Poetry and Sophomores

So, for the last term of this school year, I am focusing on poetry with my 10th grade Honors English classes. So far, we have covered the common poetry terms and literary devices, and we have moved on to study the American poets.  Today, we read portions of "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman, and the students are creating their own personal "Song of Myself".  I believe that all students need to see their teachers write and also need examples for their own writing, so I composed my own personal song of myself.  It is below.  I told my students that it is not perfect, but it is at least a start.  Most of them were very sweet, and they told me how much they liked it.  I only hope it serves as a starting point for them, and they are much better writers than I am!

I see their shining, blue eyes,

I see their wide grins and bright smiles

As they play with friends or overcome a difficult task,

I see them as they run and play “tag”,

I see them succeed,

I see their heads droop because they are tired,

I see their eyes close as they fall asleep after a long day.

I hear their giggles as they play with their dad,

I hear their cries when they are frustrated or tired,

I hear their shouts of success when they hit a home run or score a goal at their soccer game,

I hear their angry yells when they are playing together and one of them does something the other doesn’t like, putting a Lego in the wrong place or tickling them when they said to stop,

I hear their call of “Mom!” every five seconds if I do not answer immediately,

I hear their soft, gentle breaths as they drift off to sleep.

I feel their love for me, for their friends, for each other,

I feel their pain from physical hurts,

Or emotional ones, like when they don’t do well in a softball or soccer game,

Or when they don’t want to do their homework because they can’t see the benefits right now,

I feel hope and excitement as they realize what they are truly capable of.

I am their mother.

I am their cheerleader.

I am their coach.

I am their therapist and counselor.
I am their “Mom”.