1. Write Like a Poet Writing poems has never been easier!
Copyright © Tracee Orman All Rights Reserved

2. Student Examples

3. the white snow
So much depends
upon
the white glistening
snow
falling from the gray
sky
on a gloomy school day.
Early Out
So much depends
upon
the school secretary's voice
stammering over the loud speaker
announcing a two-hour early dismissal
from school.

5. Samantha F. ‘14

7. Notice his use of alliteration and sensory images (taste, touch/feel).
Fake Apology Poems
Williams also believed poems can be something as simple as a half-hearted apology such as "This is Just to Say," in which the speaker issues an "apology" for eating someone's plums.
Notice his use of alliteration
and sensory images (taste, touch/feel).

8. I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which
This Is Just To Say
By William Carlos Williams
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
(1934)

9. "This is Just to Say" model
Now try writing your own...
Have you ever apologized for something you REALLY weren't sorry for?
Write a poem using the
"This is Just to Say" model
You'll issue your apology, but then tell the reader why you really aren't sorry.
See examples...

10. Student Examples
This is Just to Say
I have eaten the last
piece of chocolate
cake
in which you were probably
saving for dessert.
Forgive me,
it was heaven
so rich and
so creamy.
This is Just to Say
I have used
all the hot water
for my shower
even though I knew you were
going to shower, too.
Forgive me,
it was steamy
and very relaxing.

11. Maddie Newton, ‘18

14. Read this Carl Sandburg poem
PERSONIFICATION
Read this Carl Sandburg poem
that uses PERSONIFICATION, METAPHOR, and IMAGERY

15. Fog by Carl Sandburg (Chicago Poems, 1916) The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.

16. Personification
The fog is being compared to a cat (remember that personification is a type of metaphor).
It quietly moves into the city, stays for a little bit, then quietly moves on, just like a cat.
But that description is very boring, so Sandburg uses personification: giving the fog the qualities of the cat. Because, last time I checked, the fog didn't have eyes to look over the city or haunches to sit back on. Or feet, for that matter...

17. Now try writing your own...
Write a poem that uses personification. Start with an idea, then build on them to form a poem.
Use Sandburg's "Fog" model, if you like.

18. By Chance J, '17

21. Miscellaneous Poets & Poems

22. Miscellaneous Poets & Poems
The following slides will look at additional forms, themes, and styles of writing poems. Practice along as we go through each one.

23. Read this Margaret Atwood
SIMILE
Read this Margaret Atwood
poem that uses a SIMILE

24. “I AM” Poem (Type of “ME” Poem)
The following page shows one of the formulas for an “I Am…” poem. In this poem, every line will begin with “I Am…” The writer finishes the line with his/her response.

25. I am a sophomore and I am proud
Two special characteristics
I am a sophomore and I am proud
Something you are actually curious about
I wonder if we will win Class Olympics this year
An imaginary sound
I hear the seniors and juniors mocking us
An imaginary sight
I see the freshmen cowering in the corner
An actual desire
I want to defeat the upperclassmen so badly it aches
Repeat first line
Something you actually pretend to do
I pretend that we are bigger than we are
feeling about something imaginary
I feel satisfied as part of the class of 2020
imaginary touch
I touch our class flag in the hallway every time I pass it
something that bothers you
I worry that we will grow apart
something that makes you cry
I cry thinking about not being together
something you know is true
I know we need to come together as a class
something you believe
I believe we can conquer the upperclassmen
something you actually dream about
I dream that the seniors will have egg in their faces after the toss
something you really make an effort to do
I try to picture us winning the class trophy and bragging rights
something you really hope for
I hope we will remember this time in our lives forever
Teachers: customize it for your own classes- you can even include student names.

26. Example on following page…
Now try writing your own...
“I Am” POEM
Example on following page…

27. Name withheld by request

28. Makenzi T. ‘17

29. Brenna R., ‘17

30. The Starry Night
By Anne Sexton
That does not keep me from having a terrible need of—shall I say the word—religion. Then I go out at night to paint the stars. -Vincent Van Gogh in a letter to his brother
The town does not exist
except where one black-haired tree slips
up like a drowned woman into the hot sky.
The town is silent. The night boils with eleven stars.   
Oh starry starry night! This is how
I want to die.
It moves. They are all alive.
Even the moon bulges in its orange irons   
to push children, like a god, from its eye.
The old unseen serpent swallows up the stars.   
Oh starry starry night! This is how   
I want to die:
into that rushing beast of the night,   
sucked up by that great dragon, to split   
from my life with no flag,
no belly,
no cry.
Anne Sexton, “The Starry Night” from The Complete Poems of Anne Sexton (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1981). Copyright © 1981 by Linda Gray Sexton and Loring Conant, Jr. Reprinted with the permission of Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc.
Source: The Complete Poems of Anne Sexton (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1981)
from:
Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh June 1889

31. Now it’s your turn…
Choose a famous work of art for inspiration. Pick one that speaks to you.
You can find many here:
Artcyclopedia:
Olga’s Gallery:
Web Museum, Paris .

32. Choose your famous piece of art. Write your poem about it.
Copy the famous piece of art onto your paper. Put the title of the famous piece and the artist’s name.
Make sure to include your name! It’s a grade!
The Starry Night
By Anne Sexton
That does not keep me from having a terrible need of—shall I say the word—religion. Then I go out at night to paint the stars. -Vincent Van Gogh in a letter to his brother
The town does not exist
except where one black-haired tree slips
up like a drowned woman into the hot sky.
The town is silent. The night boils with eleven stars.   
Oh starry starry night! This is how
I want to die.
It moves. They are all alive.
Even the moon bulges in its orange irons   
to push children, like a god, from its eye.
The old unseen serpent swallows up the stars.   
Oh starry starry night! This is how   
I want to die:
into that rushing beast of the night,   
sucked up by that great dragon, to split   
from my life with no flag,
no belly,
no cry.
Anne Sexton, “The Starry Night” from The Complete Poems of Anne Sexton (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1981). Copyright © 1981 by Linda Gray Sexton and Loring Conant, Jr. Reprinted with the permission of Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc.
Source: The Complete Poems of Anne Sexton (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1981)
from:

33. If you are struggling to find something to write about, or do not feel especially inspired, ask these questions:
1. What does this artwork remind you of?
2. How does it make you feel?
3. What stood out to you when you first glanced at it?
4. Why did you choose this piece?
5. Why do you think the artist created this piece?

37. “Love” is a pop art image by Robert Indiana (1970)

38. Try to write an "advice" to young people poem.
Now try writing your own...
How would you tell others to stay positive, even when things aren't going so well?
Try to write an "advice" to young people poem.

39. Don't forget to use some poetic devices in your writing, such as:
• Alliteration
• Internal rhymes
• Similes & Metaphors
• Hyperboles