Week 4: Five Minutes of Fame

This week we talked gossip and celebrity via persona poetry. We read Morgan Parker’s “Beyonce on the Line for Gaga.” The students brainstormed who they want to celebrate but also whose voice is easier to recreate in text. We had a great breakdown on how voice is achievable but getting the tone was tough. The students wrote from the perspective of current celebrities, fantasy characters, pro athletes, historical figures, each other. The students I’m excited to publish are below.

Ms. Widman High School Creative Writing

The Ways of the Trees Miracle C.

Flowing in the breeze
the wind whispers, songs from my sisters
kneeling down, praying for God.
The sweat dripped down, the horse got loud.
The worry and fear gripped onto my years.
Dogs barking, oh, police holding their guns.
Marching down the road not knowing where it goes.
The hurt and the pain heard miles away.
People watching People smiling People laughing.
I have a dream so far and wide
for equity and power and love every hour.
My happiness rains as I hath the gains
or listening to the trees
flowing in the breeze.

Hey Homie Isadora R.

Jake the Dog from Adventure Time

I’m trying to focus on what’s real
cause I haven’t really been able to take anything
seriously
like I love food
more than I love people
and I wanna marry my bed, dude!
I’ve accepted something you said once:
that to live life, you need problems. If
you get everything you want the minute
you want it, then what’s the point of livin’?

I miss you.

So far I suck at being an adult,
but I guess sucking at something
is the first step to becoming sorta
good at something.

I think the problem is I think
too much about everything and it all
gets too intense
but it’s normal to have weird
thoughts right?

Even if I’m not by fire–
light.