1. The Poppy of Georgia O’Keeffe A poem by Janine Pommy Vega
Purpose:
We are going to look for comparisons in this poem.

2. Castanets are rhythmic instruments attached to fingers for clapping
Castanets are rhythmic instruments attached to fingers for clapping. This pair of castanets shows an image of a flamenco dancer.

3. Poppy by Georgia O’Keeffe

4. The Poppy of Georgia O’Keeffe
By Janine Pommy Vega
In the carmine extravagance
the skirts of a Spanish dancer swirl
flamenco rhythms, castanets
exuberant dancer
drumming her heels on a wooden floor
staccato barks, deep intricate guitars
the energy pulsing from the dark
surrounds and enters
The Poppy is wide open
her petals curve
like the skirts of a mountain
filled with the morning sun
we climb
and reaching the pinnacle shout
like the flower
in strict discipline, in eloquent satori
in the wild graced of black and red.

5. First Stanza Vocabulary
carmine = red
extravagance = excessiveness
flamenco = flaming
castanets =rhythmic instrument
exuberant t= energetic
staccato = disconnected
intricate =complicated
In the carmine (red) extravagance (excessiveness)
the skirts of a Spanish dancer swirl
flamenco (flaming) rhythms, castanets (instrument)
exuberant (energetic) dancer
drumming her heels on a wooden floor
staccato (disconnected) barks, deep intricate (complicated) guitars
the energy pulsing from the dark
surrounds and enters

6. Second Stanza Vocabulary
pinnacle: high point
discipline: control
eloquent: expressive
satori: awakening
The poppy is wide open
her petals curve
like the skirts of a mountain
filled with the morning sun
we climb
and reaching the pinnacle (highpoint) shout
like the flower
in strict discipline (control),in eloquent (expressive) satori (awakening)
in the wild graced of black and red.

7. Questions What comparison is the author making to the poppy?
How does the Poppy resemble a flamenco dancer?
Do you see any relation between the music and the movement in the painting of the poppy?

8. Compare the Stanzas In the carmine extravagance The Poppy is wide open
the skirts of a Spanish dancer swirl her petals curve
flamenco rhythms, castanets like the skirts of a mountain
exuberant dancer filled with the morning sun
drumming her heels on a wooden floor we climb
staccato barks, deep intricate guitars and reaching the pinnacle shout
the energy pulsing from the dark like the flower
surrounds and enters in strict discipline, in eloquent satori
in the wild graced of black and red.

9. Activity 1. Create a work of art based on any of the following:
One stanza of the poem;
One line of the poem;
Sounds of castanets;
Sounds of flamenco music.
2. Illustrate the flamenco dancer as an accompaniment to the poem.