Poems Using Colors & Spanish Words

Room 205
Mrs. Miramontes’ Class

Summer
Karina A.

Summer, summer
bright and yellow

swimming in pools
sun shining down
on green grass

la niña swimming
in blue agua!
All grass sacate!

Untitled
Thalia C.

In the woods
green hojas
falling from the azul sky.
clara agua esa azul también,
flowing down the stream
swiftly swimming away
into the unknown
not knowing where it is

Colors of the Wind
Cindy G.

The days go by
i stay staring
at the meadow
the wind rushing
through my face
i see the beautiful
colors: orange, yellow,
pink, red, blue, so many
you can’t imagine
jumping through
the meadow, aromas
de las flores
so beautiful
the smell like
honeysuckle. just thinking
of the meadow, of the
colors of the wind.

Untitled
Jose P.

Sky so blue up above
running through the flowers.

The bright stars
talking and sparkling

“Que bonitas” my grandma says
flying and dancing up above

so cold and lonely, and black
no breathing, no puedes escapar.

Room 206
Ms. Hardison’s Class

Kevin E.

The sky filled with color
The sky full of azul
How can these compare
to bridges?
that shine above grass
and under el cielo
with it will come a
tormenta
which will be moved
away by the sun
that’s how a rainbow would
shine.

Untitled
Cristian G.

road, road
quiet and bold

The woman with the shiny orange cloak
walking about the lonely road
seeking an orange tree
Two tall muscular men
fighting to impress the girl
“Come to Mexico, D. F. señorita”
The girl still walks about
The yellow sun
Making her cloak so bright
The green trees
Blowing the air
Two handsome men
Riding a beautiful car
driving to impress the girl
“Come to Guadalajara, Mamasita”
The girl still walks about
She reaches a nice blue pond
ripped men swimming
trying to impress the girl
“Come to Monterrey, niña”
The girl still walks about
Finally she finds the orange tree

“Midnight…lasting”
Lisbeth M.

The teal glistening water, dark raven red sun,
the soft peach sand going through my hands
The breezy wind hits my face.
I lay on my back with sand sliding place to place
Por un momento todo esta en paz.
The white seagulls fly, showing their baby where
and when to use their wings.
blue, orange, yellow fishes.
People stop swings, sandals stop floppin.’
They say time helps heal the pain,
but not for me.
A midnight rest by the ocean
helps my sorrow, for I know this will end tomorrow.

Summer Days!
Victoria V.

The brown sand running through my fingers,
the kids swimming in the lake,
the water is a mix of azul con verde,
El lago.
My red umbrella covering the
sun’s yellow glow.
The sky, so beautiful and unique
makes me want to
stay here all day
El lago!

Room 207
Mr. DiPrima’s Class

Summer
Amanda A.

Summer, it’s on its way.
Summer, a time for dry and green.
Summer, pretty pink dresses.
Summer, red beautiful roses.
Summer, a yellow hot sun.
Summer, blue shallow agua.
Summer, independent and away.
Verano, greatest season ever.

Monica A.

Un Sueño

Es como un sueño,
All those tall green trees,
keeping you cool and calm,
it’s like a dream.
Es como un sueño,
the light blue skies,
soft clouds,
and the warm winds.
Y no olviden el bronce sol.
It’s like a dream,
all those red roses,
and the great smell they bring,
the silver moon at night,
those twinkling stars,
it’s like a dream,
es como un sueño.

Confused
Rebecca C.

I hate him but
want to forgive him
he was my best friend
he made me smile,
and laugh now,
all I want to do is
cry and lie
I think I cry
and wish t odie
confused is the
word people use
and is what I am
I’m confused in
who to trust
1 person can mess
your life up and that
is what he did to me
confused is the
beginning
sadness is the end…

confused
and
accused



The Strange
Xylina D.

A beautiful place
With sand and grass
Sage brushes passing through
No one around
It is a dream
Nothing but blanco
With a pinch of brown
That nadie can see
Sinking in
My Corazon cojo rising up
Pounding and pounding
Blue is my color and yellow is the sun

El Mar
Ciro F.

Es como un sueño,
el sol brillante y amarillo,
la agua fresca y azul.
At night the bright stars
in the sky,
shining with the bright
white moon in the dark
night.

Nature
Ruben G.

The outdoors is very nice,
the azul sky
the blanco clouds
the verde grass
the rojo birds chirping
a little tune.
This is a very cool nice day.
Little kids are out to play.
I don’t want this day to go
away. I don’t want a black
sky. I don’t want this
day to fly by.
I want to have this nice
day with a beautiful sky.


Outside
Miguel H.

The tree is verde.
It’s not dead; the
wind is just blowing
the leaves. The nice
green leaves blowing
away. I see the
kids playing outside,
kids riding their
bikes, people walking
their dogs. It’s a beautiful
day. I wish every day
was like this.

Becoming an Object... (Dramatic Monologues)

Working alone, each student chose to "become" an ordinary object.

Jane Addams, Room 205
Beatriz G.

I see pizza, pasta, and lasagna.
I see men and women dressed up fancy and elegant.
I see busboys and waiters as well.
I am white and folded.
I lie down, just waiting to be used.
I smell clean and fresh.
I also see others that look
just like me.
I will wait and wait, until I am used.
Here comes the day!

Title: I am… an Unused Restaurant Napkin
********************************
Jose P.

I wake up as I’m raised.
I see books around and
also paper.
As I’m taken, I feel like
I’m in control of someone.
I can take the pressure they
put on me.
I do curls and circles without
stopping.
My enemy is a pencil, but I
always win, except in math.
In case you’re looking
for me, I live in a black pouch,
and I’m long, black and
red.
My cap is sometimes chewed on,
but I don’t care.
After I’m done doing my job,
I go back to my pouch
and go to sleep.

Title: I am a pen.
********************************
Niko B.

I am an Xbox 360 who
gets my daily play. I am
used for entertainment. I feel pretty
happy because playing me keeps
me alive. I wait for my
user to come home
from school. I open. I make
the sound of beauty, Gametime.
I live inside my user’s
room on his giant black entertainment center.
I have lots of friends.
My first friend is TV, he’s big! My second
friend is Surround Sound. He’s loud.
My last but best friend, DVD.
He plays movies, and I can play
games, hold songs, play movies and
much more! I am an Xbox 360.

title: I am an Xbox 360
********************************
Acionit L.

I write all day
I write in handwriting,
and when I write in handwriting,
I feel that I am falling.
I live in a bookbag.
My friends are pencil, and books
I am blue.
I see all kids.

title: I am a pen
********************************
Christian L.

I’m a tiger and I want to be one!
Tigers are fast, brave,
and tough. They are
ferocious animals.
They are cool animals.
I hunt and eat many
animals. And I like the phrase
“The Eye of the Tiger!”
I am orange and
black, with stripes. I’ve got fur
and sharp claws.

title: I am a Tiger
********************************
Glafira G.

I only see ground,
ants, and rocks all around.
I never see the daylight.
My owner always covers my sight.
I always feel cold from the outside
and nice and warm in the inside.
I always go up stairs and
down in elevators.
I am always used
for him to go to work.
I am leathery and black
and sometimes gray and dull
because the dirt always gets
on my face.
Sometimes he throws me when
he’s tired or he puts me in a closet.
Although my job is kind of sweet,
not the times when he has stinky feet.

title: I am a shoe
********************************
Thalia C.

Every day I untangle people’s hair.
I see people—all are different,
unlike my family.
I feel and look like a cactus.
Relatives come in all different colors and sizes.
I could be a doll’s comb
or a dog’s comb.
But, I am a human’s comb.
Combs come in ovals, circles, and squares.
I’m feeling prickly like a porcupine
or a puffy puffer fish.

title: Comb
********************************
Jocelyn M.

I’m a rose.
I see everything
that passes me.
I smell more beautiful
than anything else.
I have many
friends, like
lilies, tulips,
and sunflowers.
At night I
go to sleep
and go down to
the dirt
fast asleep.

title: I’m a Rose
********************************
Oscar P.

I’m a black pen
that’s long and fat.
I get used all the
time and I see a lot
of people. I get put in
pockets, pouches, and even
in a mouth. I’m sometimes
on the floor but then I get
picked up. I get to
do this every day, but I’m
used to it. And that’s how I live.
********************************
Victor B

I am a phone
I see people making numbers
My color is gray and black
I am a nextel
my friends are Nextel, Sprint and LG
I can text to people.
I can call people.
I am fat
flipping opening and closing.

title: Phone
********************************
Jessica Q

I see that someone borrowed
me.
I feel myself full of wax.
I am used to scribble on grass
and color the flower petals.
I smell like
seaweed covered in spinach.
I am put in a box and
never used again.

title: I am a green crayon
********************************
Karina A.

I’m a little bored
waiting for people to wake up
playing with buttons on my long neck
I see my friends all day
the DVD, remote and the VCR remote
finally they wake up and use me
of course I’m being clicked on
and people change the channel
while I’m watching my show
click, click, click, click
when they put me down and forget
most of the time they are sitting on me
where am I?
Later they find me and
click, I turn off and go to sleep!

title: I am a remote control
********************************
Cindy G.

I am a cell phone
quite hard to be one,
you know?
I always have to
see inside ears and
some quite disturbing
faces.
I sometimes have
many friends, some times one.
Some ears are
lumpy, some ears
are smooth.
I am a hot pink
Razor, skinny and
thinny. Being a phone
can be hard but
easy at times.

I am a cell phone.

title: I am a cell phone
********************************
Alexis V.

I am nice, my color is pretty nice.
I have numbers if you
flip my screen up. I always
see a person dialing on me,
that person texts. I go everywhere
with the person who bought m.
I come in black and silver. I have
a couple of friends that I see
they always say to my owner that
they like me. I usually see fingers
that text. My friends are
all like me but they’re
different kinds. With different colors.
I am a Sidekick if you
didn’t know.

title: I am a phone
********************************
Yessenia F.

I am a letter that goes
from place to place. I see many buildings.

I am crowded with many
other letters that look the same as me.

I contain a stamp on my
corner. On the stamp,
there is a picture
of the American flag.

When we arrive home, we
are put in a mailbox.

We sit there until someone
arrives home to pick us up.

Sometimes we feel lonely
because no one wants to open us.

We are letters that contain
important information
or a letter from a friend.

I am a letter that will
be open everyday.

title: Letter
********************************
Brenda V.

All day I’m just stepping in the streets or hanging from a chair
when somebody uses me, but when nobody uses me, I’m in the
closet, or under the bed. When I’m passing through the streets,
I usually see flowers, people, other shoes. The other shoes
look different from me with different colors and designs.
My friends are shoelace, and the other shoe, who looks just
like me and is on the other foot. My enemies are the most
scariest things ever, my enemy is a dog. They are scary!
The brand of shoe I am is Nike. I’m black and red. The designs
and the shoelace are red. The rest of me is black. When I pass through
the snow, I make funny marks. The snow is really really cold
though! Wash me either by hand or in the washing machine.
I really enjoy being washed in the washing machine.
Well, that is the life of a shoe!

title: Shoe
********************************
Oliva M.

I am a computer that
every one use
all day.

They use me sometimes
for fun.

Most of the time I am
on the Internet.

People put me in a special
place that matches me.

I am a light gray color.

I have a lot of music inside.

Teenagers use me
to check their myspace.

Then they download
music and pictures.

They put a lot of
pictures in my face.

Even though I don’t
care, I know they
love me.
********************************
Ricardo H.

I am a pen that is permanent. I have a
full belly of ink until a person uses me
all up. I also clip up and down. I have a hard
cover so my belly won’t bust open and squirt all
over. My enemies are 1 object, and that object
is a pencil because he can erase and I can’t.
I also have a surface to put your hand to write,
and it is lumpy like a road going to a rocky mountain.

title: I'm a Pen
********************************
Ericka L. (Room 206)

Oh no. I see
this sharp object coming
toward me. I’m scared.
It draws all over me, but it
writes only on my stripes,
making cart-wheels. It makes
me nervous when those
sharp objects come toward
me. I only get used once
until I get recycled.

title: I am a piece of paper

Similes & Comparisons

The Assignment: Students responded individually to a list inviting them to construct similes and other sorts of comparisons. Every student in class has contributed at least one line here. The results are some wonderful group poems on various topics (such as color, heat and fear). Note: Because these similes and comparisons were constructed in response to a list exercise, I’ve made a few adjustments to punctuation, and removed some of the repeating structures. In some places, line breaks were also added.

The pieces below represent work compiled from the three different classes.

Room 206

on THE MOTION OF AN AIRPLANE…

the airplane rose like a bee
or blue jay. The airplane rose
like a child in a swing. A wild chicken.
The airplane took off like a mighty eagle,
like water evaporating.



On LONELINESS

As lonely as a rose
in a garden of daisies.
As lonely as my dog,
a kid in a time out,
or the dark shadows themselves.

As lonely as a spider
or an old tree with no leaves.



on HEAT

hot as a summer day,
the flames in a campfire
hot as electricity
or a day at the beach.
hot as a flashlight,
a pig’s breath



on FEAR

Fear is like a dark dark room
or darkness itself.
Fear is like not having
a chocolate cookie with milk.



This Week’s Spotlight: Room 205

on WHITE


As white as the snowflakes falling from the sky,
white as a lily, as paper, a wedding dress, white
as a polar bear, mushroom or glacier.
White as the wall, a ship sailing.



on FEAR


Fear is like hot flames rising from the underground,
like a cat scared of a dog. Fear is like the airplane,
high above the ground. Your heart beating fast,
like it’s getting burned. Fear is like a ghost right behind me,
a chicken running without a head.
Fear is like a killer rabbit attacking.



on HEAT


hot as a sun, as the stove making pancakes
hot as fireworks, like a melting ice cream cone
as hot as boiling water, a light bulb, motor car.
hot as a kid with a fever, a desert.

hot as popcorn out of the microwave



on LONELINESS


As lonely as a school with no one in it,
an abandoned house, a stray dog.

As lonely as a dead bird
as lonely as a fly
as lonely as Britney Spears,
a ghost, an owl. A rock by itself
or an empty cell.
As lonely as the Ugly Duckling


on BEING EAGER OR IMPATIENT

as eager as an anteater
impatient as the sun is to rise
as eager as a dog to go outside
impatient as a little kid at a toy store


on FATIGUE (BEING TIRED!)

tired as buffalo, a fat man,
a grandma.

tired as a donkey.



on NERVOUSNESS


as nervous as a president
or a new kid,

as nervous as a new dater
like a patient at the hospital
nervous like a person getting a shot with a needle



on “LOUD”


as loud as thousands of radios
as loud as an elephant
or a baby


on JOY

Joy is like the holidays gathering.
like getting out from school…

like us about to open our Christmas presents!



on the MOTION OF AN AIRPLANE

the airplane rose like a whale jumping,
a hunting bird
a kite, slowly and then fast

the airplane rose like a cheetah catching its prey
like a falcon through wind.
the airplane rose like a witch, a rocking boat, a wave.


TOUCH


as rough as an alligator’s back
as rough as stepping on a seashell
rough as shark skin
rough as the Rocky Mountains
as smooth as a table



GREEN AS SHREK


As blue as the sea when it’s night

blue as sapphires
or Cookie Monster

green as broccoli
as green as a crayon


OTHER FAVORITES


as blue as the night sky
as rough as a bumpy road
as eager as a jumping monkey
as pretty as a watermelon
as smooth as a butter spread
nervous like a shy cat
as green as a venus fly trap

as rough as a tortoise’s back
as quick as a hamster running away
as green as a little leprechaun’s suit

as smooth as ice cream
as blue as the earth
as pretty as Christmas day

The apple is red as the inferno.
Cupcakes are like soft pillows rising in the sky.

Group Animal Poems

Working in small groups, students at Jane Addams Elementary studied various photos of animals from _National Geographic_ and then wrote collaborative animal poems. Here are just a few of the many wonderful poems that resulted from the exercise:

Room 205

Elephant in the Water
Group Poets: Jenevie A., Christian L., Vanessa R.

This elephant’s trunk is big and wrinkly.
Its skin is really bumpy.
The elephant moves around in the water.
It plays in the sand and gets down and dirty.
He likes to be on his knees. He also has long tusks.
Its eyes are as big as big eyeglasses.
Its whole body is wrinkly. His tail is puffy
like Eeyore’s, from Winne-the-Pooh.


The Tortoise
Group Poets: Glafira G., Jessica Z., Olivia M., Brenda V.

I found a tortoise outside
it had a hard shell
dry skin and
its eyes opened wide.

He was just sitting there
doing nothing
just sleeping and eating
but I really didn’t care.

Night came and it was still there
I just wanted it to leave
but he was too fat to walk
so I had to push him outside

I finally pushed it out almost
it was hard work
but it was worth a try
to get that tortoise out of my life.


Untitled
Group Poets: Jose P., Oscar P., Victor B.

The snake is camouflaging
scared to be eaten

Or hunting for food almost in total stillness
mice, rats, or spiders

Blending its scales with the earth
moving his tail to catch the prey.


Untitled
Group Poets: Yessenia F., Jocelyn M., Diana G., Alexis V. and Bianca C.

I found a panda
in the middle of China.
The cub’s fur reminded
me of a small Dalmatian.
The cub reminded me of
a small dog that has come
out of the tub.
The fur soft like a dog’s fur.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Room 206

Bats in the Trees
Group Poets: Anthony R., Gerardo C. and Rodolfo L.

These bats look like rats
that look like leaves
falling off a tree
that go with the breeze. They look like
butterflies all in the same tree.


Untitled
Esteban S., Lisbeth M., Melissa B.

Quieter than a mouse
Small narrow eyes
Vampire-like fangs
Ears that can listen miles away
Scary-looking creature
Deadlier than its looks
South Africa is where it’s found, about 5 pounds?
Eats like a man-eating carnivore
Looks like rat mixed with bear.
Little in size, big on threat
A ferocious Honey Badger.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Week's Spotlight:
Room 207

The Fishing Cat!
Group Poets: Jasmine M., Jeniece D., Miguel H., Monica A.

I didn’t know cats liked water,
but the fishing cat does.
Stalking through the clear
ponds with its gold eyes, watching
its reflection until a fish comes in
sight. Not making a sound, it creeps
up to the water, with its razor
sharp claws, it captures a fish and
chews it with its sharp white teeth.


Goat Poetry
The Goat
Group Poets: Xylina D., Ruben G., Maria A. and Jesus C.

A goat is as soft as cotton
white as a cauliflower,
hiding from Mr. Diprima,
but he doesn’t realize how sharp
his horns are, for protection.
The goat doesn’t realize
he’s a mini cow.
He gives milk.
Again, he’s meat!


Untitled
Group Poets: Amanda A, Alyssa H., Karla M., Tom A. and Ciro F.

It’s Halloween night, the bats escape
coming out from trees like leaves.
Trying to find their next meal
looking down from the sky.
The rain begins to pour
and the bats are our umbrellas.
The bats are changing as part of a new season.


Untitled
Group Poets: Celia M., Karen S., and Michael O.

I saw a monkey at the zoo
The people told me his name was Lue
The monkey’s arm is catching flies
like a frog’s tongue in the sky
The way he swings from tree to tree
amazes me like a dream
Next time I will bring him
banana cream pie


Untitled
Group Poets: Dalila L., Maria R., Roberto S. and Erik R.

A plate of wobbly green jell-o.
The frog is transparent, but not much; like tape
Also like tape, he can stick to a tree
But he is not like tape: water can’t stop him
He has as many freckles as stars in the sky
He’s endangered, he’s losing patience, he’s
scared, “Is there a fly here? Can I eat it?
No! No! I will leave, fly into the trees.”


Honey Badgers
Group Poets: Tiffany R., Alejandra S, Lesly V. and Oscar E.

I saw a Honey Badger.
His teeth as white as snow
and sharp as a razor.
His face mad as could be.
His face full of blood!
Eating his snake.
Guarding his snake and getting full!
Why a Honey Badger?
Is he really as sweet as honey?
Am I next?!

DREAM POEMS

Cindy G.

In my dreams I feel no pain.

In my dreams I see no pain.

In my dreams my tears are tears of joy.

I can fly like a bird
as far as neverland.

I can walk on the ocean
without having to swim.

I see no violence.

I see Spiderman.

In my dreams I can be four.

In my dreams the world will never end.