What in the World of a Poem?

This week we explored world building in poetry. The class read the beautiful love poem “The Quiet World” by Jeffery McDaniel. We discussed the limitations the poet puts on the world of the poem and how the restriction of language affects all aspects of society. We brainstormed ways we would change the world in a minor way to have a large impact: we talked gun violence and racism, we talked the big stuff and we talked the small stuff. We all agreed that there should be no talking before 9AM. The students then picked one of the five restrictions they brainstormed and wrote about a single day under those parameters. The students wrote hilarious and enlightening poems. I am so proud to publish two poems that took our world and made it into something more beautiful with a little change.