History (in third person)

Today we read Tomaz Salamun's poem "History." We talked about writing in third person to gain some distance and a new perspective. We also talked about how imagining one's own history could be interesting, especially when the poet chooses vivid images. The students wrote great poems of their own imagined histories. Take a look!

Ms. Cole 6th grade



History
Andrea T.

Andrea is a sphere rushing through
the air. Andrea is a girl who, when
she walks down the street, people
look at her. She lies down in
twilight. Andrea has a dog and
is a girl. She likes the rain. She
likes to go to Miami. Andrea is like
the wind. Andrea likes hot peppers.
Andrea does not like snakes. Andrea
has never been in a tornado or hurricane
and sometimes she thinks she is
a refreshing person.

Rahkeem is?
Rahkeem O.

Rahkeem is a giant bowling
ball knocking down and conquering everything
in its path. He never gets afraid or
backs down from a challenge.
Or maybe Rahkeem is like a
cool summer mist. After a long day
it is refreshing to see one.
Or, Rahkeem might be a
Fierce Tiger, always ready and prepared
for anything.

History
Takayla J.

Takayla is a sun.
Takayla is a spotlight
shining on a superstar.
She lies down like a
sunset.
People and I look as if
our eyes are flashlights.
Maybe she’s a star
from the sky.
Possibly she should be a
highlighter.
Next year, she’ll be
in the Bahamas where
Takayla shines on people.

Ms. Harris 6th grade


History
Omarr B.

Omarr is a king.
Omarr is a sun rising
every 6:00 a.m. He hops like
a rabbit, and runs fast like it
too. People and I, we all look
at him shocked. We give him luck.
Maybe he is a bird. Maybe he is a
mouse or a dog that only bites
bad people. People see Omarr buying a car.
He buys it and thinks of history.

Poetry
Malik T.

Malik is a tree.
Maybe he is a thunderstorm.
Possibly he should be a pit bull.
Next year, he will be an angel.
Maybe he is a fast car.
Maybe he is a chair so that
you can sit.
Possibly he should have been a lemon
that is sour.

KeJuan the Invisible
KeJuan M.

KeJuan is a beast. KeJuan
is a monster. KeJuan is the air
that flows in the earth, that
people inhale and exhale. KeJuan
is the thunder that strikes a
tree falling on cars. KeJuan
is a beast. KeJuan is hurricane
Katrina that hit New Orleans. KeJuan
is like John C. You can’t see him. You
can only hear, smell or taste KeJuan
because he is like a burger flipping
in the pan. KeJuan is the energy
that you drink. That is how I explain
KeJuan and KeJuan is what you can’t see.

Ms. Kessinger 6th grade


What’s History
Eric. W

Eric is a king. A lion.
A block of sunshine a light
that doesn’t go off like a glass
star. Music. A clock that
doesn’t have numbers.
Eric is an Independent man
that loves his work,
going for his goals. That is
history.

History
Keyonna B.

Keyonna is goofy.
Keyonna is a shoe addict.
Keyonna is a tree climber.
Maybe she is a nice person.
Maybe she is a rude person.
She might only be kind.
She might only be cute.
Keyonna is crazy.
Keyonna is lazy.

Poem
Chaddrick M.

Chaddrick is a leopard.
He is a snowstorm.
He might only be
two dogs going at it.
Possibly he should be
waves when people
are surfing.
People will say: I am
going to get security,
because he is a
bad boy.