Thursday, February 22, 2007

Poetry Break #5

Introduction: When poetry takes an usual shape, at times reflective of the poem's subject matter, it is considered a concrete poem. This particular poem is perfect to share on a rainy day especially if students ride to school in a car or bus. Be sure students can see what this poem looks like prior to reading.

Windshield Wiper
by Eve Merriam
     
fog smog fog smog
tissue paper tissue paper
clear the blear clear the smear

fog more fog more
splat splat downpour

rubber scraper rubber scaper
overshoes macintosh
bumbershoot muddle on
slosh through slosh through

drying up drying up
sky lighter sky lighter
nearly clear nearly clear
clearing clearing veer
clear here clear



Cullinan, Bernice E., ed. Andi MacLeod, illus. Portraits by Marc Nadel. 1996. A jar of tiny stars: poems by NCTE award-winning poets. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press.

Extension: Divide the students into two groups. Have one group read one side of the poem and the second group read the other side. Ask the students to read the final two lines all together. Create a beat that mimics windshield wipers by tapping your hand on a desk or your foot on the floor and have the students read the poem aloud to the beat. Start fast like the wipers are working hard during a downpour and slow down as the poem progresses following the clearing sky as described.

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