I Screwed Up (Haiku)

School
Waters Elementary School

Poet in Residence
Noel Quiñones

Date

Sometimes less is more when you need to admit your mistakes. After reading two haiku series poems from previous CPC students, “How to Screw Up Your Teeth” by Ayesha K. / “Haiku for How to Screw Up a Relationship With Your Grandma” by Kassie C., the 7th and 8th graders of Waters discussed how this poetic form centers imagery and honesty. Once we reviewed the Japanese history of the form and its 5-7-5 syllable format, students reflected on a time they screwed up. From attempting to cook to feeling the pressure of music recitals to letting family members down, students narrated a moment of failure in as few words as possible.

School
Waters Elementary School

Poet in Residence
Noel Quiñones

Date

Ms. Hernandez (7th Grade)

Rice Nathan C.

I like making rice

I don’t like rice if it’s hard

I like my rice hot

 

Include seasoning

And I like it with some flavor

you have to try it

 

I like the texture

it’s so good you should try it

but not try it cold

 

I burned the rice bad

I wish I paid attention

I wish I had rice

How to Screw Up Running Dylan L.

Running to the ball

Almost there, a little more

so close to it now

 

Ow, I rolled my foot

I think I’m ok, keep going

so close to it now

 

I’m not ok, later on

at the doctor, broken foot

and ankle, come on.

 

Definitely mad

and I regret the run.

Healing in 4 months.

TV Griffin M.

I am sorry TV

I made a bigger mistake

I will stop next time

 

I am sorry TV

I made a mistake

I will not next time

 

I am sorry TV

I will mis you a lot more

I will stop next time

 

I am mad TV

I threw a remote at it

I will stop next time

 

Ms. Hernandez (8th Grade)

I Screwed Up at the Recital Simon A.

I was gliding fast

effortlessly on the piano

hands shifting with ease

 

Until one second

music stopped, no sound, empty

my mind blank in space

 

I started to sweat

“What have I done?” I said

until I thought, and

 

I wasn’t prepared

late nights had caught up to me

it was all my fault

 

I kept trying to start

I finally got back to business

I was playing again

 

Haikus For You? Harlee A.

I was home alone

I went to the park BOREDOM

yo lo siento ma

 

I don’t like haikus

they are really hard to write

lo siento Noel

 

I hate poetry

because I’m not good at it

I mess up a lot

 

in my mind I think

turn it in its for a grade

it doesn’t matter

My Grandfather Haiku Yusuf S.

I wish I spoke more

I wish I spent more time now,

Now I think and wish

 

He sat there all day

wondering bout everything

I could have done more

 

He was nice and kind

He always did good actions

He was nice and kind

 

I regret not talking

I should have done much more

He was nice and kind

Mala Hermana Kamila C.

se me callo mi

hermana y yo me

senti mal

 

me aleje de

mi hermana por

viajes

 

no me gusta

la escuela de ja

mucha tarea

 

me gusta

casa para ver la

television

Ballgame - Smudged Gavin I.

I went to my first ball game

when I walked up

to Ron Kittle a baseball player

 

I really wanted his signature

He then gave me it

I was ecstatic, so happy

 

I felt as if I was high

I felt upon the world

I was unbelievably ecstatic

 

I then have my bad moment

I accidentally smudged it

I started to cry