“Bury Me Beneath the Willow” – by The Carter Family So bury me beneath the willow Under the weeping willow tree So she will know where I am sleeping And perhaps she'll weep for me Tomorrow was to be our wedding Oh god, oh god, where can she be? She's gone a-courting with another And no longer cares for me So bury me beneath the willow Under the weeping willow tree So she will know where I am sleeping And perhaps she'll weep for me So she will know where I am sleeping And perhaps she'll weep for me Tonight I'm sad, my heart is lonely For the only one I love When shall I see her? Oh no, never Till we meet in heaven above So bury me beneath the willow Under the weeping willow tree So she will know where I am sleeping And perhaps she'll weep for me She told me that she dearly loved me How could I believe it untrue? Until an angel softly whispered She will prove untrue to you

“Ghost” by House of Heroes Fell in love in high school With a brown haired, green eyed girl I walked her home most everyday Held her hand, I held the world We made our plan to run away I couldn't wait to share her life We started countin’ down the days She couldn't wait to be my wife I got a job and bought a car I turned 18 that spring By summer had my own place And I bought my baby's ring Fell in with the wrong crowd Breakin’ laws, I broke her heart By autumn was in handcuffs Baby's cryin’ out in her front yard And that's what hurt the most I saw in her green eyes She had seen a ghost My mama saw me every week Tried her hardest not to cry She told me that she loved me Disappointment in her eyes I said, "Mama, I love you too I'm gonna make you proud one day" A month before I got out They told me mama passed away And that's what hurt the most I saw it in her sad eyes, her son was a ghost I hate this life I chose Long before she died her son was a ghost Now I got my freedom But it feels like emptiness In front of the apartment Where your sister says you live And there's another man, Who fills my empty shoes And darlin you don't see me But you know that I see you, I drift off... I'm gonna fade away beyond the city lights I'm gonna fade away through the empty night I'm gonna fade away drifting out your life I wanna fade away through the empty night

What do you notice about this poem? "The Whaler“ – by Dustin Kensrue 1. My lover's arms, they beg me to stay. But I know the storms, they will sweep me away. 2. My daughter's eyes, they are two tiny seas, whose water will rise and then run down her cheeks. 3. "Father where do you go, so far out upon the sea, when are you coming home to me?" "Darling why do you leave, as the north wind begins to blow? Will you be coming home to me?" 4. The boat and the blade, they are all that I know; the sea calls my name, and so I must go. 5. And while they still sleep, I slip out through the door; but how can I leave, with my anchors ashore? 6. "Father where do you go? It's farther than I can see, when are you coming home to me?" "Darling why do you leave, as the north wind begins to blow? Will you be coming home to me?"

What is a ballad? A ballad is a narrative poem; it tells a story. Examples: The Whaler The Ballad of Donald White

Characteristics of a ballad: Tells a story (could be about a person or an event) Typically has four-line stanzas (quatrains) which can follow any of the following rhyme schemes: AABB, ABAB or ABCB

Usually has a chorus or refrain which is repeated throughout the poem (this can take on various forms) Has a smooth, song-like sound when read aloud Uses vivid and expressive imagery (figurative language: similes, metaphors, etc. )

How do I write a ballad? 1. Choose a topic (an event in history, a childhood memory, a special occasion, a person or thing) 2. Brainstorm ideas/words that describe your topic 3. Write the story you want to tell in point form 4. Transform your story into poetic structure

5. Once you’ve written your first verse, use it as your guide for rhythm, rhyme scheme and line length/beats per line. Ensure that each quatrain follows the same pattern. 6. Remember to include figurative language to help paint a picture in your reader’s mind.

7. You must have at least 3 quatrains and a refrain/chorus. 8. Ask for feedback from your classmates

HW: Brainstorm/Outline/First Draft of Ballad, keep working on your book of poetry, find a ballad and e-mail it to me before Sunday