Home Poem

Instructions

In El Otro Oz, Dora reflects on her home: 

IT’S NOT A CITY OR A STREET 

NOT THE GROUND BENEATH YOUR FEET 

OR AN APARTMENT WITH FOUR LITTLE WALLS. 

IT’S THE SOUND OF A BOLERO 

Y BAILAR WITH UNCLE CHELO 

ES ESCUCHAR A MI MAMI CANTAR... ES MI HOGAR— 

What does the idea of “home” mean to you? Use the Poem Template to write your own poem. Use the word bank for ideas or come up with your own words if you would like. If you speak multiple languages, we encourage you to represent them in your poem.

Please note: This template was designed for young writers. If you’re a more advanced writer, feel free to ignore the suggestions for adjectives and nouns and fill in the blanks as you see fit.

Download This Activity   Download Poem Template

Examples

The Order of Things

Home is the smell of ripe tomatoes.

Home is the sound of clattering pans.

Home can feel empty. It can also feel safe.

Always it is split.

I used to think Home was a person.

But maybe it isn’t.

Maybe it is just the taste of dusty books.

When I am far from my home, I wonder, where do I fit in the order of things?

The world answers with the smell of ripe tomatoes.

La Casa De Mi Madre

Home is the smell of tortillas recien hechas.

Home is the sound of the ice cream truck a todas horas.

Home can feel warm. It can also feel chaotic.

Always, it is love.

I used to think that Home was a place.

Pero tal vez no lo es.

Maybe it is just the touch of my mothers tender wrinkled hands.

When I am far from my home, I wonder, if my loved ones are ok?

The world answers with the smell of tortillas recien hechas.

As You Watch the Show

As you watch El Otro Oz, see if you can track how Dora’s ideas about home change throughout the story. What makes her perceive her home in a new way?

Details

This companion activity can be done before or after seeing the production and utilizes materials you probably have in your home or classroom. We invite families, educators, and other audience members to use or adapt these activities, which were created for Center Theatre Group by Resident Teaching Artists Christine Breihan and Estela Garcia. You can find a companion activity on the show pages for all productions in our 2024/2025 season.