ByMrs. JoAnn Kwasnick

FREE VERSE POETRY

DEFINITIONPoetry that has no rhyme scheme, no specific stanza type

ELEMENTSUsually consists of an idea or story expressed In a rhythmic pattern.

EXAMPLES Daybreak Alarm rings Mom enters Sadness comes I must get up

Joel Walton

In the hustleand bustleof a big busy cityI look up and sayWhy is it like this?Am I the only one who

caresExcept for the “Big Guy” upThere?

Jay Heisey

When choosing a topic for a free verse poem, remember:

Think about-what interest you

what makes you happy

or sad what

concerns you what makes

you mad

Think about- the past the future good

times in your life difficult

times in your life

Then put the feelings into words!

WORD PLACEMENT

SHORT FREE VERSE 2,3, or 4 lines emphasize beauty of ideas

LONGER FREE VERSE longer lines Place words so that work looks like a poem and not a paragraph.

ALL FREE VERSE depends on careful choice of words

OTHER WAYS TO COMPOSE FREE VERSE POEMS:

Using comparison to

express a thought or

an idea.

THE EXTENDED METAPHORA comparison without like or as continued/extended through an entire poem.

EXAMPLE: “LIFE” Life is but a toy that swings on a bright gold chain Ticking for a little while To amuse a fascinated infant, Until the keeper, a very old man, Becomes tired of the game And lets the watch run down. Naomi Long Madgett Before composingBefore composing a free verse poem, a free verse poem, read read and and analyze analyze four or five poems by four or five poems by

good poets.good poets. Then, select the one you like best and imitate its Then, select the one you like best and imitate its style style and and formform..

COMPOSING A FREE VERSE POEM

1. CHOOSE A TOPIC- Interest , feeling, concern, past, future, good time, difficult time.2. JOT DOWN IMAGES-words, phrases, etc. you associate with your

topic

OR LIST THINGS FOR COMPARISON TO YOUR TOPIC

3. ORDER THE IMAGES OR CHOOSE WHAT YOU WILL USE TO COMPARE YOUR

TOPIC TO

� WRITE THEN FIRST DRAFT-every other line

Remember: You are writing a poem. How you place the words is very

important. Most lines will not be complete sentences.

WRITING THE EXTENDED METAPHOR

Choose Topic: LIFE Compare Topic to Several

Things Circle the comparison you think most interesting to

you Create an organizer to list sensory images.

Life is: Pressure in an

aerosol can Tickets to eternity Game Circus Journey

CIRCLE IMAGES SEE Three rings Ringmaster Clowns Jugglers Animals_______________________________________________________________________

HEAR gasps applause animal/noises: growing

trumpeting music

TASTE/SMELL

Cotton Candy Popcorn Hot dogs ----------- Sawdust Food___________________________

FEEL Hard bench excitement thrills fear love sadness

DEVELOPING CIRCUS IMAGES (VIVID WORDS)

CIRCLES-going

nowhere-life cycles

Ringmaster-omniscient,

Clear voice,booming

precise words

Clowns-funny

Cavorting

colorful, sad

Jugglers-balanced

talented

amazing

Gasps-fearful

incredulous

Applause

Appreciative

Thunderous

polite

growls of big cats

resenting domination

reluctant to jump

through hoops of

of fire

MORE DEVELOPING CIRCUS IMAGESCotton candy-sugary, sticky

Popcorn-buttery

Salty

Hot dogs-plump

Juicy

Oozing with mustard and relish

__________________________________________________________

Animals-captive trumpetting of sawdust-dunk and

intelligent elephants musty

monotonous legs food-tantalizing odors

begging to be free

ORGANIZER FOR FREE VERSE POEMTOPIC: How happy it makes me to look out a window

and see a beautiful scene instead of cement everything.

IMAGES THAT Sunlight leaves many colors

I SEE wonderful,bright, tree clothes vivid, brilliant

majestic garments glimmering

splendid thin, delicate

CONTINUE ORGANIZER FOR FREE VERSE POEMDRAFT: Splendid, majestic sunlight Shines through the thin delicate leaves And shoots out brilliant rays, Streams of glimmering, vivid colors, To these longing eyes As they peer out the window.

REVISED POEM: “Panorama”

The splendor of majestic sunlight Penetrates the thin, delicate outer garments And missiles, in brilliant rays Darts of glimmering, vivid colors To my craving eyes As they peer from the window. Joanna Renzi