Table Songs - The Chicago Poetry Center

Table Songs

Poet in Residence Timothy David Rey’s “Around the Table” poetry lesson got Brennemann 5th graders talking about the things that happen at kitchen/dining tables. Things such as preparing food, eating, drinking, playing games, doing homework, bonding with moms and dads, laughing, and cleaning – for starters. We read Joy Harjo’s poem, “Perhaps The World Ends Here,” which begins with the lines: “The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we/ must eat to live.” Students found that Harjo’s poem spoke of things they could relate to such as “It is here that children are given instructions on what it/ means to be human;” “Wars have begun and ended at this table;” and “At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of/ suffering and remorse. We give thanks.” We also viewed the opening of the film, “Antwone Fisher,” which features Antwone’s dream of being reunited with his ancestors and family around a long table set for such a celebration.

Ms. Keuten 5th Grade

At the Table of Life Monroe C.

Inspired by Joy Harjo’s “Perhaps the World Ends Here”

We gather at this table
mad, happy, sad.
I sit down
all around
singing songs as
my mother joyfully cries.

At this table
there has been bad news
new shoes
and nice blues.

This table has generations
of families. There has been life
and death and everything
in between at this table.

Life has just begun
At Our Table.

Ms. Birkeland 5th Grade

Down at the Table Philip K.

Sitting down at the table
a place for fun.
After a toasted ravioli dinner,
after a game of “Labyrinth,”
choose a winner.

Eating chilly chocolate ice cream
can make you shiver.
Eat good foods ’cause it’s good
for your liver.
you might even talk to your baby sitter.
you can cover some paper in glitter.
the table will be fun
forever.

Fried Rice William G.

I eat my dad’s fried rice
at this table, salty.
Me and dad play the card game,
“Garbage”
at this table, talking smack.
Fortnite, Roblox, and how to make clay
are the things I watch on tik tok
at this table, this brown table,
this wooden table.

Santiago

Hablar con mis padres
Cosas graciosas.

En esta mesa digo mis emociones me
Emocion y lloro en esta mesa me
Siento seguro aprendo a menudo
En esta mesa siento a no paro.