Write On!

Write On!

Selected Poemsby 5th Graders at

Govans Elementary School

Write Brain Kids is a project of the School of Communications Design

at the University of Baltimore with support from

the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences Office of the Dean.

© 2013 Write Brain Kids

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including

photocopy, recording, or any informationstorage and retrieval system, without prior permission

from the publisher (except by reviewers who may quote brief passages).

Printed in the United States of America | First EditionCover photograph: Howard Korn

Book design: Drew Robison

This book is dedicated to our familes.

Table of Contents

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IntroductionBlue LullabyMy ChurchThe World is a CriminalPeace and QuietDear Sally SueNot SorryFall Is CoolAll of the StatesMeekFall Is HereOne Sunday MorningPeace on EarthChocolate CupcakeNo More LoveDreamsThe Leaf FanMetaphorsDear MomSpring HaikusWhat My Grandfather SaysAbout the AuthorsAbout Write Brain Kids

1

As the 2012–13 school year draws to a close, the fifth-grade participants in the Write Brain Kids program at Govans Elementary might take a look at their journals and notice that they have been very prolific this year. Over twenty-seven class sessions, they’ve explored elements of fiction, such as character, suspense, imagery, desire, and conflict. They blew us away with creative fairy tales, tall tales, adventures, memoirs, and dialogues. We were most wowed, however, by their poetry.

Write On offers a sampling of the fifth graders’ hard work as they experimented with a variety of poetic forms. Contained in it are haikus, apology poems, metaphors, and poetic expressions of love, friendship, struggles, and humor. The book represents only a fraction of the effort and strong thinking that bubbled up in Ms. O’Keefe’s classroom as the Write Brain Kids listened, learned, wrote, and shared.

As the Write Brain Kids co-founders and teachers, we have been impressed by these students’ growth as creative readers and writers over the previous two years. We have been touched by their enthusiasm, and by their willingness to stretch their minds and try things that feel difficult at first. We hope that they will carry with them throughout their education the sense of adventure and bravery that they brought to their writing in the program.

Introduction

––Ms. Christine, Ms. Elisabeth, Ms. Elissa, and Ms. Jane

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She is blue.I don’t know why.My sister was upsetto say goodbye.She got afraid becauseshe was telling a lie.She started to feel likea newborn baby andher mom was singinga lullaby.

by Ta’von AlstonBlue Lullaby

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by Laila Bitar My Church

Peace is a church where we laughand sing and sometimes eruptand ring the doorbell that goes bing.The church smells full of fresh air.The walls are smooth, but a little rough.The church is big and white and brown,and I like to take the steps and go down.Peace is a church.

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by McKeighla Brown The World is a Criminal

Peace is like joyfulness.It’s like being yourselflike the world is an ocean, a library.The world is a criminal,but deep inside it is peaceful.It feels like Heaven,and you want to staybut you can’t becauseit has gone away.

Fear is like anger inside,like someone is hurting you,a person who is evil.

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by Jermaine Chester Peace and Quiet

Peace is cool.It is chillingand quiet.It is loving.It has all colors.

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Dear Sally Sueby Dennis Dunlap

Dear Sally Sue, I’m sorry for pulling a prank on you and it will happen againbecause you fall for anything.Next time it will be funnierbecause you will fall harder.

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by Te’Jai Fawkes Not Sorry

I’m not really sorry because he bite me like a punk and like a dog.

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by Jamar Johnson Fall is Cool

Fall feels like winter, every hue in theleaves is colored. Fall just makes me wishthat I was taller. Fall can be a breezeand you can freeze. Fall is bright soyou can fly a kite.

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The U.S.A. has many places to stay.Alabama to the south, Indiana to the west.To me, not to others, North Carolina’s the best.North and South Dakota, Colorado as well,All states have a different story to tell.Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky,All special places for you and me.Alaska’s flag has stars, California’s a bear,They both have trees, but that’s not all they share.Hawaii had volcanoes, Oregon does not.They’re both in the same country in very different spots.The insurance industry’s been in Connecticut for 200 years,but it still works with the country like springs and gears.In Maine, Mount Katahdin is the first place the sun strikes.It’s a great place for watching, a great place for hikes.The capital of Massachusetts is Boston, right by the bay.If I could visit there, that’s where I would play.In New Hampshire, the top wind speed is 231 miles per hour.If you lived there, wind would be your power.In Rhode Island, the red maple is their tree. The violet is their flower.Throughout Vermont, skiing is everyone’s favorite sport.You can do it often because their summers are short.December 7th, 1787, Delaware was made the very first state.It helped make this country that we did create.Kansas and Nebraska are both in the Great Plains.It’s one other thing that makes them the same.Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, too,Everyday you’ll find something new to do.Oklahoma has twisters, some big, some small.As far as anyone knows, that’s the worst part of all.

by Zoë Eliza Langon-KennedyAll of the States

Texas’s state fish is the Guadalupe Bass.No matter how hard you stare, it’ll never swim past.Idaho, Montana are both in the mountains,Where trees grow faster than water from a fountain.Washington state and Washington, D.C. Have many things for us to see.New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New YorkHave populations growing like a popped cork.Maryland has crabs with Old Bay on themAnd fresh-tasting tomatoes picked right off the stem.The capital of West Virigina is Charleston.I have not been there, so I don’t know if it’s fun.Virginia’s state bird is the cardinal that flaps its wings just so.I visit there sometimes so that’s a place I know.Tennessee and South Carolina have things that are alike.In almost every state you can ride your bike.Georgia’s state tree is the live oak, its flower the Cherokee Rose.Smelling these plants will tickle your nose.Florida, Arkansas, and IllinoisAre home to a lot of girls and boys.Utah and Wyoming have many things to share,But sometimes their heat is more that you can bear.Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.They’re all states. They’re all countries.They’re home to a lot of people.

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Meekby India Lawton

I am meek likea newborn puppy. Iam meek like a newbornpanda. I am very verymeek as you can seek.I would love tohelp that newbornpuppy that is meek sohe won’t be so weak.

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by Kaya Lewis Fall is Here

Fall is here and almost gone.I can’t wait for winter to go all wrong.Snow and rain all day long.All the wind that blows us along.

Fall will come back sometimeAround the end of the year.Now I see it, all so clear.Fall is here, and now it’s gone.

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by Richard Mosly One Sunday Morning

One Sunday morning,a boy like Robin Hoodwould go trick or treatingand see a wolfin an old abandoned cemetery.He sent out flyersfor his wild Halloween party,but he didn’t know he invitedzombies and real wolves.He screamed, tried to runbut couldn’t.They had chained him up.But when one of the zombiessneezed, he noticed their masks.It was his Mom and Dad.No more parties.

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by Aja Paige Peace on Earth

Peace is the earth.It smells fresh and clean.It is fun and full of enjoyment. It’s largeBut looks small from where you are.Peace is the earth. Peace is the earth.It is the earth.

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Chocolate Cupcakeby Sharay Price

Mom,I’m sorry for eating your chocolatecupcake. It was very good.I ate the whole thing.When I was done,you walked in the room. It was like I told on myselfbecause I still had crumbson my mouth. I’m really sorrybut that cupcake was very good.I wish you were thereto help me eat it.

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by Olivia Smith No More Love

Fall is saddening.All the pretty leaves are gone.The Garden of Eden is dried out.Love is dried out.Next year you must harvestLove before it’s all gone.I’m sad.The hue is leaving the leaves.There are no more roses.No more violets. No more daises.No more fruit. No more healthUntil next year.

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by Aaliyah SparksDreams

Dreams are closing your eyes,feel like life and love,look like ponies on a rideor someone chasing youdo not ever give upbecause you never knowif the dreamswill comefor you.That’s why.Dreams are closing your eyes.

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by Ty’Tiona Stockton The Leaf Fan

Fall is night and always fright.The leaf falls down at night is alwaysLike light.

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by Samuel WashingtonMetaphors

Love is a baby.Hate is not like soccer.Peace is freedom.Trust is to understand.Happiness is a pillow.Anger is the sun.

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by Ke’shaun White Dear Mom

Dear Mom,I’m sorryfor hitting mybrother likesomeone on thestreet. But itfelt good thatI got my revenge.

Dear Ke’Shaun,I don’t acceptthat you aresorry becauseyou always talk now leaveme alone soI can eat my chocolate.

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by Kaiya Williams Spring Haikus

Even though Spring has rain,March 16th is my own day.Full of surprises.

But it’s not just me.Dennis, Dalea, Kaya.The combo for March.

It’s not just birthdays.Swimming and fun included.But there’s more to it.

I love the springtime.It’s one of my favorites.But summer is coming. . .

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by Najayah Wood What My Grandfather Says

My grandfather says,Paint me yellow!Cover me with feathers!We’re rich!

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About the Authors

Ta’von Alston is 10 years old and in the 5th grade. Her favorite colors are pink, yelllow, orange, and blue. Her favorite subject is reading. Her favorite place to be is with her family at Port Discovery. Her favorite book is Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.

Laila Bitar likes to play basketball. Her favorite food is her grandmother’s homemade macaroni and cheese, and she loves deviled eggs. Her favorite color is purple. She likes to go to amusement parks. She is from Pennsylvania.

McKeighla Brown is 10 years old and in the 5th grade. She likes to write, read, and mentor people. She is in a group called AID (Angels in Disguise). She likes to eat salad, pizza, macaroni and cheese, and tacos. Her role models are Mrs. O’Keefe and her mom. They encourage her to read and try new things. She wants to be a nurse.

Jermaine Chester likes oranges, but his favorite food is pizza. He plays baseball. His favorite color is red, and his favorite season is summer. The Ravens are his favorite team.

Dennis Dunlap likes football and basketball. He enjoys playing all sports with his friends.

Te’Jai Fawkes was born in 2002 in the Virgin Islands. He enjoys playing basketball and football. He hopes one day he can be a basketball player. He is inspired by Rajon Rondo.

Jamar Johnson likes to eat at Golden Corral. He loves to play football and basketball with his friends. His favorite color is blue. His favorite food is shrimp.

Zoë Eliza Langdon-Kennedy is her full name. She enjoys writing books very much. She has been writing stories since she was 6 years old.

India Lawton is 10 years old. She likes to dance. She is Korean, and her favorite foods are kimchi and kimpop. She likes to model and loves New York City. She would love to back there and go to M&M World.

Kaya Lewis is 11 years old and in the 5th grade. Her favorite colors are purple, turquoise, pink, and green. Her favorite subject is math. Her favorite place is to be with her family and at the St. Paul’s School for the Bridges program. She loves playing with her friends and her dog. Her favorite book is The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow. “I love my dog,” she often says. “His name is Benz. He’s a friendly pit bull.”

Richard Mosly likes to play baseball, soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, and golf.

Aja Paige likes to play outside. She has a cat and a fish. She likes to play games and have fun. She loves her family. When she grows up, she would like to be an actress.

Sharay Price is in the 5th grade. She hopes to one day go to college and become a teacher.

Olivia Smith is in the 5th grade. She wants to be an actress. She’s very dramatic. She loves pets.

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Aaliyah Sparks’s favorite color is purple. She has a dog named Coco. She has two catfish called Pacman and Dummy. She also has three snails, named Old Man Gramps, Old Grandma, and Gary.

Ty’Tiona Stockton loves dogs. She is 11 years old. Her favorite food is pizza. She is an Angel in Disguise – it is her favorite thing in the whole world. Her favorite sport is basketball.

Samuel Washington is a smart kid. He likes animals. He plays football and other sports. He sometimes eats apples.

Ke’shaun White likes football and basketball. His favorite subject is math. He loves different kinds of fruit. He wants to play safety on a football team. His role model is Ed Reed.

Kaiya Williams is 11 years old and in the 5th grade. She loves the color purple. One of her favorite hobbies is dancing. She also goes to the St. Paul’s School for the Bridges program. She feels it’s the best summer camp and afterschool program. If you get to know her, she can be the definition of fun!

Najayah Wood loves dogs. She has a Chihuahua named Cody. Her pit bull’s name is Cayce. She is 11 years old and is also in modeling school. She has two sisters, a stepsister and a brother.

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About Write Brain Kids

Write Brain Kids builds a community of enthusiastic readers and writers in Baltimore City public schools by bringing the literary community into the classroom. Operating currently at Govans Elementary, the program works with fourth- and fifth-graders to explore aspects of creative writing through read-aloud activities, creative journaling, guest visits by local authors, and short- and long-term writing projects.

Over the course of the school year, students in the program become excited about creative writing, and they build confidence in their own ability to write and think creatively. Through Write Brain Kids, a community of readers and writers is born, populated by pupils, teachers, volunteers, and guest writers. Students are encouraged to share their ideas and their work, and they are challenged to write and think in ways that may be new to them. The school year ends with a celebration: teachers, pupils, and their families gather toshare one another’s work. In fourth grade, every participating pupil receives copies of the books read over the course of the academic year, and in fifth grade, participants receive a published book showcasing their own writing.

Conceived in the spring of 2010 by co-founders Jane Delury, Christine Grillo, and Elissa Weissman—all writers and educators—the program launched in the 2010–2011 school year as CityLit Kids. Expanded as Write Brain Kids, the three co-founders, guest teachers, and interns from the University of Baltimore provide the classroom instruction. The co-founders continuously develop and refine the curriculum, and the program is housed within the School of Communications Design at the University of Baltimore.