Collaborative Poems

For our last class before the holiday and new year break, I wanted to try something that would (hopefully) be fun. We read several two-line poems from Joshua Beckman & Matthew Rohrer's collaborative book, Nice Hat. Thanks, and talked a bit about the process the two poets used when writing poems together. Students then counted off, and were put in groups based on their number. Each wrote three starting lines for as many separate poems, passing them on to others in their group, who added their own lines, creating a series of short group poems. Students were encouraged to think fast, and make "sense" only if they wanted to, or could.

Here are two* poems apiece from each group in every class.

Ms. Barreda, 8th Grade

Anthony B., Jorge L., Jonathan P., Kevin R., Diego T., Federico V.

Blue

Is really cool.

Blue is also very cruel.

Blue is like glue

is like the sky.

It's OK green I like more.

When I draw it's like I have no cares

because you are concentrated.

Teach me how to draw.

I get tired of drawing.

I trace.

I also trace with my left

Alexandra B., Jose L., Maydali S., Diego V., Ismael V., Oscar V.

Night Ministry

brings tooth paste and tooth brushes

brings soap

help

they need you.

Be generous.

Oscar walking down the street.

Under the black night sky.

Trying to hide

from

me

Ismael.

Jessica G., Rubisel L., Jessica M., Stephanie P., Tonya P.

I feel like dancing.

I feel like sleeping.

I feel like sleeping, too.

I want to go to parties.

What are we waiting for, let's get started

let's jump around the world.

I'm bored.

I play with my pen waiting for it to do something.

I poke my brother.

It's so funny.

Play a game.

I'm still bored.

Miguel A., Mariela B., Rolando C., Lucero G., Ulysses G., Jorge R.

Music is in the room

the station is on B96

the song is coming out.

It's my favorite song

makes us happy.

I wish I had my two front teeth.

You can

swim to the other side of earth

I know you can do it.

Believe in yourself and you'll go far

work really hard.

But what if I can't?

Katherine D., Mayra H., Airam V., Marco Q., Edgar T.

The butterfly

looks pretty

I'm

nice

doesn't really talk a lot

to my sister.

Love is

intelligent

misfortunate.

Life will take

time

to make me depressed.

Mrs. Turk, 7th Grade

Leslie H., Amanda M., Lily O., Vanessa P., Jodi R., Tyler T.

hats

won't fit my head

I kind of like them

hathead

I love hats! You?

Won't fit, have a big head.

Do you have a dog?

I don't know, do you?

Not yet

had one, hopefully I get another one.

Nope, but I want one

yes, yes I do.

Ana A., Jessica G., Emily L., Oscar P., Victoria R., Frida T.

I owe

me money

I forgot to pay me

last night.

A pencil

sharpened nicely.

It was raining

yesterday

the day before

today

wow

inside my house

Alejandra B., Leonardo B., Danielle B., Erika C., Laesha R., Morgan R.

stars

up so high in the sky

high high high up

OK

up in the sky

they look like they can fly

Soccer.

We're at

Winnemac Park.

Such a tiring game, for real.

Oh I really don't like soccer.

I think it's fun but the game is over.

Raimundo C., Dezarai G., Jose M., David R., Alma R., Jasmine S.

The lonely dog

weeped loudly

ate food

looked at people

was sad

BORING!

Run down a hill

fall on the grass

and laugh out loud

and scream I love Chris Brown

and roll

jump and hurt myself and laugh.

Julissa A., Matt A., Jose J., Kevin L., Daniel T.

wet water

isn't dry

is slippery

of course

is still water

is wet

Broken computer

does not work

in da trash

works just fine

is worthless

take it apart

Ms. Touras, 6th Grade

Ruben D., Alondra F., Joyce J., Rafael J., Alyssa L., Neisha R.

The car is red and old and slow.

Going fast is a challenge

zooming by

yeah it goes fast

like a snail.

It needs help.

Bowl of pudding

tastes good.

I guess it's good

is good.

It's bad for your heart.

Bowl of pudding.

Rubyela J., Elik J., James L., Victor N., Jonathan T.

The best day ever

has already ended

it's the coolest day.

Birthday.

De lovely.

Very exciting.

Death

died

scary

lovely (not).

Wish it could happen!!!! (to me)

Is what happens to humans.

Danielle D., Enrique Q., Desiree R., Samuel S., Cody T.

Be polite

friend

good

don't call people names

have manners

if you be polite you will have a friend

Look what I took.

What is it?

I took a pen

?

What

I took a library book!

Fernando B., Aidan K., Michael M., Abigail P., Juliana V.

Things to do when you are done

is chew gum

or play games on your phone

till it breaks

or discharges

or you are bored playing it.

Tree

birds

leaves

branches

smell

fresh.

John A., Agnes F., Ledio S., Susana S., Snow V.

Water feels like

wind.

I like to swim in water,

in the summer.

I like to go

somewhere full of water.

Come back to life

dead zombies

but not today

come next year

not today

not ever 

The newspaper

is here

what can I do?

It is boring.

I don't want to read

this bad newspaper.

* a third poem is here for this group, whose work was so excellent