Poetry Brings together sounds and words in unique, intriguing ways that may cause intense imagery and deep meaning in the reader.
Poetry Does NOT have to rhyme Creates meaning in just a few words. Creates images with words
Parts of Poems Line—a single line of words in a poem Stanza—a group of lines (kind of like a paragraph, but not indented) White space—spaces after lines or stanzas where the reader is meant to pause or be silent
Imagery Poets use colorful, vivid language and figures of speech to create clear pictures in the reader’s mind.
Rhythm Rhythm is a musical quality caused by stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem. a fast rhythm indicated action, excitement, tension, or suspense a slow rhythm suggests peacefulness, fullness, harmony, and comfort
Think about these questions as you hear the poem: What do you feel? What visual image do you create? What is the mood? Are there any words or phrases you especially liked? Does the poem remind you of anything in your life? What do you notice about the rhythm or cadence?
Snow Storm By Robert PatinsonRobert Patinson The land was white and freezing cold the snow had come and taken hold. A blizzard moved in from the north and told the flurries to go forth. A howling sound brings with it chills, frozen words drift through the hills. The trees wear coats of fluffy snow, the land’s so bright it seems to glow. Snowflakes drifted down from the sky whipped by the wind in swirls they fly. A light and freezing screen they form, the blizzard grows into a storm.
from This Desert is Theirs This is no place for anyone who wants soft hill and meadows and everything green green… This is for hawks that like only the loneliest canyons and lizards that run in the hottest sand and coyotes that choose the rockiest trails. It’s for them. And for birds that nest in cactus and sing out over a thousand thorns because they’re where they want to be. It’s for them. And for hard skinny plants that do without water for months at a time. --by Byrd Baylor
Time to Write – Creating a Name Poem Line 1 Your first name Line 2 “It means” then 3 adjectives that describe you. Line 3 “It is the number” followed by your favorite number Line 4 Describe a color using “It is like” but don’t name the color Line 5 “It is” and name something you remember experiencing with friends or family that makes you smile. Line 6 “It is the memory of” and name a person who is or has been significant to you Line 7 “Who taught me” and list 2 abstract concepts like honesty Line 8 “When s/he” then refer to something that person did that illustrates the qualities in Line 7 Line 9 “My name is” your first name Line 10 Begin with “It means” and use 1 or 2 sentences to state something important you believe in life
Example of a Name Poem Jenny It means strong, compassionate, friendly, It is 100, It is like light strawberries, It is going swimming in the cold lake at Banff, It is the memory of Grandma Tracy, Who taught me patience and trust, When she worked at the school, My name is Jenny, It means I believe in working hard and never giving up.