Article
Panatphong/Shutterstock.com
Poem,

Ode to My Shoes

This beautiful poem connects perfectly to this issue’s fiction, “Good Enough.”

By Francisco X. Alarcón
From the November 2019 Issue
Featured Skill: Poetry,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.10, W.3
  • Grade 6
    RL.6.10, W.6.3
  • Grade 7
    RL.7.10, W.7.3
  • Grade 8
    RL.8.10, W.8.3
TEKS Standards
  • Grades 6, 7, 8
    3a, 4a, 5a, 5b, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6g, 6h, 7a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 11a

Presentation View
See Student View

Want to hear this poem read aloud? Click here!

Ode to My Shoes

my shoes
rest
all night
under my bed

tired
they stretch
and loosen
their laces

wide open
they fall asleep
and dream
of walking

they revisit
the places
they went to
during the day

and wake up
cheerful
relaxed
so soft

From BELLYBUTTON OF THE MOON. Text Copyright ©2005 by Francisco X. Alarcón. Permission arranged with Children’s Book Press, an imprint of LEE & LOW BOOKS, Inc., New York, NY 10016. All rights not specifically granted herein are reserved.

Lalo Borja

Francisco X. Alarcón (1954–2016) was an award-winning poet. He grew up in Mexico and the United States. His grandmother’s songs inspired him to begin writing poems at age 13—and he never stopped.

Fiction Connection

This poem connects to the fiction story "Good Enough." Read it here!

This poem was originally published in the November 2019 issue.

Audio ()
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Audio ()
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

1. READING THE POEM

As a class, read the poem aloud a few times or listen to the poem read aloud.

2. ANALYZING THE POEM

As a whole class or in small groups, answer the questions in the Analyzing Poetry Activity.

3. WRITING  

Invite students to write their own poems or essays using our Guided Writing Activity.

Text-to-Speech