This document contains a collection of short poems written by students of 1^ B after the example of Walt Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing". The poems describe various occupations such as street sweepers, carpenters, plumbers, architects, engineers, doctors, and more. Each poem highlights the work and songs of different people. Overall, the poems celebrate the contributions of all workers and emphasize that everyone plays an important role in society.

1. YOUNG POETS
1^ B
Collection of short poems written by the students of 1^ B after the example of ‘I hear America singing’ by
Walt Whitman
1

2. Singing with joy and pride
I hear Italy singing, the various songs of different working men/women.
Those of artisans and workers, each one singing their different song…
The old street-sweeper singing his as he cleans streets and cities,
The young carpenter singing his as he planes wood,
The plumber singing his as he repairs kitchens and bathrooms,
The housewife singing his as she cleans the house,
Those of technicians, each one singing his different song
The architect singing his as he draws and designs,
The engineer singing his as he designs structures,
The doctor singing his as he takes care of sick people,
Singing with joy and pride, singing with open mouths their strong and
melodious songs.
by Armando Albanese
2
I see the people working
I see the people working,
The wood-cutter, strong and robust, is procuring some woods for the
carpenter,
And the carpenter is sanding it.
I see the secretary, tired, who is looking her agenda,
And the doctor is helping his patients
But I see a lot of girls and boys who are studying to guarantee a future to
our society.
by Giacomo Bencivinni

3. A big party
I imagine a big party with a lot of people
There is the chef, he usually cooks delicious food,
now he is making a very good chocolate cake.
There are a lot of waiters, they usually serve the food at the restaurant,
now they are serving sweets at the party.
There is also a DJ, he usually plays the music,
now he is making people dance.
There are also a lot of dancers.
Thanks to an electrician there are great lights
Thanks to the architect and the engineer all the people have a place where
they can enjoy the party
by Luca Benigno
3
All people of the world are important.
With their specialization everybody helps the rest of the world to do
anything.
I see a teacher who helps the future citizens to grow up
I see a bus driver who accompanies all passengers to their destination
I see a barman offering coffee to tired people
I see a janitor who cleans the school and gives news to the teachers
I see a carpenter who builds you a wardrobe
In the society all the jobs give a small but still a contribute to the society
Without each of them we could not survive
by Bruno Buscetta

4. Sometimes
Sometimes we don't think enough how our life is so facilitated:
Every single day, there's a baker who makes bread, that bread which your
mother is bringing for your dinner;
there's a housewife who now is tidying up your room while you are
studying or just watching television;
there's a doctor or a nurse that right now are trying to save a life, to cure a
person;
there's a lawyer who is defending the rights of someone’s innocence as
every day.
Don't be indifferent to reality!
by Nina Cartaino
4
In the morning, I hear different melodies.
In the morning, I hear different melodies.
The baker that is baking the bread for all people,
The doctor is waiting for his first clients.
The mum’s sweet melody is waking up her children,
The teacher that is explaining the lesson,
The postman that is delivering the post,
The newsagent that is preparing its showcase,
The woman that is cleaning the house.
In the morning which is the beginning of a new day
Everyone is happy to have what belongs to them
by Sandy Cavallotti

5. Working 3.0
I watch the computer programmer, designing algorithms to make the
machine work better;
I see the space engineer, testing and perfectioning new kinds of rocket
engines to help us discover new worlds;
I admire the work of the scientist, experimenting and hypothesizing how
and why a phenomenon occurs;
I look at the surgeon, saving so many lives thanks to research, treatments,
tools and, most importantly, skills;
I behold a company expand, thanks to the innovative and ingenious ideas
of its great CEO.
Then I see the farmer and the miner, both providing the world resources
to survive and to advance.
by Giuseppe Cognata
5
I hear
I hear the mechanic singing when he works with the car
I hear the carpenter singing when he cuts the trunk
I hear the mason singing when he builds a house
I hear the boatman singing when he sails on the sea
I hear the shoemaker singing when he glossies the shoes
I hear the journalist singing when he writes a newspaper article
I hear all the working people singing when they make ready for work.
by Alessandro D’Asta

6. If I had 12 lives…
If I had 12 lives, I could be all these different people…
I could be a teacher guiding my class to keep fit
Or I could choose to be a lawyer to help innocent people.
I could be a fire-woman so I could save people and cats.
Perhaps I could be a model wearing the latest fashion
Or…why not an architect? I could build the highest tower.
Probably, if I became an engineer, I could plan my project.
How about being a receptionist? I could type fast on my computer.
Should I be a singer? I could express my emotions.
What if I were an athlete? I could win the Olympic Games.
Finally, as a journalist, I could interview all the people who do different
jobs.
By Chiara Escheri
6
I hear Sicily singing
I hear Sicily singing,
I hear the birds singing when Spring arrives,
I hear the farmer singing when he turns on the tractor,
I hear my dad singing when he works,
I hear the shepherd singing when he looks after the cows and the sheep,
I hear the fishermen singing when they sell fish at the outdoor market,
I hear the plumber singing when he repairs a pipe,
I hear Sicilian girls singing when they play with the dolls,
I hear Sicilian boys singing when they play football,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
by Francesco Fatta

7. Laughing
The hairdresser is laughing while she cuts the hair
The lawyer is laughing while he defends the lawsuit
The teacher is laughing while she teaches the students
The lifeguard is laughing while he teaches the children to swim
The shop assistant is laughing while she help the people to find the size
The doctor is laughing while he takes care of the patient.
by Renata Genovese
7
I hear Italy singing
I hear Italy singing, the many successes sung aloud.
I hear people singing, people full of joy.
I hear distinctly their songs, the workers’ songs.
I hear the doctor singing when he saves the people’s life,
I hear the cook singing when he cheers people with food,
I hear the teacher singing when her students learn new things,
I hear the singer singing with joy her songs for her fans,
I hear the barber singing when he gives a new look to the people,
I hear the presenter singing when she presents a funny program,
I hear the comedian singing when he entertains the public.
Every song belongs to people who sing it.
by Giuseppe Guglielmino

8. Carpenter, Oh Carpenter
The carpenter is never tired
He walks with the hammer and the saw
He is under the dust so patiently.
The carpenter works the wood with precision and patience
He affects the wood and smoothes
a thousand objects for us: chairs, furniture, tables.
Carpenter, oh Carpenter thank you for what you do.
by Salvo Lo Biondo
8
I hear people singing
I hear Italy singing, the varied carols I hear,
Students sing while they're doing homework,
Kids sing while they're playing with their toys,
Journalists sing while they're writing daily,
Pet-sitters sing while they're taking some Golden Retriever, for a walk
Architects sing while they're drawing a house,
Secretaries sing while they're answering the phone,
Hairdressers sing while they're cutting hair;
I conclude these few verses with the consideration
that the world is beautiful because it is full of various people
by Jacopo Lombardi 1B

9. Dancing
The nurse cares the sick and dances
The lawyer defends the guilty and dances
The architect designs the buildings and dances
The computer programmer works at the computer and dances
The teacher teaches the students and dances.
Everybody dances while working.
by Giulio Militello
9
I see
I see people in the shops
I see people working constantly
I see the carpenter cutting the wood
I see the tailor cutting the clothes
I see the hatter creating hats
I see the mechanic fixing cars
I see everyone working modestly.
by Andrea Miraglia

10. I hear an harmonious melody
I hear an harmonious melody played by Italian workers:
I hear drums that give rhythm to this melody which represents our
masons.
I hear a bass that represents ploughboys growing our land.
I hear a trumpet that sounds with vivacity a deckhand’s melody.
I hear an eletric guitar that gives energy to this melody that represents our
mechanics.
I hear a violin that gives harmony that represents our bakers.
I hear a singer with an amazing voice that represents our judges.
At the end I hear a choir with an orchestra which is the key part : the
citizens.
The politicians coordinate everything as a teacher.
by Chiara Monteleone
10
Every person in the society
Every person has an important role in the society;
everyday everyone helps the world to become a better place where to live
side by side in harmony .
Each one gives his contribution to the universe in very different ways;
The soldier fights in the battle risking his life to defend his nation;
the guitarist slakes to the sound of music his devotion with his chords;
the women continue to fight for their civil rights;
the writer wants to change the world through his verse;
the painter represents his pure art with his brush stroke;
the street artist illuminates the face of the bystanders with his
performance.
The world is beautiful because is full of various people and, individually,
“the human being” is special because he is all that he wants.
by Mauro Monterosso

11. People at work
The waitress works in a restaurant; now she is serving a couple;
The teacher teaches to students; now she is correcting their tests;
The babysitter looks after babies; now she is playing with them;
The dog-sitter walks her neighbour’s dogs; now she is taking the dogs to
the park;
The photographer takes pic; now he is editing his pictures;
The singer sings at the concert; now he is writing a song;
The actor plays in a movie; now he is reading the screenplay.
by Cecilia Pappalardo
11
Listening is a virtue
I admire people who are able to listen.
The teacher listens to the students and teaches them
The lawyer listens to the clients
And with them searches the best defense
The psychologist listens and talks: it is his job.
Listening is a virtue.
by Diego Planeta

12. People sing while…
Mechanicals sing while they're fixing some wires,
Pet-sitters sing while they're taking some Yorkshires out for a walk,
Students sing while they're doing homework,
Housewives sing while they're doing their housework,
Journalists sing while they're writing daily articles,
Kids sing while they're playing with their toys gaily,
Cooks sing while they're cooking in their own kitchen
And baby-sitters sing while they're are looking after children.
by Luigi Rispoli
12
Every day…
Every day I see people working, they do lots of different jobs.
There's the workman, he builds houses. Without him we wouldn't have a
place to stay.
There's the policeman, he captures thieves and killers. Without him we
would be robbed every day.
There's the teacher, he makes children cultured. Without him none could
do his job well.
There's the doctor, he attends to the ill. Without him we wouldn't treat
our sickness.
I don't know what they are doing now, whether they are laughing or
crying.
But I know that every day they do their work, and they have the same
objective.: they all want to make our lives easier.
by Carlo Rotolo

13. Thoughts
Thoughts are of all and nobody can stop them.
There are many kinds of thoughts, they depend on our experiences,
feelings and sensations.
Usually adults are full of worries whilst children are carefree, but they also
think!
Everyone thinks of how to do their work best.
The student thinks how to get good grades,
The teacher thinks how to teach her students well,
The bricklayer thinks how to build a solid house,
The doctor thinks how to save the life of his patients
The dentist thinks how to improve people’s smile the eye specialist
thinks to give them a better sight.
But the common thought of all is “try to be happy”!
by Chiara Ruisi
13
Smiling
I see happy citizens working, I see.
I see the doctor smiling as he helps his nice, young patients.
I see the diver smiling while he’s jumping into the water.
I see the chef smiling while his clients enjoy his food.
I see the lawyer smiling when he wins a case.
I see the architect smiling when his building has been built.
I see the skier smiling when he raises his trophy.
by Costanza Russo Gagliardo

14. I see all the people working to change the world…
I see the world working to build a better society,
I see all the people working to realize their dreams,
I see the deckhands travel around the world with courage,
I see the masons and carpenters erect buildings,
I see the hatter create masterpieces!
I see the ploughboy run after sheep,
I see mothers raise their sons,
Even today they are working,
I see all the people working to change the world…
by Federico Santino
14
The colours of life
The doctor is singing how to save the human lives
The policeman is singing while ensuring justice and protecting the weak
people
The painter is singing how to paint the colours of life
The astronaut is singing looking for a better planet
The pilot is singing observing the world from above discovering new
horizons.
by Gabriele Ursumando

15. I imagine
I imagine a pacific world,
I imagine hatters who use colourful fabrics to show their happiness,
I imagine the boatman who sails and feels free,
I imagine the ploughboys who plow the land and smell the fantastic
perfume of the fields,
I imagine the musicians who play their musical instruments and make
people glad,
I imagine the mothers who look after their children with love and peace,
I imagine the shoemakers who work and smile all the time
I imagine all the people who live with harmony and happiness.
by Elisa Vultaggio
15
nno Scolastico 2016/2017