Collaborative Distance Poetry

At the beginning of the pandemic, teachers received hundreds of emails with online resources.  We were overwhelmed with PDs, free online platforms, tips, and more. We soon realized it was more challenging than any of us thought it would be.

Distance teaching is not ideal for many students, and is frustrating for many teachers. Some teachers (like me) are finding it hard to engage their students, and it is difficult to gauge how much students are involved and doing some school work.  Nevertheless, some creative projects are happening - teachers are adaptive and resilient. When I saw this collaborative poem by students on one of the 7th grade teams at my school, I was impressed by what I read. The teachers, Heather Sullivan-Flynn and Patrick Hunter, gave me permission to publish it here.

I asked the teachers about their process in guiding students during this unit. The teachers explained that students read Kwame Alexander's crowd-sourced poem "Social Distance" so they could see how it worked. Previously, they had responded to a prompt for individual poems where they had to look in nature or their homes for something that stood out or seemed like it didn't belong, hence the theme "belonging" for their final poem. The teachers created a slide show of images to show belonging, such as multicolored, clasped hands, and a photo of the team of 130 students. Then, the students were asked to write 1-2 lines about belonging. They were encouraged to use poetic language, such as metaphors, to express their feelings of belonging. The final result, after some editing by the teachers, is this awesome collaborative poem! Read below: 

Belonging: a collaborative poem written by Team Midnight students

Belonging-
a feeling of togetherness,
being a part in this world,
where you talk and feel heard
different skin- 
different face- 
different religion- 
but it doesn't matter because we are all the same


A herd of mustangs 
a mob of black, tan, brown, white 
galloping in a sense of togetherness 
A collection of ocean rocks
refusing the ocean’s force  
never have to hide
secrets kept frozen under goosebumps
and stale smiles.


Knowing this is the place for you
like knowing the answer on a test
we are worthy of kindness 
it is working together
that makes us feel like we belong
A warmth like bat’s wings 
wrap around to feel comfort and peace-
Belonging feels like connecting, heart to heart


We all should be treated equally 
even though we may disperse,
we won’t cascade apart
our hands are locked 
holding you up, and keeping you safe
we are in this together


Hands, reaching out to hold one another, 
the colors of fluffy pillows,
golden sunsets,
and deep warm browns-
Like the stalks of a new plant-
Like birds chirping in the summer-
as the dandelions sway 
holding each other’s hands to create one family.
Separate we are just people,
but together we are a family-
we come together and our community grows 
searching warm gazes
your heart beats with the knowledge
that you are loved-
that you belong here:
 a loving community where you can be you

As humans we want to be in the circle
to stay in the circle
to live in the circle
everyone, together, 
being human and having fun-
we are all in this together 
we will all have each other's back 
and we will each be there for someone 
You're not alone- 
we are all here in this circle
together.


It’s a good feeling to know that you fit in 
to feel that you belong.
Everyone in our community belongs-
no matter our differences we get along
Everyone has different backgrounds,
but everyone has feelings.
Though sometimes things are rough
and looking very tough
the strength and love of a community
holds us together-
you can be different but still belong
where one becomes many 
and many make a difference


Together
It's better
It feels like sunlit gold
Like a sweet smelling flower 
Always together with bees
Together is always better
Similarities are only found with differences 
Peace is a miracle, 
working together is another 
But finding a place to belong 
is full of mixed emotions 
 I belong when the people around me accept who I am 
Belonging feels like a piece of an image fitting with the other pieces
another piece to a greater puzzle
that soft, warm, delicate feeling
of knowing you are loved.


We are all together drifting through the current 
all wanting to get to the same place 
all doing it together
and though we don’t know
We will all drift past each other
not even noticing that
we all were once in the same boat
rowing in unison
to the beat of the waves.
It’s easy to think of belonging 
when you already have help
Everyone plays a role in society to help everyone belong
everyone is different
and deserves to be included
Belonging isn’t always easy 
Belonging is warmth 
Belonging is comfort and relief 
but most importantly 
Belonging is safe


Together we all stand, included-
you are meant to be here- 
To know belonging is to know there is a place for you
like a petal on a flower, you belong-
You are meant 
to belong.


Heather Sullivan-Flynn has been teaching middle school English for 22 years, the last 18 of them at Amherst Regional Middle School. She lives in western Massachusetts with her family where she writes fiction and drinks tea. ​

Patrick Hunter teaches English and Social Studies at Amherst Middle School.