POETRYA thousand words

are worth a picture!

WHY CARE ABOUT DEPRESSED DEAD

GUYS?

May I introduce you to Mr. Keating, who can answer that question…

Discussion and Journal

• What is Mr. Keating trying to explain to his students?

• What is passion?• Why do we need it to read

and Write Poetry?

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute; we read and write poetry because we are

members of the human race, and the human race is filled with

passion.”

-Mr. Keating

What is Poetry?---------

Poetry is language that says Poetry is language that says more than ordinary language and more than ordinary language and says it with fewer words and in less says it with fewer words and in less space. Poets use language in a space. Poets use language in a special way. Like other writers, special way. Like other writers, poets choose words for their sense, poets choose words for their sense, but they also choose words for but they also choose words for what they hint at or suggest, for what they hint at or suggest, for the way they sound, and for the the way they sound, and for the words and pictures they create. words and pictures they create. Ordinary language makes sense. Ordinary language makes sense. Poetry makes sense--and sound, Poetry makes sense--and sound, and rhythm, and music, and vision.and rhythm, and music, and vision.

Time to Compare

PROSE (regular writing)

--------

- no rhythm/beat

- written across the page (no columns)

- divided into paragraphs

- does not rhyme

- sometimes uses expressive language

Verse (poetry)---------

- definite rhythm/beat- arranged in columns

- divided into stanzas- sometimes rhymes - uses expressive

language

Let’s look at some poetry and see if we can find the

passiopassion!!!!n!!!!

IfIfIf you can keep your head when all about youIf you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too;But make allowance for their doubting too;If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;If you can meet with triumph and disasterIf you can meet with triumph and disasterAnd treat those two imposters just the same;And treat those two imposters just the same;If you can bear to hear the truth you've spokenIf you can bear to hear the truth you've spokenTwisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

If you can keep your head when all about youIf you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you;Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too;But make allowance for their doubting too;If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;If you can meet with triumph and disasterIf you can meet with triumph and disasterAnd treat those two imposters just the same;And treat those two imposters just the same;If you can bear to hear the truth you've spokenIf you can bear to hear the truth you've spokenTwisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winningsAnd risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,And lose, and start again at your beginningsAnd never breath a word about your loss;If you can force your heart and nerve and sinewTo serve your turn long after they are gone,And so hold on when there is nothing in youExcept the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;If all men count with you, but none too much;If you can fill the unforgiving minuteWith sixty seconds' worth of distance run -Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Rudyard Kipling

If you can make one heap of all your winningsAnd risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,And lose, and start again at your beginningsAnd never breath a word about your loss;If you can force your heart and nerve and sinewTo serve your turn long after they are gone,And so hold on when there is nothing in youExcept the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;If all men count with you, but none too much;If you can fill the unforgiving minuteWith sixty seconds' worth of distance run -Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Woman Work

I've got the children to tendThe clothes to mendThe floor to mopThe food to shopThen the chicken to fryThe baby to dryI got company to feedThe garden to weedI've got shirts to pressThe tots to dressThe can to be cutI gotta clean up this hutThen see about the sickAnd the cotton to pick.

Shine on me, sunshineRain on me, rainFall softly, dewdropsAnd cool my brow again.

Storm, blow me from hereWith your fiercest windLet me float across the sky'Til I can rest again.

Fall gently, snowflakesCover me with whiteCold icy kisses andLet me rest tonight.

Sun, rain, curving skyMountain, oceans, leaf and stoneStar shine, moon glowYou're all that I can call my own.

Maya Angelou

An Ode Two the Spelling Chequer

Prays the Lord for the spelling chequerThat came with our pea sea!Mecca mistake and it puts you riteIts so easy to ewes, you sea.I never used to no, was it e before eye?(Four sometimes its eye before e.)But now I've discovered the quay to successIt's as simple as won, too, free!Sew watt if you lose a letter or two,The whirled won't come two an end!Can't you sea? It's as plane as the knows on yore faceS. Chequer's my very best friendI've always had trubble with letters that double"Is it one or to S's?" I'd wineBut now, as I've tolled you this chequer is grateAnd its hi thyme you got won, like mine.

Janet E. Byford

Homework! Oh, Homework!

by Jack Prelutsky

Homework! Oh, homework!I hate you! You stink!I wish I could wash youaway in the sink.If only a bombwould explode you to bits.Homework! Oh, homework!You're giving me fits.

I'd rather take bathswith a man-eating shark,or wrestle a lionalone in the dark,eat spinach and liver,pet ten porcupines,than tackle the homeworkmy teacher assigns.

Homework! Oh, homework!You're last on my list.I simply can't seewhy you even exist.If you just disappearedit would tickle me pink.Homework! Oh, homework!I hate you! You stink!