I Am

English 8 read N. Scott Momaday’s “The Delight Song of Tsoai–talee.” Momaday employs anaphora, starting the lines of his first stanza with “I am . . . .” I asked the 8th graders to try the technique in their own “I Am . . .” poems. I found Nicole’s so beautifully detailed, I asked her if we could share it on thebirdonfire.org. She agreed. — Ms. Zachik

I am a pencil sharpened down to the ferrule. 

I am the mouse that creeps out in the dead of night. 

I am the volume button on a remote.

I am two mismatched pairs of socks.

I am Jupiter’s second-smallest moon. 

I am a gopher underground.

I am a cloud floating with the sunrise.

I am many things, and many things are me. 

I am a seed on a dandelion.

I am smudged gel-pen ink. 

I am an unused eraser. 

I am many things, and they all are me.

I am, I am, I am. 

–Nicole Jowitt