T&W writers’ in-class writing prompts and exercises inspired and generated the adapted poem found in A Poem as Big as New York City. From this imaginative, diverse, massive, and multi-faceted material, an adapted work emerged. Here’s a peek at one of the lessons that served as the raw clay to shape young writers’ minds. All lessons were taught in New York City classrooms, but could be adapted to suit your own community.
Statues & Monuments: Changing the Face of the Statue of Liberty
Young writers imagine their own face is the much-cherished face of the Statue of Liberty. What would they see from such a high and historic perch? They could also imagine themselves as another monument that would uphold a virtue other than liberty—would they like to be erected as a statue in the Hudson or East River that exemplifies happiness, hip-hop, or equality? Young writers can imagine what new statues in New York Harbor would be inspirational to the world.
The Statue of Peace
by DeenaAs you sleep by day and awake at night.
People love your sight.
When it’s night she hangs a sign so bright.
Telling us to stop the fight the
sign is so bright its brighter
then light.Stop War stop the fight.
As the days go by, as a baby cries
She watches over as someone
dies.She can see from P.S.1.S.187 to
Central Park even when its
darkAs a bird tries to fly
When somebody wants to
cry because their friend
just died.In a war they fall in
and a bullet called themDo you see what
you can do as you fightThe light gets brighter
as heart gets tighter.
Teachers & Writers Magazine is published by Teachers & Writers Collaborative as a resource for teaching the art of writing to people of all ages. The online magazine presents a wide range of ideas and approaches, as well as lively explorations of T&W’s mission to celebrate the imagination and create greater equity in and through the literary arts.