1. The Poetry Splash “Hanging Fire” – free verse
Lesson 3
The Poetry Splash
“Hanging Fire” – free verse

2. Introduction to Poetry Billy Collins I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem's room and feel the walls for a light switch. I want them to water-ski across the surface of a poem waving at the author's name on the shore. But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means.
I = teacher – how do we know this? Look at the title – doesn’t it sound like a class?
Them = students – who would the teacher be talking to?
“hold it up to the light”? How many times have you had a teacher say, “Open your books to page 121. Now, hold it up to the light.” obviously the speaker wants us to take a new approach
Then, he asks us to “press an ear” to it. What does he want us to do? LISTEN TO THE WORDS!
Coincidence that the “s” sound is repeated in line 4?i don’t think so – sounds like the buzz of bees.
Metaphor = to show us that people feel frustrated, uncertain when reading poetry and just try to find the meaning and move on.
“room” = ITALIAN WORD FOR ROOM IS STANZA
Light switch = understanding
Have fun with poetry
Don’t get stuck in the cave – skiing across the surface not scuba diving – acknowledging the poet from afar (stable enough to look up)
Another metaphor = poem is tied to chair, trying to beat a confession out of it, instead of enjoying it
Poetry is something that is to be experienced
Can’t judge a book by its cover
Even though poetry can be complicated, it is to be enjoyed and meaning is created through connections between the reader and the poem.

3. The Poetry Splash Poem-specific groups Discuss and share annotations.
Even though poetry can be complicated, it is to be enjoyed and meaning is created through connections between the reader and the poem.
He compares poetry to a color slide, a hive, a maze, and a dark room to show that it is difficult.
He argues that poetry should be fun, like water skiing.
He also asserts that meaning is created through a connection between the reader and the poem by showing the reader on the water and the poet on the shore. Additional support that meaning is created through a connection between the reader and the poem is the last two stanzas. Readers must figure out the meaning, instead of waiting for the poem to reveal itself.
Poem-specific groups
Discuss and share annotations.
Write a claim and provide evidence.

4. “Introduction to Poetry”
Even though poetry can be complicated, it is to be enjoyed and meaning is created through connections between the reader and the poem.
He compares poetry to a color slide, a hive, a maze, and a dark room to show that it is difficult.
He argues that poetry should be fun, like water skiing.
He also asserts that meaning is created through a connection between the reader and the poem by showing the reader on the water and the poet on the shore. Additional support that meaning is created through a connection between the reader and the poem is the last two stanzas. Readers must figure out the meaning, instead of waiting for the poem to reveal itself.

5. “Hanging Fire” by Audre Lorde
I am fourteen and my skin has betrayed me the boy I cannot live without still sucks his thumb in secret how come my knees are always so ashy what if I die before the morning comes and momma’s in the bedroom with the door closed.
I have to learn how to dance in time for the next party my room is too small for me suppose I die before graduation they will sing sad melodies but finally tell the truth about me There is nothing I want to do and too much that has to be done and momma’s in the bedroom with the door closed.
Nobody even stops to think about my side of it I should have been on Math Team my marks were better than his why do I have to be the one wearing braces I have nothing to wear tomorrow will I live long enough to grow up and momma’s in the bedroom with the door closed.
Acne/ immature crush/ ashy knees/ death/ dancing/ too small room/ death/ truth about her/ work/ her side/ math team- grades/ braces/ clothes/ living- momma (depressed? Boyfriend?)
“Hanging Fire” by Audre Lorde

6. Create Meaning
I am fourteen and my skin has betrayed me the boy I cannot live without still sucks his thumb in secret how come my knees are always so ashy what if I die before the morning comes and momma’s in the bedroom with the door closed.

7. Dig Deeper Questions Who is speaking?
How are they speaking to the reader?
What do you think this poem is about?
What is the speaker worried about?
What else can you figure out about the state of mind of the writer?
Why does the poet repeat “and momma’s in the bedroom with the door closed?”
What do you think you know about the poet after reading this poem? What specifically in the poem reveals his or her character/emotions/fears?
Do you ever feel like the writer of this poem?
What is the structure of this poem?
Where does the poet use language in surprising ways?
Is the poet complaining? Why or why not?
Is there conflict in this poem? Is it internal or external? How do you know?
Dig Deeper Questions

8. What is the MAIN IDEA?
How do you know this? (What is your evidence?)

9. Your Turn Write your own “Hanging Fire” poem.
Start with the following line:
“I am _________(fill in your age)”
Continue on, just as Lorde did, in free verse.
Don’t stop until you have a minimum of 10 lines.
Your Turn