One of my students made up a missing assignment – the “Where I’m From” poem. A wonderfully nice and smart student who I have come to know a lot better this semester (he was switched out of my classroom after the first month of school because of schedule changes) and I am so glad he is back in my class. He inquired about his grade last week, and when I told him that he was missing this poem, he said, “I’m going to go home and write it for homework tonight.” The next morning, he popped into my room and handed me his poem and said he wasn’t sure if it was very good. I thanked him and praised him for turning it into me and said that I would take a look at it later in the day. After he left, I worked on a few other small tasks, then turned and read his poem.
I was blown away. Not only by the content of this poem, but also by the hidden intricacies – the powerful statements and hidden meanings that he purposefully used. It is the most advanced poem I have received – from both my 9th and my 11th grade students; and it is noteworthy to share.
Ladies and gentlemen, ER’s amazing “Where I’m From” poem:
Where I’m from a tree doesn’t grow tall
Where I’m from it feels like I’m invisible
Where I’m from it is hard fitting in
I’m from a place where football is played
I’m from a place where people talk about me
I’m from a place where I get treated like a kid
I’m from a place called Hell
I’m from a place where I love the world
I’m from a place where I sit in the dark
I’m from a place where I don’t know whether to laugh or cry
I’m from a place where I don’t know whether to stay or leave
I’m from a place where I don’t know whether to live or die
I’m from a place where I hide my face
I’m from a place where I just want to run away
I’m from a place where this town feels like an apple
I’m from a place where family sticks together
Where I’m from it feels like I’m trapped in a box
Where I’m from it feels like I’m way in the mirror
Where I’m from it’s hard getting in
Where I’m from crime is everywhere
Where I’m from people don’t care about me.
