Halo Halo
Halo halo, mix-mix-mix,
Mix up the ingredients.
Langka, munggo, leche flan,
Ube ice cream, yum-yum-yum.
Halo halo, mix-mix-mix,
Mix up the ingredients.
Ice and milk filled to the rim.
Don’t spill! Quickly, sip-sip-sip!
Halo halo, mix-mix-mix,
Mix up the ingredients.
Macapuno, pinipig,
My first bite is: big-big-big!
Halo halo, mix-mix-mix,
Mix up the ingredients.
New twist on the melting pot.
Cool me off: it’s hot-hot-hot!
Reflection
I wrote this poem around the same time as “Tinikling” when I was volunteering in a first grade classroom. Being surrounded by CVC words, I was inspired to create poems for children. When I visited the Philippines, I saw children playing hand games similar to “eeny, meeny, miny, moe.” I wanted to create my own version where children would stir a pot for the first line. Then, they can recite one stanza of the poem while tapping each hand of those playing. The person who is tapped on the last syllable loses. Then, it repeats through the next stanza and so forth until there is one winner.
I never knew how to spell the words “eeny, meeny, miny, moe”, so I looked it up as I wrote this reflection. Being a childhood game, I didn’t know the origins of the rhyme were racist. Part of me wanted to no longer share this poem on a podcast; however, I think it is important to still include. Hard history that is constantly swept under a rug only adds to the ignorance and unacknowledged truths of our past. Although conversations should be led with age-appropriate themes and context, this podcast is not specific to my classroom. Therefore, I do not want to shy away from my own lessons that I am learning along the way.
At this point, I am not sure how to transition into the last main idea that I wanted to share in this reflection. But, I want to focus on the words “melting pot.” I want to make clear that I don’t advocate for a colorblind society. Diversity should be celebrated. As the saying goes, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” All the ingredients that go into halo halo are unique, purposeful, and special on their own. When combined, it creates an even better taste. Likewise, individuals are unique, purposeful, and special on their own. As a society, we can create even better ideas, inventions, and so forth.
Prompt
Rather than focusing on the content of this poem, my challenge for this week is to go back to the basics. This poem centered around CVC words and simplicity. Have the majority of your writing include simple CVC words. Enjoy exploring a childlike voice with wonder, amusement, worry, or any other strong emotion. Have fun.