Curricular Resources > 2001 Volume III > Unit 4 (01.03.04) > Section 9

Reading and Writing Poetry

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 01.03.04

Unit Guide

Using Personal Poetic Expression to Enhance Reading and Writing

Pamela J. Tonge

Tools for this unit:

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Samples of Poetic Expression

In preparing for this unit, some of my students and I were able to experience a unique way in reading and writing poetry. I like to give a heart-felt THANK-YOU to a few of these sixth grade students in my Reading and Language Arts classes for their indulgence and originality.

Charles Gardner,

Chris Pittman

Natasha Parker

Patrick Falconer

Tyrome Stevenson

Adja Diarrassouba

Tanika Simuel

Yenarah Alvarez

Ricardo J. Rodriguez

Yajaira Ferrer

Jessica Cameron

Come
Come to a place where I live
where I play and have fun where I sleep
and I eat.

Come to a place where I feel
depressed where I cry and where I think
about all the good things that come.

Come to a place where I love where
I have a broken heart.

Come With Me

Tanika Simuel

Gone

I use to be here but now I'm gone
The days past while you have fun
I might be gone but I know you
Remember me in you heart
You might think you're alone in the night but you are wrong
Every time you cry I hear your
Cry and I cry with you
I hear you laugh and I get happy
I look down from Heaven and wish
I was with you
But I am gone

Yenarah Alvarez

Lyric Poems

When it rains outside
I see little baby birds
They all huddle up

Charles Gardner

The snow is falling
It is getting very cold
I think it's winter

Chris Pittman

When the clouds float by
The sky gets light blue and gray
Very beautiful

Natasha Parker

Haiku

You

You are great you are special.
You are my friend to the very end.
You smell great.
I wonder where we'll go.
I hope it's fun.
Hey you I smell buns.
Do you like my coat?
I like yours too.
Let's go eat at Jimmy's and eat all the food.

Patrick Falconer - Free Verse Poem

Sleep

I sleep when I'm tired,
I sleep when I'm bored,
I don't sleep on boards,
When I sleep in my dream I'm in a house that creeks and shrieks,
Then I started to speak Greek,
Then I felt the light,
I awoke with a fright,
Sometime in my dream, I'm happy or sad,
Sometimes when I wake I'm glad,
So when I'm tired I sleep.

Tyrome Stevenson - Free Verse Poem

Cats

Cats are nice and furry
My medium size cats name is Murry
His nails are pretty sharp
Thank you God he don't play the harp
My little cat follows me along
Now in the cemetery and gone
Don't you hear it?
I think I've heard his spirit
I give him flowers
I think about him for hours
Cats are nice and furry
My medium size cats name is Murry

Yajaira Ferrer-Couplet

Why?

Why am I bad?
Why am I sad?
Why am I mad?
Why am I glad?

Why am I happy?
Why is my friend's hair nappy?
Why is she so sloppy?
Why does she like to copy?

Why am I tall?
Why do I hate playing basketball?
Why do I have an attitude?
Why am I so rude?

Why do I like to eat?
Why do I like to sleep?
Why am I so greedy?
Why do I hate Chef Boyardee?

Adja Diarrassouba-4-stanza Rhyme

I the Poet

I'm an amateur poet, so they say,
I ask them if I'm good, they say, "no way."
But someday it will happen, Someday it will come.
When I take the glory, In becoming number one!
The people will love me, And then they'll see.
That I'll be the best, That there ever will be.
I will become a Poet! I will become the Best!
I will be well known in both East and the West!
When I'm all grown-up, everybody will see,
That I am indeed the Best poet that there ever will be!

Ricardo J. Rodriguez-Lyric

Valentine Poem

Valentine's Day is for love;
Just like two little doves.

If you love to dance,
You'll love my romance.

I like the love that's in a boy,
Because all of that love brings me great joy.

I really love dates;
As long as we are mates.

Nice men would give a flower;
Nice women would give men power.

If you give me a present;
It would be so pleasant.

We can write love letters to each other;
But we just can't give it to our mother.

I know that you boys like girls;
So if that's the case, give them pearls.

If you give me a pretty, stuffed bear;
I know that you really, really care.

Jessica Cameron-Couplet

Acrostic Poem

Bad
Abnormal
Rude
Troubled

Stupid
Ignorant
Mean
Pathetic
Short
Orange
Nasty

I made up this Acrostic poem based on the cartoon character Bart Simpson.

I Wish

I wish I had more time to sleep,
I wish I had gutters that keep.
I wish my life were somehow less filled,
I wish for a Zima that's really chilled.
I wish for fewer payments, less stress,
I wish for all my children the best.
I wish I had more time to grow,
I wish I had a big brother…ya know.
I wish I could play the piano real well,
I wish I could have that man, don't tell.

This poem I created was inspired by "Wishes, Lies and Dreams" Teaching Children to Write Poetry by Kenneth Koch. This book is an excellent resource for beginning poetry with children.

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