Making it Write

What is poetry? What exactly makes something a poem? Is it just because it rhymes or because it has meaning…or both?

One of my favorite poems about poetry is the following:

Ars Poetica
A poem should be palpable and mute
As a globed fruit

Dumb
As old medallions to the thumb

Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown -

A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds

A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs

Leaving, as the moon releases
Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,

Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,
Memory by memory the mind -

A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs

A poem should be equal to:
Not true

For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf

For love
The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea -

A poem should not mean
But be

~Archibald MacLeish

 

What does he mean by “A poem should not mean….but be.”

If you can answer that, you have an idea of what makes poetry.

Carpe Diem.

HS

It is 2012…Are you as excited as I am for a whole new year? It is time to look back at the past..remember it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly…and jump into 2012. I am ready for all new surprises to encounter me on every turn.

I hope everyone had a fantastic break. I did. I spent time with my family and made some fabulous new friends. I hope you all did too. I even received some beautiful gifts from my children. (and Chloe got a bow for her collar and Bear got a bow tie…how absolutely adorable)

I will see everyone soon…ready to jump into a new year…ready to learn. Let’s have fun…and learn while we do it.

Cheers to 2012!
HS

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving!
My honors classes finished their study of the fantastic novel
The Hunger Games and will be reading the Tales of King Arthur this week.

The English 7 classes are still reading The Hunger Games. Look for some great projects associated with this! May the odds be ever in your favor!!!

Have a great week!
HS

I am so proud of my Honors classes because of the incredible projects they completed. I have hovercrafts..arenas…mutts…and dolls dressed like Katniss in my classroom. I feel like I am in the Capitol!

MineCraft Arena

Mutt!

Actual working Hovercraft. It flew!

Cinna's Creations

Okay so I love love love teaching The Hunger Games. Really. I do.
Why?
Because, the students love it.

Question of the day? Would you rather be living in the Capitol, fed, clothed, but totally ignorant of all the wrongdoings that the Capitol and the government of Panem does to the district…..
Or live in one of the districts? Fighting for food, life, etc, but knowing what is wrong?

HONORS STUDENTS: You all should have finished the novel by now. Projects due Monday, November 14th. Please do not build anything that could upset Ms. Stafford. I am going ahead and saying that Ms. Stafford is thanking you in advance.
Extra credit on test day: Wear a t-shirt decorated with Hunger Games and with your favorite Hunger Games quote.

Happy Hunger Games.
May the odds be ever in your favor.

Hey everyone! I have been down without internet…so finally I am updating!
ALL of my classes are delving into THE HUNGER GAMES. This is probably the most fascinating book I have ever read…with so many layers to read!

I have noticed that many of my 1st, 2nd, and 6th period students still have not brought in a copy of the book….they need to have one to read. NOW!

HAPPY HUNGER GAMES!

HEY EVERYONE!
Just in case you fell off a cloud…slept under a rainbow…or took a left turn on that yellow brick road and haven’t clicked those ruby slippers…

THE NETBOOK TAKE HOME MEETING IS THURSDAY, OCT. 20th.
7:30 am in the library
OR
5:30 pm in cafeteria.

You and your parent/guardian MUST sign the contract and attend a meeting in order to take home a netbook. So be there.

HS

As we read The Hunger Games ask yourselves the following question…
what would you do to survive?

Think about what it is to be truly hungry…and how the Capitol uses hunger to control the population of Panem.

Happy reading.

Also: NETBOOK MEETING FOR ALL 7th graders is scheduled for
OCTOBER 20th!
Yes, I wrote ALL 7th graders.

1st, 2nd, and 6th period…bring in a copy of The Hunger Games Monday after fall break. You have heard my 5th and 7th period talking about this fabulous book….now we will be reading it too!

HS

We use words everyday….be careful how we use them…sometimes they can be meaningful…sometimes they can be meaningless..sometimes they can lead to so much more.

Watch the following video…make a wish and the end…and I hope your dreams come true.

HS

Honors classes.
Two more class days until we begin THE HUNGER GAMES…

ARE YOU READY FOR THE REAPING?

Do not forget your books!!!!