Poetry Week Assignments

The Favorite Poem Project
Poetry Online
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4/10:  Found Poems
4/11:  Acrostic
4/11:  Haiku

For the block days:  bring a copy of your favorite poem, a solid-color t-shirt that we can write on, and your completed haiku and acrostic
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"Found" Poetry

You are going to create a "Found Poem," a poem created by searching for poetry hidden in unlikely places, like newspaper articles.

I chose this article from the Travel Section of the San Jose Mercury News about the village of Assisi in Italy.  From “Assisi is filled with gentle reminders of a saint” by Jim Jones for Knight Ridder Newspapers, http://www.sfbaytraveler.com/

We stood reverently gazing down at the brown robe inside a glass case. The garment, made of coarse material and patched in several places, had a familiar look, perhaps because it is said to have been worn by the beloved St. Francis of Assisi.Most visitors to Assisi are genuinely moved by the sight of this simple robe, symbolic of the remarkable life of St. Francis, a man born to an affluent family who gave up material wealth and became known as “God's Fool.”After a journalists' conference in Rome, three of my fellow religion writers and I had taken a sleek train to Florence. Once there, we checked into $50-a-night rooms at the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception convent.Sisters of the convent told us this inexpensive rate included a curfew of 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday. On Saturdays, people staying in the convent are allowed to stay out until 1 a.m. We were also invited to attend the prayers and church services in the convent. Rising early the next day, we rented a car and drove south on modern highways cut through green Umbrian hills to the medieval hilltop town of Assisi.

Here is my Found Poem:
A Saintly Pilgrimage

We stood gazing reverently.
The garment had a familiar look:
St. Francis of Assisi.

By the sight of this simple robe
Most visitors are moved.
He called himself “God’s Fool.” 

We 
took a sleek train to Florence
$50-a-night-rooms
Curfew of 10:30
We were invited to attend prayers.

Rising early, we drove south
on modern highways
to the medieval hilltop town
of Assisi.

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Acrostic:  What’s in a name?

Visit this site:    http://www.behindthename.com    to find out about the origin of your first name, then write an “ACROSTIC” poem using the first letters of your first name.  Try to incorporate memories you associate with your name as well as anything new you’ve learned about it!   Here is an example of an acrostic poem:
 

Hilarious, people say.
I don’t try to be, it just happens.
Lucky, I guess.
Always have a joke at the ready.
Ready to laugh, easily amused
You’ll never be bored, I promise.
 
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Haiku
Haiku is a Japanese poetry form consisting of three lines in a 5-7-5 syllable pattern.  Example:
 
(5)    On a withered branch
(7)   A crow has just alighted:
(5)     Nightfall in Autumn.
Haiku traditionally makes reference to Nature or seasons and includes metaphor.  For more information about Haiku, see:       http://mikan.cc.matsuyama-u.ac.jp/~shiki/Start-Writing.htm

Your Assignment:

Write a series of three Haiku.  They may all center around a theme or season, or a series of seasons.  Try to conform to the traditional style.  Find pictures on the Internet or in the clipart files which complement your Haiku.
 
 

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Poetry Resources:

The American Academy of Poets:  Listening Booth
http://www.poets.org

Poetry Daily
http://www.poems.com

Proejct Bartleby:  Verse
http://www.bartleby.com/verse
 
 

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