Poetry Collection: inspired by “homage to my hips”
Poetry is the most emotional form of literature– providing poets with the opportunity to express their feelings through symbolism, rhythmic measures, metaphors, and more. The IB juniors in Ms. Van Duyne’s class recently studied the works of Lucille Clifton, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and a former Poet Laureate of Maryland. Lucille Clifton is most prominently known for writing short, impactful poems in lowercase letters. One of the most distinguished poems by Clifton is “homage to my hips” from her collection of poems titled Two-Headed Woman. She wrote this poem as an appreciation for her body and femininity.
The students in Ms. Van Duyne’s classes made their own “homage” poems to appreciate the little things in their own lives. Here are some of these poems:
homage to these curls
By SPHS Student
these curls are puffy
and glowy and bright and
they need water and cream and patience, to shine and shimmer correctly
in the morning sun.
they don’t conform to a hairbrush
to a skin tone
to a stereotype, a caricature, these curls are their own.
they curl how they want.
they think how they want.
sometimes in the morning, i have known them
to refuse a proper combing and instead
go their own way!
homage to my broken toe
By Lara Slager
broken toe broken toe
oh where oh where did you go
you are gone away and in the past
you didn’t heal very fast
i couldn’t pickle
i couldn’t ball
all because of a stupid fall
i was in a boot for so long
it had me singing a somber song
one gray, big and tall
the other black, light and small
but what i really mean to say
is broken toe stay away!
a sacred star
By SPHS Student
this star is bright
its rays bring light
they bring the morning
and the night. these times are lively.
these rays bring life.
they bring might
they rule the day
they right the wrong
they bring salvation to the sinful
it is a challenge but,
this is what they do
this star shines
it is a shelter to many
it is special, strong, symbolic
it is sometimes sassy and can sizzle skin
sunshine.
its rays are suspected
they are not scared
they free the fear
they do not like to be held back
this is who they are
this star saves the day!
Homage to Family
By Luis Carranza
My family is a big family
We fly and travel
Party and play
“We do everything together” is what they’d say
They are always there through thick and thin
Like a plant but stronger within
They help me laugh and grow
They help me to just keep my flow
Skinned knees,
Climbing trees,
My family is always there
Helping to ease,
For without them,
I am a flower with no stem,
I am a car with no wheels,
Who would want to know just how that feels!
homage to my lungs
By Hailey Clayton
my lungs are healthy lungs.
ever since air was breathed into them,
they have kept me alive.
my lungs have power
my lungs are strong
they have never been held back from any disease.
my lungs.
my lungs long for the soft air.
as they breathe through the day
as they breathe through the night.
my lungs.
I have known my lungs
to survive the day and
breathe others into life.
homage to my feet (i play soccer)
By SPHS Student
these feet are small feet
they need a field to
kick around in.
they don’t look nice in tight
stiff heels. these feet
are are athletic feet.
they don’t like to be squished and squeezed.
these feet move fast,
they run where they want to
they kick what they want to.
these feet are powerful feet.
these feet are million dollar feet.
i have known them
to put trance on a ball and
flip them like a bottle!
homage to hugs
By SPHS Student
these hugs are warm hugs
they need the right person.
they are not to be little and
loveless. these hugs
are tight hugs.
they don’t like to be half-
hearted. these hugs have
never been hostile, they
hold who they want to hold
they help who they want to help.
these hugs are meaningful hugs.
these hugs are magic hugs.
i have known them
to cure some of the toughest
times one can survive!
homage to my passport
By Paloma Welch
my passport takes me places
it lets me learn about
cultures and countries
and adventures.
my passport puts me on planes
it lets me leave
to soar like a seagull
to escape.
my passport holds memories
recurring stamps remind me:
oh, the places i’ve gone!
empty pages emphasize:
oh, the places i’ll go!
homage to my rice
By Zachary Brayer
This Rice is my rice
it needs a rice cooker to
be cooked in.
it doesn’t tolerate inferior crockpots.
This Rice was once free rice,
it grew up in grand fields
with space to roam around.
This Rice is special rice
it has been known to be
displayed in many dishes
throughout the decades
and fed countless mouths.
This Rice is nutritious rice.
This Rice is wonderful rice.
This Rice is my rice.
homage to movies
By SPHS Student
these movies are glamorous movies
that need space to be seen with attention.
they will be shown in
silly cinemas. these movies
are gripping movies.
they don’t like to let go.
from one night in vienna to a lifetime in new york,
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these movies are smart movies.
these movies are magic movies.
i have known them
to tell and sell stories of
boys in business and
girls driving off cliffs!
homage to my house
By SPHS Student
this house is not a large house,
yet many call it home.
there is always more room here
there are hands
waiting to help the next guest.
this house nurtures and feeds.
there is a girl preparing milk for an orphaned goat
this house has pots awaiting plants to crawl out of
there is a dad changing the diaper of the dog
this family is not full
there is room for reptiles,
by bearded dragons or beside iguanas.
i have known this house
to have a green thumb and
press on things till they thrive!