Lesson 3

1.The Poetry Splash2.“Hanging Fire” – free

verse

Introduction to Poetry Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poemand hold it up to the lightlike a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poemand watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's roomand feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to water-skiacross the surface of a poemwaving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to dois tie the poem to a chair with ropeand torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hoseto find out what it really means.

Even though poetry can be complicated, it is to be enjoyed and meaning is created through connections between the reader and the poem.

The Poetry Splash

•Poem-specific groups

•Discuss and share annotations.

•Write a claim and provide evidence.

• 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.

“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.

“Hanging Fire” by Audre Lorde

I am fourteenand my skin has betrayed methe boy I cannot live withoutstill sucks his thumbin secrethow come my knees arealways so ashywhat if I diebefore the morning comesand momma’s in the bedroomwith the door closed.

I have to learn how to dancein time for the next partymy room is too small for mesuppose I die before graduationthey will sing sad melodiesbut finallytell the truth about meThere is nothing I want to doand too much

that has to be doneand momma’s in the bedroomwith the door closed.

Nobody even stops to thinkabout my side of itI should have been on Math Teammy marks were better than hiswhy do I have to bethe onewearing bracesI have nothing to wear tomorrowwill I live long enoughto grow upand momma’s in the bedroomwith the door closed.

Create MeaningI am fourteenand my skin has betrayed methe boy I cannot live withoutstill sucks his thumbin secrethow come my knees arealways so ashywhat if I diebefore the morning comesand momma’s in the bedroomwith the door closed.

• What is the MAIN IDEA?

• How do you know this?(What is your evidence?)

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.