Danish Embassy’s Poetry Contest Gives Students Global Insight About Denmark

The Royal Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C. has asked The Danish Pioneer Newspaper to be a part of a poetry contest for a school class in Washington, D.C. The class had the assignment to interview and write poems about Danish immigrants. Each year, the Royal Danish Embassy “adopts” a school in Washington, D.C. in cooperation with many other foreign embassies, the area school system and the Washington Performing Arts Society. The goal is that the students learn about different lands and get a global perspective. The Royal Danish Embassy’s class – the fifth grade children at Thomson Elementary School – interviewed Danish immigrants during November/December 2012 and wrote poems entitled, “I Am From….”. The winning poem is published here by Zesen.

I Am From ….. By Zesen

I am from the city where I was born, from the capital in Denmark that I love.

I am from the white and red color that makes me proud, where the flag of Denmark rises up.

I am from the sugar and wheat, from which the Royal Danish cookies are baked.

I am from the game I missed, where jump-ropes are swinging in the sky.

I am from the family and relatives I miss in Denmark.

I am from all of the memories in my heart, where I live in my dreams.

That’s where I’m from.

Zesen is a fifth-grade student at Thomson Elementary School in Washington, D.C. More poems by the students are published below.

I Am From – Poem by Jasminn:

I am from Denmark, where I grew up.

I am from where I loved soccer.

I am from where I loved winter but also the colors of Spring.

I am from where curiosity and generosity started.

I am from where my parents got married and had their first child.

I am from those moments where I used to say “Hej Og Farvel.”

That’s where I’m from!

Annette’s Story by Christopher:

I am from Denmark
I am from speaking Danish and English
I am from where my brothers and sister kissed me goodbye
I am from a town called Odense where I went to school
I am from taking care of other people’s children
I am from where we have a king and queen
I am from where Oden’s son spins his hammer and rides his chariot
I am where the flag fell from the sky!

I Am From – by Mark Vincent as told by Rita Jakobsen:

I am from Denmark where it’s cold.
I am from Copenhagen.
I am from the music and the sports.
I am from the feelings when I first came to America.
I came to America in the 1950s.
I am from where my husband finds a job in the U.S.

I Am From – by Juwan:

I am from a town in Denmark called Odense
I am from where I did swimming and soccer with my brothers
I am from where I have 19 nephews and nieces
I am from where we eat a lot of frikadeller, potatoes and gravy
I am from where we don’t celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving
I am from where we dance around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols
I am from where the oldest flag in the world is
THAT’S WHERE I’M FROM!

I Am From – by Chase:

I am from Denmark.
I am from where we play soccer.
I am from where we have roasted pork.
I am from where the flag is red and white.
I am from where we speak a different language.
I am from a small place.
I am from a place with old cars.
That is where I am from!

I Am From – by Juan:

I am from Denmark, where I grew up.
I am from where you eat geese for Christmas.
I am from where you dance around a tree for Christmas.
I am from four nieces.
I am from when you leave my country
you will miss everything
that was back at home
That’s where I am from!