Lorraine's latest Poetry strategy to try

 

Drop Tail Lizard

  

Drop tail lizard

on the grey leaves

and grey bark

garden mulch,

swimming like a sardine

like a tadpole

silver pin with a jeweled eye.

Tells me the day is warmer,

summer that much closer

 

until that white cat running

running with a small under belly and back legs

of lizard humming

from its hunter's throat.

 

Drop

 it

cat.

 

© Lorraine Marwood

 

 

Idea for writing a poem

 

Using a poem as a format or starting point for writing a class poem or an individual poem is a great idea.

 

'Drop tail Lizard' is just such a starting point.

 

A poem is often a simple observation of life, a detailed observation.  A poet looks and mulls and captures such a detail in a word picture.

 

So grab a word camera and observe. 

l        Look outside. 

l        Watch a car, a neighbour, a tree, a bird, the clouds, the way the dog chases a squeaky toy.

             Now you have your subject matter – here's a simple format.

 

Line 1  Name the object of the poem- use my poem as a template

 

Line 2  and 3 Bring in location or setting ' on the grey leaves/grey bark/garden mulch'

 

Line 4 and 5 action that the object is doing

 

Line 6 and 7 Tells us something about the world around me

 

Line 8 and 9 now for the conflict- what happens to upset this slice of life?

 

Line 10 and 11- make the last words of resolution have more impact by sitting one word on one line, like stepping stones.

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Do we eat enough poetry with our literary main meal? I suspect the answer is no- maybe poetry has been over-cooked, burnt or simply left off the dinner plate.

You could call poetry the broccoli and cabbage of literacy. Or if you try the following strategy, poetry could be the hamburger with the lot, including French fries.

As a poet I believe poetry gives us entry points into creativity in quick wholesome bites, in comparison to prose which may take a whole afternoon to provide.

I also believe in reading a lot of poetry- reading provides the organic garden from which the leaves and stems of poems can be plucked.

One poet I particularly admire is Miroslav Holub and my poem, ‘Inside a Cow’s Head’, springs from the enjoyment of his poem ‘Inside a Boy’s Head’.

Inside a Cow’s Head

There’s no electric fences
no fences at all, the willow
trees hang so long that tongues
wrap around them like fairy floss.

Flies never land on cow backs
or cow eyes and the sweetest
drop of water is the ornamental
pond in the farmer’s garden.

There’s no early morning
walks to the cowshed
and people drink chocolate
flavoured water instead of
chocolate flavoured milk.

Butter and cheese have yet
to be invented and when its hot
the local swimming pool
admits only cows and calves.

The cows don’t dog paddle
but cow paddle in big
blow up tubes from tractor tyres.
And at closing time
the cows roll around and round
on huge beach towels.

Shake a leg, toss a head
grind some grass,
that’s the cow’s life
inside the cow’s head.

From Redback Mansion, Five Islands Press, 2002

Poetry certainly allows us another viewing platform into life and also allows humour to flavour the content, which is of course a very tasty addition for children.

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POETRY IDEA ONE

Here is a way to springboard writing using my poem as a model:

1. Choose an animal, for example a sheep
2. Make a wish list for a sheep- what do you think it might like changed in its life?
3. What does a sheep look like? What is it used for?- all these answers will form the trigger for images and humour in the poem.
4. Now use the title and first line of my poem to pattern the new poem

Inside a sheep’s head
There’s no shearing sheds
No clippers at all…


Each stanza could develop a characteristic of the animal’s life- really brainstorm for some funny responses- what if sheep came in rainbow-coloured patterns and took over the roles of clouds and rainbows in the sky?? Really let the imagination loose and children will respond in surprising ways.

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IDEA TWO

Another poem from Redback Mansion, ‘When I’m big this bike is going to fit me,’ is modelled on dialogue- everyday sayings or repetitions. Often we repeat ourselves just to make a point known, and children do this especially when they desperately want something.

This Bike’s going to fit me

I just know it is.
It’s too big now, but look Dad, look!
This bike’s going to fit me
by next Christmas.
See, when I stand next to it,
see how tall I am.
I’ll be taller soon,
my legs will be longer,
my arms will be stronger.
See Dad,
when I’m five this bike’s going to fit me.
See,
Dad,
See!

Children can readily mimic a brother, sister, grandparent, parent, even teacher who repeats the same advice or saying over and over again. Even a telephone conversation can develop into a rhymic chant.

In a minute mum…

I’m going to tell on you…

That’s mine..

It’s not fair…

These are just some examples of the many that spring readily to the tongue.

Have a go, unleash fun and spontaneity into poetry writing. It can really pave the way to further creativity and personal satisfaction.



THIS ARTICLE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN LITERATURE BASE, 2002