NAPOMO @ RE - Poetry Pop-Ups

Dr. Rhyner’s Personal Narrative students will host a series of poetry pop-ups designed to get you writing about your memories of different phases of childhood. Look out for their fun activities every Thursday during lunch. Read below for writing prompts and inspiration related to each pop-up!

Submit Your Poetry

Early Childhood: A Walk Down Memory Lane

Designed and Presented by

Alexander Defortuna, Ella Gonzalez, Jackson Langer, Juliana Perez

Reflection

Young children explore their world through their senses. The “walk down memory lane” reflects the memory theme because the activity will expose participants to items or experiences that they have either seen or done before in their early childhood. Since we were not able to do a lot for ourselves as infants, we relied a lot on our senses. Sensory activities were extremely helpful in our childhood in developing our motor skills and independence. In our early childhood, we experience seeing the sun for the first time, writing on paper, touching grass, hearing music, etc. Activities such as sensory stations, music, and “little kid” snacks are things that many can all relate to. The purpose of the activity is to evoke a feeling of nostalgia by reminding everyone of those early childhood moments with objects and activities associated with those times and remind us of how it feels to have little to no independence and sense the world for the first time. Participants will then write a poem based on emotions that are caused by reflecting on those times. The “walk down memory lane” is a good idea because, without it, people may never be able to reflect on the sweet moments early childhood brings. As we get older, we remember less about our early childhood and get used to the world around us, so having this activity will allow us to keep the memories for longer.

Pop-Up Activity

Write a three-stanza poem which engages your sense of touch, smell, taste and sound. Your poem should describe a subject without naming it, but use as much sensory detail as possible and evoke emotion. Also, each stanza should have one device: 1 alliteration, 2 metaphor, and 3 allusion.

*Remember you do not have to write about the stations or playing with Play-Doh, yet write about the feelings, nostalgia, and memories you feel while doing these activities.

Station 1: coloring book

Write a stanza of 3-5 lines about what this activity means to you and how it evokes a feeling of early childhood in you. Use alliteration in this stanza.

Station 2: bubbles

Write a stanza of 3-5 lines about what this activity means to you and how it evokes a feeling of early childhood in you. Use metaphors in this stanza.

Station 3: sand and playdoh

Write a stanza 3-5 lines about what this activity means to you and how it evokes a feeling of early childhood in you. Use an allusion in this stanza.

Inspiration

I Remember, I Remember

By Thomas Hood

I remember, I remember,

The house where I was born,

The little window where the sun

Came peeping in at morn;

He never came a wink too soon,

Nor brought too long a day,

But now, I often wish the night

Had borne my breath away!

I remember, I remember,

The roses, red and white,

The vi'lets, and the lily-cups,

Those flowers made of light!

The lilacs where the robin built,

And where my brother set

The laburnum on his birthday,—

The tree is living yet!

I remember, I remember,

Where I was used to swing,

And thought the air must rush as fresh

To swallows on the wing;

My spirit flew in feathers then,

That is so heavy now,

And summer pools could hardly cool

The fever on my brow!

I remember, I remember,

The fir trees dark and high;

I used to think their slender tops

Were close against the sky:

It was a childish ignorance,

But now 'tis little joy

To know I'm farther off from heav'n

Than when I was a boy.

Elementary School: Flashback to Fun

Designed and Presented by

Pia Drulard, Nina Gumbs, Nicolas Fayed, Tom Maxwell , Emery Diemar

Reflection

Nostalgia was the driving force behind our pop-up, pushing poets to reconnect with their younger selves and the innocence of childhood. We hope that this deliberate focus will inspire them to craft poems infused with heartfelt sentiment and genuine emotion. For our NAPOMO activity, we will initiate a journey down memory lane, urging poets to reminisce about their elementary school days and select a nostalgic object by spinning a wheel. Who knows what they will select? Perhaps a favorite race car, a playground ball, or a cherished picture book. Writers will be encouraged to delve deep into their recollections, to remember the sights, sounds, and emotions associated with this chosen item. By focusing on a specific object, our hope is to provide a solid foundation for reflection, guiding poets toward a richer exploration of their past experiences.

Pop-Up Activity

Craft a rhyming poem that reflects on a nostalgic object from your elementary school years. This activity will help revisit the nostalgia of elementary school but also give inspiration for poetry. At the start of lunch, we will place a wheel with photographs of childhood items, such as toys, books, and other things of that nature. The participants will close their eyes and spin the wheel. Then, each participant will write a poem inspired by the item they have chosen, reflecting on the memories or emotions it evokes in them.

Inspiration

Sick by Shel Silverstein

"I cannot go to school today,"

Said little Peggy Ann McKay.

"I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,

I'm going blind in my right eye.

My tonsils are as big as rocks,

I've counted sixteen chicken pox

And there's one more—that's seventeen,

And don't you think my face looks green?

My leg is cut—my eyes are blue—

It might be instamatic flu.

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,

I'm sure that my left leg is broke—

My hip hurts when I move my chin,

My belly button's caving in,

My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,

My 'pendix pains each time it rains.

My nose is cold, my toes are numb.

I have a sliver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,

I hardly whisper when I speak.

My tongue is filling up my mouth,

I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,

My temperature is one-o-eight.

My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,

There is a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my heart is—what?

What's that? What's that you say?

You say today is. . .Saturday?

G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

Middle School: Going Through Changes

Designed and Presented by

Gracie Hucks, Gabi Lieberman, Teymoor Siahpoosh, Nick Viana

Reflection

The theme of change serves as the focus for our NAPOMO pop-up, reflecting on the universal personal transformations experienced during middle school. This period represents growth, where adolescence prompt a rapid evolution of identity, friendships, and perspectives. The years are marked by a flux of emotions and experiences, from the thrill of new freedoms to the angst of fitting in, each moment layering to shape the emerging self. Our inspiration draws from this rich tapestry of change, hoping to guide students through a reflective journey back to their own middle school years. By recounting our memories—ranging from the camaraderie of wall ball games to the shared delight in simple pleasures like lollipops—we hope to inspire students to mine their past for those points of change and growth. The act of searching through photographs to find a specific date acts as a portal, not just to remember but to take the person back to that moment to actually feel it. This thematic exploration encourages students to articulate their journey of change through poetry, hinting at who they are becoming. It's about recognizing the value in every moment of transition and using it as a gateway for creative expression, urging them to see change not just as a series of events but as the very fabric of their stories, woven intricately through their verses.

Pop-Up Activity

Think back to your three years of middle school and the changes that you underwent, whether in your identity or the struggles you went through. Each grade you changed and grew. For the activity you will spin the wheel that generates date. You will search for this date in your phone's camera roll. Find a picture from that date for all three years of middle school . Compare the images and form a poem of each memory in the pictures you have chosen. Your poem t does not have to rhyme, but it can. You should write three stanzas of four lines. If you like, you can make each stanza represent one year of middle school or you can simply reflect a change in each stanza of the poem.

Inspiration

Upper School: Independence

Designed and Presented by

Elle Rosenblum, Ariya Zhuk, Jude Yeo, Antonio Pedro de Macedo, Liam Forand

Reflection

In our journey through high school at RE, the theme of independence has not just been a part of our curriculum but a living experience, it has shaped our memories and growth. As we navigated through the struggles of learning and self-discovery, poetry became a silent yet expressive companion, capturing the essence of our independence. The memories we created, from leading our own projects to making decisions that affected our future, show the invaluable life lessons we learned during these formative years. As we look back, it's clear that the sense of independence we cultivated at RE has equipped us with the confidence and skills to face the world beyond high school, knowing that we have the power to shape our destinies.

Pop-Up Activity

In high school we are given much more independence. Despite this we still need to rely on our peers and teachers to help us succeed. Create a blackout poem using words of a previous CATALYST article—focus on how you have learned and experienced independence and what it means to you.

Inspiration

We Real Cool BY GWENDOLYN BROOKS

The Pool Players.
Seven at the Golden Shovel.

We real cool. We

Left school. We

Lurk late. We

Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We

Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We

Die soon.