“Identity”



Let them be as flowers,

always watered, fed, guarded, admired,

but harnessed to a pot of dirt.

I'd rather be a tall, ugly weed,

clinging on cliffs, like an eagle

wind-wavering above high, jagged rocks.

To have broken through the surface of stone,

to live, to feel exposed to the madness

of the vast, eternal sky.

To be swayed by the breezes of an ancient sea,

carrying my soul, my seed,

beyond the mountains of time or into the abyss of the bizarre.

I'd rather be unseen, and if

then shunned by everyone,

than to be a pleasant-smelling flower,

growing in clusters in the fertile valley,

where they're praised, handled, and plucked

by greedy, human hands.

I'd rather smell of musty, green stench

than of sweet, fragrant lilac.

If I could stand alone, strong and free,

I'd rather be a tall, ugly weed.

Assignment #1

• Answer the following questions using complete sentences.

• Use formal language (no contractions, slang, “I” or “my”)

• You must use specific textual evidence in your answers.

• Your answers must be written on a separate piece of paper.

1. What is the tone of the poem? Give a specific example from the poem to support your answer.

2. Are similes present in the poem? If so, explain the effect they create (hint: think about contrast).

3. What is the theme of the poem? Explain your answer.

4. What is the extended metaphor? Give three specific examples from the poem that are components or extensions of this metaphor.

5. Explain how the extended metaphor supports the theme.

6. What is your favorite line(s) in this poem? Explain your answer.

Assignment #2

Just like the last poem you wrote, you will use metaphor to express your identity. However this time you will choose only one metaphor. Just like Julio Noboa Polanco, you will use this extended metaphor throughout your entire poem.

So again you will:

• Have an appropriate and interesting title

• Write a poem (minimum 10 lines) using an extended metaphor to describe an aspect of your identity

• Your poem must contain at least one example each of the following:

simile, personification, alliteration, assonance, consonance, and onomatopoeia

• Be typed or handwritten in pen on clean, unlined paper

| |

| |

|Category |3 |2 |1 |0 |

| |Extended metaphor is clear, |Extended metaphor is clear, |Extended metaphor is unclear,|Extended metaphor is not |

| |focused, and maintained |somewhat focused, but not |unfocused and not maintained.|present or recognizable within |

|Content |throughout the poem. Ideas |well maintained. Sufficient |The focus is not clear and |the poem Detail is not |

| |are very well focused and |detail is included. This |ideas are not well developed.|effective. The |

| |detail is powerful. This poem|poem engages the reader. |Detail is not always |reader is rarely |

| |engages the reader | |relevant. The reader is only |engaged in this poem. |

| |immediately and continuously.| |somewhat engaged. | |

| |The writer's voice is clearly|The writer's voice is |This writer is |There is little or |

| |apparent in this poem. |somewhat evident. Vocabulary |struggling with the concept |no evidence of |

|Style |Vocabulary has been chosen |is well chosen. Poetic |of voice, but attempts |the writer in this |

| |with care. Poetic devices and|devices and language are used|originality. |poem. The writer |

| |language are appropriately |correctly. |Vocabulary is limited. Poetic|has difficulty |

| |used | |devices are attempted. |understanding |

| |creatively | |. |the genre of |

| | | | |poetry. Poetic |

| | | | |devices and |

| | | | |language are not |

| | | | |attempted. |

| |Confident control of |General control of spelling, |Limited control of spelling, |A lack of control of spelling, |

|Correctness |spelling, punctuation, |punctuation, grammar, and |punctuation, grammar, and |punctuation, grammar, and word |

| |grammar, and word usage |word usage |word usage |usage |

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Example of an acceptable answer:

The mood of the poem “Autowreck” is threatening and fearful. This mood is created through imagery, such as the flashing light on the ambulance that is “Pulsing out red light like an artery” (12). The speaker also says, “But we remain, touching a wound / That opens to our richest horror” (16-17), which explains how the speaker feels like he has been injured as well. The words “artery” and “wound” make the reader think about being hurt in an accident and “horror” suggests something that is frightening.

Example of an unacceptable answer:

Scary because it uses lots of medical terms and the people who are watching are afraid for the people who were hurt.

I Am?

A Poetry Assignment

Identity

by Julio Noboa Polanco

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Identity

by Julio Noboa Polanco

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