Haru Haru

The Poem Project ~ Part 3

Having made it through my first 2 periods of the day I now sat in english as Ms. Ensinger was starting her lesson. I wasn't really paying attention until she announced we had to write a poem in class and be done with it 10 minutes before class was over. Wow nothing like pushing your students I thought. 

"Now I want you all to be done with them at that time because they are going home with someone else in the class to write a review on that will be due on Friday. I know you only are writing in this class period but I did warn you of this yesterday in class for you to brainstorm your topics." She said firmly standing with a hand on her hip a hand full of half sheets of paper and envelopes in the other.

Of course the one class period I really wasn't paying attention in yesterday apparently to get the warning to try and come up with a topic. Then thinking about it and realizing I wasn't really in poem contemplation form yesterday. I look up as she is handing out the half sheets of paper and the envelopes. I look at the paper as it gets set on my desk next to our laptops that we have just for this class I started to read as she begins to explain. 

" The paper I have given you has a number in the corner, that is who you are for this project. You are both writing your poem and giving your critique as that number. I want everything to be unbiased, for who they come from at all stages of this." Ms. Ensinger explains.

I boot up the computer and look at my number '6' having to stop myself from laughing at the irony. In 6 weeks it is my birthday. In 6 weeks it would be 4 full years since I last was with my family. In 6 weeks I was going to be dead.

"Now just 3 things and I will let you all get started. Number one this can be any length, format, content or other that you like I am giving you as the writer free reign on this. Number 2 once you print off your poem put it in the envelope seal it and bring it up to my desk, once you are here you will write your number on the envelope and drop it in the basket. That way only I know who has that number, I am not keeping track but I will give you a grade on completion that way. Ok last thing, as you leave I will give you an envelope, please refrain from opening it as well as working on this project at school. I want as few a chance at taking away from the reveal of the rest of this project for friday. Alright everyone this is a double period so take advantage for your writing." She gets done with her explanation and most of everyone gets to work typing.

Staring at my screen I blank for what to write, thrown off by my number and starting to feel my ribs aching from sitting in the hard seat. After a few minutes I finally think of something to write about and I get to work getting completely absorbed in my topic. The entire class period is quiet just the sound of clacking keys as everyone types with the occasional grumble or heavy sigh heard. I finish writing and send it to the printer, shutting the screen and scurrying over to grab it as soon as it gets done printing. Folding the paper sealing the envelope I head with my pen up to Ms. Ensinger's desk to 'turn in' my assignment. On my way up to her desk from my seat I glance at the clock beside the door seeing I only had 5 minutes until the deadline to turn in.

As we all stand up to leave when the bell rings, Ms. Ensinger stands by the door with the basket in hand. We walk out in single file, she hands us each an envelope upside down. In the 10 minutes everyone had to finish turning their poems in, she told us to put it in our bags until we left school and that when we come into class on Friday we should bring them both back in new blank envelopes with both the original poem as well as our critique. Of course both will only have our numbers on them and because of turning them in blank even, if someone saw your envelope they wouldn't know your number.

I liked the idea all around honestly it caused all of us to not be scared by being 'to involved' or 'not being good at writing' either way. The only somewhat stressing part was knowing she was going to read them both, in order, out loud in front of the class on friday. Trying not to think about it I made my way with the rest of everyone down the hall and back to my locker. I dropped my book in there still keeping my bag with me, it was time for lunch, I didn't really ever eat lunch so I wasn't in a hurry to do anything. That being said with sitting so long my ribs were killing, setting off for the locker room they had bigger stalls in the rest room, I was going to take advantage to re-wrap my ribs there and check my makeup.