The Power of Revision

School
Waters Elementary School

Poet in Residence
Noel Quiñones

Date

All the best poets know that a writer is not judged by their writing alone, but by their ability to rewrite. The 7th and 8th graders of Waters reflected on the power of revision as we read through two drafts of “Summer, Chicago” by fellow CPC poet-in-residence, Timothy Rey. Students started by choosing a favorite or unfinished poem from the past 18 weeks to revise. Then, they reflected on how they wanted to revise the shape and content of their poem, recalling our work with stanzas, lines, imagery, simile, and metaphor. Students revised their poems with intention and excitement, returning to their work with new eyes.

School
Waters Elementary School

Poet in Residence
Noel Quiñones

Date

Ms. Hernandez (7th Grade)

Can you imagine Alex H.

Can you imagine
A pencil
running from
a sharpener

The Sears Tower
Jumping
Around the
City

A Coca-Cola can,
Running from
Cy

Can you imagine?

Music Hayden Z.

Music is great,
it makes me happy

Music makes me feel
like myself, it helps
me when I’m low

Music is like dancing
on the clouds, music

is like waking up to a sunny
day during the end of Winter

hearing the waves
crash against the shore
and the busy city
in the night.

Clark Anderson Nathan C.

My dog died
He was not friendly
He was usually very upset
And didn’t want to stay
And one day
he died
May 21, 2016.
he be forever
Gone
But he will be missed
But I went back into time
And saved his life
from the Big cat

Jugar Fútbol Nicolás M.

Jugar fútbol en el descanso con las pumas
mientras jugamos luchamos Pura ganarle al otro equipo
E si no podemos quedemos empatamos 1-1 0-0 y 3-3
hay días que ganaros o perdemos y a pesar de todo
nos divertimos

I am Amneh S.

I am a rose
in a dead corn
field, I am a
mermaid in a volcano
I am a jacket
on a chair

Ms. Hernandez (8th Grade)

My life from a Zoo Michael D.

I am like a bull that you fear
GO BULLS
The hippo that no one can stop
The Zoos can’t keep me in.
I won’t go, unless I want to.
Less motivated than a sloth

Outrun you like a cheetah
Bars of steel block my way
so I slither through
sun shines on me.
But it is just the helicopter lights.
Drive like a human through the alleys
Hide away until I am needed
Now I am free.

Purple Finn M.

I am the moss on a damp, rotten tree stump,
The 15 on a “lucky” D20
I am a curled up centipede resting under a rock
I’m the indents that refine the carving of a skull,
The sleek, shiny, strong mandibles of insects
A raven in a murder of crows,
I am a pigeon in a flock of doves
The silly rat among the mice
I am the moth that comes out when the butterflies leave
I’m the iridescent green and blue of the fish’s scales
I am.

I am Reeve S.

I am a dolphin in a
ocean full of
pink dolphins
I am a raindrop in a
rainstorm
I am a word in a
poem
I am a letter in the
mailbox
I am just
there

I am a leaf in a
tree
I am a pencil in a
pencil case
I am a tree in a
forest
I am a grain of sand on a
beach
I am just
there

I am Yousra J.

I am the best
I am as cold as ice cream
I am as hot as the sun
I am the best
I will see you today
I won’t tomorrow.
I am the best
I am going to the moon
I am from mars.
I am the best

Sneaky Creature Sam S.

You hear an animal lurking in the forest.
Its feet pitter-pattering around you.
You hear a mighty roar and get paralyzed by fear.
Giant teeth
Huge tail.

This is a wild cat.
Over 300 pounds.
Strong and brave.
We fear them.
Animals fear them.
They are unstoppable.

I am Unique Nathan G.

I am the paper of a doodler with unlimited imagination.
I am a green dog that hates treats.

I am as tired as a leg after a marathon.
I am a cheetah with stamina.
I am the basketball shoes of a benchwarmer.

I am the adrenaline that comes with a roller coaster.
I am unique.