3.2: Poetry Exercises

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chapter 3: poetry exercises

exercise 1: line exchange.

Give a sentence (line) to a classmate and then “steal” a sentence (line) to use from a classmate in order to write a poem with it.

Poetry Examples.

Student Example #1\(^{53}\) = Sentence stolen: "Peace is what tomorrow needs."

Peace is what tomorrow needs,

while 2020 has not been a breeze

all we can do is take a minute to breathe

January 2020 started off harsh

if only we knew what was going to come in March

COVID-19 has taken many lives young or old

"Wear your masks" are all we are being told

Peaceful protests and harmful riots

leaving us in fear and feeling disquiet

no one knows how tomorrow will be

but peace is what tomorrow needs

Student Example #2\(^{54}\) = The sentence chosen: “You shine like the sun.”

You shine like the sun

Your soul is so radiant

Why are your eyes sad?

Please never forget

You’re worth more than any jewel

You are my treasure

No matter the darkness

You will always shine brightly

Never give up

Never give in

Student Example #3\(^{55}\) = "I'm learning how to live a dying life" was the line taken from a classmate.

I'm learning to live a dying life.

It's not as easy as it sounds.

For in doing so, my will needs to lie down.

Self-denial has never been my strongest suit,

I'm not Paul or Timothy,

I feel I struggle so through my infirmity.

But I'm thankful for the Power

That renews my strength each day

And helps me take each feeble step

Along the Narrow Way.

exercise 2: mish-mash.

Take a piece of paper. Tear it up into many pieces. Many! Then write various words on each piece. You could even use the back sides of the paper, too. Write down verbs (run, holler, screw) and nouns (girl, beer, cigar) and adjectives (pretty, stupid, red) and adverbs (quickly, slowly)... then mix up the pieces of paper. Attempt, then, to create poems out of the jumbled mess in front of you. You might end up with something really weird or really cool. Poetry doesn’t have to rhyme, make sense, or be serious.

exercise 3: food carton.

Can you write a poem using the words on a food carton?

Vitamin Water Poem\(^{56}\)

ok sure

we think it'll brighten your day

please recycle it.

if you ask us,
a few good things:

mornings
pancakes
15 min snooze
let's be honest
the sound of birds chirping
reverse osmosis

in what feels like a blink,
120% of your daily value is a bit overrated.
but don't worry,
2.5 servings for best results.

it’s no coincidence

one fat pass stick per bottle!

exercise 4: lengths

Write a poem in which all the lines are radically different lengths.
Write another poem in which all the lines are exactly the same length.

exercise 5: song lyrics

Print off the lyrics to your 5 favorite songs. Then mesh them together in one poem. What does the poem say about you?

Sybil’s Mashed Up Poem:\(^{57}\)

If I could touch one lonely soul,

Hold on tight to your dream

If I could heal and be so bold

And you want so much but you're all out of luck

To be a spark, to be a light

When you're so downhearted and misunderstood

Set one heart on fire;

That’s all I ever wanted

I've had enough, this is my prayer

That I'll die livin' just as free as my hair

I've had enough, this is my prayer

Just because I want my friends to think I'm dynamite

I just wanna be myself and I want you to love

Me for who I am

Don't want to change and I don't want to be ashamed

I'm the spirit of my hair, it's all the glory that I bear

If I could heal and be so bold

Set one heart on fire;

That’s all I ever wanted

I've had enough, this is my prayer

\(^{53}\)Example from Lavender Upshaw is licensed CC-BY-NC-SA. It was created for NDSCS English 211 in the Spring of 2021.

\(^{54}\)Example from Galadriel Young is licensed CC-BY-NC-SA. It was created for NDSCS English 211 in the Spring of 2021.

\(^{55}\)Example from Megan Guenther is licensed CC-BY-NC-SA. It was created for NDSCS English 211 in the Spring of 2021.

\(^{56}\)Example created by Sybil Priebe; it’s licensed CC-BY.

\(^{57}\)Songs used: “All I Want” by Kate Earl, “Hair” by Lady Gaga, and “Hold On Tight” by ELO.

“Be courageous and try to write in a way that scares you a little.”

---Holley Gerth