Writing PoetryHow can we creatively describe the world we live in?

Mystery Poem A yellow

Rain jacket that’s worn byWood,

That hugs A smoky rock.

My pink summitSmears

The milky world.

I dread The razor sharpDark, dangerousDevious, demonThat grinds me

I illustrate, draw,And most of all

Write this Poem.

The Bed I lay on a soft, fluffy cloudAs the stars dance in the black skyI hear the cars roar byAs fast as they are loud

I turn and twist and thinkAbout imaginary tales and thingsBut to me they are not imaginary As I fly through the black sky

I am in a whole new worldIgnoring the crickets’ fast and crooked soundTime goes as blank as my vision as it fades into a black skyThen I wake up to a miserable “Beep, beep, beep”

And then I wish I could stay in mySweet white heaven forever.

Beach I hear kids laughing

Birds begging for moreThe waves are clashingOn the sandy sea-shore

I see all the birdsFlapping around

All the little treasuresThat are dreading to be found

I feel hermit crabsNipping at my feet

All of the burning sunExcruciating heat

I smell the sand and its cool bitter scentAll of your money

Is better well spent

I taste all the saltwaterLike bitter lemonade

And all the sandFrom the sandcastles made.

SnowmenWe are all just snowmenImprovised,Imperfect,Snow men

We sit wasting our livesWaitingHopingWanting And yet we all Just melt in the snow

There is noCommunicationYou cannot see in each other’s headThey’re all justEmptyWhiteCirclesPlaced on moreEmptyWhite circlesWe are all just incomplete snowmen.

Sun In the fall

My leafy friends departOn a long and cold journey

And I am left – alone.

So in the winterI bundle up

For an extended cozy napEach and every day.

Then in the springMy enemies appearAnd cover me up

With dark clouds of tears.

But at last, it’s summerWhen I love to shine!

This is the season when I Am at the climax

Of my time.

Anybody can write poetry. Poetry can be written by anyone, about anything. So long as you have personal experiences, thoughts, emotions, and observations, you will be able to write interesting, creative, and unique poetry. The Red Wheelbarrowso much dependsupon a red wheelbarrow glazed with rainwater beside the whitechickens.

~William Carlos Williams

Poetry is usually written about simple,

everyday objects, feelings or experiences.

But, poetry tries to get the reader to see that everyday

object in a new,

unique way.

Poetry Writing AssignmentAssignment: Write a short poem that conveys something you have experienced, thought, felt, or imagined. Through your poem, you will try to find the exact words to capture the moment, idea, or observation.

Form: 08-24 lines long0Any form or style0No haikus0Must be typed in the font of your choice0Must be mounted on a piece of colored construction

paper

You will be graded on the writing of your poem based on the following categories:

Voice/Expression – The poet uniquely captures a moment, idea or observation.

Sound – The poet experiments with sound devices such as repetition, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and/ or rhyme.

Descriptive Language – The poet uses interesting, descriptive words that draw upon the senses and create vivid images.

Figurative Language - The poem effectively uses a simile, metaphor, or personification at least once to convey thoughts and emotions.

Form – The form adds to the overall effect and is appropriate to the subject. Certain words are emphasized to suggest meaning.

Directions Followed – The poems is 8-24 lines in length, typed, and free of spelling errors. The poem is mounted on colored construction paper. The poem was completed on time.

In addition to writing…

You will also be reading/performing your poem to the class as part of your grade.

0 You must introduce your poem by giving the title and a little information about your creative process. What is the subject of your poem? Why did you want to write about it? Were there any challenges you faced during the writing process?

0 You must read the poem with feeling . It should be read slowly and clearly for everyone to be able to hear. You should emphasize certain words and pauses. You can use hand gestures to add to the poem’s effect.

0 At the end, you should be prepared to answer 3 questions from the audience about your poem’s meaning.

The Writing Process

1. Choosing a Subject

0 Your subject should be something that you know well, have experienced first hand, or that you have nearby so that you can observe it carefully and closely.

0 You also need to figure out how you feel about that subject so that you can convey mood & tone in your poem.

If you’re writing about a concept…

0 Some poets may choose to write about large, life concepts like love, death, friendship, or hope.

0 How can you write about something that can’t be seen or heard?

0 Think of looking at wind through a window:0 How can you tell that it’s windy?

0 You can write about these concepts by describing everything that’s affected by it.

Step 2: Brainstorming

What makes a poem profound are the hidden details or qualities that you discover about your subject that you communicate through your poem.

Your unique perspective will make the poem interesting.

Step 3: Writing Your Poem0 Sit down to write your poem with all of your brainstorming

materials in front of you. Then, put your pen to the page and just start writing.

0 Don’t state the obvious. For example, don’t write that grass is green or that snow is cold. Your poem should have your new, interesting and unique perspective on the subject.

0 Experiment with sound devices0 Emphasize lines by using alliteration or repetition 0 Emphasize sounds by using onomatoepeoia 0 Add rhythm by using a rhyme scheme

0 Use figurative language & sensory detail to give your unique perspective on your subject

Step 3: Writing Your Poem0 Don’t be afraid to experiment with form.

0 Your mood and tone will be affected by the way your poem is arranged, its form.

0 Does your poem sound better with long lines with many words? Or is your poem more appropriate to your subject if you use short, choppy lines? (Think of “Speak Up”)

0 How does your poem look on the page? 0 Is it dense & heavy? Or light and smooth?0Are there any lines that seem to “not fit?”

0 For example, does any line stick out too much? Is there one line that is way longer than all of the others?

Step 4: Revising Your Poem0 Once the form of your poem is to your liking, then you should

experiment further with form, sound devices, figurative language & sensory detail. 0 Think: How can you make your poem as descriptive and unique as

possible?

0 Use a thesaurus to help you find the exact words that fit into your poem.

0 As you revise, make sure the words you’ve chosen are creating the appropriate mood & tone that you want to show the reader. 0 For example, if your poem’s subject is your dislike for homework,

you wouldn’t want to use “good-feeling” words like “happy,” “light,” or “joy.” Why wouldn’t these words be appropriate for your poem?

Ask yourself…0 What is the main image or idea that I want my poem to

communicate? Does the poem accomplish this?

0 Would my point be clearer if there were fewer words or phrases? Which can I cut?

0 Is each word the best possible word I could use? Is it active? Vivid? Specific?

0 Are there any words I could add or change to improve the sound of the poem?

0 Does the poem end with force, a surprise or a message? How can I improve the ending?