My online classes recently enjoyed a poetry writing lesson. The theme was "Thanksgiving" and the five senses. What are we thankful for in our day-to-day lives that we can see, hear, feel, touch, and smell? Some of my students attempted to rhyme; others just went with the words on paper, not worrying about rhyme. Poetry is meant to be felt, and heard. Read these poems aloud, and enjoy!
Thanksgiving, by Kevin (6th grade)
I am thankful for what my eyes can see,
Every animal, human, sunrise, and tree.
For the dark blue ocean with the little fish,
And the food my mom cooks; each and every dish.
I am thankful for what I can hear,
The laughter of children from the playground I am near,
For the music playing on the radio,
And the music I play on the piano.
I am thankful for what my hands can touch,
For the tanbark in the playground, but not too much,
For basketballs and soccer balls,
And for the giant tree way too tall.
I am thankful for what my nose can smell,
Freshly cooked food coming from the kitchen I know so well.
For the salty scent of the beautiful sea
And for the scent of pine in the forest trees.
I am thankful for what my tongue can taste,
Donuts, sugar, rice, and toothpaste
For the food my mom cooks every day,
And for the food she gets from restaurants. Yay!
Thanksgiving, by Claire (6th grade)
Thank you for all that I can see
Clear blue skies and
Swaying trees
The dances of the dandelions
The buzzing of bees
Thank you for all that I can hear
The trickle of a gentle stream
Thuds of falling rain
Soft pads of neighborhood cats
Moans of the swishing wind’s pain
Thank you for all that I can feel
The warmth of sun’s rays against my skin
Roughness of playground bark
The crunch of leaves beneath my feet
How love can light the dark
Thank you for all that I can smell
The scent of air before a storm
The humid atmosphere
Stench of smoke left over from fires
Sweat of volunteers
Thank you for all that I can taste
Lusciousness of bright red strawberries
Ripeness of fresh-picked pears
A mug of steaming hot apple cider
Sweetness of gummy bears
Thanksgiving, by Jessie (4th grade)
I am thankful for my sight, and for reading good book,
the beautiful flowers, and their good looks
I am thankful for being able to hear calm soothing voices ,
the sound of cheerful piano music and the rustle of nature noises.
I am thankful for my touch, like smooth cold surfaces,
flowy straight long unbraided hair,
touch of nature, and the clothes we wear.
I am thankful for my smell, like fragrant roses, soup on the stove,
and the smell of tree groves.
I am thankful for my taste, like my grandma’s chicken soup,
plain, but fresh water, warm milk, soft fruit,
a healthy salad made with some shallot.
Gratefulness
By Vivian (4th grade)
I am grateful for the things I can see-
The blue sky, stretching across the horizon,
The soft fluffy clouds, imitating cotton candy,
Leaves, blowing and rustling in the wind.
I am grateful for the things I can hear-
The eerie howl of a calm wolf,
The quiet buzz and hum of a busy bee,
The wind whistling through the dense trees.
I am grateful for the things I can feel-
The silky fur of playful puppies,
The slight breeze changing directions,
The fragile petals of a blooming rose.
I am grateful for the things I can smell-
The tropical scent of a remote rainforest,
The aroma of a sweet meadow,
The smell of earthy, rich soil.
I am grateful for the things I can taste-
Fresh air entering my lungs,
Sweet fruit juices squeezed by hand,
The delicious flavor of holiday dishes.
I am grateful for many things.
