L-e-t-t-e-r P-o-e-m-s

This week, we read two short letter poems: "Letter," from "Lennox Avenue Mural" by Langston Hughes, and "Dear Joanne" by Lew Welch. Students discussed what was similar, as well as different in each poem, and what makes them unique from other forms of poetry. They then wrote their own letter poems.

Ms. Barreda, 8th Grade

Dear shoes,
Thank you for making my outfit look
cute. But sometimes you're a little too
expensive. Oh why?
You're too cute to let go.
Especially those high heels.
Please bring down your price.
Mariela B.
P.S.
I love U shoes!

Dear Guitar,
I don't know how to play you!
What can I do?
Do I have to get two of you?
Do I have to get a teacher?
I want to learn.
I really do!
Do you know how to play it yourself?
Why can't you play?
I cannot find the right notes.
Please let me play.
Please, please, please!
Your future musician,
Katherine

Dear Mac,
You're the best dog that I ever had.
I wish you could understand
when I talk to you,
when I tell you that I love you so
much!
I know that your hair keeps falling
and I think that I'm going to make
a pillow, every day I have to clean
and I'm tired. So please buy a brush
and brush your hair.
Jessica
P.S. Brush your hair.

Dear Daddy,
Why are you so sad? Why is
your face expression so down? What's
wrong! You don't talk to me or mommy
anymore! We're worried. You look so
tired and weak. You look lost and
hurt. What's wrong?
Please tell me.
With all concern,
your daughter,
Mayra
P.S. Be funny again!

Dear Cat,
I hope you can read
this...I left some
food on the table.
Hope you could
find it.
I left the tub
with water...
don't forget to
take a bath.
And go to bed
early!!
Love,
Your owner,
Jessica M.

Dear Maydali,
Your name sounds like My Dolly.
Every time I pass by a
toy store and a little
girl buys a dolly
she says I love My Dolly.
How fun it is to say
My Dolly.
Sincerely your friend,
Jonathan P.

Dear Basement Lock,
Why not let me in?
I need to get laundry done.
You're so mean!
Your reign of torture will soon
come to an end,
Basement Lock!
I'll throw you out, just like
old grandfather clock!
So open I say.
Open now!
I hate you and this day.
Tonya P.
P.S.
Why won't you
open?

Dear Heart,
I don't hear your beat.
Where have you gone?
Why aren't my emotions and feelings running around
my body like a snake killing from the inside?
So many questions and no
answers.
Why don't you and my brain work together?
Do both of you have
to get your own way?
Please pound your beat back!
Love,
Emotion Sickness (Airam V.)
P.S.
I can't live life without you!

Mrs. Turk, 7th Grade

Dear Chalkboard,
Why do you let people
write on you so much? You get
so dusty and dirty. We always
have to clean you. People never
say thank you after writing on
you.
Take my advice, don't
let People/Students/Teachers write
on you anymore.
A student who
writes on you,
Julissa A.

Dear Door,
your handle of metal,
your frame of oak and the
steel hinges you let in and
out but you have no say in it.
Your control is limited to people
opening when they need it and
your opinion matters less and less.
Some people claim you control room
from room but I don't think
so. I control you and
my turning hand is the
only part missing from the
list.
Your controlling opener,
Matt A.

Dear thing in the sky,
You're getting annoying. I'm trying
to kill you but you keep flying
away. You're on the floor now,
you're smushed, you're dead. I
killed, I'm sorry but you
were landing on my stuff
so I'm sorry and goodbye.
Leo

Dear pillow,
you are soft
I sleep on
you and I
love to hug
you all the
time on my
life.
Erika C.

Dear blank paper, why do you make
it so difficult for me to write something
on you? Why can't you just write something on
you for me and without making me think?
Tell me who punched you and made those
holes on you? And why are your lines always
blue? Why can't they be a better color and
maybe you'll feel better? Why every time
we need you you're always blank? You should
be useful for something especially
for me.
Sincerely, Gabriel L.

Dear Friends,
I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything.
I'm sorry that I didn't write to you
over the summer. I'm sorry for missing
your birthday. I'm sorry that I haven't
tried to communicate to you for ages.
I'm sorry that I missed your party
for one of my other friend's party.
I'm sorry that I couldn't stay
mad at you even though you were
still mad at me. I'm sorry I yelled
at you. And I just want to say
I'm sorry.
Lots of love,
your friend,
L.O.

Dear Mind,

How bright you are everyday.
Too bad today is not your day.
I feel so happy and giddy today.
But you, dear Mind,
a really different kind than others,
can't seem to work.

Why can't you bring an idea to me?
So there will be more creativity...
on this paper.
Besides the neat writing...

With love,
Alma R.

Ms. Touras, 6th Grade

Dear humans in the future,
Here I am, in my class,
studying and learning...
waiting for the future
to come! And there you
are in the future, studying
the past that I'm in.
Love,
Delia D.

Dear lollipop, why are
you so sweet and tasty?
But sometimes sour. Why
do you come in colors of
different flowers? You're fun
to eat but mostly sweet.
I could eat you all
day. Please stay.
Lollipop lover,
Delilah D.

Dear Me,
Why couldn't you keep your
hands to yourself? But you
didn't listen to me, so
you accidentally spilled mom's coffee.
You got in trouble and guess what you
washed the dishes for three days.
You were bad,
Alondra F.

Dear paper,
Please stay in place.
Where I can find you.
With love,
Alyssa

Dear Mom 11 years ago,
Please think again before having
another kid. One is enough for you
and I am that special one. It is so
not worth having another kid, think
of all the money you will waste by
having another kid. There would also
be no fighting.
So please take my advice.
Love
your son in the future
(Michael M.)

Dear ?

What do you mean? Your symbol
has frozen my brain but it's still
active.

Is there a decoder?

Sincerely,
unknown (Cody T.)

Dear Pizza,
I was thinking about how
good you taste, and I just
wanted to tell you to put less
sauce, more cheese, and more
pepperoni, and also don't cost
more for having cheese on
the side.
- anonymous