Reading
April 21 and 22
CCSS RL.6.6
Karen Hesse has written this book from Billie Jo’s point of view. Throughout the novel, she has developed Billie Jo’s point of view by using all of the poems in Billie Jo’s diary. We’re going to look at point of view in a little different way today by completing a RAFT. We’ll be sharing it on the blog when we’re done. After that, we will have a discussion about point of view.
Role: Billie Jo’s Dad
Audience: No One - He’s writing in his diary and he thinks it will never be seen.
Format: Free Verse Poem
Topic: Life since his wife and son died from the accidentWinter 1935
ReplyDeleteBilly Jo thinks her hands still work.
I would never
never
have the heart
to tell her
to tell her piano playing will never be the same.
I know she wishes she could
but
with those hands
how could it ever be the same?
Polly would have wanted her
to continue playing
piano.
I like your poem because you have really put some emotion into this poem. How sorry he is for Billy Joe. NIce work.
Deletei agree with lacey it shows emotion how he felt....
DeleteOh my gosh Jenna this poem is really good. I like how you put never on it's own line and then mentioned how Polly would want her to continue.
DeleteI really really like your poem and I also like how you put some words alone like "never" and "piano". Great Job.
DeleteI wonder if that's actually how her dad thought. I wonder if he will ever tell her that. That would really upset Billy.
DeleteI’m worried
ReplyDeleteabout the farm;
and Billy Joe.
I’m going to go to night school.
For when the farm fails.
Billy Joe
says we’ll be alright,
when rain comes.
We all know
it won’t.
I know there’ll be girls there.
I don’t know
what to think.
What if they think I’m old?
Who cares.
I’m going for the farm
I’m going for Billy Joe
I’m going for me
I’m going for Polly…
I hope she doesn’t hate me,
for her not living.
I hope she’s happy where she is.
I have to go
I love this poem, how you mentioned Polly and Billy Joe.
DeleteThats a great poem very touching too, good job.
DeleteLike what Steve said, love how you mentioned Polly and Billie Jo. And how you have to go.
DeleteMy setting was the dust storm when he went to go find Billy Joe.
ReplyDeleteLast night I went out to find Billy Joe,
I left a note,
telling her
if she were to come
home just stay there.
I would hate
to lose
another person i love.
I want to go live somewhere nice and damp,
where it rains constatly
and there
isn’t this stupid dust
I want to eat nice smooth bread,
I want to drink nice cold milk.
Because this Dust,
I won’t though,
I can’t though
All i can do now is stay put
and hope for the best,
to come out of this.
I think that your powem is pretty good l like how you made it go with the book so almost perfect.
DeleteI like your poem. It has lots of emotion and feeling.
Deletewow i like how you described how the dust really changed his life nice job :)
DeleteI think I should join night school I told my daughter that
ReplyDeleteI don’t know what to do
at least if the farm fales
then I would be able to do something
maybe get some good work
I know most of the classes have girls in them
but they won't mind me
I think I will take simple classes
nothing to hard
but hard enuf to get a new job
if the farm fales I keep thinking it won’t
but I am almost shera it will
March 1935
i like the way you say how hes going to help him and Billie jo nice job
Delete:)
It’s been awful quiet
ReplyDeletewithout Polly and,
baby Franklin.
It’s been quiet,
almost bone chilling quiet.
Nothing is the same.
Billy Joe
hasn’t been able to keep up with the dust,
the dust is everywhere.
Dried onto the floor
mud
In our food
dirt
in the sheets
and everywhere else.
The dust changes,
it changes everything.
I started night school,
just in case the dust,
changes my farm to fail.
I like how you put some real deep thought into this eve. I really like it.
DeleteThat is a great poem and very touching! nice job
DeleteI love this poem. I really describes the mud and all the dust all over. Great Job!
Deletenice poem and good details
DeleteI have changed.
ReplyDeleteEver since Polly and Franklin died.
I don’t really talk anymore.
Not even to Billie Jo.
The other night I took her to the Presidents Ball,
and to the Talent Show.
I know I can do more like get more money from
Night School for
Billie Jo.
I like that. I wonder if he would have actually said that in a diary....
DeleteThank you. Ya I wonder i that was actually in the diary he wrote,... even though he is a made up character
Deletei stare and Billi Jo
ReplyDeletewhile i sit across
from her
at the table
I spend long days
digging for
electric- train folks
and digging a pond
like me wife have
always wanted
as i sing under
my breath even now
i sing like an
old man singing
the way my
wife did.
I like how you got some of the things from the book then add them with your own thoughts.
DeleteNice way to put that his wife sang like an old man.
Deletenice job! I think that u did a good job ;)
Delete(Inspiration from) The Presidents Ball
ReplyDeleteAs i dance with Billy her eyes sparkle in the light of the room,
just like her mothers,
Polly
Billie talks just like her
takes after her,
says things I knew Polly
would have said at this time,
Billie,
she calls herself her fathers daughter,
but reminds me so much
of her mother.
If Polly could see her now,
I know how proud she would be.
But if she only knew her brother.
How life would be if she only knew.
If I only knew.
The way they could have,
played.
How they could sing while they
help with chores.
Life would have been great.
Billie
is all i have now,
life shall go on.
I miss Polly terribly,
to me she was one
of the 8 wonders of the
world.
Life is still good in the great state of Oklahoma.
Even tho the storms have been
getting worse,
Polly’s spirit helped make it rain.
January 1935
Wow, so Inspirational. ;(
Deletewow.... just wow that is... so beautiful ;( and how you described the way.... he misses polly.
DeleteWow McKenzie, that's a very long and touching poem I think he probably really thought that, Awesome job.
DeleteWhen I wake up in the morning
ReplyDeleteI look for her
I can’t find her,
her smell has vanished
gone.
I’ve started going to night school
because if the farm failed
I could still have a chance,
thats what Ma would probably say.
There are some ladies at the night school
they remind me of her
they keep good company
even though they take
bookkeeping and civics.
They bring me chicken and biscuits
Its nothin like mas cooking though.
i love they way you tell how billie jo feels when her mother isnt in the house or....anywhere nice job :)
DeleteI think I should spend time with Billie jo
ReplyDeleteI guess i should go watch her play
to see how good she is
I wonder if i should start acting like ma
or should I not
Every day when
ReplyDeleteI am always thinking
about polly.
Saying to
my self that if I would not
have put gas in by the stove
none of this would
have happened.
We have all changed
because now that
you are gone
It is a lot
different life
with out
you.
good poem
DeleteI stare at my daughter
ReplyDeleteacross the table wondering
what will happen later.
I dig electric-trains waiting for the rain
to fill my pond.
I sing under my breath
I wish Polly could here this yet.
I used to smell like my Polly
but now I smell like that dust and coffee.
I look at Joes face
and see her Ma and Frank.(Short For Franklin)
I tell joe I am going to night school
so I could have another thing to do if I lose the farm.
Joe enters a competition I came to watch her.
She got third but thats just fine as long as it is mine.
Joe has a friend who wants her to join his show
and I say yes shes got to go.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI work day & night long
ReplyDeleteEither nursing my wheat,
or helping to dig the electric-train track.
I am good at digging.
Even digging a pond for ma
It is tiring.
I try to sing when I work,
but my voice always fails me.
I try to help Billie Jo
I try
I try to help her keep playing piano
and in school.
But I think she just gave up trying
she gave up the piano.
maybe even school.
She even tries to help
to help me with my farm
with those frail hands of her.
I think our family is falling apart
without ma
without ma we are falling apart
I wake up feeling sad,
ReplyDeleteonly my imprint in the bed,
‘cause Polly’s gone.
The accident has scarred me for life,
all my fault.
I just wish I didn’t leave that pail of kerosene
by the stove.
If it weren’t for that,
she AND Franklin could have lived.
Billie Jo did all she could to save her,
but it didn’t help much.
First I lose most of the crops,
then Ma and Franklin.
Now all I have left to lose
is the farm and Billie Jo.
Now I’m gonna go to
night school for the sake of what’s left.
March, 1935
Christmas
ReplyDeleteBillie Jo is off with
Miss Freeland.
Her fake ma,
at the school dinner.
She was probably the only
motherless girl.
She came home that night,
and we had our Christmas dinner.
Just the two of us.
We just sat there.
Silent.
Without Polly,
or Franklin.
It’s so lonely,
and quiet.
I just want to
hear a baby cry
or
Polly’s voice.
Anything.
I miss Polly’s cranberry sauce.
We didn’t have any.
Couldn’t find the recipe.
and Billie Jo was never taught how.
I miss Polly
I miss talking to Billie Jo
She doesn’t know how
miserable
I am not talking to her
as much.
But
what is there to say?
~January 1935
Desmond J's Poem:
ReplyDeleteI miss my wife Polly
I miss her cooking
I miss her laughter
I miss her when times were bad and she
said they'd get better
I miss everything about her
I wonder what my son would have been like.
Christmas
ReplyDeleteEver since Ma has died
Its been hard
I know Billie misses her
I can tell
While Billie is with Miss Freeland
I am here
Well Billie came home
We ate together
Quietly
No words
Just us
And the silence
I wish Franklin was here
I wonder what he would be like
I wish things
We’re normal again
Like
No dust
Rain
Ma and Franklin
Here with us
Its real quiet here
No baby
No Ma
Just me and Billie
But
Me and Billie don't talk
What is there to say?
I've changed
ReplyDeleteBillie changed.
Ever since Franklin and Polly died
Billie’s hands and my heart
burned bad
My Feelings, My Emotions everything gone.
I lost the love of my life
And Billie lost her Mother
That special Mother that she will never have again.
that Mother that wife that friend..
Gone just like my Feelings
Winter 1935
What Have I Done
ReplyDeleteI wish I had A son
I have Billie
But were awkward
Ma is Gone
What About the Pond?
If only
I wasn’t so lonely
Why’d i put it there?
I GUESS I DIDN’T CARE
I miss her
How can I move on?
And how she used to play her songs.
She was crazy about her music
And how she used to use it.
Billie and I don’t talk much
We just say hi and such
I know she can’t forgive me but why can’t she see?
my life sucks after i lost my wife and son but alest i still have billiy jo,and im thinking of going to tack night school i hear there might bee som laddeys that might need a hand
ReplyDelete