Time is Elementary

Over the years I've done all kinds of "time" poems. I used to use Alicia Keys time poem, from her collection, "Tears For Waters" but as time as gone on, I now use a general poem by Michelle Hyde "There is a Time to..." as a catalyst for students to write about time in either a free verse or a chant poem format.

Since this is the 18th week of class, I thought I would use the poem to start a conversation about time, how we use time, what is special about time, and other questions that are organically birthed from the conversation and discussion of the time poems.

Ms. Lopata Class (7/8th Grades)

I Had....
by Ryan G.

I had...
a time to run
a time to think
a time to have my mind made up
a time to jolt

a time to scream
a time to plan
a time to scram
a time to waddle away

There Was a Time
by Attallah

There was a time
in my life...when I had a good time.
And played
Talked
and acted silly
But it was the best time
was the only time
I had a GOOD time

There was an other time
when I had these bad times
but I didn't say nothing
the whole day

There is a Day to
by Tyrone H.

There is a Day to...
to go to school
to graduate
to go on with life
to be happy
to marry and..
to die

Back in Time
by David B.

I wish I can go back in time to
change the mistakes I did before.
If I had a time machine I can
stop the awkward moments.
To go back in time to tell my past
self what's going to happen next.

To warn people about their future event
and rent active to their future.
If I can go back in time, I would
save people lives.

Time
by Joseph M.

Infinite...
Time is an infinite thing
that never stops going.
It is a very strange intangeable thing.
Time is a nuetral event that is
not good or bad
Even though it has its ups and downs
and regular normal everydays.
I think time is a thing that goes in
a continual motion
and is what you make it to be.

And my favorite 5/6 Grade Class (Mrs. Johnson's ) -- Room 205 wrote a plethora of poems from the funny, whimsical and strange. Although I felt we might have lost some "time" because of the energy, we didn't and well written poems were birthed in the classes. My favorites were by Mark W. , Harold T. and Tyanna H. The longest poem was written by Monishae M. (8 stanzas/26 lines!)

Time Passes Because
by Mark W.

Time passes because you're having fun.
Time passes because the party has begun.
Time passes because you're playing outside.
Time passes because you're making rhymes.

Time passes because you're making jokes.
Time passes because you're about to choke.
Time passes because you're talking on the phone.
Time passes because you're singing cyclone.

Time passes because you're singing a song.
Time passes because you're not all alone.
Time passes because you're reading a book.
Time passes because you're in school learning.

Time passes...

With My Time
Tyanna H.

With my time, I talk.
With my time, I walk.
With my time, I play.
With my time, I lay.
With my time, I clean.
With my time, I dream.
With my time, I love.
With my time, I care.
With my time, I learn.
With my time, I be concerned.
With my time, I sing.
With my time, I dance.
With my time, I do a lot.
With my time, I shop.
With my time, My time...
My time.

A Fleet of Time
by Malik K.

Time is priceless, it is life.
But some takes it away with a death or a knife.
It goes fast and sometimes you'll think it forever lasts.
Believe it or not, we have a small period of time.
Our bodies will pass over both yours and mine.
So don't put this precious time to waste.
I hold your time and your fate.
A fleet of time!

Rich imagery, fun sayings...and always have something important to say, Mrs. Tomlinson's class all wrote amazing poems that made me smile. I am hoping you will also find something really fun and imaginative to these...

Clock Work
by Kendell B.

Mom, I have to watch Family Guy!!
I have 5 minutes to watch.
It was the Episode 100
Stewie was in George Bush's home.
They were shooting.
I was eating a twinkie.
We ordered some pizza.
It cost $20.
I went to get my hair cut..
I went to get a donut.

This poet wrote 3 different poems! TIARA's pen was on fire and I really appreciated her effort. Here one of her poems.

A Time
By Tiara B.

A time to sing.
A time to dance.
A time to shout.
A time to run.

I remember writing.
I remember learning.
I remember teaching.
I remember myself.

I stop to play.
I stop to work.
I stop to jump rope.
I stop to read books.

I wonder what's the day.
I wonder how was your time.
I wonder tick tock.
I wonder what time it is.

50 Seconds
by Jauron M.

In 50 seconds, I will go get a piece of cake.
In 50 seconds, I will go get a brownie at the Brownie shop.
In 50 seconds it will rain really hard.
In 50 seconds, I will go get a twinkie from the Twinkie Shop.

I hope these were as fun for you to read as it was for me to teach. Take some time to write your own "Time"poem. You might be surprised what comes out of your poetic mind.

Pam Osbey
Artist-In-Residence

Enjoying the Road & Cities!

The wonderful poem, "Knoxville, Tennessee" by Nikki Giovanni served as a lens on the road trip or enjoying great times with family and friends. The poem chronicles Giovanni's summer trip with her family and her love of southern cuisine, barbecues and running bare foot with Giovanni on a mountain in plush, green earth of the south. Yes, it's the road and cities, rich with imagery, foods, wind, and different seasons. I asked students on February 27th to focus on using imagery, food, and good times to reflect on travel poems.

Students wrote a plethora of things and remembered some excellent road trips, visiting different cities, and response poems reflected all of their positive interactions with the earth via planes, trains, and cars!

Story
Juwan C.

I see bugs.
I see the good sun and it smelled good.
I eat a meat burger sandwich.
It tasted good.
The air passed my Dog and Cat.
I went to the ocean.
To Texas.
I went to Washington, DC
And to New York, Mexico, New Mexico
And I went to South America,
Zimbabwe, and it was fun.
I was happy in Russia, Gulf of Mexico,
And Atlantic Appalachian.

New Orleans
Kendell B.

I went to New Orleans on my road trip.
I was eating a gyro.
I saw a dog.
He was with a man.
It was a bull dog.
We climbed on a mountain on my shoes.
I was playing my Game boy in a PSP.

Mississippi
Keora H.

I always like Mississippi best.
My cousin’s Mom cut up cucumbers and put
Them in a bowl and put some salad sauce
On it.
Then we ate it and it was good.
Last time I ate macaroni and spaghetti,
Corn on the cob, and corn bread and greens.
I went to see the cows, pigs, roosters.
I went outside and felt flies on my arms and mosquitoes
Flying around.
Me and my sister was playing and running.
I had fun in Mississippi.

Poem
Ryan G.

I’m in Belize and it’s a hot sunny day.
And the sun is beaming and the sand is between my toes.
So you should come with me.
Come and spend a day on the sunny bay.
So we can have a good ocean spray.
It’s fun in Belize and it’s fun to play.
It’s fun to hang out by the bay.

Travelling
Telethe P.

I always like traveling.
I once went to Washington DC.
It was so beautiful and different, but interesting.
The great big pool I went swimming in.
I almost drowned in 7 feet.
The White House was much bigger in person that on T.V. shows.
I really enjoyed the soul food.
Fried chicken, hot wings with ranch, okra and fries.
I really, really loved the room service.
They were sooo nice.
The beds are so comfortable.
I slept all night.
Not one peep through my sleep.

Mississippi
David B.

I always like warm weather better.
You can eat country food
Such as…
Barbeque
And potato salad
And hot wings
I saw cows,
Horses,
Pigs, sheeps, and corn fields.
And a lot of land.
I went to a lot of parks.
And my family houses
And a forest reserves
And went to a farm.

Where to Go
Malik W.

When I went to Atlanta
The blazing hot air hit my skin
Like a flaming ball of fire
Hitting me.
Also eating greens, cornbread,
Mash potato.
It was so good.
Make you want to slap your mama!

Untitled
Lavontae C.

I’ve always liked New York on a Summer Day.
It might be hot but I have water.
I see big skyscraper.
Big buildings walking down the street
Going to the store.
I have on swimming trunks at the park.

I am eating chips, candy and chicken.
I am eating ice cream.
Jumping up and down I even spinned around.
The sun is beaming on my face.
I loved to play on that hot summer day.

Miami
Terrell B.

I always like summer
Best
Because you can have a water fight.
And eat barbeque.
You can play basketball, football
And baseball.
And you can eat ice cream.
And walk on the beach barefoot.

Week in Mississippi
Dillon P.

Me and my family went to Mississippi.
It took 16 hours.
We went to the Colorado Mountains.
It was the best trip.
It was hot as 32 of my relatives when I
Went.
It was amazing.
On Monday, we went to Red Lobster.