long stuff, man.

we chug on through the poetry unit. I've finally finished reading "Julius Caesar" (or should it be Julius Caesar?) and I'm full of ideas for that unit. I'm actually ahead!
Last week, I said I would post the imitation/response poems some of my kids wrote. I lied. I'm doing it today. I'll put the original first, then the kids's versions.

The Red Wheelbarrow (William Carlos Williams)
so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

Oops! (my version)
so much depends
upon

that essay you
started

but stuffed into your
folder

now tattered and
forgotten.

The Hot Pink Socks (Samantha M.)
so much depends
upon

the hot pink
socks

stitched with thread
so hot

beside the lime green
undies.

The Softball (Danielle F.)
so much depends
upon

a softball

lonely on the
softball field

beside the
dugout.

The Street Life (Tory C.)
so much depends
upon

the way of
life

a street life

glazed with money, power,
and respect

beside the killing,

people love the fame that goes with
street life.

The Silver Bracelet (Dean W.)
so much depends
upon

a silver
bracelet

glazed with crush
diamonds

beside the gold
watch.

The Black Car (Peter P.)
so much depends
upon

the black
car

glazed with fresh
paint

beside the confused
cop.

Gold Diaper Bag (Nycolle t.)
so much depends
upon

a gold diaper
bag

glazed with milk, wipes,
and pampers

beside this 6 pound, black, pretty hair
baby.

The Gray Bellybutton Lint (Bryan O.)
nothing at all depends
upon

the gray bellybutton
lint

splashed with spaghetti-o
juice

deep inside your
bellybutton.

Why? (Janae F.)
Why did you choose to write about a red wheelbarrow?
If you was that bored, you should've slept 'til tomorrow
You could've made a cake, a pie or a meal
But noooo! You wanted to write about a red wheelbarrow.
------------------------------

This Is Just to Say (William Carlos Williams)
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

You See, What Happened Was (my version)
I have forgotten
to grade
your journals
that were in your folders

The ones
you wrote this morning
and were waiting
for me to comment on

Forgive me
I thought you wouldn't notice
they were so quickly
jotted down
and finished

Thank You (Tyler P.)
I have eaten
the ice cream
that was in
the icebox

And which
you were probably
saving for
the picnic

Thank you
they were so
creamy
so sweet
and ice cold

This Is Just Something You Might Not Need To Know (Bryan O.)
I have farted
in your face
last night when
you were sleeping

and which
you probably
did not know
you sleep so hard

Forgive me
the timing was
so right
and so sweet

I Didn't Do It (Logan S.)
I didn't eat
the leftovers
in the microwave

I know
that you were going
to take it to work

but Uncle Jeff
probably ate it.

This Is Just To Clay (James D.)
I have eaten
the apples
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for lunch

Forgive me
they were so delicious
so sweet
and so chilly

Response (Cleo A.)
Why did you eat
the plums
there were in
my icebox

in which
I saved for
my
wholesome breakfast

I shall not forgive
you
for you have
ruined my
Raisin Bran

Just To Say (Peter P.)
I have stolen
the car
that was parked
in the garage

The one you
were probably
saving
for you child

Forgive me
it was fast,
too bad that
I crashed.

Dis is Just 2 Say HA! HA! (Dominic C.)
I have eaten
all the fried chicken
that came from KFC

and which
you were probably
saving
for supper.

Don't forgive me
I did it on purpose and
the biscuits
were hot and
fresh.

This Is Just To Say (Christina C.)
I have eaten
the meatloaf
that was in
the icebox

and which
you were
saving
for lunch

forgive me
it was repulsive
I wish I didn't eat it.

How Dare You (Caylan E.)
How dare you eat my plums,
and every lase one!
I hope you get sick off
of everything you won,
you sick fat hot, bragging that way,
about how you ate my plums
early in the day,
I hope they rot in your stomach
and give you gas,
so you'll never eat my food
again, when you think of the past.

You Shouldn't Have Said (Janae F.)
You ate my plums? Oh my, oh my!
I was using them to make my triple plum pie
The ripest in the state
Those were the ones you ate
the other ones are out of date
I put them in a special place
I entered a contest called "Pie, Pie, Pie"
Now I can't compete! Oh my oh my!


Hope you got a kick out of some of these. I have a few more I'll post later for "How Do I Love Thee?" and "After a Death". These kids blew me away with how much they enjoyed doing this and how funny some of them were.