Pieces: A Poetry Anthology

1. Pieces: A Poetry Anthology By: Vanessa Lockstein Painting : “Dream Fragments” by Bernard Goodman

2. Table of Contents What is Poetry?...................................1 Reader Response……………………….……..2 “I Am” poem……………………………..….....3 People Are Poems: Students..…….......4 Image to Symbol: The Student…….……5 Haiku: Candle……………..……………………6 Tanka: Exploding Star…………….…………7 Parody: RaaRaa White Sheep….……...8 Diamante: Teacher-Student……….…….9 Narrative: The Concussion…….……….10 Phoetry: Black Waters………….………..11 Rhetorical Question:…………….…………12

3. What Is Poetry? Poetry is seeing the world uniquely. Painting: “All is Vanity” by Allan Gilbert (1892)

4. Reader Response: “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen The poem “Dulce Et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen is an anti-war poem that explores the nightmarish reality of battle. The speaker of the poem takes the reader through the experience of a World War One soldier’s perspective on a gas attack and seeing a fellow soldier dying. At the start of the poem, the soldiers are exhausted and marching. A gas attack strikes, and they must hurry to put on their gas masks. The speaker describes how the image of a dying ,and later dead, soldier continues to haunt him. At the end of the poem, the “old lie” (l. 27-28) that it is sweet and right to die for your country is refuted. An important line in the poem is: “Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light/As under a green sea, I saw him drowning” (l. 13-14). Here, Owen uses a metaphor to convey the idea that the solider is being drowned by the gas. The image of the drowning soldier conveys that war is overwhelming and inescapable. Finally, the sea imagery adds to the poem’s surrealism. In conclusion, “Dulce Et Decorum Est”relates the personal experience of a soldier to give an important message about the reality of war and the glorified ideals of fighting for one’s country.

5. “I Am” Poem: Me I am student and teacher. I think everything we think we know is wrong. I hear the voices of ancestors, warning. I see the moon rising over cityscapes. I want to spend my life doing what I love. I am silence and static noise. I pretend to enjoy waking up early. I worry about everything. I get angry when people choose ignorance. I hope. I am past and future. I understand that we’re all fighting a battle. I believe in change. I say, “Stop talking and do it.” I dream even when I’m awake. I am teacher and student.

6. People Are Poems: Students They ask at the interview, “What do you teach?” I tap my fingers twice. Once for the answer, “Literature and History.” Once for the truth, “I teach students: Students are poetry, Under lock and key. I teach myself To open doors, To think my way through, These walking metaphors, And all the things in between— the meanings, so they can see That they are poetry.” http://img1.artweb.com/users/5794/181218_doorway---1.jpg

7. Image to Symbol: Music Late afternoon music plays, rhythmically, over pensive mind. Music is like a swan, Floating gracefully without knowledge of judgment. Music is a misunderstood beast, tearing its way through silence, doing only what it knows. The gentle giant swims away, leaving only silence behind. The song is over.

8. Haiku: Candle Candle burns softly Illuminating the night Casting shadows still http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/462421507_350d88ac40.jpg

9. Tanka: Exploding Star Pinpoints amidst black The city lights overwhelm Luminosity I close my eyes and see flame Explode into nothingness http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/10/images/071002-star-picture_big.jpg

10. Parody: RaaRaa White Sheep Original: Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!One for the master, one for the dame,And one for the little boy who lives down the lane Parody: Raaraa white sheep, stop taking my wool! Go away, go away, I’m ten bags full! Two for myself, and three for the same, And nothing for the homeless who live down the lane. http://www.webdesigncore.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/artisticwallpapers/14.jpg

11. Diamante: Teacher-Student Teacher parody, cliché talking, grading, staring marker, clock, book, pen asking, studying, wondering awake, curious Student http://www.freewebs.com/joerenaldi/teacher_student.gif

12. Narrative: The Fall On a sunny morning with clear blue skies, I went outside to ride my bike. “Be careful!” my mom pleaded, but I paid no attention. Around the block, to the top of the hill. . . The enormous, stupendous, devilish hill. I looked down, took a breath— And rode. First, like a demon—determined and serene, But then, like a feather—I lifted from the street. The handle-bars shook, my mind went Blank. SMASH! Into the curb—the cold, unfeeling concrete curb. I felt nothing except my world spin around. The pain was a blade Slicing deep and sharp, Without remorse or concern of consequence. The only trace left—a memory scar. To this day, I am reminded of my mother’s pleading: “Be careful!” And now, on the bicycle of life, I am.

13. Phoetry: Black Waters Black Waters Night liquefied mirror Silent trees bow To the depths Of mystery’s Magnetic lure.

14. Rhetorical Question: Street Dogs I wonder if they like Being street dogs?I suppose they do, Knowing nothing else.They always look Like they’re on a Mission. Food, water, shelter— Love. But they never come too close, choosing instead to sing sorrowful songs at night. http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/images/street_dog_DSC05606.JPG