'I remember/ all of it': Nostalgia & Memory in Poetry

‘I remember/ all of it’: Nostalgia & Memory in Poetry

8th Grade students shared childhood stories before writing their own poems about the act of ‘putting away’ and ‘looking forward’ as the speaker did in Nate Marshall’s poem, ‘the last graduation.’ Lesson Note: “I think one of the strengths of nostalgia is that even if they have not had a good childhood, most people have at least one nostalgic memory that they cherish and that they can use repeatedly. Someone once asked me: ‘How long do these effects last?’ My 11-year-old daughter said: ‘They last your entire life!’ She’s right, too. Once positive memories are instantiated they might have only represented half an hour of your entire childhood, but you can dwell on them and return to them forever.”–Dr. Tim Wildschut and Constantine Sedikides, Department of Social Sciences & Psychology. Article: ‘Looking back in joy: the power of nostalgia.’

Mrs. Nazimek 8th Grade, Group 2

Untitled Gabriel V.

Happy leaving with. the
at people making best.
the you the
Graduation mode last
sad bonus moments

8th Grade Graduation (after graduation) Lea M.

1.
Go home, take gown off
Put gown away, see how time passes by.
look at clock & remember memories

2.
Stare away, take a walk & never stop
see the ocean & skip some rocks
Every tremble means a destination
Every destination is a journey.
Every journey is creation.

Untitled Christian G.

I take off my gown and cap
Fold it neatly and put them away

I make myself look nice for my
graduation party where all my
family is waiting for me.

As I leave I remember
all the things that have happened
all the friends I’ve made
all the memories I’ve made
and will make

This is like a new beginning for me,
Nest year I will move to a whole
new state
1,000 miles for 1,000 memories.

It makes me said to think I won’t
know anyone where I go
Friends are something you need in
high school, someone to always have your back.

Mrs. Nazimek 8th Grade, Group 1

Untitled Geovanni C.

I am 20 now I walk around
my room as I pick up my cap
and gown. I say to myself I remember
like it was yesterday. I remember the
day of 8th Grade. I remember the times
I went out with my friends. I
remember all the parties. I remember getting
my cap and gown.
I remember when we practiced for Graduation
Day. i remember when they said
turn your cap. I remember when
they gave me my diploma. I remember
all of it.

Congratulations Evelyn O.

I walk up on the stage
Congratulations
I take pictures
Congratulations
I go out to eat with my family
Congratulations.
I have a party
Congratulations
I go home
Congratulations
The next day congratulations
will no longer be there.

Mrs. Nazimek 8th Grade, Group 3

Goodbye Mathew S.

I walk off the stage for the final time.
I look around and wonder who I will see again.
I remember all the memories with old friends,
But now it’s done and time to move on.

11 years in the school.
But it’s time to walk out the doors.
I get in the car and go on my way.
I go home and take off my gown,
Place my cap on top of my bed.

I sit down,
And realize I will soon go to High School.
A tear comes down my eye,
as I say goodbye to the class of 2018.

Photograph Marcella P.

Walking off the stage.
Lights flashing, blinking.
Silent cries and tear drops,
enjoying last memories
together.

Opening doors and walking away.
Awards in my hand.
ready for what’s next.

Getting out of the gown, laying
my cap on my bed.
Wishing it would have
lasted longer.

And so I’m sitting next
to my bestfriend. All I
have now are
photographs.