Go Inside

We read Charles Simic's "The Stone." The students and I had a good time imagining getting very tiny and having the ability to go inside of something. Using their senses and concrete images, here are some of their ideas.

Ms. Cole 6th grade

Go Inside a Fish
--Takayla J.

Go inside a fish
that will be great.

Let somebody else become a shark
or gnawing on a piece of seaweed.

I’m anxious to be a fish.

From the outside the fish is surrounded
with sea animals. Yet within it must be
weird and smooth. Even though a shark
swims over it the fish is afraid. Even
though people cut them open I want to see
them breathing.

I have seen bubbles come out of it
when it talks. So perhaps
it is not quiet inside after all. Perhaps
there it is clear.

Go Inside a Tree
--William D.

Go inside a tree.
That would be my home.
Let somebody else become
a seal lion or a dog
with no teeth. This is why
I’m a tree.

From the outside of the tree
it looks like a monster with wings.
Yet within the tree it’s a jungle
even though shoes climb around me,
even though children climb
on me.

I have seen birds
fly away. So birds
build nests in trees.

Go inside a Pisces
--Shadowmar H.

Go inside a Pisces
that has fins to wave back and forth
to swim.

From the outside you can see other things
that come from the bottom of the ocean.
You can wave your fins. You can see
buried treasure. Lots of treasure
about Pisces the fish, you can find
good luck charms and so on.

Yet within the water must be cool.
A Pisces likes water. It makes
it hydrated.

I have seen Pisces with quick attitudes.

So perhaps that’s my sign of the zodiac.
I want to be an astrologer. It’s fun.

Ms. Harris 6th grade

Poem
--Michael B.

Go inside a coca-cola pop
that would be my way.

Let somebody else be a superstar or a dancer.
I am happy to be a coca-cola pop.

From the outside the pop is a white
and black can that has
no design.

Yet within it must be cool and quiet
even though some people step on it
with their feet. A child crushes it
with his hands because he doesn’t
open the pop all the way.
Homeless people come get it.

I have seen many people drinking it
when they are on the road.

So perhaps it is not nasty after all.

Go Inside
--George G.

I’d go inside of a car’s engine.

From the outside it looks like an engine.
Yet within it has a lot of tools and machines.
It pumps gas. It looks like a world
make of tools.

I have seen smoke coming
form it and oil. Sometimes it caught
on fire.

So perhaps it looks different
like carnival rides.

Wonders with Lights
--Rayumos H.

Go inside a stone.
Let somebody else be alive with wonders.
From the outside I see a skull head.
Yet within the skull I see holes in the stone.
I have seen minerals and crystals. Rare stones.
So perhaps I should stay here and look at them for hours and hours.


Ms. Kessinger 6th grade


Go Inside
-Dawn H.

Go inside a computer to see how things work.
Let somebody else be a shining star
in the sky that shines for 12 hours straight.

From the outside of the computer I see
a black screen with a button on it.

Yet within it is silent and cool
and shows many wires of blue, green red and yellow.

I have seen little chips with wires planted into them.

So perhaps it wasn’t so silent and cool
after someone turned me on.

Poem
-Eric W.

In my brain there are so many words
that no one has a key to open it.
Many things I see. A river of blood.
It’s like I am looking at
a red light it’s
like my brain
has been
flushed down
an ocean.
If a lot
of people
are in their brain
and outside
of a brain
it is a good look.
Like me
many people fell
and are falling.
I will say
on my two feet
all of my
life I love this
man, Eric W.,
and I will not let some
make words and my brain.
I put a cover on my head
and no one will have the key to go
in a good brain like mine.

Go Inside
-Malik H.

I will go inside a McDonald’s
to study the way to be small.

Let somebody else be the apple
falling off the tree.

From the outside I am smaller than you.
I can use my ability to wonder.

Yet within my mind I can be
what I want to be in my imagination
and go where I want to go.

I have seen many things, but nothing like
the inside of this apple. It has lots
of beautiful emotions like me.

so perhaps I was dreaming
and was thinking of my life.

Magic

On our first day, we read the poem "Magic" by Dahlia Ravikovitch. I asked the students to think about some things they might want to be:

Ms. Cole, 6th grade


Poem
Miguel A.

Today I’m an eagle,
soaring through the sky.

Last night I dreamt
of dinosaurs white, blue
transparent—

Today I’m a cheetah,
tomorrow and Oak tree.

Yesterday the Grand Canyon,
today a Rose.

Tomorrow I’ll be a guitar.

What I am
Devonte L.

Today I am the voice
of a bird seeking its prey.

Tomorrow a boy having
a fun day dripping
while he skates.

Last night I dreamt
of an orange and green sky
wouldn’t no one
ask me why.

In the morning I listened
to the endless words
of mine.

Today I’m an exotic
cave on the end of a Pueblo.

Yesterday a Jeep
running out of gas.

Poem
Keegan O.

Today I am a shiny statue bold and great.
Still and bold, not ever moving on the platform.

Last night I dreamt of gorges silver and gold,
shiny and beautiful with diamonds.

In the morning a huge tarantula was spinning webs,
killing insects and dangerous bugs.

Today I am a pink seashell lost in the ocean,
trapped in the seas of the shark and fish.

Yesterday I was an exotic poet,
rhyming and making a lot of money.

Tomorrow I will be a successful person
with a good life.

Ms. Harris, 6th grade

Poem
Laquesha B.

Today I am going to be
a fast runner
that runs so fast.

Last night I dreamt that I was a fox
that stayed up all night.

In the morning I will be a robot
that walks all funny.

Today I will be a bird
that can fly anywhere.

Yesterday I was a pretty butterfly
that can go anywhere it wants.

How Everything Changes
KeJuan M.

Today I am a comoto dragon.
Last night I dreamt I was the sun
shining on everyone. Today I will be a spider-
monkey that has red skin and blue fur.
Yesterday I was an artist and tomorrow
Albert Einstein teaching science.


The Magic of Edward
Edward S.

Today I am a dog
as big as a house and can
jump in the sky.

Last night I dreamt
there was a masked killer
running for me.

In the morning
I was as big as a house
and people lived in me.

Today I’m an ant in the house
looking for food.

Yesterday I was a snowman
walking and talking.

Ms. Kessinger, 6th grade

Who I Am
Dominique B.

Today I’m a pretty dog
that can walk and talk.

Last night I dreamt I was a pop star
who can play volleyball.

In the morning, I’m a judge
who is a great singer and dancer.

Today, I’m a sandy beach with
a lot of kids.

Yesterday a nice teacher.

Today I’m a pony that kids can ride.

Tomorrow I will be a Queen.

Poetry
Johnny B.

Today I am yesterday,
tomorrow.

Last night I dreamt
that I was shooting star
the granted wishes.

Today I am the voice
of the young.


What I Am
Justina P.

Today I am a female
president who is African-American.

Last night I dreamt
of a powerful goddess.

In the morning
I am a caring doctor.

Today I am a veterinarian
who loves animals and mammals.

Yesterday I am a lawyer
who knows what is right and wrong.

Tomorrow I am regular me,
that is what I am.