Visualizing: Eavan Boland’s “This Moment”

Mary Ann Reilly

Task

1. Fold your white art paper into eight boxes and then select a pencil.

2. I will be reading aloud the Eavan Boland’s poem, “This Moment.”

3. I have divided the poem into eight sections. As I read each section, you will sketch the mental picture you see based on each section of the poem as it is read.

4. By the conclusion of the poem, you will have made seven sketches.

This Moment - 1

A neighbourhood.At dusk.

This Moment - 2

Things are getting readyto happenout of sight.

This Moment - 3Stars and moths.And rinds slanting around fruit.

But not yet.

This Moment - 4

One tree is black.One window is yellow as butter.

This Moment- 5

A woman leans down to catch a childwho has run into her armsthis moment.

This Moment - 6

Stars rise.

This Moment - 7

Moths flutter.

This Moment - 8

Apples sweeten in the dark.

Task 2• Reread the poem and discuss it with your

partner. Show your drawings to one another.• Examine your eight drawings and create a final

illustration on the new sheet of paper you have been given that combines all or some of the stanza-by-stanza pictures into an image that best represents the meaning of the whole poem. You may use pencil and/or color to render this final drawing.

• Post your final image.

This Moment – Eavan Boland

A neighbourhood.At dusk.

Things are getting readyto happenout of sight.

Stars and moths.And rinds slanting around fruit.

But not yet.

One tree is black.One window is yellow as butter.

A woman leans down to catch a childwho has run into her armsthis moment.

Stars rise.Moths flutter.Apples sweeten in the dark.

Task 3

1. With a partner, take a gallery walk of the posted images.

2. Discuss what the final drawings suggest about the poem. What images are common across the gallery?

3. In 10 minutes, be ready to discuss your ideas with the class.