‘To Kill A Mockingbird/ Technically’: Moving Away from Fixed Thinking in Poetry

School
Taft High School

Poet in Residence
Timothy David Rey

Date

As we continue distance learning, students at Taft Freshman Academy continue to generate beautiful poems! This week’s poems are inspired by country doctor and poet, William Carlos Williams. From books being read to electric lights and Iphones, students described common objects within their reach using minimalism.

Lesson Note: ‘In a time of crisis, poetry can help focus our fears and transform ‘noise into music’ … In effect, poetry “aims in every possible way to reaffirm the world that we actually inhabit, in all its vital, messy, beautiful, tragic reality.” Mar 10, 2020, The Washington Post.

School
Taft High School

Poet in Residence
Timothy David Rey

Date

Ms. Taylor Period 7 9th Grade

The Lamp Christopher M.

Beauty
Of
Light

Shine
Bright
Quiet

old
Pale
Shade

Stand
Tall
Electric

The New iPhone Bissan A.

Fresh
New
Box

Clear
Pink
Case

Huge
Black
Screen

Light
Up
Message

Stuffed Doll Cristian P.

On
It
Bleeds
Soft
Tiredness
Black
And
White
Animal
Features

Bunny, my stuffed animal, and life companion Melanie R.

You
Looked
At
Me
And
Felt
You
Must
Come
Home
With
Me

Ms. Taylor Period 6 8th Grade

The Monitor in the night August F.

Near
On
Bright

Big
Vibrant
stand

Lighting
Showing
Telling

Fast
Running
Helping

now

My potato Chloe W.

Here
A
Soft
Squishy
Stuffed
Owl

Sits
Still

Blank
And
Lifeless

Highlighter Ella S.

Throughout
Across
Vibrant

Dirty
Small
Yellow
Q
Smear
Sharpie
Brightly

Useful
Unassuming
Simple

Memory Bracelet Erick H.

Bands
Stringy
Unique

Colorful
Beautiful
Creative

Fun
Cheerful
Gleeful

Expensive
Memories
Happy

mirror Evan R.

beside
on
black

framed
metal
backing
standing

Purin

slowly

The Blue Bear Patrick P.

AmOng
Us

SOft
Blue
Cute

EYES

Staring
At
Me

always

Ms. Taylor Period 4 8th Grade

Crookneck Gourd Teagan C.R.

Among
on
Pumpkin

curly
multicolored
bumpy

long
twisted
orange & green

Didier Farms
cheerful
October

Monstera Plant Mia A.

Among
in
thin

soft
green
leaves

standing
Monstera
always

My Laptop Mary L.

on
in front
nearby

bulky
gray
loud

average
fast
electronic

smooth
grayscale
HP

The Jade Necklace Lena T.

Along
Delicate
Sits

Stone
Marble
Ivy

Shines
Smooth
Lays

Among
Heart
Chains

always

Ms. Taylor Period 2 9th Grade

phone Angelica J.

Big
Small

You
Can
All
Colors

Smooth
Like
Glass

Hard
Like
A
Book

The Book I'm Reading Angelina A.

Thick
White
word

Maroon
Book
Bent

On
To Kill a Mockingbird
Technically

Untitled Lee M.

Thin
Black
Grey

On
Off
Dead

Apps
Files
Photos

Contacts
Messages
Calls

Untitled Daniel R.

Among
All
Around

Thin
Rough
Stand

Huge
Stack
Of

Rough
thin
papers

Burrito The Beloved Jason G.

Inside
Warm tortilla

Spine chilling

So much
ingredients in

Each one
Placed to
add another

Thick
lunch

Cooked
perfectly

The Black Pen Julian G.

Throughout
Black
Matte

In
Clean
Soft

Write
Elegant
Every day

Brood
Dark
New

Smooth

My Guitar and Its Strengths Kristopher S.

Black
Long
Neck

Wide
Body
With
A waist

Tuning
Long
Strings

Beauty
From
The
Sound
Note

Ms. Taylor Period 1 8th Grade

Pink crystalline rock Quintana W.

Throughout
About
Pink
Cracked
Indented
Rock
Pretty
Gift
Always
Shimmering
sparkle
Beside

The Typewriter Mischa R.

Silently
Typing
Amidst
Cries

Aristotle
Watching
Woeful
Guiding

Ribbon
Flowing
Daunting
Words

Soul-Sucking
Ink
Writing
Beyond

Small stuffed hippo I have Harvey D.

Atop
desk
lies

small
keychain
plush

grey
white
soft

squeezable
small
Hippo

Fountain Pens Gaya G.

Among
things

black
smooth
messy
ink

writes
forever
always
dark

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