Odes

 We have so much to celebrate, don't we?  Is there a better way to celebrate or praise those we love or admire than in an ode?  As you read our odes, look for the literary devices we used.  Enjoy!

Extended Metaphors

 We read and analyzed the poem "Identity" by Pablo Noboa Polanco.  We love Polanco's use of extended metaphor and imagery in describing how his identity of being strong, free, and hopeful was forged from his own struggles in life.   Here are our own poems using extended metaphor.  Please enjoy!

We Real Cool

 In 1959, Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize, wrote the poem "We Real Cool."  In a few lines that push the traditional concept of structure to its edge, Brooks urges all of us to think about our lives, our circumstances, our choices, and the consequences of our choices.  Using her poem as a frame, we've created our own poems about our own lives, our own circumstances, and our own choices.  

"Harlem" Emulation Poem

 Everyone has a dream for their future.  Langston Hughes wrote a poem entitled "Harlem" to encourage the African Americans who migrated there to not give up on their dreams.  Here are our attempts at emulating his poem for our own.

Our Dreams

 Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."  We will be sharing our dreams with you.  They are many, and they are great.  Can you tell what I dream of doing?  What is your dream?

2021: Year of Resilience and Hope

 

Like Mauna Kea that stands regally over Hilo Bay, we have stood resilient and hopeful in a sea of uncertainty.  In our blog, we will share what we have learned, what we think, and what we can do.  To begin, we have written our first poems on poetry.  See if you can identify the anaphora, imagery, similes, and metaphors in our free verse frame poems.