There's lines on the road,
But nobody cares. Honking.
Kids on the sidewalk.
Yelling. Taxis everywhere,
Like busy buzzing hornets.
This is a Tanka poem. A Tanka a Japanese poetry type, which has 5 lines. The first and third line have 5 syllables, and the second, fourth, and fifth line have 7 syllables. This particular Tanka is about my trip to China. It briefly explains what I remember most about the country - the crazy traffic! By reading this poem, the reader can visualize what it would be like in the city hustle and bustle of China. There is a simile in line 5, saying the taxis are like "busy buzzing hornets". There is also alliteration of the letter B in line 5, "busy buzzing". The last poetic device is onomatopoeia with the use of the word "buzzing".
.......................
Looking West from Laguna Beach by Charles Wright
I've always liked the view from my mother-in-law's house at night,
Oil rigs off Long Beach
Like floating lanterns out in the smog-dark Pacific,
Stars in the eucalyptus,
Lights of airplanes arriving from Asia, and town lights
Littered like broken glass around the bay and back up the hill.
This is a verse poem about the author's view from the destination of his mother-in-law's house. It is a simple poem, which leaves a strong impact on the reader because it's easy to visualize the scenery he is describing. Some poetic devices used are similes. In line 3, he states that the oil rigs are like floating lanterns. In line 6, he says the town lights are littered like broken glass around the bay. In this poem, the author only describes objects which are "lights". This creates a peaceful, happy mood, accentuated by the thought of tiny lights, lanterns, stars, or shimmering broken glass illuminating your surroundings.
Oil rigs off Long Beach
Like floating lanterns out in the smog-dark Pacific,
Stars in the eucalyptus,
Lights of airplanes arriving from Asia, and town lights
Littered like broken glass around the bay and back up the hill.
This is a verse poem about the author's view from the destination of his mother-in-law's house. It is a simple poem, which leaves a strong impact on the reader because it's easy to visualize the scenery he is describing. Some poetic devices used are similes. In line 3, he states that the oil rigs are like floating lanterns. In line 6, he says the town lights are littered like broken glass around the bay. In this poem, the author only describes objects which are "lights". This creates a peaceful, happy mood, accentuated by the thought of tiny lights, lanterns, stars, or shimmering broken glass illuminating your surroundings.
Memories by Stephanie Dang
The wood fire burns drowsily,
The tree branches hang low.
The crackle of embers fill the air with orange sparks,
Dancing in the black night in front of our eyes.
We smile into the fire, at nothing in particular,
Just reminiscing the memories we've had and to come.
The occasional laugh, maybe even a story,
My little cousin is hungry, let's make him some popcorn,
Not too close to the fire, for grandma will scold.
Acquainted with the smell and the sounds and the sight
Of this small campsite where few others go,
My family and I make up half the people that know
About the windy gravel road leading up to this place,
About the tiny blue lake, about the beige sandy beach.
But it's okay, because we enjoy the peace and serenity,
Looking out on the water at where ocean meets sky,
Standing there thinking the memories we have made together
Are more than we could ever ask.
This is my blank verse poem about Horse Fly campsite where my grandparents like to go. Being a small campsite with about 15 spots total, not many people go there, and it is always very quiet when we are there. My family and I travel there every summer for about a week. I use repetition in this poem of the word memories, and "about the...". I also use personification, as I say the fire burns 'drowsily', and the embers 'dance'. I will use this poem in one of the summer months, as that is when we go camping.
The tree branches hang low.
The crackle of embers fill the air with orange sparks,
Dancing in the black night in front of our eyes.
We smile into the fire, at nothing in particular,
Just reminiscing the memories we've had and to come.
The occasional laugh, maybe even a story,
My little cousin is hungry, let's make him some popcorn,
Not too close to the fire, for grandma will scold.
Acquainted with the smell and the sounds and the sight
Of this small campsite where few others go,
My family and I make up half the people that know
About the windy gravel road leading up to this place,
About the tiny blue lake, about the beige sandy beach.
But it's okay, because we enjoy the peace and serenity,
Looking out on the water at where ocean meets sky,
Standing there thinking the memories we have made together
Are more than we could ever ask.
This is my blank verse poem about Horse Fly campsite where my grandparents like to go. Being a small campsite with about 15 spots total, not many people go there, and it is always very quiet when we are there. My family and I travel there every summer for about a week. I use repetition in this poem of the word memories, and "about the...". I also use personification, as I say the fire burns 'drowsily', and the embers 'dance'. I will use this poem in one of the summer months, as that is when we go camping.
T.R.A.V.E.L by Stephanie Dang
Transportation
Recreation
Activities
Vacation
Experience
Locations
An acrostic poem is a poem which contains lines with the first letters as letters from a certain word. I used the word "Travel", therefore the first letter in each line corresponds with the letter in the word. There is rhyme in line 1, 2, 4, and 6, and I think that makes it a more interesting read, and helps the poem flow and makes it smoother. By using one word for each line, it makes a stronger impact on the reader, and leaves more for their senses to imagine. I will use this poem for January.
Recreation
Activities
Vacation
Experience
Locations
An acrostic poem is a poem which contains lines with the first letters as letters from a certain word. I used the word "Travel", therefore the first letter in each line corresponds with the letter in the word. There is rhyme in line 1, 2, 4, and 6, and I think that makes it a more interesting read, and helps the poem flow and makes it smoother. By using one word for each line, it makes a stronger impact on the reader, and leaves more for their senses to imagine. I will use this poem for January.
Turkey Jerky by Stephanie Dang
There once was a man from Turkey
He was always feeling so perky
But he came down with the flu
And was feeling so blue
So he ate a ton of beef jerky
This is a limerick I about Turkey. I have never been to Turkey before, so I could not describe the scenery, so instead I made it into a limerick about a man from Turkey. The rhyme scheme in this poem is AABBA. There is hyperbole in this poem in the last line, saying he ate "a ton" of beef jerky.
He was always feeling so perky
But he came down with the flu
And was feeling so blue
So he ate a ton of beef jerky
This is a limerick I about Turkey. I have never been to Turkey before, so I could not describe the scenery, so instead I made it into a limerick about a man from Turkey. The rhyme scheme in this poem is AABBA. There is hyperbole in this poem in the last line, saying he ate "a ton" of beef jerky.
Serene Fishing by Stephanie Dang
The smooth rolling waves,
The blow of a dolphins breath.
Eyes closed, I listen.
This is another haiku I wrote. It is a simple description of the times when I go fishing. We go every summer in our boat, and there is the constant rolling waves. Also, every time we go, we always hear and see different kinds of whales and dolphins, and it is amazing. We see many other wildlife too, such as otters, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, porpoises, and more. Sometimes you can hear the animals before you see them, and it is so fascinating to listen to all their unique sounds.
There is imagery in this poem, which appeals to your touch and hearing. "Smooth rolling waves" create the impression of being on a boat, and listening to "the blow" of a dolphins breath, allows you to really capture the moment.
The blow of a dolphins breath.
Eyes closed, I listen.
This is another haiku I wrote. It is a simple description of the times when I go fishing. We go every summer in our boat, and there is the constant rolling waves. Also, every time we go, we always hear and see different kinds of whales and dolphins, and it is amazing. We see many other wildlife too, such as otters, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, porpoises, and more. Sometimes you can hear the animals before you see them, and it is so fascinating to listen to all their unique sounds.
There is imagery in this poem, which appeals to your touch and hearing. "Smooth rolling waves" create the impression of being on a boat, and listening to "the blow" of a dolphins breath, allows you to really capture the moment.
Seven Wonders of the World by Stephanie Dang
The seven wonders
Of this world, it is my dream
To visit them all
This is a simple haiku poem that I wrote. A haiku is a Japanese originated poem composed of three non-rhyming lines which are 5-7-5 syllables. This poem is pretty self-explanatory, it is describing my dream to visit all the seven wonders of the world before I die. I've been to The Great Wall and Niagara Falls, but yet to see the other ones! I will probably use this in one of the summer months, as I would go travelling in a summer month.
Of this world, it is my dream
To visit them all
This is a simple haiku poem that I wrote. A haiku is a Japanese originated poem composed of three non-rhyming lines which are 5-7-5 syllables. This poem is pretty self-explanatory, it is describing my dream to visit all the seven wonders of the world before I die. I've been to The Great Wall and Niagara Falls, but yet to see the other ones! I will probably use this in one of the summer months, as I would go travelling in a summer month.
Night in Venice By John Hay
Love, in this summer night, do you recall
Midnight, and Venice, and those skies of June
Thick-sown with stars, when from the still lagoon
We glided noiseless through the dim canal?
A sense of some belated festival
Hung round us, and our own hearts beat in tune
With passionate memories that the young moon
Lit up on dome and tower and palace wall.
We dreamed what ghosts of vanished loves made part
Of that sweet light and trembling, amorous air.
I felt in those rich beams that kissed your hair,
Those breezes, warm with bygone lovers' sighs-
All the dead beauty of Venice in your eyes,
All the old loves of Venice in my heart.
This poem is about two lovers spending a night in Venice, Italy. It is a love poem describing what they did during one summers night. It explains them going on a boat ride through a quiet canal while star gazing. It explains the dome in Venice, the tower, and the palace. The two people in this poem are very much in love, as the poet describes their hearts being "in tune". This is a very romantic poem, and I will most likely use it for a fall month in the calendar.
The rhyme scheme is ABBCCBBADEEFFD. There is personification in line 10, stating that the air was “trembling”, and in line 11, saying the beams “kissed your hair”. There is a lot of imagery in this poem, appealing to my senses of sight, and touch. The poet describes well the stars and skies, and the breeze. There is also a lot of reference to death in this poem, “ghosts of vanished loves made part”, “dead beauty”.
Midnight, and Venice, and those skies of June
Thick-sown with stars, when from the still lagoon
We glided noiseless through the dim canal?
A sense of some belated festival
Hung round us, and our own hearts beat in tune
With passionate memories that the young moon
Lit up on dome and tower and palace wall.
We dreamed what ghosts of vanished loves made part
Of that sweet light and trembling, amorous air.
I felt in those rich beams that kissed your hair,
Those breezes, warm with bygone lovers' sighs-
All the dead beauty of Venice in your eyes,
All the old loves of Venice in my heart.
This poem is about two lovers spending a night in Venice, Italy. It is a love poem describing what they did during one summers night. It explains them going on a boat ride through a quiet canal while star gazing. It explains the dome in Venice, the tower, and the palace. The two people in this poem are very much in love, as the poet describes their hearts being "in tune". This is a very romantic poem, and I will most likely use it for a fall month in the calendar.
The rhyme scheme is ABBCCBBADEEFFD. There is personification in line 10, stating that the air was “trembling”, and in line 11, saying the beams “kissed your hair”. There is a lot of imagery in this poem, appealing to my senses of sight, and touch. The poet describes well the stars and skies, and the breeze. There is also a lot of reference to death in this poem, “ghosts of vanished loves made part”, “dead beauty”.
West London By Matthew Arnold
Crouched on the pavement close by Belgrave Square,
A tramp I saw, ill, moody, and tongue-tied:
A babe was in her arms, and at her side
A girl; their clothes were rags, their feet were bare.
Some labouring men, whose work lay somewhere there,
Passed opposite; she touched her girl, who hied
Across, and begged, and came back satisfied.
The rich she had let pass with frozen stare.
Thought I: Above her state this spirit towers;
She will not ask of aliens, but of friends,
Of sharers in a common human fate.
She turns from that cold succour which attends
The unknown little from the unknowing great,
And points us to a better time than ours.
This poem is describing West London, which from the description, I would guess it be similar to East Vancouver. The rhyme scheme is ABBA ABBA CDE DEC. In the first stanza, it describes a prostitute holding a baby in her arms with a small girl beside her. They are homeless, ill, cold, and dont even have enough money for shoes. They beg for money, and men who work near by give them some spare change. But they dislike the rich, and only interact with the people in the same situation as they are. The poor are very much disregarded, and the "unknowing great", or the rich, pass by hardly noticing them much of the time. This is a cold poem, therefore would probably be used in a winter month such as November.
A tramp I saw, ill, moody, and tongue-tied:
A babe was in her arms, and at her side
A girl; their clothes were rags, their feet were bare.
Some labouring men, whose work lay somewhere there,
Passed opposite; she touched her girl, who hied
Across, and begged, and came back satisfied.
The rich she had let pass with frozen stare.
Thought I: Above her state this spirit towers;
She will not ask of aliens, but of friends,
Of sharers in a common human fate.
She turns from that cold succour which attends
The unknown little from the unknowing great,
And points us to a better time than ours.
This poem is describing West London, which from the description, I would guess it be similar to East Vancouver. The rhyme scheme is ABBA ABBA CDE DEC. In the first stanza, it describes a prostitute holding a baby in her arms with a small girl beside her. They are homeless, ill, cold, and dont even have enough money for shoes. They beg for money, and men who work near by give them some spare change. But they dislike the rich, and only interact with the people in the same situation as they are. The poor are very much disregarded, and the "unknowing great", or the rich, pass by hardly noticing them much of the time. This is a cold poem, therefore would probably be used in a winter month such as November.
My Land by Thomas Osborne David
She is a rich and rare land;
Oh! she's a fresh and fair land;
She is a dear and rare land -
This native land of mine.
No men than her's are braver -
her women's hearts never waver;
I'd freely die to save her,
And think my lot divine.
She's not a dull or cold land;
No! She's a warm and bold land;
Oh! she's a true and old land -
This native land of mine.
Could beauty ever guard her,
And virtue still reward her,
no foe would cross her border -
no friend within it pine!
Oh" she's a fresh and fair land;
Oh! she's a true and rare land;
Yes! She's a rare and fair land -
This native land of mine.
This is a ballad that expresses the love of a man for his homeland of Ireland. The first stanza uses simple but meaningful words to describe the richness and simplicity of the land. The next stanza tells of the bravery of the people. Because of their love for Ireland, they will sacrifice their lives to protect each other and preserve its freedom. The next two stanzas further describes Ireland’s beauty and warmth. Finally, the last stanza echoes the first stanza, except for a slight difference in the order of the words.
The poem uses an intricate rhyme structure. The first 3 lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, and each set of these 3 lines rhyme again in alternate lines. The last line of every stanza also rhyme. There is also internal rhyme and assonance in many instances, such as “rare,” “fair,” and “rare” in the first stanza, and “cold,” “bold,” and “old” in the third stanza. There is much alliteration, such as “rich and rare” and “fresh and fair.” Of course, this whole poem uses personification to describe his homeland, calling it “her” and describing it as “warm and bold.” Lastly, the poem uses an accentual-syllabic meter, with consistent 3-beat lines and a 7-7-7-6 syllable structure per stanza. The author uses these poetic devices beautifully to create such a memorable ballad.
Oh! she's a fresh and fair land;
She is a dear and rare land -
This native land of mine.
No men than her's are braver -
her women's hearts never waver;
I'd freely die to save her,
And think my lot divine.
She's not a dull or cold land;
No! She's a warm and bold land;
Oh! she's a true and old land -
This native land of mine.
Could beauty ever guard her,
And virtue still reward her,
no foe would cross her border -
no friend within it pine!
Oh" she's a fresh and fair land;
Oh! she's a true and rare land;
Yes! She's a rare and fair land -
This native land of mine.
This is a ballad that expresses the love of a man for his homeland of Ireland. The first stanza uses simple but meaningful words to describe the richness and simplicity of the land. The next stanza tells of the bravery of the people. Because of their love for Ireland, they will sacrifice their lives to protect each other and preserve its freedom. The next two stanzas further describes Ireland’s beauty and warmth. Finally, the last stanza echoes the first stanza, except for a slight difference in the order of the words.
The poem uses an intricate rhyme structure. The first 3 lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, and each set of these 3 lines rhyme again in alternate lines. The last line of every stanza also rhyme. There is also internal rhyme and assonance in many instances, such as “rare,” “fair,” and “rare” in the first stanza, and “cold,” “bold,” and “old” in the third stanza. There is much alliteration, such as “rich and rare” and “fresh and fair.” Of course, this whole poem uses personification to describe his homeland, calling it “her” and describing it as “warm and bold.” Lastly, the poem uses an accentual-syllabic meter, with consistent 3-beat lines and a 7-7-7-6 syllable structure per stanza. The author uses these poetic devices beautifully to create such a memorable ballad.
The Mississippi River By Sarah Josepha Hale
Shadowed beneath those awful piles o' stone,
Where Liberty has found a Pisgah height,
O'erlooking all the land she loves to bless,
The jagged rocks and icy towers her guard,
Whose splintered summits seize the warring clouds,
And roll them, broken, like a host o'erthrown,
Adown the mountain's side, scattering their wealth
Of powdered pearl and liquid diamond drops, —
There is thy source, — great River of the West!
Slowly, like youthful Titan gathering strength
To war with heaven and win himself a name,
The stream moves onward through the dark ravines,
Rending the roots of overarching trees,
To form its narrow channel, where the star,
That fain would bathe its beauty in the wave,
Like lover's glance steals, trembling through the leaves,
That veil the waters with a vestal's care;
And few of human form have ventured there,
Save the swart savage in his bark canoe.
But now it deepens, struggles, rushes on;
Like goaded war-horse, bounding o'er the foe,
It clears the rocks it may not spurn aside,
Leaping, as Curtius leaped adown the gulf,
And rising, like Antaeus from the fall,
Its course majestic through the land pursues,
And the broad River o'er the Valley reigns!
This is a free verse poem about the Mississippi River. I thought this fit in with my theme because not only is it a place, or destination, it is also something that can take you places, and allow you to travel over it. This poem explains how mighty and intense the river is, and how powerful it is. There is allusion in stanza 2, line 1, referring to Titan, gathering strength. It is explaining that as the river is youthful (or at the beginning of the river) it is not at its strongest yet, but it is “gathering strength”. There is a simile in stanza 2, line 6-7 “That fain would bathe its beauty in the wave”, and in stanza 3, line 2 “Like goaded war-horse, bounding o'er the foe”. There is personification in stanza 2, line 6, saying the star would “bathe its beauty in the wave”, but stars can’t actually bathe themselves. There is also allusion in stanza 3, referring to Antaeus (a giant), and Curtius (a Roman hero). In the last line, the poet capitalizes “River”, suggesting that the river is something high and mighty, which has importance.
Where Liberty has found a Pisgah height,
O'erlooking all the land she loves to bless,
The jagged rocks and icy towers her guard,
Whose splintered summits seize the warring clouds,
And roll them, broken, like a host o'erthrown,
Adown the mountain's side, scattering their wealth
Of powdered pearl and liquid diamond drops, —
There is thy source, — great River of the West!
Slowly, like youthful Titan gathering strength
To war with heaven and win himself a name,
The stream moves onward through the dark ravines,
Rending the roots of overarching trees,
To form its narrow channel, where the star,
That fain would bathe its beauty in the wave,
Like lover's glance steals, trembling through the leaves,
That veil the waters with a vestal's care;
And few of human form have ventured there,
Save the swart savage in his bark canoe.
But now it deepens, struggles, rushes on;
Like goaded war-horse, bounding o'er the foe,
It clears the rocks it may not spurn aside,
Leaping, as Curtius leaped adown the gulf,
And rising, like Antaeus from the fall,
Its course majestic through the land pursues,
And the broad River o'er the Valley reigns!
This is a free verse poem about the Mississippi River. I thought this fit in with my theme because not only is it a place, or destination, it is also something that can take you places, and allow you to travel over it. This poem explains how mighty and intense the river is, and how powerful it is. There is allusion in stanza 2, line 1, referring to Titan, gathering strength. It is explaining that as the river is youthful (or at the beginning of the river) it is not at its strongest yet, but it is “gathering strength”. There is a simile in stanza 2, line 6-7 “That fain would bathe its beauty in the wave”, and in stanza 3, line 2 “Like goaded war-horse, bounding o'er the foe”. There is personification in stanza 2, line 6, saying the star would “bathe its beauty in the wave”, but stars can’t actually bathe themselves. There is also allusion in stanza 3, referring to Antaeus (a giant), and Curtius (a Roman hero). In the last line, the poet capitalizes “River”, suggesting that the river is something high and mighty, which has importance.
Celestial Dreams by Marie Summers
Moonbeams creamy as pie
Racing across the night
On a journey into the sky
Dreams seeking celestial light
Racing across the night
Past Venus waking from sleep
Dreams seeking celestial light
Cast into the dark so deep
Past Venus waking from sleep
To Saturn's expanding rings
Cast into the dark so deep
Catching a ride on angel's wings
To Saturn's expanding rings
On a journey into the sky
Catching a ride on angel's wings
Moonbeams creamy as pie
This is a Pantoum poem, consisting of quatrains with the rhyme scheme ABAB. Each quatrain introduces a new second rhyme (BCBC, CDCD). It describes a fantastical journey of a moonbeam that "Travels" across the solar system. The moonbeam passes Venus, Saturn, and beyond. Also, there seems to be a purposely made sense of confusion, through the use of patterned but apparently spontaneous repetitions. This of course helps to create the sense of majesty and mystique of the Universe.
There is extensive use of literary devices in this poem. Firstly, there is personification, such as “moonbeams…racing across the night,” and “past Venus waking from sleep.” As mentioned before, there is a lot of repetition. The structure appears to be random, but the lines that do repeat does so on the third line after it first appears. For example, “Racing across the night” appears on line 2, and then again 3 lines later. The first repeats at the last line.
Racing across the night
On a journey into the sky
Dreams seeking celestial light
Racing across the night
Past Venus waking from sleep
Dreams seeking celestial light
Cast into the dark so deep
Past Venus waking from sleep
To Saturn's expanding rings
Cast into the dark so deep
Catching a ride on angel's wings
To Saturn's expanding rings
On a journey into the sky
Catching a ride on angel's wings
Moonbeams creamy as pie
This is a Pantoum poem, consisting of quatrains with the rhyme scheme ABAB. Each quatrain introduces a new second rhyme (BCBC, CDCD). It describes a fantastical journey of a moonbeam that "Travels" across the solar system. The moonbeam passes Venus, Saturn, and beyond. Also, there seems to be a purposely made sense of confusion, through the use of patterned but apparently spontaneous repetitions. This of course helps to create the sense of majesty and mystique of the Universe.
There is extensive use of literary devices in this poem. Firstly, there is personification, such as “moonbeams…racing across the night,” and “past Venus waking from sleep.” As mentioned before, there is a lot of repetition. The structure appears to be random, but the lines that do repeat does so on the third line after it first appears. For example, “Racing across the night” appears on line 2, and then again 3 lines later. The first repeats at the last line.
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