DADA Poems!

So on Wednesday, we had another poetry workshop, and there we wrote a few DADA poems.

I know what some of you are thinking: "What is a DADA poem?!"

I can explain. Dada was an artistic movement that started after World War 1. People started thinking after that "war to end all wars" that the world didn't make sense, and we were fooling ourselves if we thought otherwise. So to spread that belief, they started making strange artwork and writing random poems. They were also the first people to start making collages. People would make a big deal over it, and they would say "Why do you care? Does that make sense to you?"

One thing they'd do in big groups was play a lot of word games. One was as follows:
One person writes something down on a line of paper, then folds the paper over, so that no one else can see what they've written. They pass it on to the next person. The next person does the same thing (writes, folds, passes) and so on. They continue passing the paper along until they've reached the bottom of the page. Then they unfold the paper and see how the poem has come out.

I have two examples of DADA poems we wrote together last night at the workshop. Enjoy! And try making some at home!

First one:
To eat or not to eat: That is the question
I like happiness
poems poems it be cold it may be odd warm greeting poems are warmed by big hearted poets, Really bold big poems are sometimes are made by big Us, revels.
Volite flower power
I am a rat
And that is right
I am like a cat

Harry Potter rocks.
Yeah that's right.

And the second poem:
Fuzzy wuzzy
Love is caring
volite purple
lemons
love
I am a rat.


Have something you'd like to put up here? Email it to me at ebgirlscout1@verizon.net.
Have an older sibling in junior high or high school? We also have a Teen Poetry Box, at www.ebpoetryteens.blogspot.com if they're interested.

Marshamallows, yum...

So on Wednesday evening, we had a wonderful poetry workshop for grades kindergarden to third. There, we wrote a poem all together. I figured we should put it up:

"Ooey Gooey: A Crazy Day at Camp"
Sweet, white, fluffy marshamallows.
It tastes like eating a cloud.
Slipping it on a stick,
It feels sticky with a twist.
Here it goes, into the fire
But-- OH NO!
The stick caught on
FIRE!

Thought I'd Break the Ice

This isn't a poem I wrote, but I've always loved this poem. It's just so much fun, isn't it?

Remember, if you want to submit a poem, email it to me at ebgirlscout1@verizon.net

JABBERWOCKY

by Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.



`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

About Me and the Poetry Box

Hi, my name is Rose F., and I'm a member of Senior Girl Scout Troop 80-811 of the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey. I was also a Publicist for East Brunswick High School's Art and Literary magazine, Folio, for the past two years, and was a member for the past three years. I just graduated from the high school this June. This is a part of my Gold Award Project, called Poetry with Personality, where I am teaching kids and teens about poetry in workshops and creating spaces where they can show their work or share favorite poems with others. I am working with the East Brunswick Public Library and created these blogs for them.

Now, I've had a few people ask me this question-WHY POETRY?!

The reason I decided on working with poetry is this: I love it. Poetry sometimes can seem dull to some people, because they immeadiatly think of rhymes and big words to describe devices used in poetry and think "Ugh, it's just like English class with that teacher...*shudder*" But it's not. I have read and enjoyed many wonderful poems throughout my life, and I have written some as well (or at least, I hope they're good). Once you get past learning all those terms on a vocab list, poetry is fun. It's a way to creatively express yourself. And sometimes it can be easier to write than a story or essay, but can still make a point. I could go on and on about reasons I love poetry, like the fact that there are so many different forms of it you can use, the fact that you can say anything with it, that you can pour out emotions with it, that you can show it to others and see how they relate to it, that anyone can write it, that it's fun to read, but I don't want to bore you with that rant.

In addition to this blog, for my project I am also running a series of workshops for kids, preteens and teens where they can learn about writing poetry.

If any kids are interested in attending one of my poetry workshops, they are on July 23 for grades kindergarden to third and July 30 for grades fourth through seventh. Both will start at 7 in the evening. Hope to see you there!

Welcome!

This is the East Brunswick Public Library's Poetry Blog for Kids!

Here, kids can submit poems they wrote or poems they like to read. We'll put them up here so others can read and enjoy your poems. It's simple! Just email me, Rose, at ebgirlscout1@verizon.net the poem you are submitting and we'll put it up.

Some basic rules for submissions:
1. Keep the content appropriate. Nothing can be rated higher than PG here, okay? If you want something PG-13, then it probably belongs in the Teen Poetry Blog.

2. Please do not submit poems that make fun of anyone or are hurtful in anyway. We want work to be both respected and to be respectful.

3. Don't curse or use offensive language in the poetry. Keep the word choice school appropriate.

All right, then, that's it! Have fun submitting poetry!