Name______
Depoy/ Vallor, English 9
Period ___
Writing Poetry (200 points)
Students will compose 12-14 original poems this quarter. The subject matter is up to the student under the following conditions:
1)All poems must be original. Students who plagiarize poems or parts of poems will receive disciplinary consequences. Keep in mind that all of these poems will be submitted to turnitin.com.
2)Poems must be appropriate for school. Do not write something that may be considered inappropriate by your parent, the teacher(s) or the administrator. Refrain from writing poems that are explicit or violent in nature. Mrs. Vallor and Mrs. Depoy reserve the right to disqualify poems from the poetry slams and ask students to rewrite them for credit if they are considered to be inappropriate. A poem considered to be offensive may be referred to a counselor or administrator.
3)Each poem will be read aloud to the class (anonymously by another student). Ideally, nobody will ever know you wrote it unless you win a poetry slam and choose to tell the class. However, don’t write anything that would embarrass you if another student found out that you wrote it.
4)You may not show your poem to others, tell them about it, or urge them to vote for it before or during the poetry slam. If you do, you will be disqualified from winning the poetry slam. Since poetry slams must be anonymous, you may not include “hints” in your poem such as your football number, etc.
5)You may not use anybody at this school as the subject of your poem whether is direct or implied (obvious to other students). You may not say, “My friend or teacher doesn’t mind being the subject of my poem” because your friend or teacher may not be honest with you about being embarrassed by your poem.
6)Poems may be humorous or even silly as long as they don’t make a mockery of the assignment. For example, “a cat sat on a mat” does not show effort and would receive a low grade for meaningful content. Another example would be writing poems about how you hate writing poems or hate English class. Please keep in mind that your English teacher is grading your poems and be mature in your compositions.
7)Your poems should be meaningful to you. They can be about “heavy” or “light” subjects, depending on your mood. It is okay if you want to write many poems about something you love such as soccer, your pet or your favorite vacation spot.
8)You may write poems on sad subjects (as many famous poets do), but be warned that if I suspect that you may be depressed, it is my duty to share your poem with your counselor and/or parent. This does not mean that you’re in trouble or that I didn’t like your poem but simply that I am concerned about you.
9)All poems must be TYPED in Times New Roman, size 12 and double-spaced to receive credit on daily spotcheck grades.
Student Poem #1: Haiku 10 points
Student Poem #2: Tanka 10 points
Student Poem #3: Cinquain 10 points
Student Poem #4: List poem (12 lines min.) 15 points
Student Poem #5: Acrostic poem 15 points
Student Poem #6: “How to” poem (12 lines min.) 20 points
Student Poem #7: Motif poem (12 lines min.) 20 points
Student Poem #8: An original, rhyming poem of at least 16 lines: AABB, ABAB or ABCB 20 points
Student Poem #9: An original,free versepoem at least 12 lines 20 points
Student Poem #10: A limerick 20 points
Student Poem #11: “Emulate an author’s style” 20 points
Student Poem #12: Asonnet or ballad (honors) or your choice (academic)20 points
*You may submit one or two additional poems only (any format) for extra credit.
Student Poem #1:Haiku
Writing haikus began during the 17th century in Japan. Haikus are usually about nature and have a specific pattern of kami-ku-- three lines with 5 syllables in the first, 7 syllables in the second, and 5 in the third.
Student examples of haiku poems:
Haiku by Eli Levenson
Softly calling me 5 syllables
The soft humming of the sea7 syllables
My form of solace 5 syllables
Haiku by Rachel Allegra
The night is ending
Bright sun comes up over the hill
Morning has started
Haiku by Chris Song
Bright moon is glowing
Resting over the calm hill
Night is beginning
Student Poem #2:Tanka
A Japanese tanka (sometimes called waka) is a poem composed of thirty-one syllables in two sections: kami-ku and shimo-ku. The three lines of kami-ku have five, seven, and five syllables respectively. The following two lines of shimo-ku each have seven syllables.
Student examples of tanka poems:
Tanka by Gabriel Cordova
How life passes by5 syllables
Seeing the time flying fast7 syllables
Our world will not last5 syllables
For we are the destroyers7 syllables
Taking life from Mother Nature7 syllables
Tanka by Chris Song
I think carefully
Trying to find bravery
She can see my fear
She is blinded by sorrow
My eyes flow over with tears
Student Poem #3:Cinquain
A Cinquain has 5 lines and is generally in the following format:
Line 1: the subject ( a noun)
Line 2: two descriptive words
Line 3: three verbs
Line 4: a phrase of 4 words
Line 5: a synonym
Cinquain by Alex Epperly
The sea
Green and deep
Rippling, flowing, slipping away
Bearing witness to eras
ocean
Cinquain by Priyanka Panday
Mountaineer
Rough, strong
Climbing, struggling, enjoying
Reaching for the peak
Hiker
Student Poem #4: List poem (12 lines minimum)
Ideas: things I hope to accomplish, things I remember, things I forgot, things I need to do today, excuses for not doing my homework, excuses for not writing this poem,
things to do on a rainy day, reasons I love someone, things I will never throw away, things I should have done, things that make me feel ten feet tall
Student examples:
Things not to throw away by Eli Levenson
My life
My health
My education
My family
My friends
My job
My freedom
My happiness
My liberty
My choices
My humanity
Things in life to be grateful for by Erin Flint
A roof over your head
A loving family
Parents who care
Someone who cares just for you
Loyal friends
Food on your plate
Clothes on your back
As well as your health
Youth and a long life
An adventurous personality
Freedom from tyranny and suppression
Independent and individuality
Student Poem #5: Acrostic poem
To write an acrostic poem, write the subject of the poem vertically.
Student Examples:
Cheerleading by Allison Bouchard
C reating the goal
H aving what it takes
E arning a spot on the squad
E nthusiasm
R emember to have fun
L earning the routine
E ncouraging other teammates
A llowing mistakes—everyone makes them
D eciding you want to win
I ntense practices
N othing can stop you
G iving it your all!
Inspiration by Linnie Beard
I gnite your brain
N ever stop the flow
S pilling out your thoughts
P leasing your pen
I gnite your brain
R ip through pages of words
A sk me again what
T ook me on this runaway train?
I gnition of my brain
O ut of the mist the writing appears
N ow you have poetry.
Student Poem #6: “How to” poem (12 lines minimum)
Ideas for how to poems:
How to make it snow, how to make someone love you, how to ace a test, how to cook dinner, how to get a date for the prom, how to get your driver’s license, how to get out of a speeding ticket, how to have a great vacation, how to be happy, how to get an Ain English class
Student Examples:
How to be a great football player by Brendan Griffin (notice all the great similes)
Practice harder than your opponents.
Become stronger and have more endurance.
Have a rifle for an arm.
Run like the wind in a thunderstorm.
Catch like a broken-in glove.
Be tougher than nails.
Hit hard like a truck in a head on collision.
Run people over like a bulldozer.
Look ahead and never look back.
Be proud to be the best you can be.
Never accept anything but the best.
Never be scared
And never give up.
How to be a star in the sky by Elena Fokou
Watch from way up, just watch never talk
Show the people the right way when they are in the dark
Make people stare at you, most of the times with confused feelings
Listen to people talk to you about their problems, just listen, never tell them yours
Listen to them asking you for advice, just listen, never give it to them
Keep them company when they are lonely
Be there for everybody that needs you, because you are the only one who can really keep secrets
Make them look at you and say how beautiful you are
While you look down to some who have smiles
And others who have tears
Have people make a wish while you fall through the sky at the last moments of your life
How to make it snow by Rachel Towarnicky
Be a kid at heart
Excited and hoping that the tradition will continue to be true.
Reverse your PJs.
Run backward around the house three times,
Singing let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Run up to the bathroom,
With ice cubes in hand,
Drop them in and watch them go down make a wish for it to snow.
Close all the window shades,
Jump on to the bed and tuck yourself in tight,
And go to sleep and don’t peek till the morning comes.
Student Poem #7: Motif poem (12 lines minimum)
A motif poem repeats the same word on every line or almost every line.
Student examples:
Motif Poem by Stephany Martinez
Notice how yellow, orange and green leaves pile on the ground.
Notice how trees become bare.
Notice how the snow falls on the ground.
Notice how the snow glistens on the branches.
Notice how the snow melts.
Notice how it fades away.
Notice how it rains in April.
Notice how it falls.
Notice how the rainbow appears.
Notice how beautiful it is.
Notice how the flowers bloom.
Notice every color and shape.
Notice how it gets real warm.
Notice how this will start again.
Paradise to me by Allison Bouchard
Where is paradise?
Where the water sparkles.
Where color is vibrant and fragrant.
Where there is a perfect, slight breeze.
Where sand is white and fine.
Where air smells like a sweet island flower.
Where stress doesn’t exist.
Where skies are always blue.
Where life is being lived and loved.
Where everyday life can’t quite reach you.
Where no one can complain.
Circle of Friends by Rachel Towarnicky
Circle of friends is all one needs
The feel of comfort and safety
Comes with being in numbers
Circle of friends has no end
It just keeps going but
It can grow with the inviting of new people
Circle of friends is a family
Everyone is there for each other
In good and in bad
Circle of friends is a chain
You can never break the chain
Once you have been linked
Circle of friends will never die
The circle keeps on going
Even after people pass on
Because the circle of friends
Is ever lasting
It is a circle that keeps the sense of freedom and respect alive
There’s Never Enough Time by Vincent Tapia
There’s Never Enough…
Time to finish your homework
Time to study for a test
Time to eat breakfast
Time to go to school
Time to learn to drive
Time to get ready when you’re in a hurry
Time to do what your parents want
Time to play your favorite game
Time to watch TV
Time in a day when you’re having fun
Time to do things you want to do
Time for everything you can’t do
Student Poem #8: An original, rhyming poem of at least 16 lines: AABB, ABAB or ABCB
Rhyming Poem by Colin Hunt
When the sun goes down
And the people are asleep
As the colors of the sky meld to be brown
And gives way to an ocean of stars so deep
And the moon is but a frown
For my eyes to keep
The clouds grow together
And the begin to cover the moon
What horrible weather
Must be upon us soon
To make the night
Turn into a fright
And leave us here
With no one hear
And then…
I think of the sun’s golden crown
And how the clouds are like sheep
But here I am left to drown
In the ocean of stars so deep
Rhyming Poem by Tommy Berry
Acceptance of darkness
The heart of the sun
The battle is over
And the people have won.
Ray of sunlight
Dust of the stars
Eyes against nothing
Know nothing is far
Blue backdrop
That holds in the night
Vanish forever
In infinite light
Eyes of the heavens
Hand of the sun
The old life is over
A new has begun.
Student Poem #9: An original, free verse poem at least 12 lines
Student Example:
Life by Colin Hunt (published in the Spring 2002 issue of A Celebration of Young Poets)
Life is a lump of clay
You can mold it and shape it yet you cannot design it
Sometimes you think you may have that power
Just to discover that you don't
Then you get frustrated and smash it back into a lump
And refuse to work on it for weeks
By the time you get back
You've forgotten the purpose of the project
Soon you remember and start rebuilding
When you are finally onto something
That could be the masterpiece of your career
It hardens and crumbles right before your eyes
All that is left is dust sifting through your clay stained fingers...
Time by Colin Hunt
Time is a gift we should not spend idly
Time is a gift that should be shared
Among friends and family
Learning this and that
But don’t forget that time is yours
To spend how you will
And to forget that it’s priceless
Would be the greatest sin of all
We are given such little time
On Earth to make our mark
So I suggest you spend it wisely
Don’t throw your wealth away
Spread it out and be generous with it.
A Song to Give Me Life by Laura May
I want to sing
Sing to the falling rain
Sing with the energy I have from the sun
Sing the songs of my wisdom
Belt the words from my soul
And if my heart grows stronger
I mimic the songs of the birds
I can follow the whistle of the winds
I can carry my voice to the mountain tops
I’ll let out the song within
It’s a breath to give me life
I search for a meaning
While I make a simple melody
I know to live this life, lost of sentiment
I want to sing
Until my heart stops its rhythm
I want to sing forever
The Limit of the Universe by Naji Taib
We are closest when we are apart
Each takes steps back
When we are finally together again
Forced away by the
Thoughts of closeness from isolation
Lonely again
Lonely together
This is not what I had in mind
Where fear is the driving force
Fear of each other too
A block forever standing
Until we finally become friends
Which in this cold
Disallowing world
Might never happen.
Student Poem #10: A limerick
A limerick is a humorous five line poem. The first, second and fifth lines rhyme and each have eight syllables; the third
and fourth lines rhyme and have five syllables.
Ex. by Edward Lear
“There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, 'It is just as I feared! —
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren
Have all built their nests in my beard!”
Limerick by Erin Dice
There was a man who slept all day
And when he woke up he would say
I am way too tired
Who cares if I’m fired
I don’t like my job anyway
The Fast Man by Sahil Mehra
There is a young man who is fast
Who will win the race, not place last
He is very quick
And acts very slick
And he will never be surpassed
Student Poem #11: "Emulate an author's style"
*Choose a poem that you like. Write your own original poem, but try to copy the author’s style.
Emulate the style, tone, rhythm and other techniques used. Type both the original poem (with title and author) and your poem on the same page.
The Choice by Danny Bell (emulating “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost)
Two choices loom that very well could,
Decide whether you’re happy, poor, or both,
You can’t make up your mind, if you should,
But your heart tells you which one would,
Provide you with the most growth;
Though the other may provide the better share,
The prospect seems quite lame,
You know that whatever you wear,
No one person will really care,
And will fill you with petty shame;
The choices seem easy, but not this day,
Clouds form in your mind that are black,
You chose the second to your own dismay,
You light it and it appears as bright as a sun’s ray,