Poem 3

Due Monday, May 15. Typed, double-spaced, and printed.

This assignment has two parts. The first part is a poem that is informed by a concept that your poetry group agreed upon.  The second part is a short essay (one page) that interprets the poem. Type your poem and interpretation and be prepared to recite your poem for your video group on the 15th.

In your interpretation, in addition to restating what the poem means you should trace your own poetic development through your poems. Can you detect themes that you are developing through multiple poems? How have your poems changed, and how have they illuminated different aspects of the themes that you have chosen? How are your poems related to one or more poems by other people in your group? How is your third poem related to poems from previous quarters of ICS24/ELIT24? How is your third poem different? How is your third poem related to the poem concept that your group developed?

For this poem remember to pay attention to sound. If your poem is part of a video then the way it flows, the breaks, the rhythm, and the way it sounds will be very important. Recite your poem at least once, and edit your poem so that it sounds the way you want it to sound and so that it is easy for you to recite.

There are two general rules for all poems, regardless of concept:

  1. Dreams must have material content and must be grounded in reality. Dreams should be grounded in an imagined daily life and in imagined social relations.
  2. Do not use the word stereotype. If necessary, you can refer to how you believe you were seen and the consequences of being seen in that way. In other words, the emphasis is not on the idea; rather, the emphasis is on your own experience.

Poetry Concepts

In class on May 10 your poetry group will decide on concepts for your poems. Concepts include a prevailing message, but can also include one or more imagined communities as recipients for the message and the formal rules for the poems. The concept for your group should guide you as you write your poem for this assignment. For examples of concepts, look at descriptions of poetry videos from previous quarters.

You will need to write a new poem, but you can use topics that you have developed in previous poems. If your video group selects your poem for its video you will need to edit and revise your poem later on.

Group Concepts

Remember that you should write poems and not essays based on your group concept. The guidelines for your short essay are further up this page.

  • Wifi: Forgetting because of travel (for example, forgetting hometown or friends); aids to memory (including groups/activities)
  • Connect 5: Leaving our comfort zones, learning, changing.
  • LoL: How has living in America changed our dreams?
  • Coconut Water: How do we adapt to US culture considering there are significant differences between the US and home? Do not refer to "Eastern" or "Western" culture.
  • Pac 12: What compromises do you make to start a new life?
  • KLR: Every race is viewed from the outside differently and for every race there are different consequences
  • Sofa King Artistic: Who is the person you want to be in America/what will you do?
  • GGWP: Comparison between American dreams and real experiences
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