I had the pleasure of meeting my future fifth graders, class of 2007/2008. We talked about some of the things we will be doing during the upcoming school year, including exploring many forms of poetry. Mentioning poetry to children ... well, the most positive of reactions is not always what happens!
I asked my incoming children to list all the reasons why they couldn't write a poem, the more ridiculous, the better! At least one line from each of the lists was included in the poem below. I'm confident their opinions will change, but in the meantime...
Forget it!
You must be kidding!
I'm on the last level of my video game.
It's hard to think.
My dog scratched me this morning.
The fan is on too loud and too fast.
I didn't have pie for dessert last night.
I bit my tongue.
I have flip-flops on.
I don't like to write a lot.
The lightbulb in my head shut off.
Poems aren't fun.
Poems gross me out.
I don't like rhyming words.
I'm too lazy.
I keep on breaking my pencil.
I can't read my writing.
I can't think.
My paper ripped.
Poems are too much work.
I have the flu.
My head hurts.
I don't know any words that rhyme with orange.
I stink at it.
I don't have any ideas.
The FBI called me.
My paper is all wrinkly.
My ankle hurts.
A termite ate half my brain.
I don't want to.
I don't have a brain.
Poems might be boring.
Time's up? Uh Oh!
All we have is this list of really silly excuses.
You like it? Really? No kidding?
When can we write another one?
