Welcome to “A Life’s Journey Through Poetry



Welcome to “A Life’s Journey Through Poetry.” 

As part of our creative writing class, we are working on autobiographical writing.  One part of this unit will be focused on poetry, as a different way of expressing memories, experiences, and dreams.  Through this web-based journey, you will be collecting information to use in your poetry by visiting various websites.  These websites will be instrumental in your understanding and application of poetry to express yourself.

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Learning Objectives

A) Students will be able to define autobiographical poetry.

B) Students will be able to follow online activities—including web-based reading, viewing, and writing.

C) Students will write four poems using the past, present, and future life/time perspectives.

D) Students will be exposed to different forms of media, i.e. abstract art, photography, lyrics, and websites  to write, enhance, and enrich their poetry experience.

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Academic Writing Standard

“A student shall demonstrate the ability to write using grammar, language mechanics, and other conventions of standard written English for a variety of academic purposes and situations by writing original compositions that:

[pic] describe, narrate, or explain observations of human events or situations”

Literary Arts Creation and Performance Standard

“In creative writing, a student shall demonstrated understanding of the elements, techniques, and processes of creative writing and how works of creative writing are structured; and, in creative writing, the student shall create or perform, or both, an original creative writing presentation including a single complex work or multiple works that:

[pic] demonstrates elements and skills of creative writing

[pic] demonstrates artistic decisions to communicate intent

[pic] demonstrates a sense of artistic whole

[pic] demonstrates a consideration of audience

[pic] uses multiple sources for critique and feedback”

--MN Dept. of Children, Families, and Learning

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Throughout this journey, you will be remembering the past, examining the present, and looking into the future—through poetry.

Keep this question in mind as you work:

How does writing poetry capture the places we’ve been, the places we are, and the places we’re going?

Ready to get started??????  



Task 1

Looking Back

Activity 1

---Read the poem below about a man remembering a strong memory from when he was fifteen.  In your journal, answer the questions at the end of the poem.  

---Then, using Stafford's poem as a model, write your own poem, in which you capture the essence of a certain age.  Your poem should consist of:

                    *** 3 stanzas, 4 lines each

                    *** A refrain, i.e. "I was fifteen"  

Fifteen

William Stafford

South of the Bridge on Seventeenth

I found back of the willows one summer

day a motorcycle with engine running

as it lay on its side, ticking over

slowly in the high grass.  I was fifteen.

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I admired all that pulsing gleam, the

shiny flanks, the demure headlights

fringed where it lay; I led it gently

to the road and stood with that

companion, ready and friendly.  I was fifteen.

We could find the end of the road, meet

the sky on out Seventeenth.  I thought about

hills, and patting the handle got back a

confident opinion.  On the bridge we indulged

a forward feeling, a tremble.  I was fifteen.

Thinking, back farther in the grass I found

the owner, just coming to, where he had flipped

over the rail.  He had blood on his hand, was pale...

I helped him walk to his machine.  He ran his hand

over it, called me a good man, roared away.

I stood there, fifteen.

Questions:

1.  What perspective is being employed in this poem?

2.  In your opinion, what is the mood of this poem?  Use lines, words, images, etc. from the poem to support your answer.

3.  Why do you think that author repeats the line "I was fifteen" throughout the poem?  What effect does it create?

Now, write your own poem by modeling "Fifteen."  Think about an age or event that was really meaningful and memorable to you.  Ask yourself why that age/memory is so clear to you.  Think about specific details, images, people, places, etc. to include in your poem.  To give you another idea, look at one student's poem below.

Example:

Thirteen

On those sunny golden summer afternoons

I'd watch the light glisten off the metal bat.

Busy positioning myself by 3rd base,

The sunlight trickled down my steaming

face.  I was thirteen.   

On those crisp fall nights

I'd watch my brother carry the football

Under streaming lights

With thoughts of homework and tests

I'd savor each cool breath of that

Friday night air.  And I was thirteen.

On those freezing wintry

nights, I'd be packed in a small

car to be transported to our weekly

basketball games.  I'd go out

and do my best, but

never satisfied.  I was thirteen.

On those breezy, cool spring days

I'd be anxious for the end of school

and the crave the freedom of summer.

I'd leave school with a sense of accomplishment

and dream of what the future held for me.

I was thirteen.

TASK 2

Exploring Roots

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Exploring Roots

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Activity 2

• After you have completed the brainstorming worksheet, scroll down and read the some examples of "Where I'm From" poems.

• Then, write your own "Where I'm From" poem using the information from your brainstorming sheet and anything else that is important to you.  

• Your poem should include: 20 lines, the refrain "I'm from...", and vivid imagery.

Examples of "Where I'm From" Poetry

Where I'm From

I am from oak trees and lemonade stands

From peach-painted bedroom walls and Barbie Dolls

I am from bedtime stories and late night snacks

From Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and Peanut Butter toast

I am from the blue house on the corner

From tackle football with my brothers

From Sara and Val, my high school pals

I am from Monopoly and Mario Brothers

From pepperoni pizza and slumber parties

I am from my Grandmother’s silver curls

Her tough spirit and soft skin

From basketball games and Girl Scout Cookies

I’m from everywhere I’ve ever been

From never knowing what comes next.

 

Now, write your own "Where I'm From" poem.  Remember, to include the "I'm From" refrain and have a total of 20 lines in your final poem. Think about specific details, images, people, places, etc. to include in your poem.

                                                                                

   

    “Where I’m From Poem”

• Poem should include descriptive details about certain aspects of your life—things that you are familiar with or grew up with (culture, language, food, neighborhood, family, friends, home, hometown, home state, etc.

• Poem should include lines that start with “I am from…”

• Poem should have at least 20 lines

Some ideas to get you started:

• Items found around the house (bobby pins, stacks of newspapers, grandma’s teeth, coffee mugs

• Items found in the yard (dog bones, hoses coiled like green snakes, oak trees)

• Items found in the neighborhood (the corner grocery, street signs, parks)

• Names of relatives, especially those from the past (Grandma, Aunt, Great-Uncle)

• Sayings (If I’ve told you once…Make your bed…Turn that music down)

• Names of foods or dishes from family dinners (meatloaf, macaroni and cheese)

• “Where I’m From” Brainstorming - Use these prompts to get some ideas that you might want to add into your own poem

|Favorite Foods: |Types of trees or flowers in my yard: |

| | |

|Hobbies: |Games I played as a child: |

| | |

|Music I Listen To: |Two Good Memories: |

| | |

|What do I remember my parents |Two Sad Memories: |

|doing when I was a child?: | |

| | |

| | |

|Name two friends: |Memories of Church/School: |

| | |

| | |

|My Mother Yelled at me this: |One thing about a grandparent: |

| | |

| | |

                   

TASK 3

The Persona Poem

The Persona Poem

Now, it's time to step into the present.  Look at who you are...at this very moment.  

What makes you unique?  Who you are today?

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Follow the directions to find out more about who you are at this very moment.  Model the "I Am" poem. Remember to use concrete images and interesting words to make your poem come alive and speak to who you are.  

Then, bring in photos, mementos, pictures from the Internet or magazines, and/or draw pictures with things that are self-representative.  With these items, make a collage to accompany your Persona Poem.  

I Am

I am (two special characteristics)

I wonder (something you are actually curious about)

I hear (imaginary sound)

I see (imaginary sight)

I want (an actual desire)

I am (the first line of the poem restated)

I pretend (something you actually pretend to do)

I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)

I touch (an imaginary touch)

I worry (something that really bothers you)

I cry (something that makes you sad)

I am (first line of the poem repeated)

I understand (something you know is true)

I say (something you believe in)

I dream (something you actually dream about)

I try (something you really make an effort about)

I hope (something you actually hope for)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

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I AM

I am a daughter and a friend.

I wonder if there is life on Mars.

I hear my grandma's Norwegian accent in my dreams.

I see the overgrown orange pumpkins crowding our fall garden.

I want to sail the Mediterranean again someday.

I am a daughter and a friend.

I pretend that I'm a rock star when I brush my hair.

I feel lonely on winter Sundays.

I touch my head to my soft, stuffed Scooby Doo pillow each night.

I worry I'll be forgotten.

I cry when I have to say good-bye.

I am a daughter and a friend.

I understand that even weeping willows can bring joy.

I say that each day is only what you make it.

I dream about riding horses under an October sky.

I try to be everything to everybody.

I hope to be something to somebody.

I am a daughter and a friend.

                                       TASK 4

                                                Dreaming of the Future...                          

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Dreaming of the Future...

           What do you have in store for yourself???

 

               

            Have you ever thought about what your future holds for you?  In our next activity we will be looking into the future, by examining different pieces of artwork.  To start this activity you will need to think about what you would like to be doing in the future - who do you want to be?  where do you want to live?  who do you want to be with?  how do you want to be acting?  where will you work?  what will be important?...

           

NOW, As you look at these questions, and others, that might come up as you think about your future...You will need to think of a way to communicate your dreams and goals through poetry.  Up until this point, the poems you have made have followed a form; however, for this activity the way you write out your poem will be up to you, the only requirement is that your writing is poetical rather than a narrative.  If you'd like to see an example, click here.

AFTER you write your poem, you will need to go to and search for a piece of artwork, photography, or other image that represents your poem/dream.  Include your picture with your poem, when you hand in your poem.

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Just a Day Dream

                                                                    by: Tyrone

           

            When there is a hiatus in reality

            that's usually when a dream is conceived

            Sweat from hard work and turmoil makes a brother wanna believe

        there's other accomplishments out there and the eleventh grade isn't the

        only goal I want to acheive.

                        You see

           

            The world itself can be detrimental to life.

            And constant like the sun is the struggle to detemine what's wrong

            from what's right.

            I must hurdle 25 to life,

            Juke substances that bar me from the guiding light.

        Is life attempting to be hard just because it's me

        or Is there a problem with wanting to be happy with my family.

        Lord knows the judicial branch isn't on my side.                                   

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        Left, right, right to left, I keep my eyes open              wide.

         

        Intentions of cashing bohemoth checks,

         is like ice cold water, it's keeping my lips wet.

         I imagine, straying away from those thirsty, that drink

        hater-ade.

        Or those plotting against me, evily fabricating thoughts in the

        shade.

        What about my enemies that want to make me a

         fossil.

        What about the friends that are really impostors.

        Maybe, all this isn't really what it seems.

       

                                Perhaps it's all just a day dream.

Task 5

A Play on Words

~Building a bridge between Poetry and Play~

Think back on your dream and then think about it would feel if your dream was constantly being shot down or pushed aside because of something or someone else.

To begin our Activity, please listen and read over Langston Hughes poem.  In your journal write a one page reaction to the video and the poem.

NOW, we will be writing our own dream deferred poems, using Langston Hughes poem as our guide.  Use the outline to write your own poem, and then take a look at an example done by another student.

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|                     [pic] |Dreams Deferred (Harlem) |

| |by Langston Hughes                         |

| |What happens to a dream deferred?            |

| |Does it dry up |

| |Like a raisin in the sun? |

| |Or fester like a sore-- |

| |And then run? |

| |Does it stink like rotten meat? |

| |Or crust and sugar over-- |

| |like a syrupy sweet? |

| |Maybe it just sags |

| |like a heavy load. |

| |Or does it explode? |

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Dream Deferred  (Outline)

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it _____________________

Like _______________________?

Or _________________________

And _______________________?

Does it _____________________?

Or ________________________ --

Like ______________________?

Maybe it ___________________

like _______________________

Or ________________________?

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Dream Deferred

by: Deron

What happens to a dream deferred?

|Does it break |[pic] |

|like a caring mother's heart? | |

| | |

|or does it bleed like the mouth of a preying | |

|shark | |

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|and then sink again? | |

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|Does it burn like a candle | |

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|or does it seep out | |

|like love handles? | |

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|Maybe its like a broken limb | |

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|like a heavy breeze | |

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|Or maybe it's you on your knees begging God | |

|please... | |

   

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