Keeping It Real -- a lesson in imagery

My annual poetry residency at Northfield Elementary began before the big snow hit. We only had time for our first session, on imagery.

Tapping into the five senses keeps it real for the reader, but kids are so accustomed to school-writing and BCRs (shudder), that it can be a challenge.

We warm up with a literary experiment using baby powder. (See the full lesson here.) Everyone in class gets a little bit of baby powder and creates a simile for each of the five senses. I'm always amazed, in a group of 25 people, how many different ways we can describe the same object.

Here are two imagery-of-the-five-senses poems by Northfield third graders.

Ryan H. is thinking about summer. With the weather we've had, I don't blame him.

"It's as hot as the sun out here," I say.
I want to go to the pool.
I meet my friends outside. They want to go too.
When I walk in the door
it sounds like a zoo full of elephants
and tigers. All I can hear are kids screaming,
trying not to get hit by water guns. Then
I jump in and it smells like the ocean.
I come up for a breath and it
looks like a big cup full of water. I go under
again but this time my mouth was open.
I come up and it tastes like shampoo
mixed with water. My mom gives me a towel
and says, "Time to go." The towel feels like
a pillow on my head. We get in the car
and drive away.

The shampoo simile is so evocative. Can't you smell and taste it?

The writing prompt is to describe an activity using all five senses. Often, the children's poems are about the things they do outside of school. It's a nice way for their peers to get to know them better.

Lucy F. chose her dance class.

When I walk into the room it is
as cool as September. Then I go to the
barre. It's so quiet I feel like I'm in an
empty house. I sniff the air and its a
rubber tennis shoe. Eww! I turn for
an exercise. WOW looks like a
row of buns. The air has a stale
cracker taste. Once I'm done, I talk while
putting on jazz shoes.

The empty house captures the quiet dance studio before the dancers arrive. And look at the metaphor Lucy uses for the way the room smells. Do you think these poets were successful in keeping it real -- making you feel like you are there at the pool or the dance studio?

More poems tomorrow. These were posted with permission of the poets and their families. Thanks, Northfield!

Two Great Tastes That Go Great Together

Bonus when my students write food/imagery poems -- free recipes.

Yesterday, one third grader wrote about his family's Halloween morning tradition. Hold onto your taste buds...

Cinnamon buns baked with candy corn on top. Are you seeing the melted yellow and orange candy dripping over the sides of the bun? Can you taste the earthy cinnamon and sweet, melted candy? Mmmm.

A marriage made in culinary heaven.

Last time, I shared some main course imagery written by the Northfield third graders. Now, it's time for dessert.

I love how Ilsa's attention to detail in this poem makes me feel that she's enjoying every bite of this delicious dessert.

Poet: Ilsa M.

Ice Cream Today is my birthday I hurry to the door I hurry to the shop When I get there… I can smell the cold air rush to my nose. I can hear the freezer’s noise trying to Get the ice cream cold. I can see the orange color so bright Like the sun shining. I can touch it with my spoon and no Bumps come in my way. I can taste the cold mango flavor In my mouth melting. I quickly find a spot right next to the Window. I slowly put [a spoonful] in my mouth. Its taste is so fresh and so real. I love mango ice cream. We've been talking about how food can conjure up memories of people and places. For Meghan, making a dish with her grandmother is what makes the food special.

Poet: Meghan M. Berry Biscuits A nice summer day my gramma And I are picking berries to make Berry biscuits. We go in to the kitchen squish Squish we’re smashing the berries. Looking at the smashed berries Looking gooey. Clink! Clink! Hearing the mixing Spoon clank against the bowl. Make it into dough. Pre-heating the Oven. Ding! It’s ready. Cutting the dough into circles. Put the biscuits in for 15 minutes. Put some sugar on the berries. Mmm! Ding! The biscuits are ready. Now time to cut them open. Slice! Put the berries In. We’re finally done.

Next up...some smelly sneakers take center stage as the Northfield third graders write odes.

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.

Poetry Friday

Stressed out? Read this while I raid the candy jar (it's filled with Dove dark chocolates -- an unintentional pun.)

Chocolate

by Rita Dove

Velvet fruit, exquisite square

I hold up to sniff

between finger and thumb

how you numb me

with your rich attentions!

If I don't eat you quickly,

you'll melt in my palm.

Read the rest of the poem here. If that's not enough to satisfy your craving, pick up Arnold Adoff's Chocolate Dreams: Poems. Great fun for kids & adults with a sweet tooth.

I started a new poetry residency this week, working with fourth graders at Harford Hills Elementary in Parkville, MD. Having a wonderful, but the schedule has me taking off from the bus stop in the morning and returning home 20 minutes before my middle schooler in the afternoon. Barely enough time for a cup of tea and a few of those "exquisite squares" of "velvet fruit."

My students and I were working on food poems today. Sandra Cisneros' "Good Hotdogs" is the model. I've posted the lesson -- on writing with imagery -- recently. But hot dogs aren't my thing. When it comes to coping with stress, there's only one food for me.

There's more delicious poetry at Wild Rose Reader. Elaine is hosting Poetry Friday today.