The Place Poems which you see below are adaptations of a poem by Joe Carson. The original poem explored the concept of identity as it relates to the environment and human attributes of where a person is from. It was perfect for our study of Place. The students selected a country which they call home and then applied the characteristics from that area to the poem structure. The shifts in place markers are indicated in italics. Enjoy!
The Western United States Place Poem
by Stephen,Brad,John,Tanner,Jacob and Youyu
"But, sonny, where are you from?"
I am from three cities and six different states.
I am from Interstate 80.
I am from the neighborhoods where people come every year.
I am from the work my father did.
I am from the things I have and the family I love.
I am from the love I have that doesn’t have a family like mine.
We have lived here four years and the street I see when I wake up is memorized.
Like a dog I know my home when I see it.
Can you earn from being from a place?
I go to school, I eat, I play and I go to sleep.
Can I pledge allegiance?
And if identity is so precious
they should ask it of Costco, Target and Shonneys.
But, it never goes so far.
It just goes to my property boundary
when my neighbor sets back a step and says,
"Gee. You’re not from around here are you!"
The Korean Place Poem
by Jonathan and Rebecca
"But, yedulah, where are you from?
I am from Seoul, Chejudo and Tegou and six different dosi.
I am from Kyung-bu Sun.
I am from the neighborhoods were dorosarang hago doomyo salahyo.
I am from the work my father did.
I am from the byke oella yamyo I have and the chimde I love.
I am from the csandhan sasamdul that doesn’t danmoo chudam jaran buridul.
We have lived here three years and the san I bohayo when I wake up is epuda.
Like a tokki I know my omma when I see her.
Can you earn from being from a place?
I naunellhamedoa, I nanum tuppahameda, I eoolsul dooomeda and I nanaun segummul nemmeda.
Can I pledge allegiance?
And if identity is so precious
they should ask it of Lotteworld, Seoul Land and julbuk sa.
But it never goes so far.
It just goes to my property boundary
when my neighbor sets back a step and says,
"Ya. You’re not from around here are you!"
The Indian Place Poem
by Archit and Divya
"But, bhaya, where are you from?
I am from three nagar and six different sheher.
I am from Grand Trunk Road.
I am from the neighborhoods were people work all the time.
I am from the work my father did.
I am from the things that I play with and the grandparents that care for me.
I am from the government that doesn’t have neatness.
We have lived here sac sal and the green trees I see when I wake up are very refreshing.
Like a kutha I know my sister when I see it.
Can you earn from being from a place?.
I play, I jump, I sing and I help my parents.
Can I pledge allegiance?
And if identity is so precious
they should ask it of Dillie Vidyut Board, DTC and MTNL.
But, it never goes so far.
It just goes to my property boundary
when my neighbor sets back a step and says,
"Oh. You’re not from around here are you!"
The Eastern United State Place Poem
by Brandon, Elizabeth, Shweta, Anna and Marco
"But, kid, where are you from?
I am from three towns and six different neighborhoods.
I am from Route 7.
I am from the neighborhoods where people see deer every year..
I am from the work my father did.
I am from the thing TV I watch every day and the computers I play on.
I am from the town that doesn’t have skyscrapers like cities.
We have lived here four years and the driveway I see when I wake up is imprinted.
Like a turtle I know my house when I see it.
Can you earn from being from a place?.
I play, I learn, I ride bikes and I help people.
Can I pledge allegiance?
And if identity is so precious
they should ask it of Straw Lenarads, Walmart and T J Max.
But, it never goes so far.
It just goes to my property boundary
when my neighbor sets back a step and says,
"Buddy, You’re not from around here are you!"
The Japanese Place Poem
by Brenda, Birke, Olivia, Monica and Tyler
"But, omae, where are you from?
I am from three tokoro and six different ekies.
I am from Rainbow Bridge.
I am from the neighborhoods where people okome o suckulu.
I am from the work my father did.
I am from the things tall and strong and the tatamii.
I am from the okii tokoro that doesn’t have mildolu neemuu.
We have lived here go nen and the special toy I see when I wake up are always there.
Like a crane I know my kimono when I see it.
Can you earn from being from a place?.
I bike, I train, I walk and I go to festivals.
Can I pledge allegiance?
And if identity is so precious
they should ask it of National Azubu, Seifu and Lawsons.
But, it never goes so far.
It just goes to my property boundary
when my neighbor sets back a step and says,
"Dakara, You’re not from around here are you!"
The Australian Place Poem
by Sam
"Hey, where are you from?
I am from three states and six different cities.
I am from Pacific Highway.
I am from the neighborhoods where people love the mall.
I am from the work my father did.
I am from the blanket that covers my bed and the family I have been with all my life.
I am from the neighborhood where people are shopaholics who can’t walk by a shop without looking in.
We have lived here four years and the birds I hear when I wake up are like an alarm clock to me..
Like a turtle I know my beach when I see it.
Can you earn from being from a place?.
I play, I learn, I ride bikes and I help people.
Can I pledge allegiance?
And if identity is so precious
they should ask it of Straw Lenarads, Walmart and T J Max.
But, it never goes so far.
It just goes to my property boundary
when my neighbor sets back a step and says,
"Buddy, You’re not from around here are you!"
Page built and maintained by Bridgette Fincher. Content by the students of 4-F
Tuesday, November 12, 2002