POETRY

The first thing that we have to ask is:

What is a poem anyway?

Think about it , and make some notes about what

makes a poem.

So, which of these texts is more a poem for you?

Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim The Wall

You ask me if i have ever been to prison.

Been to prison!

Your world of murderers and thieves

of hatred and jealousy

And…you ask me if i have ever been to prison!

I answer

Yes

I am still there

trying to escape......

Mutabaruka (Allan Hope) You Ask Me

This is just to say I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast. Forgive me, they were delicious, so sweet and so cold.

William Carlos Williams This Is Just to Say

What might make them seem NOT to be like the

usual kind of poems?

Lets look at them one at a time.

I came to you at _____With silvery dew on sleeping lotusSparkling in my gay hands;You put my flowers in the sun.

I danced to you at _____With bright raintree bloomsFlaming in my ardent arms;You dropped my blossoms in the pond.

I crept to you at _____With pale lilac orchidsTrembling on my uncertain lips;You shredded my petals in the sand.

I strode to you at _____With gravel hard and coldClenched in my bitter fists;You offered me your hybrid orchids,And __________________

Hilary Tham Offerings

hello

this is

hello

who’s

me

who is

there

who is

that

this is

that,

this is

me

hello

me

who is

this is

who is

that

me

that

this is

who is

this is

me

that

me

here

hello

I'm

who is

I'm

there

that

there

here

hello

here

here

hello

i am

who’s there

I'm

who

I'm

here

hello

here

here

hello

i am

who is

there

there

here

hello

there

here

hello

i am

who is

there

there

who

i am

Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim Hello

Her faceso fairfirst bentmine eye

Her tongueso sweetthen drewmine ear

Her witso sharpthen hitmy heart

Mine eyeto likeher facedoth lead

Mine earto learnher tonguedoth teach

My Heartto lovehet witdoth move

Her facewith beamsdoth blindmine eye

Her tonguewith soundsdoth charmmine ear

Her witwith artdoth knitmy heart

Mine eyewith lifeher facedoth feed

Mine earwith hopeher tonguedoth feast

My heartwith skillher witdoth fill

O facewith frownswrong notmine eye

O tonguewith cheeksvex notmine ear

O witwith smartwound notmy heart

This eyeshall joyher faceto serve

This earshall yieldher tongueto trust

This heartshall swearher witto fear.

Sir Arthur Gorges

Her Face

These natives are unintelligent –We can't understand their language.

(Chinweizu Colonizer’s Logic)

Goodbye, EuropeansAnd without a grudgeI, myself, am not offendedGoodbye, every one to his own homeWithout any fussGoodbye provided you disturb us no moreLet him follow youHe who believes you indispensable.

(J.R.D.A Dubreka Goodbye, Europeans)

              So we'll go no more a roving              So late into the night,              Though the heart be still as loving,              And the moon be still as bright.

              For the sword outwears its sheath,              And the soul wears out the breast,              And the heart must pause to breathe,              And Love itself have rest.

              Though the night was made for loving,            And the day returns too soon,            Yet we'll go no more a roving            By the light of the moon

Lord Byron So We'll Go no More a Roving

We two are like partners in the __________,Approaching nearer, nearer, nearer;But just when one would think we’d meet at last,We turn away, reverse our steps, withdraw. 

And like the __________ too, my life seems now,With steps mechanical, repeated, meaningless;Arms swinging back and forth, expressing nothing,Feet pacing up and down the floor, going nowhere. 

I am tired of going through these __________ motions,Long to break this impasse of reserve;If only at one point our hands would clasp,What rich variety of movement and gesture could be ours.

Fadzillah Amin Dance

Compare the poems

Form (graphology)

Subject/theme language effect

___________ ___________ _______ _____

___________ ___________ _______ _____

___________ ___________ _______ _____

___________ ___________ _______ _____

Acrostic:  a poem in whichspecial letters spell another word.

Panthers growl,Orioles sing, Eagles soar, Monkeys swing. See?