My smile is a bright orange

School
Mark Twain Elementary School

Poet in Residence
Joy Young

Date

Our third session of poetry was all about body positivity. I asked Twain 4th graders, “What’s one thing that you love about yourself? What makes you unique?” Students mentioned their eyes, hands, arms, emotions, personalities, and talents.

Together we read the poem, “Hair is Beautiful,” by Tiana S. a 4th grader from Galileo Academy. In her poem Tiana uses metaphors to describe how she loves her hair, comparing it to things she believes are just as lovely and special as her hair. “My hair is a pillow/soft and long/ My hair is beautiful flowers/When I clean it/it’s true beautiful shines.”

Inspired by Tiana’s poem, students celebrated parts of themselves with the metaphors.

School
Mark Twain Elementary School

Poet in Residence
Joy Young

Date

Ms. Hayes 4th Grade - Group 1

A bright Smile Ivana B.

My smile is a bright orange.
Sour and sweet.

My smile is a lemonade
in the hot summer.

Some people may think
it’s weird, but I think
it’s a bright sun.

I love my smile.

My Legs Have Been My Friends Since Day 1 Vincent G.

I worked so hard on them,
they’ve turned as hard as a rock.

I use them in soccer and running,
and different things.

Whatever they say about
my shot power or legs.
I worked harder on them,
to prove them wrong.

Whenever I hurt my legs,
it’s like a rebirth.
I have to restart them
and make them stronger.

A Poem About My Hands Liam E.

My hands are cool.
I can draw, play, read, and eat.
My hands are cool.
When I use them, I feel
joyful and happy.
My hands are useful.
I use them every day.
I use them every day
in school to get a good grade.
My hands are cool.

Ms. Drakulich 4th Grade - Group 2

My Bright Eyes Antonio A.

My eyes are a sun,
they always shine!

My eyes are a star,
in the sky.

My eyes are a flower,
but it doesn’t die.

My eyes are a sky,
but it doesn’t rain.

My Heart Is a Beautiful Soul America C.

My heart can make me smart!
My heart can make me kind!
My heart can make me beautiful!
My heart can make me live!
It can make me feal, feel
beautiful, comfy, and kind!

Mis Ojos Jose M.B.

Mis ojos son muy bonitas que
cambiande color cuando estoy
en el sol o estoy en la casa seven
negros y en el son se ven muy
brillantes.

Ms. Williams 4th Grade - Group 3

My Knees Are a F1 Car Samir M.

My knees can make me run
faster than a tiger.
I feel my knees make me
walking on water and
the wind is pushing me,
so, I go faster.

My Hair Izel R.

My hair is a dark brown brick wall.
Nice and wavy.
Beautiful and soft and looks
like the waves in the water.

I could curl it to make it
look curly.
I can dye it different colors.
Just like my emotions.

I love my hair every day,
it shines as bright as me.

My Melodic Hands Benjamin S.

I have melodic hands.
They play the guitar.
They make energetic
melodies.

Its peaceful.
I’m unique.
My hands are special.
I’m special.

My hands are unique.
I am unique.
I have melodic hands.

Ms. Carther 4th Grade - Group 4

My Teddy Bear Eyes Arianah F.

My brown teddy bear eyes help me see
many things and my brown teddy bear
eyes feel confident, happy, grateful.

My teddy bear eyes help me do
do chores, sleep, walk and eat.
Everyone in my family has teddy
bear eyes and that’s why I have
teddy bear eyes and I just love
teddy bear eyes.

My Legs Are Big Rockets Gael H.

My legs are rockets.
They could kick so hard,
I can score every shot in soccer.
If my legs are rockets that means
I could run as fast as lightening.

My Eyes Are the Ocean Natalia O.

My eyes are the ocean.
My eyes describe thinks like blueberries,
a blue jacket, blue glitter, a lot more things.
What I like about my eyes is that I love
the ocean and blue too!

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