'You have to put water in it:' Name Poems - The Chicago Poetry Center

‘You have to put water in it:’ Name Poems

‘I celebrate and sing myself…‘-Walt Whitman.

Students explored names through a series of prompts, which began with reading the poem, ‘a girl named jack’ by Jaqueline Woodson. What occurs in the naming of someone or something? How does it sound when spoken? Does a name feel like it needs to be announced or announced by someone? Who speaks the name like you do?

Lesson Note: …the name a person bears through life is something [they] carry, and it is sometimes the only thing others have to judge you by before they meet you. Your name travels ahead of you like a portent of things to come, a thing from which others make assumptions.’-Tim Lockwood, Writer.

Mrs. McClain 7th Grade

My Name Means Kathleen M.

My friends know how to say my name the closest. My dad
says my name the most beautifully; it’s like a nice stack of
roses.

When he says my name, it sounds like knows every
bit detail of me.

Alhough, whenever people get mad, they say my name
in a low-toned voice, it’s easy to see when someone is mad
at me.

My name has 8 letters, just like the word Sunshine, because
I light up everyone’s mood. This name makes me think of
bright pink My name shines bright like gold.

Untitled Sebastian G.

My name is Sabastian
I don’t want to write this–
the poem it means nothing
if you are forced to do them

Like squeezing water out of a sponge
You have to put water in it first
It doesn’t just come out for free.

Mrs. McClaine 8th Grade

Abraham Abraham C.

7
7 letters
7 seas
7 continents
7 days in the week
7 colors of the rainbow
7 sages
7 wonders of the world
7

A rustic house
made from wood
who’s house is it
Abraham’s house
Think bumpy wood
All freshly chopped
That is my name
Abraham

My Name Addison O.

My parents
at home
deciding
my name

“Let’s use Abigail”
“No, Addison
Like the street
the one Wrigley Field is on.”
my name

“I love that”
“It sounds
colorful
happy
and sweet”
My name.

“And that’s
how it happened
How I got my name.”

My Name Is Elijah K.

My name
My name is important
Popular
Ancient
Mine
My name comes from a Hebrew word
Eliyahu
“Yahweh is my God”
My name comes in 6 letters
Like root beer or soda
My name is tricky
My name is tricky
They don’t spell E-L-I-J-A-H
Oh, no
They spell E-L-I-G-A
My name is not too long
not too short
Just right
Like Goldilocks
My name has meaning
Purpose
And it is perfect.

Mrs. McClain 8th Grade

My Name Poem Iris Z.

My name is sacred
when someone says my name
your attention is stolen
on focused on the speaker
when I think of someone
it is a name
colors may vary
tethered to only YOU
and only YOU, yours
forever
special. YOU

Mi Nombre Karla M.B.

Mi nombre es mas que un simple nombre.
Mi nombre es un simbola de la valentia
y la fuerza gracias a mis padres el
nombre que tento me repreenta con
estos simbolo.

K apa
A legre
R osa de oro
L ista
A gil

Mrs. McClain 7th Grade

Hannah Hannah P.

Having 6 letters, my name means a lot
A letter for wind blowing through the meadow
A letter showing grace
Or favour
My names from others in my family
Hannah

Olive Tree Oliver D.

I wonder why they named me Oliver
they say its because of my grandparents
I believe them

I like my name
it is short
it is simple

It means olive tree
It means to grow out your roots

to be scared at first
but over time
become strong