1. Concrete Poetry Just when you thought you couldn’t write poetry, a saving grace.

2. Quick Example (more to come)

3. So what is it? A poem in which the typographical (vocab review!) arrangement of the words is as important to the meaning of the poem as the words themselves. The words of the poem create a shape that expresses the meaning of the poem. Let’s look at some more examples!

6. Sometimes the words just describe or identify parts

8. What would this poem be about?

9. Exactly!! I am a very special shape I have three points and three lines straight. Look through my words and you will see, the shape that I am meant to be. I'm just not words caught in a tangle. Look close to see a small triangle. My angles add to one hundred and eighty degrees, you learn this at school with your abc's. Practice your maths and you will see, some other fine examples of me.

10. What about this one?

11. Right!!

12. How could you draw this poem? I’ll give you a flower, mother I’ll give you a flower, dear For life is but a garden To children of 5 years I’ll give you a flower, mother I’ll give you a flower, dear For to a bride, they’re lovely Mother, hold your tears I’ll give you a flower, mother I’ll give you a flower, dear I’ll lay it in your sweet hands For our time has disappeared I’ll give you a flower, mother I’ll give you a flower, dear When I see you there at heaven When my time’s done here

14. Now listen as I read this poem and watch the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vyRYmW ynO4&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vyRYmW ynO4&feature=related

15. Now you try it The fireworks have begun their show. So catch your breath and hold your ears. Drops of turquoise give the night a fresh shower And pretty-patterned purples paint a dark canvas. Sharp crimson spikes shoot like arrows. Glistening golds scatter glitter While blasts of blues burst into the blackness. Fuscia fragments fling themselves, Chasing after twinkling chartreuse puff-balls. Yellows sparkle, stretching their wiggly fingers out To claw at the skies. The silence is split by cracks and pops. Confetti explosions roar and clatter, Shattering the night.

16. Now let’s take it to the next level You come up with the poem and the shape. BE PREPARED TO SHARE!!