Poetry

7Poetry

Ms. Pottle

NO WOMAN, NO CRY. I remember when we used to sit

In the government yard in Trenchtown,Observing the hypocritesAs they would mingle with the good people we meet.Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lostAlong the way.In this great future, you can't forget your past;So dry your tears, I say

Said - said - said: I remember when-a we used to sitIn the government yard in Trenchtown.And then Georgie would make the fire lights,As it was logwood burnin' through the nights.Then we would cook cornmeal porridge,Of which I'll share with you;My feet is my only carriage,So I've got to push on through.But while I'm gone, I mean:Everything's going to be all right!

So, woman, no cry;No - no, woman - woman, no cry.Woman, little sister, don't shed no tears;No, woman, no cry.

I remember when we used to sitIn the government yard in Trenchtown.And then Georgie would make the fire lights,As it was logwood burnin' through the nights.Then we would cook cornmeal porridge,Of which I'll share with you;My feet is my only carriage,So I've got to push on through.

BICYCLE RACEYou say black, I say white You say bark, I say bite

You say shark I say hey man Jaws was never my scene And I don't like star wars You say rolls, I say royce

You say God give me a choice You say Lord, I say christ

I don't believe in peter pan Frankenstein or superman

Bicycle races are coming your way So forget all your duties, oh yeah!

Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today So look out for those beauties, oh yeah!

On your marks get set go

You say coke, I say cain You say john, I say wayne

Hot dog, I say cool it man! don't wanna be the President of America You say smile, I say cheese

Cartier, I say please, Income tax, I say Jesus.

I don't wanna be a candidate for Vietnam or Watergate,

I want to ride my bicycle I want to ride my bike,

I want to ride my bicycle I want to ride it where I like.

Poetry Terms SIMILE: A comparison between two unlike things

using words such as: like, as, than, similar to, resembles, etc. I.e. Quiet as a mouse

METAPHOR:  An implied comparison between unlike things. I.e. He’s a house.

ALLUSION: A reference to something in history or literature. I.e. She had a Cinderella wedding.

ALLITERATION: The repetition of initial sounds.  I.e. Seven steaks sizzled.

CONSONANCE:  The repetition of end consonant (every letter that is not a vowel) sounds.  I.e. first and last, odds and ends, stroke of luck.

ASSONANCE: The repetition of vowel sounds. I.e. My words like silent raindrops fell.

PERSONIFICATION: Giving human characteristics to an animal, object, or idea. I.e. The hours crawled by like years.

PARADOX: An apparent contradiction, which is nevertheless somehow true.

ONOMATOPOEIA: “Sound words”; Words whose sound suggests their meaning. I.e. buzz, click, snap, chop.

OXYMORON: The setting together, for effect, two words of opposite meaning. I.e. burning cold, screaming whisper.

OVERSTATEMENT (or hyperbole): An extreme exaggeration used for effect. I.e. I’ve told you a hundred times…; I’m starving; The suspense is killing me.

SYMBOL: Roughly defined as something that means more than what it is.  I.e. A wedding ring is a symbol of commitment, love, honor, etc.  It is not just a ring.  It’s shape (a circle) is also symbolic; a circle never ends and therefore the love is not supposed to.

PUN: play on words. UNDERSTATEMENT: Saying less than what is meant, for

effect.

Poetic Devices

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:  Language using figures of speech and it cannot be taken literally.

IMAGERY: The representation through language of sense experience; language that appeals to the senses.

FIGURE OF SPEECH:  Any way of saying something other than in an ordinary way.

Identify each of the figurative devices below:

1. ____________ A fluttering forest of feathers2. ____________It smells like rotten eggs3. ____________Spot, the dog, planned a devious plan

for the cat4. ____________”Hey! Cabbage for brains! I’m talking

to you!”5. ____________”You wanna take a trip? Pow! Zoom!

To the moon!”6. ____________Bugs Bunny7. ____________Alice ran as fast as she could8. ____________Alice ran as fast as a cheetah9. ____________He has a swelled head10. ____________She has the eyes of a cat

Poetic Device Activity: write one example of your own for each of the poetic devices below

Hyperbole Simile Metaphor Alliteration Personification Onomatopoeia

Synonym Poetry Choose any word.  Write that word in capital letters on

the first line.  In a thesaurus, look up the word and

find three to five synonyms for it.  Write the synonyms on the second

line.  On the third line, write a descriptive

phrase about the word.  The last two lines of the poem should

rhyme.

Synonym Poetry: Examples

LOVEAttachment, adoration, warmth, adoreLove is so pure, right down to the core.---Kimiko Brantley (Grade 10)

NOISEClamor, uproar, hullabaloo.These things can really annoy you.---Shasta Inman (Grade 9)

Opposites Poetry Choose two things that are

opposites.   It could be the opposite sides of a

question. Humor is good.   The poem should be two or four

lines long.   The first two and the last two lines

should rhyme.   Sight rhymes are acceptable.

Opposite Poetry ExamplesThe opposite

of honestWhat a lot of

people do on a hard test.---Benjamin

Swanson (Grade 9)

OPPOSITES What is the opposite of love?

Maybe it is as beautiful as a white dove,

Because love is so fine,This is something that I know is

mine. What is the opposite of a smile?

Maybe it is a frown that hasn't been seen in a while,

Because a great smile brightens up the day,

 This has made my day better in every way.

What is the opposite of true?It could be purple, or even blue.

Because truth is better than a lie,I want the truth even from my

special guy.---Kimiko Brantley (Grade 10)

Haiku Poetry: This kind of poem comes from

Japan. It must have three lines with seventeen syllables. It describes a fleeting (something that doesn’t last very long) moment in nature. It is like a snapshot of something beautiful in nature. It should capture emotion.

• Line 1 has 5 syllables • Line 2 has 7 syllables• Line 3 has 5 syllables

Haiku Poetry: Examples

A CaterpillarTiptoes ever so slowlyUp the pine tree’s branch_______________________Moonlight shines brightlyMirroring the silver pondDawn silently springs

•Line 1 has 5 syllables•Line 2 has 7 syllables•Line 3 has 5 syllables

I Am... PoetryLine

#1.  I am#2.  Three nouns about which you have strong feelings.  Begin each with a capital letter.#3.  A complete sentence about two things that you like.#4.  Three nouns that describe what you like to see in other people; end with "are important to me."Capitalize each noun.#5.  A sentence containing a positive thought or feeling.  It can tell what you find acceptable in yourself.

I Am .... Poetry (cont’)#6.-#7.  Sentence in which you show

something negative in yourself or others, however the sentence must end by showing that out of something BAD can come GOOD.  Use the word "but" to link the bad and good.#8.-#9.-#10.  Each line is a short sentence relating something about which you have strong feelings--likes or dislikes.  They do not have to relate to each other or to the previous lines you have written.#11.  End with "This is me" or "I am."

I Am Poetry - Example I am

Life, Hope, LivingI care very much about the world

and life on it.Honesty is important to me.

Optimism is important to me.Unselfishness is important to me.

Hospitality is a good thing.Meanness is bad, but can be good

to get peopleoff your back.

The world is getting weaker.The longer the days the more

beautiful they are.People are too negative.

I am.--Liz Webster (Grade 9)

Personal Bio-PoemLINE 1 First NameLINE 2 Four adjectives that describe your character and personalityLINE 3 State a relationship (son, cousin, friend, teacher,) ofLINE 4 Lover of. . . (3 ideas/people)LINE 5 Who feels. . . (3 examples)LINE 6 Who needs. . . (3 examples)LINE 7 Who gives. . . (3 examples)LINE 8 Who fears. . . (3 examples)LINE 9 Who would like to see. . . (3 examples)LINE 10 Resident of . . . LINE 11 Last Name

Personal Bio Poem Example

John,Friendly, stubborn, loving, intelligentBrother of JaneLover of laughter, pizza, and science fictionWho feels amused hearing a good joke, worried when he doesn’t study, and elated when his team winsWho needs a good friend, understanding, and hugsWho gives cooperation, help and troubleWho fears losing, pushy girls, and deathWho would like to see the Packers win, Disney World, and the Great PyramidResident of Whitefish Bay, WisconsinSmith

Famous Person Bio-Poem

LINE 1 First NameLINE 2 TitleLINE 3 Four Adjectives describing characterLINE 4 Lover of . . . (3 people/ideas)LINE 5 Who believed. . .(3 beliefs)LINE 6 Who feared. . . (3 ideas/people)LINE 7 Who wanted. . . (3 ideas/things)LINE 8 Who gave. . . (3 things/ideas)LINE 9 Who said. . . (1-3 quotes)LINE 10 Last Name

Famous Person Bio-Poem Example

GeorgeFormer President of the United States Of AmericaIntelligent, determined, conservative, patrioticLover of barbers, Milly, family values, the flagWho believed in democracy, the Republican Party and GodWho feared political scandals, losing elections, and the countryWho wanted a conservative, Supreme Court, Quayle as VP, and a GOP congressWho gave freedom to Kuwait, support to Gorbachev, a nomination to Clarence ThomasWho said, “Read my lips: no new taxes,” and “I have drawn a line in the sand.”Bush

3 – Word Poem•Each line of this form is made up of three words.  

•The last two words become the first two words in the next line.  

•In the poem, there will be a progress of images and a story will be told.

MORNINGS sleep, alarm, awake

alarm, awake, showerawake, shower, clothesshower, clothes, shoes

clothes, shoes, dogshoes, dog, run

dog, run, breakfastrun, breakfast, sunrisebreakfast, sunrise, car

sunrise, car, work.---Alex Buffington (Grade 10)

ball, snap, runsnap, run, tacklerun, tackle, sacktackle, sack, passsack, pass, catch

pass, catch, 1st downcatch, 1st down, touchdown.

---Josh Jones (Grade 10)

ODE:Select a person, place or thing that you want to write about. Write phrases describing how your item makes you feel and why you feel this way.Write many phrases tell ing unique qualities of your subject.Now, explain why your subject is important to you and why you adore it so much.Join some of your phrases into l ines for your ode. Remember they do not have to rhyme.

Now revise your lines following these steps:•Take away any lines that are too similar•Add more feeling to any meaningless lines•Pick a good opening line or sentence•Order the remaining lines into their best sequence•Select a good closing line that clearly expresses your feeling about that subject.

ExampleODE TO A TURTLE

Turtle oh turtle you are so smallI found you on the green of the 7th hole

You helped me through the dayWhen I take a break, you jump into your lake

I adore your cracks and shellYou’re a great swimmer, far better than me

You take a lap before I get inEverything around you is fake and mineFrom the pond to the rocks, all aren’t his

But he flips and runs on the sand and in the waterWithout a care in the world

To what might happen around him.

Sense of Time PoemWhen writing these poems, select a different time for each one: Day of the week, month, season or holiday.TITLE Pick a period of and write it as a titleLINE 1 Assign a color to that time periodLINE 2 Describe the color with an example.

The color of . . .LINE 3 What does this time period feel like?LINE 4 What does this time period sound like?LINE 5 What does this time period smell like?LINE 6 What does this time period taste like?LINE 7 Sum up your feeling about the time period in a sentence.

ExampleFebruaryFebruary is bright redThe color of cherries and valentinesFebruary feels like slick satin slippingBetween your fingersIt sounds like hot rock ‘n’rollIt smells like perfume and cologneFebruary tastes like sweet chocolatesFebruary is here and gone in a flash

MondayMonday is a gloomy dayThe color of dirty snow

Monday feels like an elephantsitting on my back

It sounds like a honking traffic jamIt smells like a bag of old shoesMonday tastes like fizz less soda

Monday begins the long, long roadto Friday

Five Sense Poems Describe an emotion by using your

senses. First give the emotion a color (sight). Then tell how it sounds, feels, smells and tastes.

EXAMPLESLoneliness is gray Success is

redIt sounds like a vacant room It sounds like

claps and cheersIt feels like a toothache It feels like a

pat on the backIt smells like an empty house It smells like

flowers in the spring

It tastes like liver It tastes like champagne

Parts of Speech Poems

LINE 1 One article and one nounLINE 2 One adjective and one conjunction and one

adjectiveLINE 3 One verbal (ed or ing word) and one conjunction

and one verbalLINE 4: One noun that relates to the noun in the first line

(Don’t use “all day.” It can be two or three words). 

EXAMPLEThe ChurchBig and Tall

Singing and PrayingHouse of God