Our new creative writing class watched the video “poem” found here, a mini-documentary by Kelly O’Brien. We wrote answers to some of the questions asked by O’Brien’s daughter and we wrote our own question poems. Below are some of our efforts.
My answer to “Can girls be robots?”:
Girls CAN be robots because girls can be anything they want to be. They can be scientists and astronauts and dancers and doctors and teachers and writers and, yes, robots. Girls can even be combinations of these: You can be a dancing robot or an astronaut robot or a dancing astronaut. We can all be more than one thing. We can choose who to be; we can choose to be versions of ourselves.
But boys are often robots because they don’t think they have a choice. They think they cannot show emotions or other boys (and some girls) will make fun of them. They think they can only love facts and not people. They think because they are boys they must not cry or be silly or be sad or be quiet. They think they have to be robots even when they want so badly to choose to be human. They don’t think they can be that version of themselves.
So, yes, girls can robots, but they should never only be robots. Because none of us should only be robots.
Emersyn’s answer to “Why don’t worms have faces?”:
For all we know, worms could have a face. Just because it doesn’t like mine or yours, that doesn’t mean they don’t have one. All we know about faces is what we can see ourselves and what we already have. We as people think that if it’s not like us then it’s not there at all. So our face could be completely different from the face of a worm but that doesn’t stop the worm from having a face. Worms can have anything they want to have and who are we to stop them? We can’t just collectively decide they don’t have a face just because it’s not exactly like ours or what we know a face to look like.
Joe’s answer to “Why do you pick a flower and it dies?”:
Sometimes we want to keep pretty things, like flowers. When we take them from where they are growing, they will stay pretty for a while, but soon they die. There are some things that we can’t keep forever, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t admire them. When you leave a flower in the ground instead of picking it, it keeps growing and gets even prettier. So sometimes it’s better to leave something where it belongs, even if it means you don’t get to keep it. That way, you can remember how pretty it was, and even come back to see how it’s grown, and that can be even better than picking it.
Ben’s answer to “Why does a heart beat?”:
A: Well, our heart beats because it wants to keep us alive. No matter what we eat or what we do, what we choose or what we think, our heart will keep thumping for as long as we live. We don’t have a choice.
Now, why does it want to keep us alive? Some people believe there’s something it wants them to achieve and once when you do it’ll slow down and rest for a bit. Others think there’s something or someone they need to protect, that as long as there is any threat to anything they care about their heart will keep them alive until the danger has passed. I, however, think the heart only beats because it’s afraid. It’s afraid of what’ll happen when it stops.
I suppose if that is true, then we shouldn’t call it “our” heart. We don’t own it, we don’t control it, and it doesn’t control us. Who you are and what you want are completely separate of what a heart is and what it wants. Having both a purpose and a heart are necessary to keeping you alive, sure, but don’t ever try to confuse the two. Your heart will still beat no matter what dream you decide to follow. It’ll only end when you do.
That doesn’t mean the two of you can’t get along, however. If you try your best to keep your heart healthy by exercising and eating your fruits and vegetables, then it’ll try its best to keep you alive for as long as it can. Your heart will have what it wants, and you’ll have enough time to think about or even achieve what you want.
So, why does a heart beat? It beats because it wants to live. Now before I go I would like to ask you a question. No, it’s not one you have to answer now, but it is one I want you to think about. What will you beat for?
Vanessa’s answer to “Why doesn’t everyone know me?”:
When we are small and young like you, our whole family knows us. Mom, dad, sisters, brothers, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles. They know everything about you. They tell stories about you to their friends and then more people know you. The world is filled with billions and billions of people. You are just one of those billions of people. You have to make something of yourself. Nobody is known by everyone. There are some people who don’t know you and never will because in this really big world, we are just little people. Think of a beach full of sand. If you pick up a little speck of sand, that is us. When you put it back on the ground, that’s what we are like compared to people in the world. There are people down the street that you may never know, but one day they might know who you are. For people to know you, you have to put yourself out there and make yourself memorable. Being memorable doesn’t mean going famous for playing a sport or making a lot of money. Being memorable can mean making a change to the world, or doing something that you know can help other people. Sometimes it’s good to not be known by everyone. It can save yourself the struggle of being judged.
Bella’s Question Poem:
Why do you love me?
How big is 100?
Why can’t animals talk?
Why can’t I fly?
How come I like chocolate?
Why do birds eat worms?
Do bugs have feelings?
Why do we have to eat food?
How come I can’t have ice cream for breakfast?
What happens if the world stops?
Why did you smile?
Can you dance with me?
Why are you crying?
Why is she my friend?
What does love mean?
What is this song?
Why do we have to be nice?
Will you ever stop loving me?
What happens when our heart stops?
Can I live forever?
Why does food taste different?
Why is blue called blue?
How do mermaids breathe underwater?
What would you still want me if I looked different?
Are you okay mom?
Can we get a dog?
How many stars are there?
Why can’t we touch the sky?
What is her name?
How many people are there?
Why is he smoking?
What is time?
Why is her hair long?
Does she know me?
Why can I see myself in the mirror?
Where do we go when we die?
Dalton’s Question Poem:
Children are questions.
Every sentence they utter is
a question itself or
just down right questionable.
Who owns Earth?
What kind of tree is that?
Where do babies come from?
When do I get to be the mom?
Why can’t we eat candy every day?
How come a bird can fly and I can’t?
They are a sponge, wanting to absorb
Every. Last. Drop.
How come you have a beard and I don’t?
Why does everyone walk on two feet?
When can we bake cookies?
Where did the sun go?
What do dogs say?
Who is God?
The questions seem to come from thin air.
But then, one day it
stops
They are no longer askings questions
But rather you:
How did they grow up so fast?
Why didn’t you stop them?
When did they grow-up?
Where did the time go?
What do you do now?
Who are they?
Who am I?
Emma P.’s Question Poem:
Answers Wanted
Moms and dads are supposed
to know the questions we
can not possibly begin to answer as kids:
Why do people die?
Where did I come from?
Why do I have to go to school?
Some are simple to answer,
some are not as simple:
When you die, who will I live with?
Why are you on your phone?
Why are some people so mean?
73 questions a day
a curious child asks,
hoping and hoping that this time,
they will get an answer that they understand.
But,
what about the child
whose questions
are never answered?
Brooke’s Question Poem:
mommy…
why is grass green?
why is the sky blue?
where do babies come from?
why are people mean?
where did grandpa go?
why do cats meow?
why does daddy live with grandma now?
why do people go to jail?
how many butterflies are in the world?
what are drugs?
why do we call water “water”?
why does Alicia have no hair?
what are those pills?
can i be a princess?
why are you sad?
am i gonna be beautiful?
what is life?
how does life live?
Polking Classroom 