Two Poems by Bhavishya B.
A Haiku about AMERICA
People united
To secure their liberty
Out of many, one
A Poem about BELIEVE
Believe in Love
Believe in Faith
Believe in Truth
Believe that no matter what happens, you have the power to prevail
Believe in Strength
Believe in Courage
Believe in Honor
Believe that everyone has the power to be good at heart
Believe in things you never would
Believe in doing things you never could
Believe in achievement
Believe that if you think you can
Believe in the degenerate
Believe in the corrupted
Believe that evil does exist in many forms, but all can be overcome
Believe in spiritual
Believe in holy
Believe in sacred
Believe that your personal values can never be taken from you
Believe in Hope
Believe that one smile can save a life
Believe in time
Believe in YOU
Believe that as long as you believe in yourself, anything is possible
IRLA: Rhyme Scheme, Alliteration, and Repetition
Hey, everyone! This week, our focus on poetry will be on how to identify and discus a poet’s use of rhyme scheme and a poet’s use of alliteration. We’ll also be taking a look at some interviews with poets to see what poetry means to each of them, and we’ll be looking at the use of repetition in poetry. At the end of the week, we’ll be exploring the idea of reading, reciting, and performing poetry as well – our own and someone else’s.
To get a head start on some of this week’s topics, here are some videos and tutorials for you on rhyme scheme, alliteration, and repetition.
Rhyme Scheme:
- Do the ideas in this video remind you of any rhyme scheme you’ve encountered before?
- Have you ever had to label a rhyme scheme before?
Alliteration:
- Did this tutorial about alliteration remind you of any tongue twisters?
- Do you think alliteration with the letter “w” has the same effect in a poem as alliteration with the letter “s”? Why or why not?
“Repetition” performed by Phil Kaye:
- What do you think about the use of repetition in this poem?
- Do you find it ironic or purposeful that the poet uses repetition while he tells a story about how repetition can lessen the meaning of a word?
Let’s get some good conversations going here on the blog this week!
~Ms. Morris 🙂
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 8 so far )IRLA: Introduction to Poetry
In class today, we read the poem, “Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins. We examined its figurative language, and as we tried to figure out what it meant – its irony.
Here is the video clip we also listened to with Billy Collins reading the poem himself. Notice which words he places extra emphasis on and the pace at which he reads each stanza in the poem (particularly at the end). Why do you think he reads it this way?
Now, it is your turn to write an “introduction” poem. You can choose any topic you would like to be the subject of your poem. Try to follow the same structure and intentions behind the Billy Collins poem when you write your own.
Here is one that I wrote called “Introduction to Travel.”
Introduction to Travel
by Melissa Morris
Inspired by the Billy Collins poem, “Introduction to Poetry”
I ask them to pack lightly
and carry all they take
on their backs
or not bring it at all.
I say take a map,
but don’t read it until you’re lost,
or have to help some other traveler
find their way.
I want them to explore
the world and let their trip unfold
waving at the history they meet and live.
But all they want to do
is buy souvenirs and check off major cities from their lists.
They begin losing the trip
before they even set out for it.
As always, feel free to join in and/or continue our conversation from class here in the comments on the blog.
~Ms. Morris
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )IRLA: Poetry!
Today, we begin our journey into poetry!
To kick off the unit, we’ve explored many of our preconceptions about poetry and immediately began to change these ideas and challenge them with new ones – thanks largely to Sarah Kay and Chris Rockwell.
(I have to say that I was very impressed with your observations and other ideas during our class discussions!)
Since we only watched a few sections of the Sarah Kay video, here it is again so you can watch it at home:
Also, here is the Chris Rockwell video for you to watch again.
If you were going to perform a spoken word piece, what do you think it would be about?
~Ms. Morris 🙂
POETRY RESPONSE: “Phenomenal Woman” (Stephen O.)
The poem that I have read is “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou. Angelou is not known only for her poems, but for her biographies. When she writes she writes about her childhood and the experiences of growing up poor and in an abusive household. Some other poems that she wrote about her life are, “They Went Home” and “When You Come.”
I thought a lot of things when I was reading this poem. I think the author is trying to make a point about listening to yourself and not to anyone else. In “Phenomenal Woman” Angelou describes a woman who is not always perfect but is happy with herself. For example, “…it’s the click of my heels, the bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, the need of my care cause I’m a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman that’s me.”
My reaction to this poem was that it boggled my mind. The reason for this is because I did not think that it was going to be this good. It gave me some information to think about. THe most important thing to think about is to listen to yourself and only yourself.
I would recommend this poem to other middle schoolers that are having trouble trying to figure out who they are. This poem is very positive and it tells you that it is more important to think positvely about yourself than to worry about what others think of you.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 6 so far )POETRY RESPONSE: “Road Not Taken” (Abby G.)
I just read a poem called “Road Not Taken” by Robert Lee Frost. He is a famous poet.
I think that this poem is about life. In life there’s always two roads which represent choices you make. If you pick the right choice, even if it is difficult because it means being different, it will pay off in the long run.
While I was reading this poem, I was surprised because the poem was probably based on difficult choices Robert Frost had to make. This poem is appropriate for students in middle school because they have to make a lot of decisions about who to hang out with, deciding to go to school even when they don’t feel well, and even what clothes to wear.
I would like Miss Morris to read more poetry by this poet because Robert Frost is a good poet and he is famous. He also has cool poems that would be nice to hear in class. I would recommend this poem to other students because they could get something out of it.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 4 so far )Summer Reading Projects and Poetry Responses
Hello! Our first series of student written posts will be book reviews from summer reading and reactions to an assortment of poems. This assignment was a quick-write, but students did follow all stages of the writing process from brainstorming, to drafting, to revising, then editing, and finally publishing here on the blog. There will be 12 posts in all.
Please take a minute to read through and comment on this first writing assignment of the 2008-2009 school year!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )The Poetry of Song Lyrics
We will be covering a unit on poetry in the near future, but before we begin I’d love to get a conversation going about some of your favorite song lyrics. Below are a few excerpts from some of my favorites. Please respond to them or post your own favorites.
Miss Morris 🙂
In the rain,
The pavement shines like silver.
All the lights,
Are misty in the river.
-from “On My Own” from the musical Les Miserables
I chose these lines because I think the simile comparing the pavement to silver is beautiful and it creates a vivid image in my mind when I read the lines. MM
Moving in silent desperation
Keeping an eye on the Holy Land
A hypothetical destination
Say, who is this walking man?
-from “Walking Man” by James Taylor
In these lines, I especially love the concept of a “hypothetical destination.” What does that mean? MM
Imagine no posessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brother hood of man
Sharing all the world
You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one
-from “Imagine” by John Lennon
I just think that these words are so inspirational and I really like the idea of a “brotherhood of man.” MM
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Welcome to the 7C IRLA Classroom Site! 