Module 1 Poetry Break 2

Poetry Break #2 Module 1
Poetry 5663-21
Diana Stephens

Introduction: Because February is African American Heritage month, I have chosen a poem to share with you from Walter Dean Myers’ verse novel, Street Love. Here is a picture of Walter Dean Myers (from the data projector). He has written many books for teens, and is one of my favorite authors. He also wrote this verse novel, Street Love (holding it up).

The title of the poem from Street Love is: “Damien and Sledge,” who are the names of characters in this novel. The poem comes at the beginning, so I think we can understand that this poem is introducing these two characters. Chico, of the first verse, is Sledge’s friend. I am asking you to please figure out, what is the relationship between these named in the title, Damien and Sledge? I am having a hard time understanding some of the slang and hope you can clarify some things for me.

We are going to read this poem as choral reading, which means we are reading it in parts or together, as indicated on the sheet. Does everyone see how the dark print directs who reads a certain part? I need a volunteer to read whenever it says, “Damien,” . . . .

From Street Love by Walter Dean Myers

“Damien and Sledge”

Sledge “Yo, Chico, check it out.
Yo, Chico,
There goes Damien, sliding and gliding
Just strolling
And rolling his eyes
Away from the action
So we can’t get the satisfaction
Of him peeping our dazzle.”

Damien “Peeping your dazzle?” Damien replies,
White toothing all over Sledge.
“I thought I was scoping the
Frazzled chumdom of a downtown clown.”

Sledge “My game is my name,” Sledge replies.
“Call it if you want some.”

Narrator 1 Damien shakes his head.




Damien “Yo, Sledge, if talk was walk my man you would be
Halfway round the world. You’re confusing game with
Lame and Ball with stall. But at the end of the
Day your rap is weaker than your play."

Narrator Sledge comes chest to chest with Damien.
His eyes are slits that carve into the flesh.

Sledge “Yo Damien, Listen up, man
Your mouth is shouting and your lips are pouting
Like you’re somebody’s girlfriend
Running off to double latteville
‘Cause you know you ain’t got the heart
To start no get down with me.”

Reader 1 Damien scoped the scene and weighed it
Reader 2 Sledge’s crew was throwing signs
Reader 3 And gritting teeth
R. 1,2,3 They wore their colors but Damien didn’t
Know what was beneath those jackets

Damien “Yo, Sledge, we’ll get it straight one day”
Damien said. “Just the two of us.”
Not now, not here, but we’ll know when
We got to do what it looks like we got to do.”

Girls A brief conversation, hard looks in the air
Boys Damien walks away and Sledge stares.
All No big thing.
Girls No big thing.
Reader 1 Just two seventeen-year-olds
All Checking out a manhood jam.
Reader 2 Damien and Kevin make their way out
All Breathing easier as they start up to Sugar Hill
Reader 3 The late summer shadows accentuate the edges
All Of the hood, define it in shape and size
All Yes, and darkness
Girls The shadows on the corner shift as they walk by
Boys Sharp eyes weigh their pockets from the distance
Girls Heavy sisters weighing down the white brick
Girls Stoops watch the passing scene
All As they have for a hundred years

Extension: Use these questions to prompt a discussion:
Can you describe Sledge and Damien’s relationship?
Which part created an image in your mind? Are there any parts of this poem that are realistic? Which part(s)?
Is the slang in this poem the same or different as what you hear? Which part of it did you like, or not like?

Myers, Walter Dean. 2006. Street Love. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.