1. Poetry

2. TP-CAST T-Title Ponder the title before reading the poem. Make a prediction.

3. P-Paraphrase Translate the poem into your own words

4. C-Connotation Contemplate the poem for meaning beyond the literal (Read between the lines) Also consider and explain any Figurative Language.

5. A- Attitude What is the speaker’s attitude? What is the poet’s attitude?

6. S- Shifts Note Shifts in speakers and in attitudes

7. T- Title Yes, examine the title again, this time on an interpretive level. Does the title have a different meaning now?

8. T- Theme Determine what the poet is saying

9. Nobody Ever Said AIDS Title: Nobody Ever Said AIDS I predict this poem will be about someone who learns that a friend or family member has died of AIDS. I think that the speaker of the poem didn’t realize the person who died had AIDS because that person never talked about it or was in denial of it.

10. Nobody Ever Said AIDS Paraphrase Speaker remembers a carefree life of dancing and partying with his friends. Then came AIDS. AIDS became something to fear. His friends got skinny and died of TB. The speaker questions that they really died of TB. Then the speaker gets skinny and ill. Everybody dies.

11. Nobody Ever Said AIDS Connotation Kaffir- a derogatory term for a black person. It is similar to the “N” word in America. “No Kaffir’s here” – we are not “trash” or low life’s- we are proud, good men.

12. Simile- “And skinny like broomsticks” They became quite ill. “The children were born dying” Mothers with AIDS gave birth to children with AIDS. Simile- “Eating us like worms” Worms feast on the dead, the decomposing. He is saying that they are still alive, but so sick they are like the dead.

13. Simile “Those who used to sing like superstars” They who used to be healthy and happy. “Whispering it at funerals / Because nobody ever said AIDS” The speaker is saying that AIDS is something nobody admits to, nobody talks about, everyone is in denial. Even in the end when he says “We died of TB / That was us”

14. Attitude I think the speaker’s attitude is one of sadness, despair, and regret. The speaker remembers his old life with fondness. I think he uses the word “whisper” because he is fearful of AIDS.

15. I think the poet’s attitude is a little different. I think the speaker is saying it is time to talk about AIDS and not hide it. It is time to stop being ignorant and get the word out that AIDS is killing millions of healthy strong people.

16. Shift I see a shift in the poem when the speaker talks with fondness of his old life (dancing and laughing). This part of the poem is reminiscent. That’s when the thing to fear was the police. Then his friends become sick and the poem becomes filled with sadness and fear. Now you had to be fearful of love and getting sick.

17. Title (again) Nobody Ever Said AIDS – Now the title seems a little more like the poet’s voice is speaking it. It seems to be mildly sarcastic and seems to call for people to stop living in ignorance because the disease will kill you if you ignore it.

18. Theme Again, I think the theme of the poem is to stop living in ignorance. AIDS will kill everyone in Africa because they continue to live in denial.

19. Image taken from http://blog.ted.com/images/0012_aids_450x338.jpg