African Praise Poems @ Columbus Elementary School May 5, 2009

In today's workshop, we learned about the African Praise Poem. In these poems, a call and response pattern reveals the revelatory and spiritual voice of the poet. The alternating lines can include conditions of entry into the world, unusual features of a birth, geneology or kinship affiliations, geographical affiliations with a place, elements of the natural world, totems (animals, plants, natural objects), an important past experience or unusual accident, and/or special "age-mates" to whom the person is bonded. Each line contains a name or phrase, uses metaphor or simile, pays careful attention to rhythm and sound, and uses call and response. Here are the poems written by incredible 3rd graders at Columbus Elementary School in Ukrainian Village -- I'm a poet in residence there through Urban Gateways: Center for Arts Education. This is a 6 week residency and we're focusing on Tanzania/african poetry & proverbs.

I am here
Sleeping dark night
I am here
Spending money
I am here
Eating polish food
I am here
Playing video games
I am here
Learning poetry
I am here
Reading books
I am here
Werewolf howl moon
I am here

Klaudia

I am there
Loud, noisy, windy
I am there
Surrounded by noise
I am there
I yell to the spirit of the cheetah
I am there
Flying with birds
I am there
I can guide the animals
I am there
Riding in a car
I am there sleeping with a squirrel
I am there
Swimming with a shark
I am there

Adam W.


What I Say

Listen to me
You cry
Listen to me
Be happy
Listen to me
Go to your room
Listen to me
Don’t be sad
Listen to me
Be glad always
Listen to me
It’s just as easy
To smile as cry
Listen to me
You can win
Listen to me

Laquisha

I am here
Resting in peace
I am here
Starving to death
I am there
Protecting our country
I am here
Helping people like Jesus did
I am here
Drawing religion
I am here
Helping people from dying
I am here
Playing Devil May Cry
I am here
In a game zone
I am here

Sebastian S.


SMACK

Concentrate, I see it coming
Smack
I won’t hit it, but I have to –
Smack
It’s getting closer and closer
Smack
My muscles get tight
Smack
I have to hit it SMACK ---
It’s gone – HOMERUN!
I’m up again, muscles getting tighter
And concentrate. And closer and
Closer and SMACK another
Closer and closer and gone HOMERUN!
Up again, SMACK
Out in the field – SMACK
Inside, HOMERUN! Oh my gosh,
Up again, and whooping the Cub’s butt.
Now Armani is getting ready
Muscles tight, SMACK inside
HOMERUN again!

Armani

Dark brown eyes
Be still
Dark brown
Be still
Calling upon all spirit animals
Be still

Jacob G.

I am here
I have to talk
I am here
On fast, busy highways
I am here
Light or dark
I am here
Call on the snake spirit
I am here
In the game zone
I am here
Beating up Max
I am here
Watching wrestling
I am here

Denys K.

Stay here
In the wars of Halo
Stay here
Sleeping in heaven
Stay here
In underground tunnels
Stay here
Soaring with the birds
Stay here
Fighting with anger
Stay here
Jumping high in the sky
Stay here
Snowboarding on cliffs
Stay here
Running with the cheetah
Stay here

Sebastian G.

I’m alive
Jumping in the air
I’m alive
Hitting thunder
I’m alive
Drinking hot fire
I’m alive
A thunder strike
I’m alive
From a gun shot
I’m a live

Eric G.

I will survive
Alive in the north
I will survive
Soaring through the clouds
I will survive
Jumping out of a plane
I will survive
Light like the burning sky
I will survive
Never give up
I will survive
My spirit calls to the werewolf
I will survive
Floating through space
I will survive
The sky is red
I will survive

??????

I’m Still Right Here

I’m still right here
With my friends
I’m still right here
Covered with love
I’m still right here
Can you see me?
I’m still right here
Do you listen to me?
I’m still right here
Listen to my heart
I’m still right here.

Melisa F.

Listen to me
My heart is broken
Listen to me
I am talking
I am here
Listen to me
I am hurt
Listen to me
My power’s of the jungle
Listen to me
Don’t lie
Listen to me
You hurt me
Listen to me
You lie
Listen to me
Flying with birds

Xochitl R.

I’m still right here
Look at me
I’m still right here
Can you see me?
I’m sill right here
I don’t think you can see me
I’m still right here
Can anybody see me?
I’m still right here
You are not listening
I’m still right here
In my mother’s stomach
I’m still right here
Bored in my bed
I’m still right here
Reading a book
I’m still right here

????????????

Hear me
Roar with the lions
Hear me
Sing with the birds
Hear me
Pat my chest with the gorillas
Hear me
Shout with the monkeys
Hear me
Stomp with the kangaroos
Hear me
Splash water with the whales
Hear me
Fight with the jungle
Hear me

Samuel

I am here
Listening to people driving their cards
I am here
Telling my dog Mazzy and Star to come here
I am here
Don’t ignore me
I am here
Swimming with my spirit animal, the dolphin
I am here

Jasmine V.

Flying with a bird
I’m still right here

Singing a song
I’m still here

Can anybody hear me?
I’m still right here

Being in bed
I’m still right here

Sleeping at home
I’m still right here

Skipping
I’m still here

Jumping on my bed
I’m still right here

Playing with my friends
Divine and Kelly

I’m still here

Jasmine Q.

When I am here
I will care for you.

When I am here,
Your fears will forever be gone.

When I am here
You will never give up.

When I am here,
The tiger will lead us there.

When I am here,
I’ll send you flowers every week.

Myron N.

Listen to me
I’ll make a difference
Listen to me
I’ll keep you by my side
Listen to me
I will help you
Listen to me
I’ll make dreams come true
Listen to me

I am here
No fear of me
I am here
We are here together
I am here
You have talent
I am here
Forever
I am here
To help you
I am here

Julia

Help the poor
Live life
Help the poor
Make a miracle
Help the poor
Help the difference
Help the poor
Make a life
Help the poor
Take care of them
Help the poor
Be the difference
Help the poor

???????

Never Back Down Like a Lion

Never back down
The spirit lion
Never back down
Soar with the Teradacthil
Never back down
The moon draws me
Never back down
Moving from place to place
Never back down
Fast like a cheetah
Be strong
Never back down
Be cool
Never back down
Do good in school
Never back down
Have fun with it
Never back down
Be calm
Never back down

Deangelo J.


Break a leg
Stop it
Drawn into the fire
Stop it
Dragon fly stinging
Stop it
Loud thunder
Stop it
Shut up when I’m talking to you
Stop it

Brandon S.

I’m still right here
Covered in green
I’m still right here
Flying with a bird
I’m still right here
In my mother’s stomach
I’m still right here
Under my covers
I’m still right here
In the hospital
I’m still right here
Do you see me?
I’m still right here.

Kelly M