Iconic.  The book Of Mice and Men and its central characters are iconic.  Readers around the world have experienced and sympathized with their Depression Era plight.  The students in Ms. Katelyn Maroney's 9th grade classes chose characters to write a poem about. 

According to Ms. Maroney, "They worked collaboratively to demonstrate their understanding of the novella and the primary themes embedded within Of Mice and Men. In addition to the students illustrating the theme and plot events, they also embedded 7-10 literary devices/ writing strategies like a published author would. These students did an outstanding job!"

Below are a few of the students' poetic works; click the link to read others.

https://padlet.com/kmaroney/m56o9rfq3sfd

LENNIE

By Dominick Ferreira and Aaron Cuascat

There is a man, dumb as a stone

Talking to another completely alone.

White one named Lennie, Dark one named Crooks

The dark one is so alone all he does is read books.

Lonely Crooks has a hostile mood

Discrimination is the cause of his attitude.

Simple Lennie is discriminated against too.

His thoughts and ideas aren’t given any value.

The stable of safe solitude is where Crooks and Lennie bond

For the stable is Crooks home, a black man can not go beyond.

These two men are helping each other learn

Like when Crooks told Lennie, George wouldn’t return

Candy lost his dog and feels alone

Curley’s wife is simply on her own

All of these characters are alike in one way

The feeling of loneliness is there to stay.

So different yet the same in so many ways

George and Lennie dream of having their own land some day.

CROOKS

By Isabella Rivera and Liam Gorman

Small and contained

Crooks bunk is deranged

Dust and dirt

Crooks barley had one shirt

Alone Crooks felt

the hardship he’s dealt

is making his life harder and harder

“Guys don’t come into a colored man's room very much”

Here comes candy the eldest on the ranch

his life is hard too, barely hanging on by a branch

And here comes Lennie a misfit too

He wishes he can hang with the crew

Stands tall like a giant

And is very defiant

All three men have such big dreams

Candy and crooks know it will never be

But Lennie believes George and all his schemes

And is sure he is going to raise rabbits and be free

Even here they are not left alone

Curley's wife comes in and shatters them all

She messes with the men and makes crooks feel small

Crooks tried to help, but he knows she’ll win

They are all misfits, in a way that we can’t comprehend

CROOKS

By Marcos DaSilva, Angelo Goncalves, Imani Rivera, Nick Ramos, Wendell Ramos

In chapter 4 they show discrimination

Because on this ranch it is a white nation

Crooks lives in his own station

But Lennie annoys Crooks to have a conservation

The old man appears

Then is left with tears

Saying George is spending all of their money

And Lennie does not find this funny

They dream to own a ranch

Crooks asks to follow

He claims he will work for no money

Which will leave his wallet hollow

Later in the day

Curley’s wife appears in the doorway

Stating she needs someone to talk to

But no one is interested in what she has to say

Crooks tells her she has no right to stay and tries to be the boss

She fights back and made crooks take the loss

She frames and  threatens to lynch crooks

But all he was doing was enjoying his books

Candy is old

Almost like mold

Lennie is a giant

But he is not reliant

Curley’s wife is a big flirt

Because if this she is treated like dirt

Crooks is forced to live with the animals

Because of this, it makes his place uninhabitable

No matter what changes on this ranch

It will always be unique

Especially if you’re like candy

And as old as an antique