Read an Excerpt
Future Poets
Help for Aspiring Writers
By Rod Martin
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 Rod Martin
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4567-2174-9
Chapter One
What is Poetry? Webster's' New World Dictionary tells us that a poem is:
An arrangement of words Written or spoken A rhythmical composition Sometimes rhymed Expressing experiences, Ideas or emotions
In a style more concise, imaginative, and powerful than ordinary speech or prose (That it is ... and so much more)
Why Poetry?
Poetry works well for engaging student writers because it is challenging and yet flexible. There are so many types and styles of poems they can experience. There is also a lot of leeway in terms of punctuation, idioms and slang, and how the words appear on the page.
The emphasis in this book is students as poets. It's not about studying the famous poets who have gone before. It's about finding a love for expressing yourself that can last a lifetime.
It is my hope that this book will help your students come to a better understanding of poetry and eventually feel confident in their ability to write poems.
Structuring Your Poetry Unit
May I suggest calling your poetry assignments "Poetry Challenges"? That way, it seems more like a game or competition. It's not a matter of who has the best poem, but "Can you do this?" The challenge is to fulfill the criteria for that particular poem, not always to create a great literary work.
Poets throughout time have had to communicate their ideas following certain rhythmic and rhyme patterns. These challenges are the same sort of thing. Can you say what you want to say, clearly, without letting the criteria get in your way?
I have put Poetic Devices (information about poems) after the Poetry Challenges, but I recommend the teacher choose one of these concepts every other day. Once the students are comfortable with Poetic Devices, you should see them using them in their Poetry Challenges.
I recommend starting the school year with poetry until you feel the students have a good grasp of poems and poetic devices. For the rest of the year, give them as least one weekly poetry challenge. This will add a bit of variety to their work while maintaining the continuity and familiarity with concepts covered in the initial poetry unit.
Poetic Challenges
Poetic challenges are assignments/exercises and lots of ideas for writing different kinds of poems. Some are well known like haiku and limericks but many are new and different. You can pick and choose the ones you like, though I've arranged them in order from easy to more challenging.
It's All About Me ...
Finish the following phrases for an Autobiographical Poem that will let others know some interesting and new things about you:
I am ...
I want ...
I believe ...
I will not ...
I hope ...
I dream ...
I hate ...
I remember ...
I would love ...
Share your answers quietly with another student or read some of them aloud to the class.
Five Finger Poetry
These poems have only five words. It is easy because it's so short. The challenge is to say a lot with only five words: that means being concise.
There are two styles: "Sentence Style" which sounds like someone speaking and "Words on a Topic Style" which are like snapshots that fit together to make a complete picture.
Examples of Sentence Style:
You can express yourself poetically.
Five finger poems are short.
Take the time to rhyme.
I can't think of anything.
Examples of "Words on a Topic Style"
Tackling, passing, running, scoring, cheers.
Spark, Flame, Curtains, Crib, Sirens.
Pitch, hit, run, slide, score!
Topics for Five Finger Poems:
Love:
You take my breath away
Your breath keeps me away
I love loving only you
Your smile lifts my heart
Love me with your eyes
Love can be so complicated
Hugs, kisses, sighs, your eyes
Flirting, talking, embracing, arguing, crying
Nature:
Our mountains are so amazing
The ocean gives us life
Huge waves pound the shore
The beach is our playground
Sun, sand, surf, friends, paradise
School:
Lunch is my favorite subject
Ignorance will get you nowhere
I like going to school
Loud, rhythm, percussion, drums, band
Teachers, lessons, socializing, learning, laughing
Preschool, elementary, intermediate, high school
Friends:
I cherish all my friends
My friends keep me sane
My friends make me laugh
I couldn't live without friends
Shopping, sleepovers, phoning, secrets, crushes
Beliefs:
I believe love lasts forever
Never hate, steal or kill
Faith, family, church, songs, praise
Temple, tradition, Torah, Hebrew, Hosanna
Family:
My family is my treasure
You just can't fool mom
Cute, small, soft, fragile, baby
Fights, fun, meals, vacations, madness
Emotions: (love, hate, fear, sorrow, joy, hurt)
I hate how hate feels
I fear living all alone
Loss wraps us in sorrow
You bring me such joy
Heartbreak, confusion, tears, time, healing
The Senses: (sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste)
To see you is heaven
Scarred from mom's tongue lashing
Butter dipped lobster so sweet
Advanced work:
Take your favorite five finger poem and expand it into a longer piece.
Some student examples:
Movies, shows, comedy, romance, television
Music makes me wanna dance
Bumping, hitting, blocking, jumping, volleyball
Summer is the best ever
Please don't read this poem
Eat, sleep, school, work, play
Peace power to the people
Blood, death, guns, stupid war
I like to travel places
Imaginative, realistic, mysterious, action, books
Baby, it's all about me
I love my teachers, not.
Don't psych me out dude
Will three o'clock ever come?
My aching head is full
History is for the aged
Make history don't study it
I work better with music
This poetry stuff is hard
Five words are not enough
I really can't do this
Adjective Poems
Fill in the blanks with adjectives. Rewriting the poem a few times with differing adjectives shows how important descriptive words are to the overall meaning of any poem.
The ___________________ man
Had _________________ words for the woman
She looked ______________________
His ____________________ eyes
Told ___________________ stories
And her ____ expression spoke louder than words.
The filthy man
Had drunken words for the woman
She looked disgusted
His bleary eyes told heartbreak stories
And her scared expression spoke louder than words.
The wealthy man
Had romantic words for the woman
She looked delighted
His kind eyes told thrilling stories
And her amused expression spoke louder than words.
Fill in the Blank Poems
Have your students use the following structure to create a variety of poems. Tell them to avoid trying to rhyme. Perhaps they can come up with some real surprises.
In your eyes I've seen __________________
Touched _____________________________
Felt _________________________________
But _________________________________
So __________________________________
In your eyes I've seen starlight
Touched sorrow
Felt sunshine
But tears don't belong in such dreams
So dry your eyes and reflect only love from now on.
In your eyes I've seen Volkswagens
Touched chrome
Felt the power of your acceleration
But you drive too fast
So remember me when you need to refuel your love.
Another "Fill in the Blank Poem":
I'm asking you ________________________
Don't tell me __________________________
I've seen you __________________________
But never _____________________________
If you don't ___________________________
Then I'll ______________________________
And you can __________________________
I'm asking you to call me
Don't tell me you don't like me because I know you do
I've seen you looking at me
But never thought you'd ever really care
If you don't call, I'll be heart broken
Then I'll tell all my friends what a jerk you can be
And you can eat lunch all by yourself
I'm asking you to love me more
Don't tell me I'm too theatrical
I've seen you be flirtatious
But never thought you'd want someone else
If you don't need this love of ours
Then I'll surely set you free
And you can learn to love again in someone else's arms.
Haiku
Haiku is a form of poetry from Japan. It's very short and fairly easy to write. It doesn't rhyme. It has only three lines that are all about one subject.
In the short form, the first line has three syllables, the second line has five syllables, and the third line has three syllables. (3-5-3)
The long form has five syllables in the first line, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line has five syllables. (5-7-5)
Short form (3-5-3)
3 Maturing 5 Anticipating 3 Destiny
Long Form (5-7-5)
5 Shining waterfall 7 Slithering down the mountain 5 Filling a blue pool
Haiku Short Form Examples:
I can't think
This is just too hard
I give up
Pain, blood, gore.
Why must there be war?
No one wins.
Island breeze
Bringing sweet relief
From the heat
Please love me
I'm so lonely lost
Ease this pain
They tease me
But can't see the hurt
Hidden tears
Haiku Long Form Examples:
I love my reggae
Skankin' to that reggae beat
I could dance 'till dawn
The morning sunshine
Enters through the window's glass
Past dust and cobwebs
You changed my whole world
When you told me you loved me
You've made me complete
Count on your fingers
You just count the syllables
Your haiku is done
Love comes from the heart
Unbreakable, believing
Makes you feel so good
Love is why we live
Love lifts you up, family, friends
Love is your future
Love is everything
You're at peace with the whole world
Love is all you need.
School Pride Haikus:
Our school, very cool
We never ever give up
We all can stand proud
This school is awesome
We are very respectful
And responsible
Our school is the best
I love attending this place
And you should also
This is a good school
Because of all the people
Let's keep it that way
Having school spirit
Helps make our assemblies fun
So let's make some noise!
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Future Poets by Rod Martin Copyright © 2011 by Rod Martin. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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