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Farrell 2007 - Diversity
Introduction
The following ten poems and podcasts were created by students in Creative Writing and English 11 at Eagle River High School during a recent poetry unit. The original poems we studied were “On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins and “Where I’m From” by GeorgeElla Lyon. The students wrote "shadow poems" in which they either modeled their own poems on the form of the original pieces or they used the general idea as inspiration. Shadow poems have been an excellent medium for all students to access poetry. Included here are samples of ten amazing pieces, full of authentic student voice. Enjoy!
Sonnet Farrell
Shadowed
from George Ella Lyon’s “Where I’m From”
Listen to this article in mp3 format
I am street dreams
From city lights and Kool-aid
I am from the side walks that hug the street
I am from the cross walk
The heavy traffic
Which seemed like it never moved
Like years going by
I am from the fresh peaches and water melon stands
From the lifers and the wasted talents
I am from the dreamers
And the hard working entrepreneurs
From the disciplinary and the sweethearts
I am from the neighborhood crew
With dirty Nikes
And the new Hot Boys cd
I am from the Rosas' and the Clarks
Beans, rice, and lemonade
From the scar on my calf
To the crack in my mother's tooth
On my wall are pictures
Remembering old times
Seeing the Hawks get beat
I am from this city
The city where the license plates say "Always on my mind"
I am Santiago. I am sixteen years old and attend Eagle River High School. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball and working at Wendy’s. When I grow up, I would like to be like Mike.
On Her Leaving
A shadow poem of “On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins
Listen to this article in mp3 format
The whole idea of it makes me feel
like an airplane trip gone on too long,
worse than being stuck with the middle seat
or having to go but not wanting
to wake the person blocking the way-
An increased pressure in the spirit,
a nausea of the heart,
a horrible meal for the soul.
You tell me it is too early to be looking back,
but that is because you did not know
the never-ending moments in the summer
and the abruptness of those in the last couple weeks of autumn.
but I can lie in bed and remember every one of these moments.
In July we were camping in Seward.
we spent the night watching the explosions of color
under the midnight sky.
In August we were cliff jumping, September: movie-going.
But now I am mostly in my bed,
watching horrible amounts of TV.
Back then the light never flickered so solemnly
against the couch where we enjoyed countless movies,
and my scrabble board never looked so lifeless
as it does today,
the half-remaining words drooping off the board.
That is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself,
as I walk alone through her neighborhood.
it is time to stop dreading the long weeks ahead,
time to extend other parts of my life.
It seems only yesterday I used to believe
She was not really going.
If summer ended she would still be there.
But now as I crunch through the fallen leaves,
I do it alone, for she is gone.
Lane Gray grew up in Eagle River before moving to Cordova Alaska. In his junior year he moved back to Eagle River where he currently resides. He enjoys sports, fishing, and anything outdoors.
On Teaching Writing
Shadowed from Billy Collin’s “On Turning Ten”
Listen to this article in mp3 format
The whole concept of it makes me feel
like I’ve been given a job manual with missing pages
a course overview without the step-by-step illustration.
I keep searching for a method that will work for all students
A silver bullet for writing instruction
A safety net for the kids who is afraid to write.
A workshop style that includes every writer.
They say kids nowadays can’t write.
that teenagers are too busy playing video games
But that is because they don’t see the kids in my third hour
a diverse group of learners from all different
states and homes and military bases.
They don’t see them take chances in their writing,
expose their vulnerabilities on paper,
and read them aloud to the a class of once strangers
These kids remind me of how I felt
not so long ago with a pen in my hand --
like I had the words to change the world.
They are teaching me the lesson.
“Where’s your poem?” they ask
“Don’t be a hypocrite – write,” they say.
This is the beginning of a renewal, I tell myself,
this will be the month that I start writing again,
the day that I can stop grieving her death
and celebrate her life with words.
I find a blank sheet of paper beneath
the stacks of papers to be graded,
essays to remain un-graded for another day.
It is time to say goodbye to excuses
and publish the next piece.
It seems only yesterday that I assigned
this piece of writing to my third hour kids:
to write a poem about life’s shifts,
and now I am beginning my own.
Now when I pick up my pen again,
The words are there. I write.
Childhood Run-through
Inspired by George Ella Lyon’s “Where I’m From”
Listen to this article in mp3 format
I am from band-aids
From Neosporin and hydrogen peroxide
I am from the kimchi being created in the red bowl
(Strong, smelly
it looked like a parasite.)
I am from the Barbie Jeep,
The dream house
Whose Barbies were the epitome
Of beauty to me.
I am from the black and white ball
From the nets and referees.
I’m from the influencers
From Bill and Kyung,
From the “tsk tsk” and “Where’s Muscle Beach?”
I’m from the teacher who talked about life
The death of family and familiarity
Written with a pencil converting to a nub.
I’m from Laura’s piano,
Composed music and loud metronome.
From the frog whose eye I blinded
As a child
To my sister’s wrist that I thought I healed.
In my mind there is a compartment
Floating with memories,
Of regrets and pride
That I still hide for strange reasons.
I am from reality and dreams
That don’t allow me to choose which
For then it wouldn’t be called life.
My name is Brooke, and I go to Eagle River High School. I hope to go to college and study liberal arts.
Where I’m
From
Shadowed from George Ella Lyon’s “Where I’m From”
Listen to this article in mp3 format
I am from hot summer days
From Double Dutch and Kickball
I am from red stains on my play clothes
(caked in and very hard to wash out)
I am from the switch tree and the tears I cried on my way to it
I am from bibles and choirs,
From Spongebob and Patrick
I’m from the people that I love,
And the people who love me
From the no mercy, but all fun and games philosophy
I’m from the home of neckbones, black eyed peas, turnips, and collard
greens
With a side of macaroni and cheese and a coke to wash it down.
I’m from Vernita and Ronald Henry’s love for each other
Big Bols and Sunflower Seeds
From the knee my daddy hurt playing football,
From the belly my mother protected when a stranger came upon our home
Next to my bed was a dresser, a nail sticking out from it,
to forever scar underneath my lip
To leave with me a memory I’d never forget
Not only this moment, but the many moments I’ve had since that time
The life I Live which is the life I Love.
My name is Ronitia. I’m 16 years old and I’m a junior at Eagle River High School. I enjoy reading, playing basketball, singing, and running track. I also enjoy writing poems and songs. I hope to be an actress in the near future so look out for me on the big screen.
Freedom
(Inspired by George Ella Lyon’s “Where I’m From”)
Listen to this article in mp3 format
I am from freedom,
from gain and loss.
I am from the fabric of symbol
(red and white, five-pointed islands engulfed in a blue blanket)
I am from death,
from the lives of those who gave them,
unselfishly for the purpose of my being
I am from Sam,
from that colorful top hat, to the gleaming eyes of an uncle,
to that cold fixed finger, because I am the one he wants.
From honor, and pride,
From liberty, and freedom,
and the duty I have to god and country.
I am from a land of tranquility,
from a scene where time has no meaning,
and the sound of peace is heard even when you aren’t listening.
From an intense sphere of light,
to a gloomy enclosure,
as fast as a blink of both eyes.
Where the mounds of earth rise above and beyond themselves,
to the point where they scrape the waterless blue ocean.
I am from life, from peace,
from respect, and from freedom.
I am from America,
from Alaska.
I am from home.
My name is Nick. I am 16 years old and currently attend Eagle River High School in Eagle River, Alaska. I like to hunt and fish and go outdoors, as well as hang out with friends and play soccer. I hope to attend the United States Air Force Academy and fly fighter aircraft in the U.S.A.F. for a career.
On Turning Sixteen
Shadowed from Billy Collins
Listen to this article in mp3 format
The whole idea of it makes me feel
like I have finally cracked the code
which will give me the magic key to the great door
of unlocking the mysteries of adulthood,
a very hush-hush secret
a soothing reassurance.
They tell me that it is too early to be looking back,
which is all too untrue for their memory must be lapsed
of the faultless era of being fourteen
and the anxious era of turning fifteen.
In Elementary School we are still learning,
In Junior High we are a bit hasty,
but in High School we are invincible.
But now I have opened the door,
having taken a peek inside.
Back then it never felt so glorious
that all I could ever hope for in maturity
was finally mine through one birthday and some candles,
candles that had an eternal glow, a lasting impression,
which made it even harder to put them out.
This is the beginning of my ascension,
as I store my memories behind that last door,
those precious memories of times I loved.
Finally it is time to close the door and acquire a new key,
one to a brand new door full of secrets.
It seems like it was yesterday that I thought
there was no boundary to the regions of my immaturity,
for no cage could withhold my spirits.
But now as I fly through the maps of life,
my wings are sheared. I am grounded.
Alaska
Shadowed from “On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins
Listen to this article in mp3 format
The whole idea of it makes feel
Like a present I got
Something that will change my life
A decision that excites me
A part of my future
Which will comes soon
It is too early to look back
Now I am only at the beginning
I will enjoy every moment
Of my whole exchange year
It is not easy to learn
All about a foreign culture
Alaska is so beautiful
And sometimes really strange for me
The people are different
And nice to me
I can’t wait to see
More places
More nature
More people
Here in the country
Where you find unbelievable distances
It is not always easy
Sometimes really hard
But every day is a part
Of my Alaska-Adventure
My name is Arthur, and I am a sixteen-years-old exchange student from Germany. This year I am attending Eagle River High School to have lots of new experiences. My hobby is playing the guitar.
On Turning 18
Shadowed from Billy Collins “On Turning Ten”
Listen to this article in mp3 format
The whole idea of it makes me feel
Like I'm waking up for the first time
Something better than any dream
Waking up in the warm sun after winter
Like slivers of knowledge in through the curtains
A rooster crowing for your mind
Smelling the rich coffee of life
Although we're told to put the past behind us
Memories are what keep me going
Memories of being young
And troubled times not knowing what to think
But I can lie in the dewy grass and remember every high point
Moving my room downstairs
I could finally separate from childhood
And grow into my self and my spirit
Writing the way I wanted, dressing the way I felt
Even now I am mostly at my computer
Writing of life and being alive
It never meant so much to me
Listening to old bands on my iTunes
My television staring blankly at me
From across the room
No longer preaching to my teddy bears
This is the first step into reality
Pushing through life with my mind on my sleeve
Its time to leave rumors and ignorance in the dust
Time to be human
It seems like yesterday I used to believe
There was only the greatest knowledge in my head
That I knew all there was to know
But now when I wake up after those cold nights
I see that I still have much to learn
I'm Heather, a 17 year old senior at ERHS. I go downtown and to concerts a lot to have interesting things to write about. I also love reading daily.
I Am From…
Inspired by GeorgeElla Lyon’s “Where I’m From”
Listen to this article in mp3 format
I am from the shocking sound of that awakens me from my peaceful dream.
From small, furry Dexter jumping after a glimpse of the leash in my hand.
I am from the new understanding and over heard word vain.
From dreams of success which inspires me to get through the day.
I am from “ be all that you can be”
From camouflage uniforms and shiny black boots.
I am from “YES SIR and NO MA’AM”
From the reminder “knowledge is power”
I am from the suffering of ear popping.
From the hills of North Carolina to the mountains of Germany and Alaska.
I am the standing tall water tanks with army installation tags.
From the instant overpowering feeling of Atlanta city fun.
I am from the noise of car hunks in Atlanta to the great peace of Eagle River.
I am from Hawkins and Crump’s
From the pleasing taste of Syrup, cinnamon, and butter of Mema’s hot
candy yams.
I am from the smokes of barbecues on hot summer day.
From Myrtle Beach silky sand and waves going through my feet and all stresses
break away by each breath.
I am from joy of new lives and the sorrow of lost lives.
From the Happy Birthday song on April 7 to the tears dropped on July 7, 2003
I am from lessons learned.
From my past captured on film and photos.
This is what makes me Dominico R. C.
Dominico is a junior attending Eagle River High. In his spare time, he likes to draw, write, watch football games, shop, and go to the movies with friends.