School-wide Poetry Month: Day Thirty (Jane)

I chose "Where the Sidewalk Ends" because it really reminds me of New York, where I live. It is whimsical and very free in it's own sense, but it has some realistic parts to it, so Shel Silverstein did a good job of making a combination of these both. It makes me smile every time I read it, and it reminds me so much of just walking on a hot, NYC day, enjoying myself despite the weather. I can even imagine some of the spontaneously created characters, like the moonbird or the peppermint wind. This is why I love Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends" so dearly.

Where The Sidewalk Ends
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson white,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
Poem ©Shel Silverstein. All rights reserved.

School-wide Poetry Month: Day Twenty-Nine (Sydney)

I chose "For Sale" because pretty much I've always liked Shel Silverstein, especially "For Sale." Also, it is what I wish I could do to my little sister sometimes. Shel Silverstein always tries to do something different each time. He really tries to be original and unique, like with "The Giving Tree" and "Sick" and all his other poems.

For Sale
One sister for sale!
One sister for sale!
One crying and spying young sister for sale!
I’m really not kidding,
So who’ll start the bidding?
Do I hear the dollar?
A nickel?
A penny?
Oh, isn’t there, isn’t there, isn’t there any
One kid that will buy this old sister for sale,
This crying and spying young sister for sale? 
Poem ©Shel Silverstein. All rights reserved.

School-wide Poetry Month: Day Twenty-Eight (Jack)

I chose "Invictus" because it was my grandfather's favorite poem before he died, and it was also my grandmother's favorite poem. All the boys in my family had to learn it. It was part of the Armstrong logo!

Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the full clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate.
I am the captain of my soul.
Poem ©William Ernest Henley. All rights reserved.

School-wide Poetry Month: Day Twenty-Seven (Alec)

I chose "This is Just to Say" because this poem has to do with eating food by mistake and that's happened to me many times before. Another reason why is because it's a nice sweet poem. This is the poem.

This is Just to Say
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
Poem ©William Carlos Williams. All rights reserved.

School-wide Poetry Month: Day Twenty-Six (Bria)

I chose "Us" because today is my sister's birthday and she is turning 18. I also pick this poem because me and my sister always disagree. I would love my sister to see this because this does show how much I love my her. Happy birthday Chelsea!

Us 
Me and him
Him and me,
We're always together
As you can see.
I wish he'd leave
So I'd be free
I'm getting a little bit
Tired of he,
And he may be a bit
Bored with me.
On movies and ladies
We cannot agree.
I love to dance
He loves to ski.
He loves the mountains
I love the sea.
I like hot chocolate
He wants his tea.
I want to sleep
He has to pee.
He's meaner and duller
And fatter than me.
But I guess there's worse things
We could be--
Instead of two we could be three,
Me and him
Him and me.
Poem ©Shel Silverstein. All rights reserved.

School-wide Poetry Month: Day Twenty-Three (Class 4-324)

During dance class last Thursday, we wrote this poem with Karen. Today, we created our own dances to go with it. Two groups presented their dances to the class. 

Dance

Spontaneous, Energetic

Twirling, Exploding, Bouncing

Art recreated in motion

Movement

School-wide Poetry Month: Day Twenty-Four (Sabina)

I chose "Storms Toward Noon" because it was about a time that if you experienced it wouldn't seem so special but I really added detail. This poem is written by me.

Storms Toward Noon
Suddenly the sky grew gray
the day
which had been soft and still
grew bitter and chill
and the rain with its pitter patter
started to fall
down.