1. Frozen flakes, holiday haiku, and winter words

2. How to Properly Read Poetry The punctuation in poetry is essential to determining it’s rhythm. When reading aloud, do NOT pause at the end of a line unless there is a punctuation mark like a comma or period. Otherwise, just read through the line until you come to the first mark. For example: The birds are gone, the world is white, The winds are wild, they chill and bite; The ground is thick with slush and sleet (no pause here) And I can barely feel my feet. -- “Winter” by Anonymous

3. Winter Words… “Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued.

4. More… “Snowball” by Shel Silverstein I made myself a snowball as perfect as could be. I thought I'd keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me. I made it some pajamas and a pillow for its head. Then, last night it ran away. But first -- it wet the bed.

5. And lastly… “February Twilight” by Sara Teasdale I stood beside a hill Smooth with new-laid snow, A single star looked out From the cold evening glow. There was not another creature That saw what I could see - I stood and watched the evening star As long as it watched me.

6. Haiku

7. Haiku Basics Haiku is one of the most important forms of traditional Japanese poetry. Haiku is, today, a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Authors often deviate from the 5/7/5 rule. Each haiku must contain a kigo, a season word, which indicates in which season the haiku is set. For example, cherry blossoms indicate spring, snow indicates winter, and mosquitoes indicate summer.

8. Haiku Samples Green frog, Is your body also freshly painted? In the cicada's cry No sign can foretell How soon it must die. The year’s first day, thoughts and loneliness; the autumn dusk is here.

9. Mr. Richard’s Attempts… Snowflakes cascade down, Icy flakes that tickle skin, Carpeting the Earth. Jack Frost lingers close, Spreading his frozen fingers To form crystal life. La neige descend lentement. Petits glacons vapoureux Je veux les attraper.

10. Remember… First line: 5 syllables Second line: 7 syllables Third line: 5 syllables There must be at least one word, your kigo, in the poem that indicates the season. You may work around the 5/7/5 rule, but your syllable count should not exceed 20 or so syllables.

11. Your Turn 1. Write at least two haiku. You may interpret “season” to mean the holiday season as well as the four seasons of the year. 2. Let Mr. Richard read your poems. 3. Choose the best of your haiku to put on a snowflake. 4. Get the snowflake, a pair of scissors, and a pen. 5. Create your word art, and give it to Mr. Richard when you’re done. 6. If time and paper allow, you may create additional snowflakes.