'The sweet trophy of MVP' - The Chicago Poetry Center

‘The sweet trophy of MVP’

On the second day of our 5th Grade poetry residency at Sayre Elementary, we compared stories about what we did over the weekend and what we noticed–in particular, the sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and touches. Then we read poems that focused on imagery and sensory details, and we talked about how we can do that with our own poems. After that, students wrote about what it was like for them when they did an activity they loved and tried to bring in as many sensory details as possible.

Mr. Goldner's Classroom

Mini Ja Morant Pierre W.

Mini Ja Moran

it’s really him

With all his shots

going in the rim

He makes his opponents

kiss the ground

As he moves

the Wilson basketball all around

He drives to the rim and makes

The dunk, he’s really him!

His shoes squeak

On the ground while

He steals the ball

and moves around.

He can taste the sweet trophy

of MVP.

–

Creation of Yarn Noelle R.

The soft yarn is poked with a needle

Pulling yarn in and pulling yarn out.

Over time it gets bigger and bigger

Until your creation has come to life

You stuff your creation, fluffy

and white as snow as it grows

In size you add a nose,

And some button eyes.

You stitch it up as your creation’s

Growth comes to an end.

I carry my creation up to my bed

And I hug it as I take a rest.

So Many Stars

Kweku D.

There are so many stars in the sky. But we don’t

Know why. The stars are so far, it feels like you’re

In a mini war. The stars shine so bright. They shine

Their light with all their mighty-might.

The morning comes. The stars dim down.

But don’t worry. You can still hear their

melodic sounds. There are REALLY

so many stars in the sky.

–

Mrs. Childs' Classroom

Game of Basketball Brielle. C

My eyes follow the ball

where it goes.

I put my force when shooting the ball

In the rim. I refuse to give up.

I intend to make every shot.

If I miss I’ll keep trying.

I put my trust in the ball.

I hear my thoughts trying

To make it.

–

The Big Game Landen C.

I was waiting

For my quarterback

To say hike so

I can run from

The defenders and

I slowly became

The yard extender

The quarterback

Threw the ball to me

I was flying as

Fast as a plane

And caught the

ball and scored

To win the championship.

–

The Pet Store Nevaeh M.

I went to the pet store. I see a snake.

I felt a snake and it felt like leather

And not slimy. I felt a bunny. Ir was soft

And named Honey. I saw a rat.

It was white with red eyes. I saw a fish

With big eyes. It was black and and big.

Little and small it doesn’t matter. Just

Get me one. A turtle was big, in the water

It swam. It had friends big and small.

It smelled like their food and hay. I listen

To the birds tweet tweet tweet as I left the store.