in september, linda steffy and i visited kutztown area middle school and talked about the art of asking questions (known by its other name, interviewing) and writing poetry with all of the eighth graders.
since linda's poem is the very last one in my first volume from this project, and it's quite a kicker in terms of the details, we went over it stanza by stanza to identify what stands out in the specifics and thus, also, what leads to good poetry. and it is an extra perk that linda is a retired elementary school teacher, so she even went around at the end of our sessions to help students think of ways to start their own poems expanding on her experience as well as their own reflections about old factory buildings and the lives of those who used to work in them.
below are scenes from the morning of questions, stories, and poetry, followed by some of the poems written by the students after our group discussions. we also hope to hand-craft a book of the students' poems from this particular day to showcase at the school for guests to eye-peruse in the future.
(the poem photographed below is by student Dillon H.)
the poem photographed below is by student Veronica Q.)
Liz F.
Fast ticking springs, clanking bombs
made for Vietnam. Ticking ticking, I hear
the time mechanism
*
Damien D.
Abandoned factories
Boarded windows
*
Kahlil D.
Smoke billows from pillars
Industrial metal cages
dirt streaks the workers
forgotten & abandoned
Used to thrive and dive
*
Alyssa L.
The heat from the super hot sun beats on my
body as I work in the factory building,
bombs minute by minute, earning money for
college so someday I may be a teacher.
*
Sam S.
No McDonald's for lunch
Back then none of these
We should get one
here in Kutztown
After work grab a Big Mac
It will get rid of your hunger
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