In Residence: Eating Dessert First

Good morning, Poets!

The Northfield third graders are still enjoying a poetry feast. For today's post, let's live wild and free by eating dessert first. Then we'll enjoy our main course.

If you'd like to read more about my food poems workshop for elementary schoolers, read this post.

I enjoyed Audrey and Jonathan's poems because, in each one, the quick rhythm and tumbling of words conveys how much the speaker enjoys eating. Both poets are using rhythm to create an exciting/excited tone.

Dessert first!

Chocolate 
by Audrey L.

The creamy chocolate in my mouth
melting slowly, piece by piece,
shaped as squares, smooth by touch.
I see the milky brown as you take a bite.
Smells like cocoa but much sweeter.
I hear you crunch upon the brown squares
while I suck on the chocolate.
When we're finished, we ask for more
and if we get some, we clap for joy.
What a good snack that chocolate was.

Dessert first? I admit to having hot chocolate
for breakfast this morning.

Main course...

Great Noodles
by Jonathan

The sizzling noise.
Looks like worms.
Tastes like heaven.
Come to dinner.
Eat them fast.
Eat them when they're hot.
Get the forks and knives.
Side dishes everywhere.
The same smell always.
Hear it sloshing in the pot.
Eating seconds and thirds
until there's no more.

We'll have more poetic treats tomorrow as the third graders prepare for their poetry open house. Parents, families, and friends will be joining us for a poetry celebration tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks to Audrey and Jonathan's families for giving me permission to post their poems today.

Delicious Imagery Poems

We’re going sensory today at Author Amok. The Northfield third graders are working on imagery – writing poems about food. Food is as much about memories and associations as it is about the immediate sensory experience of eating. I challenged these eight and nine year olds to include those associations in their poems. (Here is the full lesson.) Take a look at the section of Mariel’s poem that I put in italics. Does it remind you of a poem by William Carlos Williams?

I love the similes she uses to describe the noodles.

Poet: Mariel J. Mac and Cheese It’s really cheesy and delicious slimy too I slurp it up all day long then I munch it munch munch it looks like a banana or even a little boat I laugh and giggle at it until I’m ready to eat and then I slurp and munch it up I say thank you to my dad for making me it and letting me eat at the counter because I never do then I give him a hug and a kiss and go down stairs to watch TV Mackenzie does an amazing job of recreating an experience around a food – eating spaghetti and meatballs at a family reunion. Look for some of the spot on word choices she makes, like the dog’s wagging tail, “Slicing the air.” Poet: Mackenzie P. I breathe in the steam From the bowl Coming from the kitchen. I slide into my special seat As the food arrives. Grampa serves the Spaghetti loaded with Sauce. I roll meatballs onto My plate. Slurp! I hear my aunt And grandma Eating the noodley Food. I laugh at The stories my Grampa hears at work. My sisters and I Demonstrate something We learned at school. Pat, pat. Libby carries her dog Bone under the table Hoping for some scraps. I hear her tail wagging, Slicing the air Beside my feet. I taste the Warm, spicy Meatballs as I Twirl my fork on my plate, Twisting the food around It. When dinner is over I stand up And go to the couch With the others Leaning against My mom drowsy, By the end Of my family Reunion. Thanks to the Northfield ES families and teachers for their permission to post student work. More of our wonderful food imagery poems tomorrow.