Atrocities / Letter Poems

Today's lessons dealt with different subject matters. Using Nikki Giovanni's poem "Atrocities" as a foundation and a very interesting approach, I decided to ask the 8th graders to be reflective about horrible things in the world that make them made and concerns them. Placing strips of paper with various sayings on them, I gave each student one strip of paper and then as a class we discussed what really upset us or made us made to the point that we wanted to right a wrong. Being that poetry can sometimes be a very organic process and sometimes poets start with one word or a single thought, I decided to challenge the students about "atrocities" and found a wealth of poems that were very wonderfully scripted.

Meanwhile, in the lower grade classes we used the poem "Letter to A Bee" by Emily Dickinson as inspiration of our letter poems. Students can only use the poem to compare two things. Students had to brainstorm using two different physical things as inspiration, and not a 'person'. This was different for them. Overall the fourth graders & second graders had a good time with the exercise.

I hope you enjoy the musings of the children from today's lessons.

MS. COLLINS-JONES, 8TH GRADERS

No Mothers

Dajae H.

Life is ruff

Life is tuff

Life probably just has no meaning

Without no mothers.

Don’t cry or get upset

Even though you know you should

But in time

You will find

One flaw

In a woman

And that is being without a mother

Mothers love unconditionally

And it never cease to fail of all the hurt

And pain a child has to go through

And though each and every day

In every single way.

“Oh No.”

It’s not okay.

Don’t stray

Or go away leaving your child

On a cold and rainy day.

Be afraid and cry in the end

You will know why hugs and kisses

From your mother lasts forever

And forever and you just

Can’t find another mother

To love you like her

“True That”

It’s terrible to go without a mother.

Lower Love Lose Like Live Listen Leave

Let go of all the memories that you

Shared with your loved one.

Sure when your mother is gone

Maybe just maybe

Your father will love you and

Be by your side

But he will not compare to your mother.

When mother is gone who oh who

Will you lean on to lift your spirit?

Love you no matter what because she knows

You like no one’s ever

Known or knew you before

You never fell the same once she’s gone

“Oh Mother No Mother at all in the world will

Ever replace you”

I will love you forever and ever.

Fakester Gangsters

Joi H.

To those fake gangsters that are so hood

And oh so tough

When are you ever gonna learn

That enough is enough?

When will you realize the people you’ve hurt?

The people you kill, beat up and drag through the dirt.

When will you realize that you’re the main problem in the hood?

Oh fakester gangster, can you do any good?

You’ve cut most of the roots of our growing tree?

Oh fakester gangster can’t you just see

Just because you’ve got your friends and your guns.

Can’t you just see the pain you’re causing?

Where’s the emotion.

Where’s the love.

Fakester gangster, can’t you see you’re the poison

In the air.

But the truth is….?

Iraq War

Michelle G.

The world should know

How sad it is

For someone to be sent to

Fight a war especially if they have a wife

And kids.

It’s hard to leave your family.

I know it can be a lot

But it’s more hard when they are

Being shipped back in the pine box.

The war has been going on

For a long time

And it’s gotten out of control

When will it end?

Nobody knows.

The Iraq war has gotten

Out of control and it’s true.

The world should be as one

And not separated by two.

MRS. SIMS, 2ND GRADERS

Burger King to Burger

Steeve C.

Burger King, where are you?

I’ve been looking for you everywhere.

I taste so good.

Well, but better than you.

So please come back.

Please don’t eat me.

Remember me..?

The whopper huh?

It’s kind of funny but oh no, don’t

Even think about that.

Do not stick me please.

I need some peace.

Love,

Double Whopper

P.S. Don’t eat me BK!!

Dear Butterfly

Whitney D.

I’m warning you, do not

Suck me out of my home.

I like it here.

I made friends like ant

And caterpillar.

They don’t try to eat me.

Love,

Nectar

Letter To Money

Ryan S.

I need you money.

Come home.

You are what I eat.

You taste good.

And you make me more than 1 cent.

You make me a millionaire.

Love,

Bank

Where Do You Want To Go?

Using Nikki Giovanni's poem, "Knoxville, Tennessee", classes at Kozminski had great conversations about places we wanted to travel through and see and what we've experienced. Students discussed going to domestic cities like Las Vegas, Madison, WI and cities down south, while others longed for France, Barcelona, and other places internationally. Most students focused on travelling in the Summer or Spring times. Students were encouraged to write the sights, sounds, and experiences down and reflect poetically.

I love travelling and I loved reading these responses...please enjoy!

Untitled
Kyle R.

One day I would like to visit Miami.
In my eyes, Miami is the place to be.
I’m hearing that Miami is so super hot.
Seeing Miami women gives me the fever.
All I want is to run up and down Miami’s beach.
I wonder about Miami.

Memphis, Tennessee
Michelle G.

I always like spending my Summer vacations in
Memphis.

It’s fun.

I mostly like to go so I can spend time
With my family.
And eat fried chicken,
Mashed potatoes,
Collard greens,
Sweet water cornbread
And some Sweet tea.

I mostly like to go swimming
Because you can got on water slides
And get dunked by fine brothers.

I love Memphis, Tennesee.

Untitled
Leah C.

I always like the deep blazing sun
With the glowing water in Jamaica.

Jamaica is the place where you party all night.

Dancing, singing, hoola hooling around the floor.

Smiling, playing in the wavy water.
Water so clear you may drink.

Mississippi
Jacari G.

I love the Summer.
I ate fresh corn on the cob.
And cabbage.
And ice cream.
And juice or pop.
And barbeque chicken wings.
I listen to Pop and Gospel music.
I saw flying trees.
I heard them whooshing.
I didn’t even want to go to sleep.
Mississippi.

Trip To Wisconsin
Shantial P.

I always like Summer best.
You can eat Mexican corn.
And my cousin..
She makes the best Shrimp fried rice
And we made homemade ice cream.
We listened to Hip Hop music.
We went to the park
And we rolled down a huge hill.
That was the best trip yet.

France
Tynaz S.

I always liked Spring best!
If you like Spring, then go to France.
They have luxurous foods
And cute nice clothes
And shoes that are to die for.
And the food is so good.
They have the best salad.
I just love to go to France!
Wait til you see it’s soo great.

Seattle, WA

Chrishon B.

I like the Summer in Seattle

because it was not as cold or hot

like here or Arizona.

It was nice and cool.

I had some fresh fish.

I went swimming.

I drove to Portland, Oregon

just to go to Niketown

then I went for a walk on the lake.

Down South

Jasmine M.

It's fun.

I ate fried chicken.

The road.

The horses.

When we was riding down there

I saw cows and train tracks.

We were riding.

Frisco, Texas

Yazmine F.

In Texas it is so hot.

It reach 109 degrees.

My cousin's were with me.

My Dad took all of us

swimming.

We watched a movie

and played with my Dog.

We made cupcakes and home made pizza.

Mississippi

Monica M.

I always go there every year.

I saw

cows,

horses,

chickens,

pigs and goats.

We ate

chicken,

corn,

pizza,

apples,

oranges,

banana,

and everything.

My whole family road our horses.

My Mom horse name is Angel.

My Sister horse name is Kayla.

My Brother horse name is Ray Mestoria.

My horse name is Angelia.

Chicago
Sarai W.

When I was
Riding to the
Chicago store
Me and my Mom
Was picking out stuff.

Untitled
Terell H.

I like Summer best
Because I can go with to the h.w.
I like Winter best because I can drink
Hot coco.
I like Spring best because
I can go to the Park.

I Love Summer
Stephanie E.

I love Summer best
Because I get a lot of eggs.
And I go to Indiana.

Then I eat lots of ice cream.
Because it is so good.
I love it.
It is so good to me.