Put simply, poetry and for that matter any form of (artistic) expression - helps us make sense of the world around us. In doing so, it helps us salvage that which we have subjugated for the sake of our daily existence.
To a certain extent, a poet is born not made -but the reverse of this statement is equally true. The gifts of the poet are innate, but the imagination and inspiration that belong to the poet are only half the story. The poet's art must be learned. The techniques of verse writing comprise a real craft, and a major preoccupation of any poet must be the development of their skill in handling them.
Assignment
You are going to write your first poem .....ahhhhhhhhhh!
Not to worry, this poem is all about YOU. It is called a Bio-Poem. This unrhymed poem allows each student the chance to write about himself/ herself. The set-up of the poem is like this:
- Line 1 Your first name only
- Line 2 Four traits that describe you
- Line 3 Sibling of .....(or son/ daughter of)
- Line 4 Lover of .....(3 people, ideas, passions, etc.)
- Line 5 Who feels .....(3 items)
- Line 6 Who needs .....(3 items)
- Line 7 Who gives .....(3 items)
- Line 8 Who fears .....(3 items)
- Line 9 Who would like to see .....(3 items)
- Line 10 Resident of (your city) ; (your street address)
- Line 11 Your last name only
An example of a Biopoem might look like this:
Me, Myself and I
Cheyenne
Athletic, intelligent, strong-willed and sensitive
Sister of Chanice and Charlie
Lover of warm sand between her toes on a hot summer day, performing in front of huge crowds at cheerleading competitions, and singing her heart out alone in her room
Who feels anxious when trying new things, relief when the weekend finally comes at the end of a long, stressful week, and freedom while being thrown in the air, performing a flip before coming back down
Who needs complete silence while reading a great book, a TV on for comfort while falling asleep in the dark of night, and supportive friends and family who will always be there
Who gives happiness to friends when they are feeling sad, help to anyone in need of it, and lots of effort to every single school assignment
Who fears her friends will leave her in a time of need, being abandoned in large crowds, and that all the suffering in the world will never end
Who would like to see the Eiffel Tower on a crisp autumn night, Senior Elite, Shooting Stars and F5 compete at the Cheerleading Worlds, and the Northern Lights creating a wonderful and magical show in the night
Resident of Maple Ridge; 219 Street
Petrie
As you think about this poem .....
Here are a couple of things to consider:
- it can be as personal as you want it to be
- *avoid just listing things (like one would on a grocery list); instead provide context or a description for the things you mention throughout the poem
And a couple of things to include:
- every poem should have a title
- a drawing, a caricature, a cartoon, or self-portrait of yourself
My suggestion to all of you would be .....to type your poem, then print it off, and then draw a portrait of yourself to add as a background to the poem. Alternatively, you could write out the poem (on a blank piece of paper) and then draw the portrait to add in the background. *If you are writing the poem, please make sure that I am able to read what you have written.
Then, take a picture and email it to me at: [email protected]
*As always, any questions, concerns, or confusions, please post on this website so that we can all have a better understanding of the assignment and what is being asked or required.
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Extension
YOU DO NOT NEED TO COMPLETE THIS.
But, if you are interested in extending your thinking and writing, consider watching this TEDTalk, entitled "Why People Need Poetry," by Stephen Burt, and then writing a personal reflection that answers the question posed in the title (of the video).
Note .....that your mark can only improve by challenging yourself to complete this assignment.