CREATIVE WRITING

Choose a living American poet. Buy or borrow a slim volume of verse written by a single poet. [Our library catalogues American poets in the 811 section. Many of the most recent poetry books are labeled 811.54.]

1.) Locate and read your book of poems.

2.) Name your poet in class. Read one of your poet's poems aloud. [10/10]

3.) Share some more poems. [10/12]

4.) Find information about your poet from at least three different sources. Write a short biography with a bibliography that includes the book of poems. Use proper MLA format. [10/18]

5.) Write three poems in imitation of your poet. Write three more poems inspired by your poet. Share these poems with the class. [10/15]

6.) Make five booklets that contain final copies of your best poems and copies of the original poems. Distribute these to people you live with, other teachers, friends. Tell them they should keep the booklet and ask them for some commentary. Hand in one copy of your booklet with notes on where the other copies went and what was said about them. [10/29]

7.) Prepare a display that includes pictures, at least one of your poet's poems, and one of your poems. Make sure your name is on the front. Put this up in our classroom or in the hall. Give me a note telling me the name of your poet, the theme of your poster, and where your poster is! [10/22]

8.) Present your poet to the class. Tell us about your poet, your poet's work, and what you like best about your poet's writing, without using notes. Read a poem by your poet and a poem of your own. [10/29]

9.) Write a letter to your poet. Include information about yourself, a question about your poet's work and at least one of your poems. Hand in the letter, the poem, and an addressed, stamped envelope. [11/2]

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More Points

a.) Come to The Water Street Bookstore on October 18^th. Read a poem.

b.) E-mail a poem to Freedom of Verse, poetry@seacoastnh.com

c.) Submit writing to E-Mote, TeenInk, New Hampshire College Journal, High School Voices.

If I were doing this assignment, I'd go out and buy a copy of Billy Collins' latest book of poetry and then I'd start reading a poem every morning and one every night, and maybe a couple at lunch, just so I'd become one with, nope, just so he'd become at one with me, so that everything I did and thought and meant and didn't mean would somehow be tied in with Collins' verse and ideas because I don't about you but my life is often a bit too much and I have trouble understanding everything that's going on and I guess that's where I think poetry is coming down, like, it knows how to think and how to act and how to be in a world that drops bombs to retaliate for bombs that retaliate for, and it's all too confusing but every now and then I catch a glimpse of the truth, for once, then, something says Frost, and if you live and breathe Collins or any other poet for a week or two, you will find that it changes your life, makes you more aware and ultimately more alive, and ultimately, that change is all that we want.

Enjoy,

Mr. F.

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Revised: 10/8/01