Teaching Poetry to 3rd Graders

by Gary Short

At recess a boy ran to me
with a pink rubber ball and asked
if I would kick it to him. He handed me the ball,
then turned and ran
and ran and ran, not turning back
until he was far out in the field.
I wasn't sure I could kick the ball
that far. But I tried,
launching a perfect and lucky kick.
The ball sailed in a beautiful arc
about eight stories high,
landed within a few feet of the the 3rd grader
and took a big bounce off the hard playground dirt.
Pleased, I turned to enter the school building.
And then (I don't know where they came from
so quickly) I heard a rumbling behind me
full tilt. They were carrying pink balls and yellow balls
of different sizes, black and white checkered
soccer balls. They wanted to to kick for them.
And now this is a ritual—this is how we spend recess.
They stand in line, hand me the ball and run.
The balls rise like planets
and the 3rd graders
circle dizzily beneath the falling sky,
their arms outstretched

*

In class the kids are making similes and I write them
on the board as they call out—
A river swishing like a horse's tail.
Smooth as a window, quiet as pain.
The rain clattering like a spilled jar of marbles.
Then a wave of laughter sweeps the room.
My hair is standing straight up
as if I'm a shocked cartoon character
or a scared and cornered cat.
When I write on the chalkboard,
blue sparks fly from my hand
to the metal strip that frames the green.
Everything I touch crackles.
When I help a student at her desk,
a yellow four-inch arc of lightning streaks
from my hand to hers, shocking the pencil from her grip.
The students watch amazed. "Pick up the pencil!" I say,
"Don't be afraid."

*

(A note found on the playground
pinned by wind against the chain-link fence)

From: Daniel A.
To: Meesha

In case you guest
 I love you    it is a present
   to see you. 
          When I dreem. 
   I dreem you      Not gold
   not a cristal pond  not a bird
     singing evry song
           you ever herd  jus you
				   Only.      None else

Because I love you
		and love to say your name
	  I saw you
	     and remem ber this
	     Thanks you for a dreem

		  Who?   can take
			 Your plase

 

---

Back to Great Basin Web