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.