Poetry can be such a beautiful way to showcase some of the powerful social emotional learning and creativity that Upstream Arts cultivates during our residencies. Often our Teaching Artists will start with a similar prompt – in this case, “a bad day” – and then take flight, collaboratively creating a poem with the participants. Here we get to see the myriad ways that each group of individuals expresses their feelings around bad days – and the strategies they use to engage those feelings.
A Bad Day Shhhhhuperhero
A bad day’s when my name’s spelled wrongLunch is spilled, blue and redSad, mad and hungry–all day longHuffing and puffing–blue zone in my head!
Sleepy grizzly–you know what I mean!
A spider insider her–phhh! I’m sooo tired.Stuck inside–arms crossed–not my scene!
Green for dancing–not inspired.I don’t have bad days, just bad thingsA chin poke–a hungry growl–my stomach sings.Takes my mind off! Shooting a basket ballBreathe with a breathing ball. Cat videos. Draw.Watch our shows. Breathing slows. BAD….DAY…GOES.
Collaboratively written by Participants and Teaching Artists at the Global Arts Plus program
The Unexpected UnspokenWhen I say stop talking and you keep talkingThat’s a bad day.When gramma says no games, and boundaries are walkingThat’s a bad day.A friend’s fake mad red dragon roach wayLive for a thousand dinosaur yearsWhen your friends keep lyin–keep me outta the loop
Oreo ice cream chase away the tearsTalkin with mama makes me feel floopShootin hoops–like a snoop–BOOP.Bumbabob–MEOW–ahhhhhhhA kitten cheetah flying like a haaaawk!
Collaboratively written by Participants and Teaching Artists at the RiverEast Therapeutic Day School program
Good Feelings, Bad Feelings, BOTH!Good day bounces up and downBad day, mad day with a frownGRRRR! I cover my faceA scared butterfly flies fast into spaceA purple sad butterfly flying lowFrowning in circles, moving slowthe butterfly’s friends are feeling madthe friends were eaten and that feels badI gave them space and said sorryWe’re friends again–YES!
Collaboratively written by Participants and Teaching Artists in the Hiawatha Elementary program
UntitledCan’t talk about my feelingsA lonely penguin on a green cloudy dayThe day turned yellow foggy. A surprised sharkKicked a balloon and turned it sunny.The red calm dinosaur joins the partyWith an orange cat swimming in the rain.Swimming silly. Swimming proud.
Collaboratively written by Participants and Teaching Artists in the Bridge View School program