Pablo Neruda was the master at writing odes, skinny poems of praise that would go on and on, metaphor after metaphor, describing the most ordinary thing. With my student Chloe, we read Neruda’s Ode to My Socks. We discussed metaphor. Then I asked her to write a skinny ode about something she cares about. Gymnastics came to mind right away. She made the connection between the uneven bars and a tree, and off she went.
Ode to the Uneven Bars
A high twig
it holds me. I’m
a feather.
Cartwheels
on air
that bring
me higher,
my hands
are explorers
that discovered
a path
to the
wonderful
world of
magic.I hold up
Chloe, 5th grade
my invisible
hands
that reach
from island
to island.
My hands
are telescopes
that help me
see the world.
My arms
wrapping
around trees,
my hands
out of
control
going everywhere.
Suddenly
they fly
high,
higher than
the trees
that wait
for me.
Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Reflections on the Teche 
Thank you for sharing Chloe’s poem, Margaret. It scores a 10 in my book! I’m amazed and inspired by young poets and how they approach their craft with clear eyes and an open heart. : )
Gorgeous imagery – one feels the exhilaration of flight, of perfect synchronicity. Beautiful job, Chloe (and teacher).
Oh my goodness….wow….blown away…will definitely share this with friends!Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
There is so much I love about this poem! Favorite line:
My hands
are telescopes
that help me
see the world.
Thanks for sharing and please tell Chloe to keep writing – she is awesome!
Ah, “the trees that wait for me” is a lovely ending and I especially love “from island
to island.” This is special that you share so much with your students, Margaret. And thank Chloe, too!
Love! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for sharing! I love these lines:
“my hands
are explorers
that discovered
a path”
It was such a delight to read this ode. Kudos to both student and teacher!
What a fabulous poem… thank you for sharing… and for teaching such a lesson that produces poems like this. Kudos to you!
Oh, my. Chloe has got it! The images and metaphors woven into this poem are pretty amazing! I love the feel of motion in this poem the reaching the finding the wrapping and flying. This poem needs to be entered into a contest!
Chloe gets a perfect 10! Such imagery! Oh the places she’ll go! Thanks for sharing.
Wow – Chloe vaults into poetic stardom with that one! I love it!
Beautiful poetry! And to think you lit a spark in her mind!
Wow, Chloe is a talented writer! Her first line, “a high twig it holds me” hooked me! I love “cartwheels on air that bring me higher” and “suddenly they fly high,
higher than the trees that wait for me.” I love the whole poem and the beautiful imagery! Thank you, for sharing.