Pursuit of Poetry:
Ms. Toczynski's Class

[On December 11, 2000, Ms. Toczynski's 7th grade class at Wood Middle School in Alameda, California wrote this group poem, playing with metaphor and simile. The class was preparing to visit The Oakland Museum's exhibit, "Secret World of the Forbidden City: Splendors from China's Imperial Palace."

Also see the individual poems written by the students, after their visit to the exhibit.]

I am—

I am the beautiful tiger after a hard day's work hunting.

I am the sly fox that dashes away into good hiding
when the dragon's claw wishes to capture me.

I am the creative chameleon that becomes colorful
and hides in shyness.

I am the sly fox, sneaking into a barn.
   There is a loud squak and feather fly everywhere
but I still come out empty pawed.

I am the fast cheetah that kills its prey
   before it knows it'll die.

I am the flexible plant being blown by the wind.

I am the frisky fox
the fox that can trick anyone
and he can use anything
and do anything he needs to reach his goal.

I am the fast wind in a heat wave.

I am the short ant being stepped on.
I am the fast turtle who can run.

I am the strong bear that lifts weights.

I am the strong bear when he searches for food
that strikes with his arms
and grabs fishes from the water to eat.
I am the strong bear when he's running for deer
and catches him to eat.
I am the strong bear climbing a tree.

I am the gentle breeze blowing over a field of wheat.
I float as I walk like the wheat waving back and fourth as the breeze passes by.

I am the wild champanzee that swings from branches
far above the ground making all the other animals
of the jungle jealous.

I am the funny bird that flies upside down.

I am the loud waterfall that makes noise.

I am the fast baby cheetah.

I am the graceful swan that glides swiftly over glistening water.
I am the wise owl that knows of all people and things in the world.

I am the strong lion who hunts
all the way up to the sky.

I am the shy rabbit that is going to be eaten.

I am the clever leprechon with a pot of gold.

I am the clever panther stalking its prey.

I am the loud howler monkey that yells so loud
the whole galaxy can hear.

I am the pretty warm summer night that
sprays off the cold ocean floor.

I am the hungry wolf that hasn't eaten for a week.

I am the cool other side of the pillow that has only been slept on the top.

I am the bold lion leading a group out of the thickest forest.

I am the annoying big black fly that won't get away from your ear,
as loud and annoying as Ms. Frey's pencil sharpener that terrorizes and interrupts.

I am the strong tiger that prowls around and attacks.

I am the fast tiger that chases its prey.

     * * * *

Students also wrote individual poems about the exhibit:

Derrick S.

EV

Justin P.

Liza M.

Mac@Sue

Marjan S.

Nyada B.

Vladic S.