A Poet Is Somebody Who Feels, and Who Expresses

English 4

Dr. Murphy

Poetic Champions Compose

2O Points

1) What is a Poet?

A poet is somebody who feels, and who expresses

his feelings through words.

This may sound easy. It isn't.

A lot of people think or believe or know they

feel -- but that's thinking or believing or

knowing; not feeling. and poetry is feeling --

not knowing or believing or thinking.

Almost anybody can learn to think or believe

or know, but not a single human being can be

taught to feel. Why? Because whenever you think

or you believe or you know, you're a lot of other

people; but the moment you feel, you're

NOBODY-BUT-YOURSELF.

--e.e. cummings

2) Who is a poet?

You are.

Assignment:

You are to write a short collection of four (4) poems. Three of the poems you write will be “directed” and others will be written in total freedom. All of your poems should make use of the elements of poetry (metaphor, paradox, anaphora, rhyming, etc.) because it will help as you attempt to wed Sound with Sense. In any case, include the following in your response:

1.  A Title Page (a clever, descriptive title and designed thoughtfully and with regard to the shapes of beauty). What are your poems about? What are the themes have emerged as you write? Who are you? Who are you today? See the last page of this document (or link around Amazon) to get an idea for Title and title pages.

2.  Thought.

3.  Time.

4.  Care.

5.  Craft.

This assignment is due on Tuesday, April 21.

Here are your prompts:

1. Write an Introduction Poem

This poem should introduce you (the poet) to your audience (me, for starters) and should begin and end with the following

line: I am ______

In between, you should write four truthful statements about yourself and four not-so-truthful statements (fantasies about yourself and who you are, lies about people you know, things as you wish they’d be, your deepest hopes and fears, etc.). Then, the idea is to mix them up so that telling truth from fiction may be difficult.

Example:

I am Paula Jones.

I am sixteen years old.

I ride wild stallions.

I collect foreign coins.

My sister has six fingers on her left hand.

My mother and I always get along.

Time has stood still for me.

An arsonist destroyed my home.

My father is a mole in the CIA.

I am Paula Jones.

2. Write a poem about one of the following pictures. Think of a clever title.

3.  Write a descriptive, language-lush poem on one of the following topics:

Turning ten years old, living the message of Christ, your favorite travel destination, romantic love, forgiveness, hitting a homerun, being Christopher Columbus, consumerism, your favorite president, your favorite teacher, facebook life, men and women, reading, your parents, your car, going to college, kairos, a food you llike, paradise, betrayal, Easter, atheism, a sport, life on Mars, other…

4.  “Free” response. Write a poem about anything you’d like. Make sure you utilize at least three (3) poetic elements. Mention (i.e. write) what elements you employ below your poem.

5.  Extras? If you are on a roll and want to out together a proper collection, by all means keep writing. Respond to the prompts; write on your own topics. Extra credit may be awarded depending on the depth and effort of your work.

Here are the Cover Ideas I mentioned. I copied three of Billy Collins’ because he has good ones. You are not likely to make your cover as sharp as these; but you probably could—given your talents and the massive options that reside in all computers and in electronic media. And, you can draw too, which is nice.