The “Ode” Poem We rarely proclaim or praise the people,

places, and things that enrich our lives.

W.H. Auden said, “There is only one thing poetry must do: it must praise all it can for being and happening.”

Odes are usually dedicated to monumental heroes or ideas. Pablo Neruda, however, revolutionized the form of odes to everyday things.

Pablo NerudaOde to My Socks

Mara Mori brought mea pair of sockswhich she knitted herselfwith her sheepherder's hands,two socks as soft as rabbits.I slipped my feet into themas if they were two casesknitted with threads of twilight and goatskin,Violent socks,my feet were two fish made of wool,two long sharkssea blue, shot throughby one golden thread,two immense blackbirds,two cannons,my feet were honored in this wayby these heavenly socks.They were so handsome for the first timemy feet seemed to me unacceptablelike two decrepit firemen,firemen unworthy of that woven fire,of those glowing socks.

Ode to bread

Bread, you risefrom flour, waterand fire.Dense or light,flattened or round,you duplicatethe mother'srounded womb,and earth'stwice-yearlyswelling.How simpleyou are, bread,and how profound!You line upon the baker's powdered trayslike silverware or platesor pieces of paperand suddenlylife washes

Ode to everyday things

Odes are poems that celebrate everyday things.

They should be fun but also descriptive.

What features in the world are most special to you?

Shall I compare thee to a piece of toast?Thou art more scrumptious and delectable:Unevenly the elements may glow’st,And sticking levers are detestable:Sometimes too long the slice of bread doth roast,And seldom do the crumbs not make a mess;And often it is much too sweet for most,If one should drizzle honey in excess;But thy eternal warmth shall never cool,Nor shall thee lose thy lovely golden hue;And I’ll rejoice that fate hath not been cruel,Each morning on beholding thee anew;

On this perception all the world agrees,That no delicious bread’s divine as thee.

Ode to the Hyde Park Crazy Guy

O, Crazy Guy!

Always there by the lake

With your trusty umbrella

Rain or shine.

Singing your nonsensical songs

Spouting obscenities

At innocent

Passers-by

Who knows why you are always there?

Who knows why you carry that umbrella?

All I know

Is that when I run down by the lake

In the afternoon

And you are not there

To throw rocks as I pass

My life feels empty

-Robyn, grade 10

Your Turn

Pick a one of a kind object, this can be something funny or random

Pick a thing, not a feeling like love or peace.

Brainstorm all the reasons this object is amazing and why you like it so much on one side of your paper.

Ode Poem Must be at least 15 lines

Must have rhythm, flow well

Must be an ode to an ordinary thing

Must be easily read, neat, and on clean unmarked paper

Must include your brainstorm on the back

Must include original title!!

the first-person voice, which directly speaks to the subject: the shampoo

the sensory imagery: sight, smell, touch, sound…

the exaggeration of the shampoo’s admirable qualities

the specific descriptions and details