For their 9th week of poetry, Twain 6th graders revised and completed their past poems from our residency. Together we read the poem “The Blank Page” by Chetana Kamath. In her poem Kamath is speaking directly to a blank sheet of paper, asking it, “What do you want me to make you?” The page replies by telling Kamath that it wants to dress up in colors. Kamath believes that a blank sheet of paper is like a canvas. She begins filling up the blank page with her colorful ideas until the page its finally happy and content.
I told students to talk to their old poems, especially those they hadn’t finished and see what changes they could make. Some students even chose to create brand new poems, inspired by the themes we explored in our residency.
Mr. Barr 6th grade
Group 1
Kids Ask Parents Questions
By Axel G.
Mom what day is it?
Dad, can you make pancakes
for breakfast!
Guys what time is it?
Can we go to the park?
Mom, can we go get ice cream?
Mom, Dad now how old are you?
Teacher Questions
By Jamariae J.
Is it all a dream to him?
Would he ever stop or keep going?
I wish he would do his work,
and go a day without sleeping.
How does he do it?
This is not human.
Are you serious right now?
Wake up!
Stop falling asleep or else?
I’m getting tired of calling his mom.
I feel bad at this point.
Ok if you fall asleep again
You will get detention.
Making Money
by Stepanie M.
Fax machine
I Phone
Luxurious
Tiger Print
Holy
Yak
Rich
I Pad
Chicken
Heavenly
Cape Coral
By Renata P.
My aunt’s house,
she has a whole pantry full
of candy wrappers.
In my hand ready to take
a big ol’ bite of that
Resse’s cup, the soft
chocolate but rich peanut
flavor, is good.
I see flowers in the garden,
colors like pink, red, white
yellow and a gorgeous
orange color.
I hear the kids screaming
to not get tagged.
I smell the skirt steak being
grilled with a bunch of
seasonings, filling the air
with the amazing aroma.
Mr. Barr 6th grade
Group 2
How the Stars Were Born
by Stella A.
Far away in the beginning, the beautiful sun and dark,
scary Moon were born from the Earth and were sent
to the sky. They lived there together for many years,
that eventually they formed a great, strong, powerful
band together. Then someone else was sent to the sky,
someone they’ve never seen before. Mars. Mars was red,
scary, aggressive planet. He did not like sharing the sky
with others. Eventually Mars argued with the Sun and
Moon, and they fought. Mars had been winning but he
got weak. All his powerful died down and the Sun and
Moon won. But Mars had done great damage to them.
Particles of their bodies had come off, they shined in
the sky like stars. Glowing but only seen in the night
sky. That’s how the stars were born.
Ode to Wendy’s
By Susie S.
As you enter, you hear the bell ring,
as you open the door.
You hear kids laughing, cheering
from happiness.
I hear the sizzling of the fries
and chicken nuggets, you could
smell it across the world,
the stress is overwhelming,
but I let the taste and smell
of my food take over, and I feel
at peace again.
As I leave, I see a new family
enter, I know they will enjoy
it there and give the little
girl a smile.
Summer
By Morgan M.
Stopping at the beach
U V high ever day
Monday mornings aren’t bad anymore
Making new memories every day
Every day a new activity
Rollercoasters and Water parks
The Learning Center
By Gianna M.
The first day with Ms. Joy.
She was inspiring and really brings joy to everyone.
She taught us so much poetry, its beautiful.
She inspired us to do our dreams and to express ourselves.
She is a heartfelt woman.
She taught me to learn how to be, if we were
in people’s or things heads.
She is a wonderful woman!
Eyes Asking Questions to Hair
By Olesia H.
1. Why are you always covering me?
2. Can you be invisible for me?
3.Why are you that long?
4.Why do you always need to be washed?
5.Where did you come from?
6.The wind is the worst, he always moves
you on me?
7. Can she cut you like a man haircut?
8. Why are you always covering me?
Mr. Barr 6th grade
Group 3
My Dog Canela
By Sebastian C.
I imagine my dog
saying where the
food at.
I wonder what my dog
thinks when she’s
sleeping.
I wonder why my dog
eats a lot.
I wonder why
my dog doesn’t
go on a lot
of walks.
Summer
By Yannis F.
I’m the hot sun
shining bright
like the stars in
the sky at night.
The hotness
hitting my face,
the popsicle
looking into
my eyes making
my mouth watery.
Sweat dripping
down my face
and going slow
down to the
floor.
The Most Important Things
By Julian G.
The most important
things in my life
is all my family
and sports like
basketball and
American football.
The most important
person in my life
is my mom because
she gave birth to me.
I wouldn’t be here
if it wasn’t for her
and dad.
Thank you, mom and dad.
Future Summer Days
By Herman D.
Summer night enjoying myself, out late.
Underwater in Sebastian’s pool.
Nights gathered around the bonfire.
Nature’s stunning scenery.
Yummy, refreshing bolis.
Dazzling sun reflecting off the water.
Astonishing sunsets.
Yellow sun reflecting off the wave
of the river.
Scorching sand burning my feet.
Downtown
By McKenna G.
Where I go shopping.
Look at all the beautiful buildings.
Walk around to waste time.
The excitement of driving
overwhelming you.
Where I spend time with my friends.
Smell the gas from the cars.
Looking at the river.
The sounds of the restaurant’s jazz music.
When I leave, I feel sad,
its like it’s calling me back.
Nights gathered around the bonfire.
Seeing alm the buildings disappear,
and can’t wait to go back.
Mr. Barr 6th grade
Group 4
Mother Nature
By Leonardo O.
Nature is calm as a pond.
Nature is green like a bean unseen.
nature is cool, and I will be there soon.
Grass Asking Sky 7 Questions
By Yassuri L.
Why do you have white puffy . . .Things?
I wonder where angels come from. You?
What can you do?
Are you friends with a glowing star?
Do you cry when you pour?
Why are you blue?
Why are you named sky?
And the Blue left the sky,
And the grass was never
answered.
A Day At Grandma’s House
By Penelope B.
As you walk in you get hit
with the aroma of food
and warmness.
Me, as quiet as a mouse,
cousin’s being loud and noisy
as soon as you go downstairs
to the basement.
You walk in and see Grandma
working hard and standing in
the kitchen cooking while
picking up the chaotic mess
the crazy animals made.
Grandma telling stories about
stories about a girl with snakes
for hair.
She says, “Having snakes for hair,
men scared trembling with fear,
was a lonely young lady,
then cursed with snakes as hair.”
“She was bit by a radioactive snake,
almost died, Poseidon gave her
true loves kiss, she suddenly
woke up.”
“People say she didn’t deserve,
what happened to her.”
“She was a girl with snakes in her hair.”
Then Grandma says, “The end.”
A Dog’s Head
By Celeste M.
In there is a running stream,
a running stream that rushes
over baby bees.
She was thinking about something,
something that involves me and her,
like the bee in the house,
or the floorboard that
squeaks like a mouse,
or how about that dog
in the park, or the walk
we took next.
She must have been thinking,
of all of that as she passed.
I hope that I was her
7 minutes or maybe
her last.
