METAPHOR POEM I am #1

Directions: Write a short poem of at least 6 lines entitled, “I am #1.” Make it look like a poem but do not rhyme it – remember form is meaning. You will be creating a picture in words of yourself (imagery & metaphor).

1. What color are you?2. What beverage represents you?3. How do you act in a crowd?4. What contrast describes you?5. What chair represents you?6. What time of day best describes you?7. What musical instrument best describes you?

EXAMPLE:

I am a blue bubbling e f f e r v e s c e n t soda-pop.I stand out in the midst of people sparkling brilliantly.

A bear grrrowling in the morning mirror… but a cuddly cub purrrring by evening is me.The stars twinkle and shine for me as I gently rock back and forth, back and forthon the front porch swing.

My hearts beats like a drum in my chest – THRUMP, THRUMP, THRUMP, keeping time to my own beat.

TWO-TONE POEM

What color are you? A crazy question, perhaps. Most of us are at least two-tones. Psychologists tell us that certain colors trigger certain feelings or moods in many people. Some colors are “warm” while others are “cool.” Some colors attract attention; others blend in with their surroundings. Our own interpretation of our feelings about colors, a long with our self knowledge can be a good combination to start a “two-tone” poem.

EXAMPLE:My Two Colors

Part of me is brilliant yellowLively and vivacious,Bouncy and buoyant

Teasing my friends, and enjoying the spotlight.

But deep inside there’s another partPale purple like a violet hiding under a leaf

Shy and self-conscious,Fearful and cowardly,

Shaking with stage fright when the telephone rings.Yet they’re both very real

And they’re both me!

Now it’s your turn!1. Choose two colors that seem to reflect a mood that you understand and you can

describe. 2. In your first line, name your color. 3. Use three to four “mood” words. Use them in a sentence to help describe you as the

color, do not just list the words.4. Write your thoughts and feelings about your color in at least an eight (8) line poem.

Do not try to rhyme.5. Do not repeat any of the mood words – mood words may only be used once.6. Include a hyperbole – underline it. Also try to use an oxymoron – underline it.

MOOD WORDSLost confused trapped hostile resentful aimless exhausted upset frustrated lonely unsure bewildered disillusioned battered perturbed annoyed abandoned disturbed irritated defensive better useless hopeless jittery guilty indignant distant unloved panicky beaten indifferent strung-out skeptical tense defeated enraged ignored disorganized worried thwarted rebellious drained alienated troubled cheated explosive unsafe estranged hassled helpless vengeful capable joyful alert regretful good-natured competent carefree charged reposeful happy agreeable independent elated powerful jubilant calm hurt discouraged generous dedicated alive wild optimistic overjoyed gentle proud cheerful peaceful forlorn respected high spirited relaxed satisfied lighthearted restful serene assured inspired ecstatic loved excited shining elated

MONTHLY METAPHOR

Carl Sandburg wrote “Fog”The fog comeson little cat feet.

It sits lookingover harbor and city

and then moves on…

Carl’s metaphor is of the fog, we’ll use the months of the year.

EXAMPLES: May SeptemberMay tiptoes in September trots in quietlyQuietly, shyly. its head held highShe strews flowers prancing after fluttering butterfliesAs she twirls and dances lightly bucking playfully in a dew covered meadowOver the soft grass into June as it proudly canter into the sunset of October

July Football TimeJuly creeps in September runs inHot and ready to explode. with a helmet and pads.It ignites and slowly begins to burn. Clapping its hands,It sizzles and is ready to go off, stomping its cleats on the groundAnd then pops and crackles into August. and then tackles October mercilessly.

Directions:1. Choose a month and try to picture the way it would arrive if it were a PERSON or ANIMAL (personification).

Use some of the motion words – you’re not limited to the list.2. Tell how or where the month arrives. Use adverbs and prepositional phrases.3. Tell something else the month does while it’s here.4. Tell how the month leaves into the next.5. Use the same mental image or comparison throughout the poem, don’t change the mood.

MOTION WORDSMarch scamper skip prance fight tiptoe float gallop hop limp canter hobble sneak zoom tramp dance shuffle scurry spring glide flutter lurch creep stumble trot totter strut skate trudge plod advance drag slip saunter run jump fly float slither gallop explode tear

ABSTRACT METAPHOR

Directions:1. Select an abstract word and write an imagery poem (five senses).2. Have one line for each sense…sight, smell, touch, taste, hear.

Do not say smells like… or feels like… just describe.3. Use metaphors to compare the senses.4. Write at least 5 lines.

EXAMPLE:Jealousy

Jealousy is a sharp knife puncturing the skin.It’s the ring of the phone and another girl’s voice on the other end.

Jealousy is watching the man of your dreams checking out another girl,It’s the sweet aroma of peach blossoms spoiled by someone else’s perfume.

Jealousy is a dry empty kiss.

TrustTrust is the warmth of a caring hug

It is the soft whisper of a baby cooingTrust is the look through a new puppy’s eyes

It is the sweet fragrance of flowers in MayTrust is the delicious melting chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven.

ABSTRACT WORDSLove betrayal fear death trust darkness happiness maturity depression jealousy surprise disease racism prejudice pity friendship anger angst laughter faith freedom childhood anxiety joy sorrow grief embarrassment humor distrust loathing excitement ecstasy

PERSONIFICATION POEM

Remember personification is giving human qualities to non-human things.

Directions:1. Choose two objects/things to write a poem about. Write two poems – one for each.2. Write at least 5 lines per poem.

EXAMPLES:

WindThe wind’s breathirritates the leaves

causing them to danceto

their death.

SnowFresh snow falling from the sky

flirts with everyone it seesIt shimmers at twilight

only the strong can resisther romantic charm.

CarThe t i r e d and w o r n o u t car

cried and squeeealed in pain.Sssshaking and ccchugging for its last breath.A final cough and spit, as it slowly dies.

MOOD POEM

Directions:1. Model your poem after the examples.2. In the third or fourth line, include a simile.3. Write at least 8 lines.

EXAMPLES:

I’m happy,not jump up and down happy,not scream out loud happy,

not as happy as a fat lady eating bonbons,but laugh-out-loud happy,

happy that I’m aliveHappy that I have food friendshappy so much I could shout.

I’m worriedNot biting my nails worried,

not sleeping worriednot as worried as a parent who has a lost child,

but worried that someone will tellworried that it’s just a matter of time,

worried so much I could scream.

I’m frustrated,Not pounding on my desk frustrated,

not pounding my head against a wall frustrated,not frustrated like a wild horse trying to fling off his rider,

but making myself want to scream deep down in side frustrated.Frustrated because I can’t figure out a question in social studies,

frustrated because my little brother won’t leave me alone,frustrated so much that I feel like a kitten who can’t catch his tail.

PEOPLE POEM

Directions:1. Choose one of your favorite people – that you know personally.2. Write at least 10 lines.3. Include simile or metaphor4. Use at least 3 senses.5. Underline the devices you use.

You don’t have to write complete sentences. A few words can create a powerful image. Brainstorm about your person before you write. What do they look like? What do they do? How do they make you feel? What reminds you of that person?

EXAMPLES:

Grandmaquietly, peacefully

she sits in her rocker.Her steps are slow and painful, but her heart is strong and free.

Like a blasting fire on a cold night,she will never grow old.

Baby BrotherSquabbling, screeching,

he gets into another mess.He runs and hides when trouble calls,but he comes away clean every time

because he is so cute and sweet.Like a curious cat and a ball of string

he watches me, ready to learn,his little brown eyes never fail to

soften me up,for he is my little baby brother.

Poemcrazy

Directions:

1. Write a poem about yourself using the following question.

2. Write at least 10 lines.

3. Use onomatopoeia and alliteration. Underline their use.

If I were a color, what color would I be?What shape would I be?If I were a movement, what movement would I be?What sound?What animal?What song?What number?What car?What piece of furniture?What food? What musical instrument?What place?What element in nature?What kind of tree?What’s something I’m afraid of?What’s hiding behind my fear?

Play-Dough

An extended metaphor is a comparison using two unlike things but comparing them directly. You many compare yourself to a shorts shoe… Are you tough, laced together, sturdy on the outside but soft and comfortable on the inside?

Directions:

1. Brainstorm about 5 objects that you might compare yourself to.

2. Brainstorm at least 4 ways you ARE that object. Give a reason WHY for each.

3. Write out a poem now based on your brainstorm at least 10 lines.

4. Cut construction paper into shape of object you chose and glue poem on it.

5. Make object out of play-dough!

Use your imagination!!!!!!

Word Rummy Poem

Directions:

1. Circle one word in each list from the next page. Circle them randomly.

2. Write the three words down on a sheet of paper. – rotten, stink, pickle

3. If your first word was not a color, add a color before your first word. – green, rotten stink, pickle

4. Add either an “ing” or “ed” to the second word you chose. - green, rotten, stinking, pickle

5. Now write either the phrase “I wish I were” or “I dreamed I was” in front of the words. – I wish I were a green rotten stinking pickle

6. This is the first line of your poem. Create an image and have fun finishing the rest.

7. Use assonance – underline your use.

8. Write at least 15 lines!

EXAMPLES:

WartI dreamed I was a

brown juicy growing

wartStanding high above the skin

oozing lovely white fluid

OH NO!I see a doctor

with his big knife and needle

POKEI feel lightheaded

Slice!I’m gone.

WORD RUMMY LIST

List 1quick silent broken bright blue gold clean rotten high green sticky delicate icy sleek purple white bitter wee loony cross huge jagged cool flaming stringy juicy flap doodle scratch wizard

List 2snarl coo sing laugh weep tease love race smile stink lie sail fly see surprise open sit grow waddle wear lick chuckle shoot pound dress shout sparkle chase bleed gutter clown

List 3wind star pickle swan petunia velvet lion grass dishes cake wart giraffe shoe leaf garbage runner wing chicken buttercup ocean ribbon steel hippo peanut butter bullet monkey ghost chocolate cake angel

Onomatopoeia poem

Write words to describe the following sounds.

Kitchen:blendermicrowavemixereggs cookingchopping of carrots

House sounds:door bellfalling downstairsironfiretelevisionfootsteps

School sounds:hallwaycomputer printereraserclosing a book

EXAMPLE:

Waiting Room SoundsDid you ever notice that waiting in the dentist’s waiting

room is like standing in an elevator?There’s absolutely nothing to do.

Nothing at all.The dentist doesn’t like to admit this so he

tries to make the waiting room a better place to be.Nice music lazily drifts over a speakerNice magazines sit waiting to be read

Nice sounds come from the room next door…The wheeeeeee of a high speed drillthe sluuuuuuuuurp of a suction gun

the crunnnnnnch of a sawthe screeeem of the patients

and the ChaChing of the cash register!

Many published poets are masters of onomatopoeia.

Find and bring to class a poem that uses onomatopoeia.

Directions:1. Write a sound poem based on one physical place.

2. Title the poem to include the name of the place.

3. Use at least 5 examples of onomatopoeia.

4. Write at least 10 lines.

5. Use hyperbole – underline your use.

Rhythm Poem

Directions:1. Write a poem in which the rhythm of an object is duplicated by the rhythm of the poem.

2. Include consonance – underline your use.

EXAMPLE:

ClockThe clockon the wall

keeping timesteady timeevery dayit goes on

keeping timesteady time

even ifno one careskeeping timesteady timeonly whenit is gone

keeping timesteady time

do people realizehow much they depend

on the clock

Puzzle Poem

Directions:1. Write a poem that gives clues, but doesn’t tell us what you’re writing about.

2. Give at least 5 clues.

3. Model your poem after the following poem.

A bright little speck in a colorless world.Moving about, gliding up and down

jumping up to get more foodgoing to the bottom, picking up pebbles

home atmosphere the color of grass-stainedknees on jeans

camouflage covered with algaecute little fellow, swimming around

Well, what is it and where’s it found?

Listing Poem

Directions:1. Write a poem that lists descriptions on a particular subject without naming the

subject.

2. Title the poem with the subject.

3. Write at least 8 lines.

4. Use rhythm & rhyme throughout the poem.

EXAMPLE:Money

workers earn itspendthrifts burn it

bankers lend itwomen spend itforgers fake ittaxes take itdying leave it

heirs receive itthrifty save it

Haiku

Directions:1. Write 2 haiku.2. Read instructions below and watch slid show.

Haiku are a Japanese form of poetry. Haiku is both singular and plural in form.

It is to be a VISUAL representation of nature.A slide show will be shown in class to give you visuals to write your poems. Use only SIGHT and mood words.

Here is the form of a haiku:1st line is 5 syllables2nd line is 7 syllables3rd line is 5 syllables

Try not to use any articles such as: “a” and “the”Remember – phrases, not sentences, make great images! Haiku are kind of “choppy” sounding.

EXAMPLE:

Meadowmeadow rises green

blue small asters populatesway gently in breeze

Alliteration Poem

Directions:

1. Write a poem based on the alphabet that has four (4) words of alliteration in each line for each letter of the alphabet.

You’ll have 26 lines – one for each letter. You’ll have a minimum of 4 words per line.

EXAMPLE:

Alligators ate awful apples full of antsBob burped blue bobbles

Cats can’t catch copper potsetc…

for all 26 letters

even X, Y, Z

Limerick

Directions:

1. A limerick is a humorous poem of five (5) lines.

2. Lines 1, 2, 5 rhyme with each other.

3. Lines 3, 4 rhyme with each other.

4. Limericks are silly!

5. Try to use a pun – underline it.

EXAMPLES:

Harrison HarrisA Martian named Harrison Harris

decided he’d like to see ParisIn space so we learn

he forgot to turnand that’s why he’s now on Polaris

ElephantsTwo elephants Harry and Faye

couldn’t kiss with their trunks in the wayso they boarded a plane

they’re not kissing in MaineCause their trunks got sent on to L.A.

Simile Poem

Directions:

1. Write a four line poem.

2. Each line is to be a simile.

3. Keep the same idea through the entire poem.

EXAMPLE:

My HeartAs lonely as a tree without leaves,as lonely as an abandoned house,as lonely as footsteps in the dark,

Is my heart in the quiet of the night.

Wish Poem

Directions:

1. Write at least a 10 line poem about your wishes and dreams.

2. Use two (2) literary devices of your choice.

3. Underline the devices you use.

4. You may rhyme this one if you choose.

EXAMPLE:

My Wish

I wish I was a beautiful chick whocould be in any period of life

In the futurein the past

would be nice.Being Cleopatra in Egypt with handsome men

at my feet.How about Annie Oakley putting on a show?

Or being a pirate enjoying the gold?Even the first woman President in 2008!

Also, a blood thirsty vampire scaring the men,or Einstein inventing a potion for invisible guys,

Maybe the first to live in analligator plane in 2026.

These Things I Love

Directions:

1. Write a list of things you enjoy – smells, tastes, touches, sounds, people, sights, etc.

2. Turn the list into a rhyming poem.

3. Use at least 2 literary devices of your choice.

4. Underline the devices.

5. Write at least 15 lines.

6. Have at least 2 stanzas.

EXAMPLE:

Thoughts on Things

Just a little poem that rhymes and ringsan ode to all of my favorite things,

A lovely silver locket in the shape of a heart,capturing the memories that will never depart.

Sweet children with dimples, eyes like starts,candles and lace and antique cars.

Bubbles that babble and giggle and play,excited by the Sun as He paints the sky each day.

Leaves that become butterfly wings,swimming and spinning to the earth.Hershey kisses and Limited things,black cats, red hair, and baby’s birth

Victoria articles, sapphires, a full moon,the wonder of an empty tomb.

Snow flakes molded from delicate doilies,frosting the emerald trees,

the echoing of music’s follies,ringing with the rhyme of a breeze

Just a little poem that rhymes and ringsAn ode to all of my favorite things.