Introduction to Poetry

1. (Pre-Reading) Write metaphors or similes that show how you feel about poetry. Use the phrase “Reading poetry is like…” or “Poetry is…” to begin your analogy. Creativity and honesty are encouraged.

2. Think about your favorite poem (if you can’t come up with one, you may use song lyrics). What effect do these words have on you? How do you feel when you read and hear them? Imagine you are preparing someone to experience the poem for the first time. What advice would you give? How would you advise them to read it?

3. Write a pastiche of “Introduction to Poetry.” Students should think of a task they enjoy that others may not: doing homework, washing the dishes, taking the dog out, cleaning their room, writing an essay, folding laundry, etc. Their poem should follow the same format as the original poem: five metaphors, each in their own stanzas, likening their chosen task to other things, and then two closing stanzas that use the volta to show how others usually feel about that task. Students may share their completed poems as they feel comfortable, and elaborate on why they chose particular metaphors to evoke certain emotions.