POETRY

The first thing that we have to ask is: What is a poem anyway?

Think about it , and make some notes about what makes a poem.

So, which of these texts is more a poem for you?

Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim The Wall

You ask me if i have ever been to prison. Your world of murderers and thieves of hatred and jealousy And…you ask me if i have ever been to prison! I answer Yes I am still there trying to escape...... Mutabaruka (Allan Hope) You Ask Me

This is just to say I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast. Forgive me, they were delicious, so sweet and so cold. William Carlos Williams This Is Just to Say

What might make them seem NOT to be like the usual kind of poems? Lets look at them one at a time.

I came to you at _____ With silvery dew on sleeping lotus Sparkling in my gay hands; You put my flowers in the sun. I danced to you at _____ With bright raintree blooms Flaming in my ardent arms; You dropped my blossoms in the pond. I crept to you at _____ With pale lilac orchids Trembling on my uncertain lips; You shredded my petals in the sand. I strode to you at _____ With gravel hard and cold Clenched in my bitter fists; You offered me your hybrid orchids, And __________________ Hilary Tham Offerings

hello this is who’s me who is there that that, here I'm i am who’s there who Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim Hello

Sir Arthur Gorges Her Face Her face so fair first bent mine eye Her tongue so sweet then drew mine ear Her wit so sharp then hit my heart Mine eye to like her face doth lead Mine ear to learn her tongue doth teach My Heart to love het wit doth move Her face with beams doth blind mine eye Her tongue with sounds doth charm mine ear Her wit with art doth knit my heart Mine eye with life her face doth feed Mine ear with hope her tongue doth feast My heart with skill her wit doth fill O face with frowns wrong not mine eye O tongue with cheeks vex not mine ear O wit with smart wound not my heart This eye shall joy her face to serve This ear shall yield her tongue to trust This heart shall swear her wit to fear. Sir Arthur Gorges Her Face

These natives are unintelligent – We can't understand their language. (Chinweizu Colonizer’s Logic) Goodbye, Europeans And without a grudge I, myself, am not offended Goodbye, every one to his own home Without any fuss Goodbye provided you disturb us no more Let him follow you He who believes you indispensable. (J.R.D.A Dubreka Goodbye, Europeans)

Though the heart be still as loving, And the moon be still as bright.               So we'll go no more a roving               So late into the night,               Though the heart be still as loving,               And the moon be still as bright.               For the sword outwears its sheath,               And the soul wears out the breast,               And the heart must pause to breathe,               And Love itself have rest.               Though the night was made for loving,             And the day returns too soon,             Yet we'll go no more a roving             By the light of the moon Lord Byron So We'll Go no More a Roving

We two are like partners in the __________, Approaching nearer, nearer, nearer; But just when one would think we’d meet at last, We turn away, reverse our steps, withdraw.  And like the __________ too, my life seems now, With steps mechanical, repeated, meaningless; Arms swinging back and forth, expressing nothing, Feet pacing up and down the floor, going nowhere.  I am tired of going through these __________ motions, Long to break this impasse of reserve; If only at one point our hands would clasp, What rich variety of movement and gesture could be ours. Fadzillah Amin Dance

Compare the poems Form (graphology) Subject/theme language effect ___________ _______ _____

Acrostic: a poem in which special letters spell another word. Panthers growl, Orioles sing, Eagles soar, Monkeys swing. See?