What Is Poetry? Might Be Easier to Answer What Poetry Is Not

Poetry Speaks to the Senses ▪ Poets create word pictures that build an image in your mind As night falls we head to bed, Great-Grandma in her velvet, royal blue nightgown, Her silver hair like a moon in a night sky, Her curlers, when the light hits them just right, Sparking like stars. -Carrie Materi Noisy Filled with laughter Shrieking And quiet That is what cabin 8 sounds like. --Jaclyn Wohl A cup of hot chocolate, Steaming, Its warm breath kissing my face. --Jennifer Karakkal

Poetry Speaks to the Heart ▪ Poetry asks you to feel something, not just think about it: Silence is A friend in times of sorrow When all the amiable chatter in the world Brings no relief --Jennifer Karakkal

Poetry Looks Different ▪ Written in lines and stanzas (groups of lines) ▪ Usually leave white space on a page ▪ Can follow different shapes The Gift Open it up, But be careful. Don’t let any of the words escape, But catch them like fireflies, And keep them in the jar of your heart, To be stored forever. --Julia Kim

Poetry Sounds Different ▪ Poets pay special attention to sound: – Repetition: I see water, I see sky, and I see sun – Rhyme: Ever go away?...Happy every day. – Repeat vowel sounds: Lonely old bones – Repeat consonant sounds: Sparkling silver stars – Use words that sound like what they mean: Eggs crack. Splat!

Connecting to a Poem--Example I chose the poem, “Self-portrait” by Yaniv, and three lines I connect to: I’m like a lightning storm, angry when I’m teased. Quick to strike The buildings of might. I relate to this poem when I think of my teenage years. It was easy to set off my immature temper, and usually my brothers would get the best of me through their teasing. At the same time, I would stand up to anyone who was unjust or unkind—even if they were “buildings of might” like teachers and my parents. It may be that Yaniv feels the same way—quick tempered and willing to fight for what is right.

Connecting to a Poem Response ▪ Read the Self-portrait Poems and choose one that most reflects your own life and personality. ▪ Write the title and author of the poem in your writers’ handbook. ▪ Select a few lines from the poem that are the most meaningful to you. ▪ Write a one paragraph reflection about why this poem is a self-portrait of your life. Include specific lines and your memories that relate to the poem.