School Poetry Workshops: A Second Helping of Food Poems

Last weekend, I visited my home state for NerdCampNJ. (Hey, Jersey! Looking good.) There's no better way to spend a rainy Saturday than surrounded by educators, authors, and super readers.One of the highlights of my day was co-leading a workshop: Building Literacy with Poetry and Books in Verse. You can find notes from the workshop here.I met two wonderful poet/authors.Beth Ain's new verse novel is IZZY KLINE HAS BUTTERFLIES. It's a great book for kids who enjoyed reading THE LAST FIFTH GRADE. It has an upper elementary school setting and an inviting voice. Izzy is working through real life problems with humor and thoughtfulness. (Beth has a very cool writing activity that supports developing emotional intelligence. There's more info at her Instagram account.)Emma Otheguy's debut picture book in verse is MARTI'S SONG FOR FREEDOM a biography of poet and activist José Martí. You can read more about Emma's book here. I'm a huge fan of picture book biographies and this book is gorgeous. The story is told in Spanish/English poems by historian Otheguy.I still had a taste for food poems, since my Northfield 3rd Grade poets described their favorite delicacies so well. That's why, for my part of the NerdCampNJ workshop, I walked teachers through the Mystery Food exercise (find it here) and shared the mentor text, "Good Hotdogs," by Sandra Cisneros.Thanks to the Northfield 3rd grade team and families for giving me permission to share students’ food poems with our Poetry Friday community. Let's read more poems focusing on using imagery of the five senses.  Kelly's poem is filled with tactile details about chocolate.Poet: Kelly J.ChocolateBrown and smoothComes in different tasty flavorsWith sweet smellsAnd chewy soundsIt’s crunchy and juicyWith it mostly hardSometimes there are bumpsSometimes there are cracksThey don’t taste as deliciousIf they are all melted.The milky bites in my mouthRemind me of cakeChocolate cake isCreamy andAll mushy. Can you hear the rhythm and near-rhymes that Benjamin plays with in this fun poem?Poet: Benjamin W.Bubble GumStretchy fun blow a bubbleWhen it pops blow againLost its taste get anotherRan out buy anotherAny kind, get some colorCrank it up, taste the sugarAdd some mint, make it smell goodHear the sound when it popsChange the color, blue green pink I like the pet cameo at the end of Zola's poem about chocolate.Poet: Zola G.ChocolateOn the shelf at Aldi’sMilk chocolateJust waiting to beBought.After my dinner ofPotatoes, broccoli, and sausage,I ask the sometimesDevastating question“Can I have a chocolate bar?”“Yes, of course. YouAte real good.”I run over to our candy cupboardWhich some people thinkLooks like Mr. Willy Wonka’sFactory!I grab my chocolate andSit down to eat.The sweet, creamy tasteIs awesome on my tongue.Gnocchi looks up at me andThen the chocolate.It’s poison for dogs!I won’t give her any! All for me. Annchi's poem tells a whole story. Have you ever gone fishing for your dinner? I have.Poet: Annchi L.Fried FishA rock aroundOn the bank, I sitOnly me and DadMy hand holds a fishing poleThe bait is worms.I can feel the worms squirm in my handAs I put them on the hook.Holding the fishing pole I swing my armPlop!I sit there waiting, talking with my dadSuddenly, something pulls and tugs.I pull the string with all my mightBeads of sweat doll downThere I battle with the fishLike playing tug-of-war with my friendsMy dad helps, with one tugThe fish gives up.Two against one.I bolted back to home.My mother fried it,Sizzling in the pan,I gobbled it up, a meaty flavorI spit out all the prickly thingsAt my brother.I run back to the bank, wanting for more! Isabella's poem had me drooling.Poet: Isabella H.Chocolate Peach CrêpeIn Canada, we go snow tubing.Me, my cousins, grandparents, Mom, and Dad.Afterwards, we eat the perfect FrenchDelight. Cling, cling, go the coins. I watchThe baker place the batter on the pan.She spreads it flat and talks to us.She plops on the big, juicy peaches,Drizzles on the chocolate, scoops onThe ice cream, and rolls it up. When I seeThe plate, it is white and plain…Until she adds the crêpe. It’s thin,Soft and creamy. Oops. It’s gone.I gobbled it down. I like the way that Nieve listened closely to the mentor text and incorporated ideas  from "Good Hotdogs" into this poem.Poet: Nieve T.PizzaCheesy golden brown saucyTwo dollars for a pieceWe arrive to the shopCheesy, crunchCrust is golden brown“Crunch, crunch, crunch”Smells like olives and cheeseGrease dripping downI humWe drive home.I save none for my sisterGolden brown crust.Yum! That pizza was so good. Max and I had a good chat about our favorite hamentashen flavors. This cookie is a traditional Jewish food, enjoyed during the spring festival of Purim. Haman is the villain in the story of Esther, which is retold and acted out at Purim celebrations.Poet: Max S.HamentashenFlatten that doughCircled outPut some Nutella in the circleFolded into a triangleHardened and heatedYummy cookie and Nutella!We eat Haman’s hat.Bad Haman.Smooth brown NutellaIn Haman’s hat. This is another poem with great energy. Kali shares the anticipation of waiting for a favorite food.Poet: Kali L.Papa’s Special Pasta!Every summerOnce a yearSaucy, sweetRed sauceBoiling waterCome, come onEveryone it’s hereI can smell itCome onFive people hereWaiting on twoCome on ComeonOur last workshop at Northfield will be persona poems. Look for those next week.Check out the previous posts in this School Poetry Workshop series:School Poetry Workshop: Haiku Hike, May 12, 2017School Poetry Workshop: Food and the Five Senses, May 19, 2017