Kenneth Koch, Rose, Where Did You Get That Red?

• Even little kids can "get" great poetry, if itís taught in a friendly manner
• Using a "poetry idea" makes poetry into considerate text for kids

• A Poetry Idea is a writing prompt that asks students to write a poem in response to a poem they have read in class

How do you write a "poetry idea"?

• Read some poetry
• Select a poem that you like or that you find interesting
• Identify the "something" that makes you interested in the poem
• Use content/topic/theme/idea of poem (what the poem seems to be about)
• Use "text features" to identify structural elements (the way the poet constructed the poem)
• Write a poem-writing prompt based on the interesting "something" youíve identified
• Note: a poetry idea will always begin with "Write a poem Ö"

Examples of Poetry Ideas

• For William Carlos Williams' "This is just to say"
• Write a poem in which you apologize for something that you aren't really sorry about doing.
• Note: This poetry idea focuses on the content of the poem--what the poem is "about"
• For William Carlos Williams' "The Locust Tree in Flower"
• Write a poem that uses one-word lines to describe an image
• Note: This poetry idea focuses on both the structure of the poem--one-word lines--and the general purpose of the poem in painting a picture
• For Sylvia Plath's "Sow"
• Write a poem that describes an everyday, ordinary person, place or thing as though it were very special and unique
• Note: This poetry idea focuses on one aspect of the content of the poem (how Plath makes the sow seem to be a part of some medieval ritual, instead of just a big pig)