1a. What appears edible?
2a. What is creating the colors?
3a. Identify all the words that describe the sky. What do they have in common? How do they differ from one another? How many are adjectives? How many are nouns?
4a. How well does this poem describe the sky the speaker sees? How well does it describe what a train's smokestack emits?
1b. Why does the speaker describe this thing as edible?
2b. Why does the speaker reveal this at the end of the poem?
3b. Paraphrase this poem using simple language and simple sentence structure.
4b. Describe the sky as it is today. Include, if you wish, the influences of clouds, sun, rain, snow, smoke, or whatever you think affects the way you see the sky.
Concrete Poem. How could you tell what this poem was about before reading it? How might a concrete poem surprise the reader?
Imagery. How does the shape of the poem influence the poem's imagery?
1. Write a short poem in free verse for a celebration honoring an historic place or building.
2. Write a letter to Nikki Giovanni about "Poetry" or to Eve Merriam about "How to Eat a Poem," sharing your thoughts about the poem you just read.
3. Write instructions for an artist who plans to paint a picture of the deserted barn without seeing it or seeing a photo of it. Describe the barn in precise, detailed language.
Functions of Sentences. All sentences are one of the following types: declarative, imperative, interrogative, or exclamatory.
A declarative sentence tells something or makes a statement. Example: Joe goes camping with his cousins every weekend.
An imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request. Example: Pack your own lunch for school.
An interrogative sentence asks a question and is followed by a question mark. Example: Have you ever seen a dirigible?
An exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion and ends with an exclamation point. Example: I can't believe you ate the last piece of pie!
Look back at the poems in this section. Find an example of each type of sentence. Then, read the passages that follow and modify each sentence as directed.
Example of declarative sentences:
Example of imperative sentences:
Example of interrogative sentences:
Example of exclamatory sentences:
1. Change each declarative sentence to an imperative sentence, directing someone else to do the tasks described. At 7:30, I get my bicycle from the garage. I put on my backpack and bike helmet. I ride my bike to the intersection of Third Street and Main. I turn right on Main and go three blocks to James Street. I take a left on James Street, turn into the school parking lot, and lock my bike in the bicycle rack.
2. Change these declarative sentences to interrogative sentences. You were upset. You either dropped the vase or threw the ball at the vase to break it.
3. Change these declarative sentences to exclamatory sentences. I am so happy to see you. I love my new shoes. I can't wait to show you around the town.
Similes. The Handbook of Literary Terms at the back of your textbook defines a simile as a comparison using like or as. The first stanza of Nikki Giovanni's poem "Poetry" has several similes in it:
poetry is motion graceful as a fawn gentle as a teardrop strong like the eye finding peace in a crowded room
In this example, poetry is compared to three things: motion graceful as a swan, gentle as a teardrop, and strong like the eye. Complete the following comparisons to create similes.
1. The stars in the sky sparkled like
2. Like a baby crying was the sound of
3. As eager as ants to the forgotten picnic came
4. The graffiti-filled wall was layered with images, much as
5. The brakes screeched like
6. The houses surrounded the lake like
7. His eyes glittered cold as
8. The long grasses waved in unison like
9. She stared into the distance, and her cape billowed out behind her as if
10. The mudslide slunk down the mountainside like
