Poems from the 4/7/10 Writing Workshop with
Naomi Shihab Nye
#1 Alison McIntire:
These are the days when pigs will fly
something unexpected
something different
The world has changed
People have changed
I have not changed to be someone I am not.
But the small girl doesn't understand, she
can't hear
her words are gone
she is gone
She wants to be noticed
thought of by other kids
When pigs fly she will be seen
the time is now
come out from the shadow
let you skin be touched by
the sun
speak out
Those are the days when pigs will fly.
#2 Justine Bohl:
These are the days when I swing a bat and run
Feeling the wind rush through my hair
These are the days where the birds fly up to the
North
After a long winter
The sun is shining so bright-
These are the days when I feel that rush through
my hair
and the adrenaline in my veins.
Two Voice Poems from two characters (and
inspired by) Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye
Two Voice Poem
Of Liyana and Omer
By Natalie Tincknell
I believe
In peace
I
believe
In love
In peace
In no more war In Love
In no more war
In equality In
equality
I hope
The war will end I hope
The conflict will conclude The war will end
My family will rest The conflict
will conclude
My family will rest
We will be friends We will be
friends
I am
The world I
am
My heart
The world
My home
My heart
Our kiss
My home
Oh, and don’t forget, Our kiss
Oh,
and don’t forget
Pistachio ice cream Pistachio ice
cream
I love
The lamp I
love
The world
The lamp
Family
The world
Family
Him
Her
Rafik
and Liyana- by Rory Lambert-Wright
Rafik
& Liyana’s differences.
I’m from
I’m from
Kissing Omer
Cars technology
School star trek (I’m
Such a nerd)
I love
I love
Family America Family
America
Palestinereading Palestine reading
Hummus
hummus
Omer
What?
I’m from a I’m from a
Peaceful, diverse culture peaceful diverse
culture
And yet…
There is war, arrests,
shots and bombs on the street
And then I think of-
Omer. And I’m better.
You have an unhealthy
Obsession
Huh?
Never mind.
I’m from
I’m from
A girls school an
Armenian school
(Yesyesyes!)
(and omer)
Oh my god.
I’m from I’m
from
The library
My computer
(I kissed Omer there.)
Shut up.
No!
I’m from
I’m from
Omer
Leaving.
(stupid sister)
And Liyana said onto Poppy (vice versa)
By
Connor Evans
Two
voice poem
I am from
I am from
St. Louis
Palestine
My My
Dad
Daughter
Is from
Is from
Palestine
St. Louis
I could brush my hair
We didn’t take care of our bodies in public
And wear short shorts
She doesn’t understand
And no one would care
You just can’t do these things here. It’s against our
culture, our history, and our family will FREAK OUT.
Omer
Omer
Can he come over with us to
Sitti’s house?
No
Why not?
Because he’s not Arab,
and I don’t trust him
But Omer is different: he’s kind
So far
But you don’t know him!
You can’t judge him because
others are mean!
I’m not, but Sitti and the
others might, and we might not be invited back again.
But you always say that Arabs
and Jews should get
together
and make peace! You can’t
deny that you have said
that!
It’s against our culture, and it might be
for Omer’s own good.
How?!
Other boys in his neighborhood might beat him up for hanging out
with an Arab girl. The same goes for you too.
But it will still be an
advancement in peace, wouldn’t it? Isn’t that what you wanted?
Yes…but
But what? They don’t have
to know that he’s Jewish.
But I stil don’t trust him. He could tell his army, and they would come
and destroy more than just the bathroom this time.
You obviously don’t know
Trust me I know
Omer Omer
He is from
he is from
Palestine
Palestine
The End