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