Student Work

**Poetry**
One of the English teacher's favorite parts of teaching is watching students put themselves into the poetry they write. Here are some examples of poems students are assigned. Each is an original poem by the student, written in English class, and used here by students permission. Thanks to the Literature Teacher's Book of Lists, Your Turn, 33 Lessons in Poetry, One at a Time, and the late Jeanne Smith for the poems used in these activities.
Time Flies	Life Metaphors	Villanelle
Contrast	I Remember	Pantoum
Tanka and Haiku	Triolet	Poems for Mythology
Two-Tone	Emotions	Refrains
Memories	Sound Effects	Miscellaneous
	Sonnets

Time Flies

In these poems, students are to consider the person they used to be and the person they are now, and show the comparison. Sometimes we discuss metaphor and students show themselves as similar, but different, objects representing the then and now.

I used to listen to what people Had to say But now I feel I need to listen more to myself. --Aaron Swensen	I used to be a child grasping for every piece of knowledge on the world's bookshelf. But now I feel boredom with the book I chose, wanting to trade it in. --Rebecca Bolland
I used to want to be alone But now I am lonely. --Cody McCulloch	Until a year ago, I used to be a normal teenager But now I am a mother and a wife. --Amber Skillings
When I was young: I used to be protected by a wall, so no one could get through. But now I feel it's time to break it down, and let the sun shine through. --Heidi Garcia	I used to be afraid that people wouldn't like me if I wasn't like them. But now I know what people think shouldn't matter as long as I am happy. --Rachael Cline

Contrast

Tanka and Haiku

Haiku are 3 line poems, usually about nature, with strict syllable structure. The first line has 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables, and the third line 5 syllables. Tanka are 5 line poems with similar structure; the line lengths in syllables are 5, 7, 5, 7, 7.

Fishing is for fun. It's about catching big fish. Secret holes are best. If you want big fish use flies. Fly fishing is more graceful. --Nick Treas	Swinging on a swing At the playground in the park Going back and forth Until dinner is ready And mom calls us to come in. --Amber Skillings	Seasons in Haiku Sitting on the porch Looking at stars in the sky School's out for summer Leaves fall to the ground The weather is getting cold Fall colors so dull. Wrapped up in my coat It's cold and snowy outside Winter-time is here. Flowers bloom color Spring is the prettiest time Clouds and sun take turns. --Rachael Cline
Spring tiptoes softly, Like the sound of falling snow. Noiseless, yet vivid. It waits for teh biting chill, To finally go away. --Rebecca Bolland	As the baby cries His mother walks to his room. She makes him happy. --Rachelle Frandsen

Life Metaphors

In studying metaphor, students had the opportunity to decide what might best represent their lives. Below are some examples of the poetry that came out of this activity.

Life Is a symphony. The notes are heatedly woven together. They dance lightly all around me. And as the music quiets, Everything becomes very still. Then, all of a sudden, the mood changes. The conductor moves his hand down swiftly. Setting the musicians into action; They now paint a different picture. --Greg Suhr	Life Is a river endlessly twisting and turning. It cunningly carries me on its surface. Farther and farther away from where I once was. I could let myself sink into the silent suffocating waters, But I won't. No matter how far the waters take me, I can always change directions an a calmer stream. And it is still a beautiful river. --Megan Papworth
Life is a sidewalk cafe, on a stormy day it's cold and grey winds whisper the chilling sounds of lost and loneliness. However, the joy-filled and reassuring rays of the sun overcome and all becomes warm and sure of. --Kelly Moon	Life is a delicate flower, it's sweet smell fills the air. Spring rain and summer sunshine help the flower bloom beautifully. But slowly, autumn and winter come around the bend of the road. And the flower wilts and dies away until the warm sunny days come again. --Monique Jorgensen

I Remember

In "I Remember" poems students are to think of the small elements of a memory that make up the bigger part. Though they are not assigned to remember sad events, often, those are the ones that make the best poems.

I remember
   A hard working man
   Very big bear hugs
   Soft, gentle hands
   Love
I remember
   A very loud voice
   The lectures
   The disappointments
   Lessons
I remember
   The laughter shared
   Long hours of Western shows
   Big collection of movies
   Entertainment
I remember
   Late night talks
   Dances together
   Wrestling on the floor
   Moments together
I remember
   Crying all day
   Handsome man in a casket
   Feeling of regret
I remember my dad.

--Brandi Miller

Sonnet

Sonnets are 14 line poems written in iambic pentameter with very specific rhymem schemes. Most of these sonnets follow the Shakespearian rhyming pattern.

I hate writing sonnets, the rhyme scheme stinks.
My opems are strange; they break all the rules,
My sonnet to the real world bears no link.
I write my poems without any tools.
My thoughts have fled me; I have writer's block.
My writing hand is beginning to cramp.
I lean back in my chair and then I take stock.
This stupid sonnet stinks worse than a stamp.
This assignment is almost over, done.
I read all the time and do my work well.
My writing style is very, very crude.
Believe me when I tell you this is hell.
I do not like to write this stupid stuff.
Listen now, I say "Enough is enough."

--Jace Anderson

How have you managed to control my thoughts?
All day long I think of a love this true.
Without you in my life I'd be distraught.
For what and who would I be without you?
Your mischievious smile make my heart melt.
Honey colored eyes show feelings untold
Burning rages of desire I have felt
But you, a true gentleman, stay controlled.
I shouldn't worry of your intentions
Our future is all in God's design.
Love's workings are beyond comprehension
Down the road our lives may intertwine.
In darkness you are my shimmering light.
Being loved by you feels more than just right.

--Kim Neeley

When light rain falls from the clear cloudless sky
I think I see the heavens open wide
And it makes me want to cry and ask why
I see the thinks that need spoken and then decide
I know how much that I have lied
And done many things that have been wrong
But you have to know that I have tried
I know that I have to be really strong.
And I hope your forgiveness won't be long
I know I hide the things that I feel.
I will wait until the day is long gone
I know and hope you love me still.
I feel forgiveness in my heart
And know we'll make a brand new start.

--Lacey Nagle

Triolet

Triolet are short 8 line poems where the 1st, 4th, and 7th lines are the same, and the 2nd and 8th lines are the same. The rhyming pattern is very strict, and these work best with short lines of even rhythm.

Villanelle

Villanelles are a bit harder to write because of their length and strict structure. They are made up of five tercets and one quatrain. The middle lines of all the tercets rhyme with each other, and the first and third lines of the first tercet are repeated often throughout the poem. Once students get the hang of these, however, they turn out some really good work.

Pantoum

And the kids thought triolets were hard! Pantoums are actually quite fun to write, but tricky because of the structure of repeating lines. The line pattern is as follows: 1234 2546 5768 7183. Huh? Just pay attention to the ones below and it will become clear.

Poems for Mythology unit

Students tried out some of the different poem structures on the characters and stories in mythology. Their work is based on Edith Hamilton's Mythology. These poems worked very well, and are now a part of the requirements for the Mythology Magazine Mrs. Ford teaches.

Two-Tone

Everybody has at least two sides to his or her personality. Students represent these sides using color to show the contrast in themselves.

Emotions

In working with metaphor, students are to come up with colors that are metaphors for emotions, and then give those emotions other characteristics.

Boredom is white. It tastes like water It smells like whatever the air brings It sounds like the silence of the outside It feels like the coldness of the ice cube It looks like a picture of a room. Boredom is white. Boredom is school. --Kevin Robertson

Refrains

Thanks to a poem published in Read magazine for this format. Students have to think of a line that will work repeatedly in a poem, then build the poem around it.

Memories

Students brainstorm memories and write a free-verse poem bringing that memory to life for others.

Sadly I say, No, Please don't go dad,
    Stay here with us and mom.
Sad but angry he answers, "No I can't. Your mother and I
    no longer have a loving marriage."
Mom pops in "I will call your grandparents
    to come and get you for the night, then call you later.
    After your dad and I have talked and come up
    with something to do.
No, I don't want to go. It stinks, it smells like dogs,
    and old people!
I want dad to stay. Please mom.
--Amber Skillings

Sound Effects

Students use the letters representing a sound and make an Acrostic poem showing the object that normally makes the sound. We do this when studying onomatopoeia.

Outside in the barnyard Is a fat, pink pig Nothing can stop it from being Killed for some sausage. --Rachael Cline
Sad model man stand In the store window Guess the lovers dialogue without Hearing anything. --Tami Liang	She sits over In the deep grass, Gazing over at Him and takes a deep breath. --Lacey Byington
Screaming tires of Cars Racing Each other Evenly Challenged Head to head. --Nick Treas	SCREAM She's scared Crying for someone to help her, Reaping the trouble Every limb in her body, Almost frozen Maybe someone will hear her. --Rebecca Bolland

Miscellaneous

Here are some great poems that didn't fit into any of the above categories.

Wild I am the calm one who watches.
I wonder why they fear us so?
I hear the thunder of their hoofs hitting the earth's floor.
I see their manes and tails fly as they run.
I want to be near them.
I am the calm one who watches.

I imagine running in the night with them.
I feel the fear and pain in their hearts.
I touch the tame.
I worry about the wild.
I cry for the ones who are lost.
I am the calm one who watches.

I understand why they run.
I say my words soft and calm.
I dream about where they travel.
I try to stay, watch, and learn more.
I hope they can trust me, the outsider.
I am the calm one who watches.

--Heather Royer

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