Recently Concept English was able to do a focused PD that focused on mimetic writing to build fluency for student writers and provide and opportunity for them to say things in new and different ways. We borrowed the Sandra Cisneros poem called “Abuelita Who.” We worked through four separate activities, pausing after each one to Think Aloud and connect the activities to the standards. We used this poem and the activity within the confines of 8th grade, Unit 2, “The Bonds Between Us.” Ultimately, the brevity of many poems allows students to think about a complex idea like “the bonds between human beings” and “borrowing,” Cisneros’ allows students to discover new ways of seeing details put together. The experts say, “this allows students to borrow the voice and style of a professional author,” until they find their own. You also come to a new and different understanding of the life experience of our students. Just ask these teachers who found unexpected emotions as evidenced by the box of Kleenex being passed around.
Abuelito Who
Abuelito who throws coins like rain
and asks who loves him
who is dough and feathers
who is a watch and a glass of water
whose hair is made of fur
is too sad to come downstairs today
who tells me in Spanish you are my diamond
who tells me in English you are my sky
whose little eyes are string
can’t come out to play
sleeps in his little room all night and day
who used to laugh like the letter k
is sick
is a doorknob tied to a sour stick
is tired shut the door
doesn’t live here anymore
is hiding underneath the bed
who talks to me inside my head
is blankets spoons and big brown shoes
who snores up and down and up and down again
is the rain on the roof that falls like coins
asking who loves him
who loves him who?
Columbus Middle School
Aunt Jan who globs paint like cake icing
and asks for all my best stories
who is apricots on cottage cheese
who is an out-of-tune piano and 3-D cornfields
whose hair is made of silver ice
is too loud to contain middle America
who tells me I’m a stinky wood sprite
who tells me every movie is the best she’s ever seen…
~ Ms. Whitman
Grandma who throws words like soft rain
and asks who loves her
who is brownies and baked goods
who is an anchor holding the family together
whose hair is made of ash
is too stubborn to have things another way
who tells me
who tells me
whose desperate eyes are failing
can’t come out to play…
~ Mrs. Blackstone
Kimberly who welcomes friends like an open fire
and asks who loves her
who is a playful puppy
who is a Reeses peanut butter cup
whose face is heart-shaped
is too busy to take a nap today
who tells me in Chinese you are my peng you
who tells me in English you are my sister by choice
~ Ms. Cross
Grandma whose house smells like buckwheat pancakes and breakfast sausage
and asks if I want a fourth helping
who is butterscotch and cinnamon sugar
who is kitchen aprons and tube TV’s
is checking on me every night
who tells me to sit up straight and say please
who tells me she’s proud of me
whose house is filled with family pictures
can brighten your day
is healthy then not
~ Mr. Gauch
Mom who throws a fit like hot lava
and asks who can help her
who is blind
who is determined to give her opinion
whose hair is salt and pepper gray
is too stubborn to give up
who tells me to stay faithful and believe
who tells me there is a brighter day
whose ragged face embodies strength
can stand on 2 feet with a cane
after so many disappointments
who cherishes God day and night…
~ Ms. Golden-Cole
Quinn the Eskimo plays for joy
and loves girls, girls, girls
who is sequined punk
who is confident flash
whose hesitant wonder
is too stubborn and confused
who says life is amplified
whose musical act is all
can be domestic bliss
after the stage is dark
who is my first born
is affectionately distant
is a poser in a photo
is glitter loud
doesn’t need a mic
is feeling domestic
who wants a first born
is the confident, hesitant
asking about grown women
who loves girls, girls, girls
and plays for joy
~ Ms. Jansupka
HSA McKinley Park
Djed who eats pita quickly
and asks who loves him
who is clouds and snow
who is a cup of tea and sweatpants
whose hair is made of silver thread
is too sick to go for a walk today
who tells me in Bosnian you are my oldest grandchild and will succeed
who cannot tell me anything in English
whose moustache is scratchy but distinct
can’t go on his walk
sleeps but wheezes
who used to smile like the “u”
is sick
~ Ms. Selimovic
Francesco who throws basketballs and baseballs
and asks who loves him
who is candy and sugar
who is an Xbox and Legos
whose hair is made of grass
is too angry to come downstairs today
who tells me in Italian you are my protector
who tells me in English you are my world
whose blue eyes twinkle like stars
can’t come out to play
grounded in his room all night and day
who used to laugh like the letter h
is sick
who has scars on his chest
cannot do what the others do
doesn’t seem so sick anymore
is running faster than the others
who tells me that he is not scared
is clothes on the floor next to the hamper
is the proof that prayer heals
asking who loves him
who loves him who?
~ Ms. Crudele
Father who throws pillows like feathers
and asks who loves him
who is bricks and sage
who is hot chocolate and a book
whose hair is salt and pepper
is too tired for pillow fights today
who tells me in Spanish later we’ll be playing
who tells me in English “I love you too mush”
whose brown eyes are a soft hush
can go for a walk
after he’s taken his pills
who used to laugh like the letter h
is sick
is a table chair stuck in place
is sleeping close the blinds
doesn’t seem tired anymore
is running laps around the park
who talks to me inside my head
is summer, spring, and autumn too
asks who loves him
who loves him who?
~ Ms. Godinez
Samantha who asks very little of life
and floats through it like a jolly ghost
who is pixie stix sugar
who is never impressed
is always enthused like a baby
who loves bad movies
who is always glad to see me
whose cantankerous laughter is always required
can brighten anyone’s day
after breakfast, afternoon, afterschool
who I once laughed at when she was t
is of pure heart
is of stable mind
is without malice
doesn’t fear judgment
is working at my old job
who can seem like she is dense
who makes popcorn everyday
is a kernel herself who explodes with joy
asking always why not
who could not love her spirit?
~ Mr. Schmith
Ashland who throws kisses in a closing door
and asks why
who is Kit Kat bars and Hershey Kisses
who is silver velcro shoes and hair bows
whose hair is filled with bubbles in the tub
is curiosity and play
who tells me when she’s scared
who tells me when she’s ready
can explore the world
after mommy lets her go
who used to be attached to my hip
is growing up
is fairy dust dancing through the halls
is a frog splashing in puddles
doesn’t seem so little anymore
is building cities on the floor
who laughs from deep in her belly
who asks me to sleep next to her
is the sunshine through the trees
asking to go play
who makes everything better
~ Mrs. Killion
Fossil who shows up like dust from the ashes
and asks why do I wonder
who is quiet and still
who is all of my perseverance and my broken feelings
whose matrix blasts a glue to ground me
after feeling lost in fast paced life
who used to plague my mind like the F
is ok
is a desire that grabs at what life changes
is rested on my mother’s fireplace
doesn’t follow me anymore
is resting until opened again
whose wonder intrigues my intellectual desires
asks why I wonder
who loves it who?
~ Mr. Hunter
Dad who is the light in a dark night throws peanuts on the ground
and asks who loves him
who is oysters and tabasco
who is a suit and a glass of beer
whose hair is thick and strong
is too busy to come play today
who tells me in English that I am strong
who shows me that family is resilient
whose back is hurting
can’t come out to play
sleeps on the couch all night and day
who used to smile
is dying
is a nail stuck in the wood
is weak, falling down
doesn’t live with me anymore
is hiding in the corner or my mind
who continues to guide me in my head
is tea parties and vacant memories
who no longer recognizes me looking up and down
is deteriorating quickly as rain falls
asking who loves him
who loves him who
~ Ms. Urias
Emily who laughs like an old TV show
and asks who loves her
who is a crackling voice
who is a peach and midnight pizza
whose hair is made of tissue
who tells me at 18 we will get better
who tells me at 25 look where we are
whose brown eyes are the weight of a head on your shoulder
lives so far away
talks in my ear on the best nights and days
who used to cry like a hurricane
is happy
is a teacher voice, steady as a heartbeat
is almost here, open my door
doesn’t sound so heavy anymore
is somehow still on my college bed
we’re laughing in the dorm room inside my head
is green tea pillows and the color gold
who stumbles on the grass and spins round and round again
is the needed map on the drive home
asking, how about tomorrow?
wow about today?
~ Ms. Bernard
Grandma who throws Lefsa like Frisbees
and asks who loves her
who is jelly and peanut butter
who is an agate key chain and cup of coffee
whose hair is made hay
is too happy to stop laughing today
who tells me in Norwegian you are my treasure
who tells me in English you are my loyal grandchild
whose brown eyes are chocolate peanut butter balls
can come out to play
after the chores and animals are fed
who used to cry like the s
is healthy
is a wind chime hanging from a nearby tree
is rested opens the door
doesn’t seem so sad anymore
is ironing sheets next to the bed
who talks to me inside my head
who tends chickens’ chores and apron strings
is the Frisbee in the air that spins across her hands like Lefsa
asking who loves her
who loves her who?
~ Mr. Flaherty
Thank you teachers of HSA Columbus Middle School and HSA McKinley Park for being vulnerable enough to share these powerful people with us.
If you are interested in seeing the activity sheets we used for this writing and how we connected to the study of mythology and academic writing, just print the attachment. If this sounds like something you would like to work on to improve your student writing, please request a curriculum webinar in SIS for help adapting the activities to your current curriculum. MimeticWritingActivites
