31 pages • 1 hour read
To a Daughter Leaving Home
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Activities
1. Imagine that you are a son or daughter about to leave home for the first time. Think of a special memory you have of a parent and describe it in a free verse “letter” to them. What memory or feelings would you share with them? Utilize figurative language and sound devices that enhance your theme. When finished, share your poem with a partner. Using Loom, iMovie, or Animoto, film a slam poetry presentation of your poem. For examples of slam poetry, check out poet Taylor Mali, or poets from Def Poetry, all on YouTube.* Share your video with the class.
* Note to teachers: Preview student selections of slam poetry for appropriateness.
2. Pastan uses the extended metaphor of bicycle riding in “To a Daughter Leaving Home.” Think of a metaphor that could describe your life experience. A mountain? A garden? A battle? A window? A journey? Write a micropoem about your life using your metaphor. For a micropoem, you may only use 280 characters—the character limit on Twitter. You will need to be thoughtful about word choice in this short poem: Every word counts. When finished, tweet your poem to the class Twitter account, or share on Google Drive.
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By Linda Pastan
