"...misty water-colored memories" - The Chicago Poetry Center

“…misty water-colored memories”

For our last session, Brennemann 5th graders talked about the different ways that “freedom” is experienced as they move from being younger to older. They talked about not having homework, chores, or responsibilities, and getting away with jumping gates, fences, and on beds, when they were younger. Whereas, now, they enjoy later bedtimes, feel freer to go places on their own, don’t have to take naps, and have more privacy, privileges, and devices. We read Joy Young’s poem “3rd Grade Field Trip to the Silver Stallion Ranch,” enjoying sensory language in lines such as “we leap over pumpkins with/ vines that coil like sleeping snakes;” “The neighing horses tethered/ to chains that jingle like loose coins;” and “Draped in quiet/ colors of gray, ivory, and beige.” Students thought about their own memories and wrote poems from the images those memories evoke.

Ms. Birkeland 5th Grade

Ajayceion

bright sunlight in the window
the sound of crispy cereal being poured
with room-temperature milk
I went back to sleep
the cereal I forgot was wet and soggy
moist like a slushy
mushy like slime

Water Park Fun Nancy S.

a huge entrance in front of us
the blam, the sound of the door like a bang of drum
bright color screaming
bright in the sunlight

Miracle M.

we are all sitting at the table
in the livingroom
my cousins Kaliya, Kiera, K’mary
and me
the sound of the pencil sharpener
sssshhhh sawing pencils so they can do my
homework for me
I was the youngest
and they spoiled me.

Summers in Dubai Philip

Ahh Dubai
the place where flies roam and people are having pool parties
I was in my kitchen
ants around me
their black legs shiny as the sunshine
and then my lovely mother taking
fresh cookies out of the oven
my brothers chatting on the couch
telling one another jokes and laughing
the sun hot on my skin
the cool air from the fan

Ms. Keuten 5th Grade

Kash M.

me and my brothers and my mom
on a summer day
we are racey and red with excitement
because we are going to the beach.
my feet felt hot when I stepped in the
sand and walked to the blue jiggly water
it was cold when I got in and began to
splash.

Good Time in the 2nd Grade Janelle J.

me and my girls
on a breezy, leafy day
having a meeting, a good meeting about
how we should play
and have a good day
the leaves swish while we play
having a nice day.
we play, play, and play until we get tired
until it gets hot like fire.

2nd Grade Feels Monroe C.

as I plot my numbers on the grid
“10 to the 3rd power” I hear.
I close my eyes and doze off
I feel warm
I smell the sweet sweet scent
of innocence
could even be candy.

Ms. Okones, oh Ms. Okones
with her silky blond hair swishing
back and forth as she talks.
I see my friends running over
starting to hug me
I feel safe.

I feel a tap on my shoulder
“Hey, no sleeping in class”
I’m back in the 5th grade
Oh how I miss 2nd grade.