Cats jumping on us from out of nowhere, dandelions, bottle caps, and more are some of the things that the speaker in Dean Young’s “Quiet Grass, Green Stone” describes, confessing, “Me who wants to be surprised by everything.” While surprise is the ostensible focus here, the speaker also talks about waiting “for the part of the myth / where everyone turns into a different bird,” deepening our read of the poem to include ancient myths and not merely our more modern day existence of unpredictable domestic cats, cities, and bottle caps. Young’s language is so vivid we examined his employment of imagery to enhance the sensory details in this mysterious poem, concluding with the striking simile, “I’m satisfied with partial explanations / like a fly with one wing, walking.” Wow!
Prepare to be surprised by this week’s student poems on that very feeling.
Ms. Kawa
4th Grade
Surprise Mabel G. What's the thing some people hate? Surprise! Or jump scares. I think surprises are great! Why you ask? When you get scared your heart skips a breath. And I love that feeling! Plus the only reason people don't like is because they are scared and that's OK. I guess. Surprise! Sky H. I have a fear of bugs. When I'm sitting down, listening to the teacher, I feel something under my hand when it settles down onto the table, unnoticed. GAH!!!!! Is it a bug???!!! I swing around, only to find that it is either the table or a piece of paper. That caught me by surprise. Surprise Gift Sota M. I wake up on my birthday. I climb down the ladder and read some books. After I finish I go to the living room and see a box. I open it with my family and it is my own laptop. I thank them in joy and eat breakfast and then I just play games. The Skunk Maggie P. The skunk is back. It will come for me. It will not stop until it surprises you. It will make you stink and say peyew! It will come after you and not stop until it reaches you. My Surprise Justin S. I like surprises but I like it more with surprising someone Surprising my brother makes me feel great amazing and happy I love surprising most people because some are rude and don't like the surprises The people I love to surprise the most are my family I LOVE SURPRISES Unaware Horatio W. The End
Ms. Makris
4th Grade
Surprising Sascha G. When I jump I feel surprised. I get jump scared because I'm not wide eyed. You jump higher then the sky. If you just get surprised. So feel uncomfort- able feel pride. Do anything if you are surprised. Surprise! Where Is Your Hat? Elodie L. I hate the way my mom yells at me to do my homework. My sister Bree cannot even solve her math homework. She takes my hat before she peeks she hides my hat I am shocked. My hat was gone now I do not know what to do. My sister gives me my hat and says surprise here's your hat. I groan and say that's not funny. Untitled Noah M. I wake up and get my clothes on. I check the calendar. It's my birthday. I open my door and balloons fall in my room. And my door entry is wrapped in paper. I run down the hall then confetti cannons get shot at me. I open my eyes and I see presents and my family. They sing happy birthday to me. Blast Clark M. Surprise wake up in the day light moving moving have a treat nice warm weather go down stairs then you know it's my birthday chilling on the floor in a lot of money going to the store buying who knows. Living a life OK. Untitled Marissa R. When I went to my grandma's house I walked in and she surprised me with her confetti launcher. I was so surprised that when I walked in I slipped and fell on the floor. My grandma was laughing so crazy that she flipped and fell too. Untitled Harper W. It was Christmas morning. I and my brother open our presents. Then we went somewhere. My parents never told us. We went back home. Then I changed and they said there's something for me and Luca so we opened it at a place I don't know. Nothing was in the box. Then people popped out and said surprise.
Mr. O’Brien
4th Grade
Boo Lincoln A. Boo ahh what th— come on don't do that e ahh not now it's 3 am I see you OK that's it I'm stopping this Surprise Layla M. I was surprised when I got 40 bucks for Christmas. I saved it up and walked to Target with my brother and bought a $130 gaming keyboard. Now I don't use a bad Microsoft keyboard. I was also surprised when my dad let me get donuts or when a show got filmed at my house. Did It Shine? Jada T. Roses are red violets are blue I am surprised how about you? I have a flower I watch it for days I set up in surprise my flower did it shine? Untitled Tristan T. On my birthday this year (Feb 10) I wanted a card but I also wanted a Lego. I got surprised and got both. It was the best day of my life. Surprise Poem Dream W. Roses are red—violets are blue. I surprise myself with a pool party. Then I played when the water's so blue. I just wanted to treat myself with a party for to welcome spring break. More my friends came. Bye.
Ms. Nelson
4th Grade
Surprise Grant B. Surprise you got those Jordan 11's Surprise you got your Oakleys Surprise you got a phone Surprise you got that bull mastiff dog Surprise you got straights A's Surprise I'm lying you're actually mad and sad Untitled Victoria F. I challenge my brother to a race. We run across the street. He trips on the road I make it to the sidewalk. “I finally won!” I said out loud. I turn around, expecting my brother to come as well. But I get the surprise of my life. He got run over by a c-c-car! My mom calls an ambulance. We go to the hospital. I hope he survives. Until I hear the BEEEEEP! I cry in dismay. Well brother, I'm at your grave now. It's been 10 years. I'm missing on the news. I miss you... Surprise Jace M. When it's your birthday there is so much surprise because you don't know what your gift is going to be it could be a watch or a phone you never know. Untitled Kaleb M. When I was 9 my dad gave me a phone. I was so happy I yelled so loud, I jumped so high. Confetti, Whoosh, Surprise! Dylan R. Surprise! All eyes are on me. “What?” Happy birthday! I know that everything will be okay cause I am turning 10 and it is my birthday! I get my watch, it says... May 9th and then confetti on the screen. “Happy birthday Dylan!” it repeats. “Well, this is a big surprise for me!” The Big Surprise Hudson R. On Christmas my big surprise awaits. This year's Christmas presents will be a surprise a big one. In the gift the big surprise was a poem!!!!
