Concrete poems

This week at Belding, students read e.e. cummings' In Just, and used the poem as a catalyst for discussion of the interaction between poem and page. We talked about reasons cummings might have had for his particular kind of spacing, and about what such deliberate decisions do for a poem. Students were then invited to write their own poems with a focus on spacing of the word and line. Some students chose to write poems in topic-specific shapes, while others maintained a focus on appropriate and relevant spacing.

These poems below do little justice to the careful and intelligent designs made by the students this week, but the texts themselves are, nonetheless, a testament to how far the students' techniques and creativity have come this year.

from Mr. Merrill's class:

by Arnel
(in the shape of a square)

it can make it any shape
it can be anything it can be
a bee or a dog I like squares
because it is a shape of a house

***

by Caleb S.

up
falling


Now I see rain
drops up
falling

falling
and clouds

down.

***

Saturn

by Karim

(in the shape of Saturn)

Space is nothing--
no air
some planets are hot or cold.

***

from Mr. Aivazian's class

***

by Jocelyn
(in the shape of a heart)

I play outside.
I go swimming.
I like movies at night.
I play in the sandbox and build a house.
My doctor gives me shots.

***

Love
by Christopher W
(in the shape of a heart)

My grandma has always loved
us that also take care of us
love is for people that
really special from
all hearts. Some
of my students
has love me
in my
heart
and
friends

***

by Zachary

(in trailing lines across the page)

So you better call all because
spring is crawling right down your back.
So that way I say spring is back
spring is wack that's why I say you better
call all because spring is back, spring is wack.


***

Confusion
by Sasha

(in the shape of a spiral)

When you are confused it is just a matter of time before
you figure out your problem.
Confusion is just a feeling which you are too stunned to figure out.
Confusion is a time, best not to think of too many topics
or you just might end up staying awake all night
staring into the spectacular night sky.
But it is a thrill to figure the problem out.

***

by Katie G.

(in the shape of a bird)

Today is a wonderful day because the birds come out after
a long time in winter. The birds such as the robins, cardinals,
woodpeckers and seagulls came out to play. It's sunny.
I'm glad that spring came! Spring is my favorite season all year long!

***

Ocean

by Jose M

(in the shape of waves)

The ocean moves because the
wind blows on it that's
why it moves it is
windy the cool
breeze it is so cool
when the wind moves
through you and it makes
you cool and fresh when
you go in the ocean
it is cool so cool.