“We have tomorrow, bright before us, like a flame…”
During CHP’s annual Poetry Day celebration, the words of Langston Hughes resonated as the fourth graders presented many of his poems to a room filled with their guests and fellow classmates. Their expressive recitations highlighted the students’ introduction to the social history of American culture and the development of their public speaking skills.
During the second part of the Poetry Day program, many fourth graders shared their own original poems, written after being inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes, other poets, or their own original thoughts. These poems evolved in class as students could be found on the floor of the classroom thoughtfully reading over the Langston Hughes poems that hung on the clothesline in front of the room. As so many were moved by the depth of emotion expressed in these poems, they chose those that spoke to them and wrote their own variations.
As always, it was an exciting day of great accomplishments… highlighted by the loud applause of the audience!
