Like the nation, I have fallen head over heals in love with Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet ever, and a heroine to many young girls just like the ones I teach. All girls, no matter their race, can now dream of being a Vice President someday. As much as I admire Kamala Harris and her accomplishments, the star of Inauguration Day was young Amanda Gorman. I couldn’t wait to present her to my students this week.
We started on Tuesday with her poem “In this Place (An American Lyric)” written for Tracy K. Smith’s inauguration as Poet Laureate in 2017. (This post from the Library of Congress contains the poem and a video from the reading.) As Kaia heard that poem, she was writing. And after class that day, she sent me two more poems. Amanda lit a fire in her, a flame for words.
There’s a poem in this place
after Amanda Gorman
Not here nor there
But there’s no need to look everywhere
tug and pull on my hair
Hoping that this poem, has time to spareThere’s a poem in this place
While i’m in disgrace
Of finding my lyric
That belongs in this placeThere’s a poem in this place
Still not being found
Is it in a dog hound?
No, it weighs more than that one poundThere’s a poem in this place
While the wind is hitting my face
Being withdrawn due to lack of space
Without leaving any sign of a traceThere’s a poem in this place
Kaia, 5th grade
Where could it be?
Wait, I have found it!
It’s in YOU
and ME.
On Thursday, we used Pernille Ripp’s generous gift of a slide show to visit and discuss “The Hill We Climb.” While the message of this poem was powerful, I was drawn to Amanda’s effective word choice, how they sound and how their meanings change with usage. Combinations like just is and justice, arms, harm, and harmony, and tired, tried, and tied. Chloe’s poem below is her good effort to play with word sounds like Amanda.
There’s a poem in sight
Chloe, 5th grade
Too bright
To fight
It takes flight
To the world
of an artist
Who’s never artless
Who just started
to harness
The sharpest words
That bring out
The creativity
With a twist
And a big
Dream to
Feel like
They exist
Reflections on the Teche 
Wonderful to read Kaia finding her rhythm! And these “ar” words from Chloe: Who’s never artless
Who just started
to harness
The sharpest words
Beautiful! xo
Good Morning,
I couldn’t wait until you wrote about Amanda Gorman. She is spectacular and was such a delight to watch her speak. I agree, she was the star of that day. Hopefully, she will be like a star shining the way in the dark for others.
Have a great day,
Sydney
Thanks so much for sharing your students’ poems, Margaret. They are incredible!
What a week for poetry! Thank you, Margaret, for sharing these resources, especially the work of your students. The future is bright, indeed.
Hooray, Kaia! And, whoooo hooo to Chloe! I love seeing these two shine with poetry. Yes, we are inspired. Yes, the flame is lit. Hallelujiah!
Marvelous words from Kala. Now she needs to say it, just as Amanda Gorman did! I imagine it will sound as marvelous! You bring so much knowledge and joy to your students, Margaret!
I have been reading that so many young people have been inspired by Amanda’s electrifying words… my heart sings that their hearts are turning toward poetry. Yes, Kaia – let us each find our own lyric! Yes, Chloe, to an artist never artless, who’s just beginning! Let poetry guide us to healing.
Thank you, Margaret.
It’s such a delight to read these poems and see the impact of Amanda Gorman’s word and your teaching. So impressive! So inspiring! Well done, Kaia and Chloe!
“an artist
Who’s never artless
Who just started
to harness
The sharpest words” — WOW, Chloe!
Kaia, I’m so glad you are finding your lyric and your voice in poetry.
an artist
Who’s never artless
Who just started
to harness
The sharpest words
Chloe, I hear the rhythm, the relentless energy and pounding of those lines and those ar sounds. Fabulous!
Kaia, I extra loved:
There’s a poem in this place
While the wind is hitting my face
Being withdrawn due to lack of space
Without leaving any sign of a trace
I don’t know exactly what YOUR thoughts were as you wrote this, but it reminded me to welcome the poems, to make space for them. If we don’t, they disappear.
Thank you for sharing these two inspiring poems, Margaret!
Laura, thanks so much for your personal responses. They will mean so much to these girls.
Oh wow! Both of these poems are a delight.
Wow, such an incredible response from Chloe! Thank you so much for sharing how students were so impacted by the powerful words of Amanda Gorman.
Brava to the girls for using Amanda’s poem to stir inspiration and find their words. Both poems reflect an art of choosing the right word to convey meaning. From Chloe:
To the world
of an artist
Who’s never artless
From Kaie’s rhyming:
There’s a poem in this place
While the wind is hitting my face
Being withdrawn due to lack of space
Without leaving any sign of a trace
I love when you share your student’s work. These two young poets really get it. I know they enjoyed putting their words on the page in your class.
Stunning.
To Chloe and Kaia
who take us low then higher
To Kaia and Chloe
who array the waking poem
of voices loud and quiet
of powers asking why it
is, why it was, why it can
no longer be, what it can become
To two girls and their teacher
showing how we can be each
a stream a hill a fountain
of fresh flight, fresh wind.
Begin.
I love what your students did with the inspiration! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
It’s one thing to capture a moment in time and history, it’s another to lift up and inspire so many. Thanks to your fifth grade poetry stars for being the light.
[…] poems from my two fifth grade girls who responded to Amanda Gorman’s powerful words with their own poems. Their poetry prowess has not stopped. On Thursday, Kaia announced that she had written another […]