Module 3 Poetry Break with Form Poem
Diana Stephens
Poetry 5663
“Dear Mom” and “Dear Hard Working Dad”
from Love Letters by Arnold Adoff and illustrated by Lisa Desimini.
Introduction to teens: Most of you know at least one parent well. Think about them for a minute. Think about your whole life with that parent, the things they did right for you, maybe some things they did wrong. What would you want to say to them? Could you write that in a poem? This author doesn’t use very many words to communicate a big message. Also, the form or format of these two poems is different. Why do you think the poet spaced the lines and words the way he does here, watch (poem projected) while I read aloud.
Dear Mom:
First: K e e p m o m m i n g.
Second:
I’m really thanking you.
Third: I’m serious.
Fourth:
Don’t laugh.
Fifth: Please kiss
only
on
the
c h e e k.
Your Big Son: The Kid Himself.
What do you like about this? Where did the poet make a verb out of a noun? Does anyone notice anything about the shape of this poem? (Maybe the curve reminds you of a cheek.) Be thinking of four or five short things you could say to your mom, and how you would sign the poem.
Now let’s look at the one to dad.
Diana Stephens
Poetry 5663
“Dear Mom” and “Dear Hard Working Dad”
from Love Letters by Arnold Adoff and illustrated by Lisa Desimini.
Introduction to teens: Most of you know at least one parent well. Think about them for a minute. Think about your whole life with that parent, the things they did right for you, maybe some things they did wrong. What would you want to say to them? Could you write that in a poem? This author doesn’t use very many words to communicate a big message. Also, the form or format of these two poems is different. Why do you think the poet spaced the lines and words the way he does here, watch (poem projected) while I read aloud.
Dear Mom:
First: K e e p m o m m i n g.
Second:
I’m really thanking you.
Third: I’m serious.
Fourth:
Don’t laugh.
Fifth: Please kiss
only
on
the
c h e e k.
Your Big Son: The Kid Himself.
What do you like about this? Where did the poet make a verb out of a noun? Does anyone notice anything about the shape of this poem? (Maybe the curve reminds you of a cheek.) Be thinking of four or five short things you could say to your mom, and how you would sign the poem.
Now let’s look at the one to dad.
Arnold Adoff
Dear hard Working Dad:
Even when you snore
on the couch, I am
proud
with
a
full
heart for
you.
Your Son With Earplugs.
Extension: What do you like about this one? Isn’t the humor fun? Do you have any thoughts about the shape of this poem? (I am not sure. There is somewhat of S shape, but it’s not definite enough to know for sure.) In the illustration, the crooked line of the smoke of the pipe is reminiscent of the poem’s shape. What adjective describes your dad? Could it be the beginning of a poem about your dad?
Choose a parent and write a very short poem about him or her, using the “Dear/Your . . .” format. After you type it up, experiment with spacing for visual effect. Look for a word in your poem that you could emphasize with an arrangement of words, letters and spaces. Try making a verb out of a noun, as in the “Dear Mom” poem. And try to find a humorous “Your . . .” for the end.
Look at some of these other poems. Would you like to make a whole book of love poems? Let’s make one for teenagers.
Adoff, Arnold, and Lisa Desimini, ill. 1997. Love Letters. New York: The Blue Sky Press.
Even when you snore
on the couch, I am
proud
with
a
full
heart for
you.
Your Son With Earplugs.
Extension: What do you like about this one? Isn’t the humor fun? Do you have any thoughts about the shape of this poem? (I am not sure. There is somewhat of S shape, but it’s not definite enough to know for sure.) In the illustration, the crooked line of the smoke of the pipe is reminiscent of the poem’s shape. What adjective describes your dad? Could it be the beginning of a poem about your dad?
Choose a parent and write a very short poem about him or her, using the “Dear/Your . . .” format. After you type it up, experiment with spacing for visual effect. Look for a word in your poem that you could emphasize with an arrangement of words, letters and spaces. Try making a verb out of a noun, as in the “Dear Mom” poem. And try to find a humorous “Your . . .” for the end.
Look at some of these other poems. Would you like to make a whole book of love poems? Let’s make one for teenagers.
Adoff, Arnold, and Lisa Desimini, ill. 1997. Love Letters. New York: The Blue Sky Press.
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