5th Grade Poetry Study

Mr. CunninghamImagine School at Town Center

A Summer Morning - Rachel Field

I saw dawn creep across the sky,And all the gulls go flying by.I saw the sea put on its dressOf blue midsummer loveliness,And heard the trees begin to stirGreen arms of pine and juniper.I heard the wind call out and say,"Get up, my dear, it is today!"

A Summer Morning by Rachel Field

Homework! Oh, Homework! - Jack PrelutskyHomework! Oh, Homework!I hate you! You stink!I wish I could wash you away in the sink,if only a bombwould explode you to bits.Homework! Oh, homework!You're giving me fits.

I'd rather take bathswith a man-eating shark,or wrestle a lionalone in the dark,eat spinach and liver,pet ten porcupines,than tackle the homeworkmy teacher assigns.

Homework! Oh, homework!You're last on my list,I simply can't seewhy you even exist,if you just disappearedit would tickle me pink.Homework! Oh, homework!I hate you! You stink!

Homework! Oh, Homework!By Jack Prelutsky

=

A Theory - Charles Simic

If a cuckoo comes into the villageOf cuckoos to cuckoo and it's Monday,And all the cuckoos should be outdoors working,But instead there's no one anywhere

At home, or on the road overgrown with weeds,Or even at the little gray schoolhouse,Oh then, the cuckoo who came to the villageOf cuckoos to cuckoo must cuckoo alone.

A Theory by Charles Simic

The Lake Isle of Innisfree – William Butler YeatsI will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always day and nightI hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,

I hear it in the deep heart's core.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree by William Butler Yeats

A Sphinx – Carl Sandburg

Close-mouthed you sat five thousand years and never let out a whisper,

Processions came by, marchers, asking questions you answered with gray eyes never blinking, shut lips never talking.

Not one croak of anything you know has come from your cat crouch of ages.

I am one of those who know all you know and I keep my questions: I know the answers you hold.

A Sphinxby

Carl Sandburg

The Sloth – Theodore RoethkeIn moving-slow he has no Peer.You ask him something in his ear;He thinks about it for a Year;

And, then, before he says a WordThere, upside down (unlike a Bird)He will assume that you have Heard- A most Ex-as-per-at-ing Lug.

But should you call his manner Smug,He’ll sigh and give his Branch a Hug;

Then off again to Sleep he goes,Still swaying gently by his Toes,And you just know he knows he knows.

The Slothby Theodore Roethke

Washington Crossing the Delaware – David SchulmanA hard, howling, tossing water scene.

Strong tide was washing hero clean."How cold!" Weather stings as in anger.O Silent night shows war ace danger!

The cold waters swashing on in rage.Redcoats warn slow his hint engage.When star general's action wish'd "Go!"He saw his ragged continentals row.

Ah, he stands - sailor crew went going.And so this general watches rowing.He hastens - winter again grows cold.A wet crew gain Hessian stronghold.

George can't lose war with's hands in;He's astern - so go alight, crew, and win!

Washington Crossing the Delaware by David Schulman

Philadelphia