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Open Poetry #7
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I am challenge (my students' poems)
| Open Poetry #7 |
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I am challenge (my students' poems) |
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Tara Simms Senior Member
since 1999-08-12
Posts 1244Honea Path, SC USA 
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When I first saw the "I am" challenge posted by Alicat, I thought it'd be simple. As I wrote mine, I realized how soul revealing it can be. I decided to give this same challenge to my students. For those of you who don't know, I work at a private boarding school for troubled/defiant teens. They have all made unwise decisions in their past. That's what led them to my school. The girls were excited and jumped at the chance to do this challenge. Below are some of their poems (the rest of them are still working on theirs). I am beautiful and intelligent I wonder if I could become a famous singer I hear my heart beat I see my family and friends holding hands I want to feel loved and to love myself I am beautiful and intelligent. I pretend I’m cute like a baby I feel like a little fish in the big ocean I touch the kelp as I swim past I worry about my family at home I cry every time I think of them I am beautiful and intelligent. I understand the bond Between me and my brothers I say I’m tolerant of pain-- Both physically and mentally I dream of being happy in life I try to be myself I hope to someday be happy and loved I am beautiful and intelligent. (c) Nicole I am a failure and impure I wonder what death is like I hear screams from the sky I see bloody rain I want to feel the sweet indecency Of extacy through my body I am a failure and impure. I pretend to be happy I feel excitement When I see vampire movies I touch the soul of hate I cry for the death of my unborn child I am a failure and impure. I understand that no one is perfect I say that death is the way to feel peace I dream about what it would be like Without me alive I try to make myself happy and complete I hope to fall I am a failure and impure. (c) Ashlee I am cold and insecure I wonder why we must die I hear the silence in sound I see faces on the moon I want to be loved I am cold and insecure. I pretend I am a thug I feel the hate in people’s eyes I touch the darkness I worry I am not liked I cry because I have failed them I am cold and insecure. I understand life’s not fair I say everything is going to be all right I dream for a carefree life I try to make everyone happy I hope I can be accepted for who I really am I am cold and insecure. (c) Jamie I am experienced and wise I wonder why that must be I hear my mom asking me where she went wrong I see my past stalking me I want to be free of my self-invented lies I am experienced and wise. I pretend to be what others see I feel my shame with every move I touch the ground I don’t deserve to walk on I worry of what my actions prove I cry in my pain and at the self-pity I realize I am experienced and wise. I understand the pain I’ve caused I say my knowledge has made me strong I dream one day I’ll be good enough for myself I’ve tried to hold it in for so long I hope to accomplish all my mindset denies I am experienced and wise. (c) Malia I am pacific and unique I wonder when I will be home I wonder where that is I hear fear and confusion and hope I see youth fading away I want life without limits I am pacific and unique. I pretend I’m a bird ‘cause a bird’s life is free I feel that life is a black tower Closing in on me I touch reality But only for a moment I worry that I won’t come back I cry when I’m lonely But not always when I’m alone I am pacific and unique. I understand that life is short I say I believe in love I dream about the future I try to stay alive I hope this isn’t the end I am pacific and unique. (c) Megan I am unique and fragile, I wonder about my future, I hear ocean waves, I see you, my loving mother, I want to be home with you, I am unique and fragile. I pretend to be there hugging you, I feel alone without you by my side, I touch your shoulder with my head, I cry about being here, I am unique and fragile. I understand you are scared for me, I say it will be okay, I dream it will be, I try to make it better, I am unique and fragile. *For my loving mother, Kimberly* (c) Nadine I am not powerful and strong I wonder in life what I’ve done wrong I hear nothing ‘cause I’m alone I see all the bad I’ve shown. I want so much to belong I am not powerful and strong. I pretend that I’m okay But I feel inside all dark and gray I touch all that I’ve lost And I worry about the cost I cry when something’s gone I am not powerful and strong. I understand my mistakes I say I’ll do what it takes I dream of doing right I try to put up a fight I hope they sing my song When I am powerful and strong. (c) Pam I am spontaneous and free I wonder if I’m really going to fully change I hear that light bulb click on Whenever I learn something new I see bubbles of happiness after I get a letter from my mom I want to not have any more issues I am spontaneous and free. I pretend to like more people than I really do I feel giggly after a good inside scream I touch the sky whenever I reach for it I worry about my family at home I cry whenever I think about my grandma dying I am spontaneous and free. I understand that life is hard at times But those are the times that define us And give us the character we have I say kill them with kindness and Don’t ever underestimate me I dream about maybe making my Family proud of me one day I try to be nice to everyone I hope to live up to my full potential I am spontaneous and free. (c) Suzanne I am strong and passionate, I wonder how to achieve my goals, I hear the music of laughter, I see a castle in the sky, I want to understand more, I am strong and passionate. I pretend that I am happy, I feel extremely exhausted I touch the hearts of others, I worry about my siblings, I cry when I think of the past, I am strong and passionate. I understand the consequences of my actions, I say what’s on my mind, I dream of being known, I try to make loved ones happy, I hope I can achieve my dreams, I am strong and passionate. (c) Amber I am creative and unique I wonder how my life will turn out I hear the sound of sadness I see the sight of gladness I want to live a happy and joyful life I am creative and unique. I pretend to be perfect I feel the hurt inside I touch my heart all the time I worry about anything I cry because I miss my family I am creative and unique. I understand why I’m here I say there are no accidents I dream about being home I try to change my life around I hope to never fall back into my crap I am creative and unique. (c) Camille |
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| © Copyright 2000 Tara Simms - All Rights Reserved | |||
Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
These are excellent. . . it's great to see that poetry can open new doors and touch hearts like this. . .some of these made my cry. . . commend your students on their fine expression. . . ------------------------------------------------------------- That which gives light must endure burning --Victor Frankl |
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Aimster Member Elite
since 2000-02-19
Posts 4297Charlotte, NC |
--Tara... thank you SO much for posting these here. your students first of all are amazing each and everyone of them. i am so happy to see that they took this assignment to heart and gave it their all. as their teacher, you must be proud.  maybe with things like this in their life (poetry) their will to change, God's love and a fine person like you in their life...they can beat the odds and change their lives for the better. I hope so. Truly touching...gotta go wipe my tears! take care, amy ~Live today as though it were your last but prepare for tomorrow as though it were here~ |
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Tara Simms Senior Member
since 1999-08-12
Posts 1244Honea Path, SC USA |
Sven and Amy, thank you for responding. Most of these girls have never written poetry before. For a first poem, they did AWESOME! Some of these made me cry by the despondence and despair, some made me smile with their hope. Amy, I'm not their teacher, I'm their family representative (basically, I'm the liaison between them and their parents). If anyone has any other self discovery type of challenges out there, send them my way! I'm sure my girls would love to take them on. It matters not how strait the gate; How charged with punishments the scroll; I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. --W.E. Henley |
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Julie Jordan Scott Member
since 1999-09-19
Posts 146Bakersfield, CA USA |
Tara, The eloquence and vivid imagery portrayed by the students is amazing. It reminds me how powerful and magical the art of poetry is for people no matter how experienced or inexperienced they are at writing. I hope you will continue to encourage them to write poetry. I am sure it will touch their hearts, and in the years to come remind them of the path they have traveled. What a privilege to share this with us! Thanks! Julie I am a Life Purpose Coach who specializes in assisting men and women to clarify their Life Purpose and then in turn live true to their purpose. After 5 years working with the Severely Mentally Ill in County Mental Health, I gave up the bureaucracy (and safe, secure blanket) of this environment to pursue my own purpose and passion. |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Tara, I sit here stunned and completely taken by those poems...I literally got a chill reading some of them... thank you for sharing them..but most of all for giving that to them...the discoveries of poetry are life changing...hopefully these students will find release and healing in being able to write. what a wondeful gift to give them... take care, jm |
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First__Knight Senior Member
since 1999-11-08
Posts 678 |
Such wonderful sharing here with us Tara. Thank you for letting us see them as they shared with you. The "I am" statement I feel can be summed up in just this...."Share what you are...for you are what you share." :0 A man does not love a woman because she is beautiful...But she is beautiful because he loves her. |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Tara - I hope your girls are able to read our comments... because it's to them I speak... You girls have done an absolutely wonderful job - You've expressed yourselves beautifully - each and every one of you... Keep writing - keep smiling - keep believing in yourselves.... YOU ARE the best... And you're welcome guests here at Passions...   |
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Tara Simms Senior Member
since 1999-08-12
Posts 1244Honea Path, SC USA |
Everybody, thank you so much for taking the time to read my students' poetry. I know it means a lot to them. Most of the girls have said that they've come to know themselves better by answering this challenge and they all feel they know each other better. These girls are all new to our school/program. Two months ago the majority of them were still at home, doing drugs or engaging in other risky behaviors. These poems have touched my heart, as have they. I plan to give them this challenge again in the future, more than likely, I will do it before they go home. I think they will be amazed at the difference. It matters not how strait the gate; How charged with punishments the scroll; I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. --W.E. Henley |
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