5 Easy Pieces

The first step is to think of a person you know well.

The second step is to imagine a place where you find that person.

Now you are ready for the five pieces.

1. Describe the person’s hands.2. Describe something he or she is doing with

the hands.3. Use a metaphor or simile to say something

about some exotic place. 4. Mention what you would want to ask this

person in the context of 2 and 3, above. 5. The person looks up or toward you, notices

you there, gives an answer that suggests he or she only gets part of what you asked.

1. Short, thick, calloused—his sweaty hand darkens the lilac silk dress where he rests his hand on my

leg2. constantly sharpening knives—

pocket knives, kitchen knives, hunting knives3. Exotic places are like a million dollars—I know

they exist, but I will probably never see one4. Why won’t you sharpen your mind by reading a

book with me on an exotic island?5. The sharpening stops. He looks up. You want to go

to Wal-Mart?

Acrostic Poem

• An acrostic poem uses the letters in a topic to begin each line. All lines of the poem should relate to or describe the subject.

Shines brightlyUp in the skyNice and warm on my skin

Alphabet Poetry

• Free verse• Has a title• Uses the familiar ABCs• Focuses on a particular topic chosen by the author/poet• Selects words that describe the topic, one for every letter of

the alphabet• Arranges the words in alphabetical order• Poet decides how many words go on each line• Poet may use poetic license – the word used may not be

spelled correctly to fit in the spot, but it sounds like it fits – for example, xceptional could be used for exceptional or xciting for exciting or xit for exit

Snowflakes

Astonishingly beautifulCold, dartingExciting frostGraceful heavensIcy jewelsKeen laceMajestic needles of pretty, quiet, Raining snowTurning underVibrant WindsXciting,yearlyZany

The implication

ABC poetry may initially appear easy BUT all of you must utilize a thesaurus

(this is an expand-your-vocabulary exercise)

Airplanes goBack and forth

Covering the landscape of ourDear planet

EarthFlying high above the

Ground to soaring newHeights

In all types of weatherJust perfect or a

Kind of cloudy nightLifting its wings

Moving through the airNice and peaceful

Over our headsPilots bring us

Quickly to our destinationsRome, Japan, and other

Special placesTraveling is my

Ultimate favorite activityVanishing off to a new placeWishing I could fly every day

X marks the spot I will goYelling with excitement

Zipping across the country

Ultimate Challenge

• Can you imbed (meaning insert) an acrostic poem within an alphabet poem?

• There are several implications associated with this challenge. 1. most words aren’t written in alphabetical order,

now what? 2. What are other foreseeable challenges?

Basic Elements of Poetry

RhythmThis is the music made by the statements of the poem,

which includes the syllables in the lines. The best method of understanding this is to read the poem

aloud, and understand the stressed and unstressed syllables. Listen for the sounds and the music made when we hear the lines spoken aloud. How do the

words resonate with each other? How do the words flow when they are linked with one another? Does

sound right? Do the words fit with each other? These are the things you consider while studying the rhythm

of the poem.

Meter

This is the basic structural make-up of the poem. Do the syllables match with each other? Every line in the poem must adhere to this structure.

A poem is made up of blocks of lines, which convey a single strand of thought. Within

those blocks, a structure of syllables which follow the rhythm has to be included. This is

the meter or the metrical form of poetry.

Iambic Pentameter

When I..|..con SID..|..er HOW..|..my LIFE..|..is SPENT

Expectations

Poems are like people. They are multi-dimensional.

It takes some time to get to know them.They evoke feelings.

Sometimes they make you feel frustrated, bored, sad, relaxed, bitter, humorous.Sometimes you just don’t get them.

But people, like poems, deserve cordial respect.

A WAY TO APPROACH POETRY

• Who?– Who is the speaker of the poem?

• What?– What is the situation?– What are the figures of speech? (refer to literary terms)– What is the theme? Tone? Mood?

• How? – How do you know what the situation is? (cite the poem)– How is the theme, tone, and mood accomplished?

• Where?– Where does the situation take place?

• When?– When are you (as the reader) entering the poem? Past, present,

future? • Why?

– So what? Why is this worth reading? What do we gain?