Some Poetry I Composed...

It was not an intention of mine when I began this I-Search that I was going to be posting any of my poetry. However, once I started looking back, it helped me see my process and that actually can help me teach it. Here is the results that I got after spending some time writing. To be honest, it has been a little while since I composed anything and this was fairly refreshing. This was a unique experience as well, for me, seeing as I had to think about WHY and WHAT I was writing instead of just writing. Most of these poems are generated from my environment; emotions I feel or see other people display, seasons, nature, etc.

This first one is called Autopilot. I think a lot of students could relate to this one, especially in the secondary level. They feel like their lives are out of control, there's a lot more responsibility then they are used to, they are becoming adults and begin feeling that pressure. I wrote this with them in mind. This actually is an older poem of mine but it is still very fresh in my mind. This was also an experimental poem, as I purposely left most of it in lowercase. It breaks grammar rules, which is a liberty that can only be seen in poetry and not many other forms of literature.

autopilot

undoubtedly- ready to crash and burn

let autopilot take control

but then allow it to take a wrong turn

so here i am at the wheel

turning against the insensitive winds

who remind me over again

of my many faults and my many sins

unwilling to let autopilot befriend

i allowed it to be my enemy

thus be my careless-thoughtless act

allowed my license power over me

and now i live in fear with this fact

This second poem I created after listening to Poet Nikki Giovanni. In a previous post, I mentioned how this was a very unique experience for me as I have never written a poem based on something someone else said or wrote. I thought it would be a great learning experience and a wonderful opportunity to practice something that would make for a great writing assignment for students.  

It is Not Right

It is not right to shame

To Call forth HATRED

Its monstrous steed...

Lit the fields burning

Like HELL on Earth

All man's work

It is not right...

 

This last poem is in a style that I enjoy the most: Haiku. Haikus are short, sweet, and simple. However, they can be just as powerful as a three minute political rap or a spoken word speech on a sensitive issue. Mine, however, is pretty flowery and I think it is important for students to be aware that poems like that are fine; they are great actually. They can lighten the mood or inspire other poems just as much as the others.  

 

Golden

Blanket of Pure White
Sun, please shine in golden light
God set the world Right