T.

A smile grows up from my face.
As I obtain more faith.
When I see the cake,
the flower in my head bloomed.
Singing a small tune.

Game Food Atlas Z.

When a game is on,
I like to eat.
I get a quick snack.

And when they score,
I eat some more.
There is one food I
devour the most,
that’s a burger.
That I love the most.

Mr. Martens 4th Grade PM

Untitled Arya B.

I like to eat sushi
but I don’t like it mushy
it’s yummy but confusing
it’s sweet with avocado
and salty with seaweed
so I don’t need salt
I love it with soy sauce
I like it with ginger
I like it with sesame seeds
it’s all so good.

Things I Eat Jenna C.

Boba
Sushi
Candy
Tea
Those are things I like to eat.

Sashimi
Snail
Soy sauce
Kale
Those are things I can eat.

Strawberry
Gum
Blueberry
Starfruit
Those are things that make me happy.

Untitled Dylan P.

My favorite food is pizza.
I love the cheese when you eat it.
It pulls back like it wants to be
with its friends.
I love how the tomato sauce and toppings
form a texture.
The crust is crunchy.
The toppings are flavorful.
Seasoning goes well with pizza.
Pizza is never bad.
Pizza is confusing.
The box is a square.
The pizza is a circle.
The slice is a triangle.
It pairs the best with chicken wings.

Untitled Milena P.

In my bowl
I see a ton of noodles
on top of the broth.

Now there is loads
of meat and rice
to add more flavor to
the noodles.

The taste is
salty but also
very flavorful
out of from every bite.

Untitled Ritvija S.

The wonderful orange juice
runs through my
mouth.

As I drink, the plants,
they sprout.

My dad drinks the
juice too!

He says “some juice for
me and you.”

Then mom walks in as mad
as a tiger.

We’re so sad that
she’s so
mad!

My glass shatters as
the rain patters
on the roof.
The wind pushes the swing,
like it has wings.

Untitled Katelyn T.

On my plate
dripping down
down
down
down
down
is chocolate.
A chocolate donut
waiting for ME.

A delicious donut on the table.
I
eat
it
in
one bite.

Delicious chocolate melts

in my

mouth.

The best
bite of the
MEAL.