Beginning with "Life is the only way," write your own list poem using "A Note" as a model. Your poem must use the same (with minor variations) number of words and structure as Szymborska's. Use what you learned this week to compose a stronger poem.
Try to find a rhythm to the words you choose (note the number of syllables as well as the number of words). Be careful to punctuate exactly the same way and be aware of how the poet has used punctuation to divide and compare ideas. Post a copy of your poem to the blog before coming to Wednesday's class.
Be prepared to do a recital of your poem (please practice ahead of time!) and speak for one to two minutes on the process you followed and any difficulties you experienced. Marks will be assigned as follows: quality of poem—50%; recital—25%; remarks on process—25%.
NOTE: Check your formatting carefully after copy and pasting poem. You'll need to add spacing. Try to have your poem look exactly the same as the original handout if you can!
"Biker Brad"; narrative essay on my ride to Halifax
NOTE: Check your formatting carefully after copy and pasting poem. You'll need to add spacing. Try to have your poem look exactly the same as the original handout if you can!
"Biker Brad"; narrative essay on my ride to Halifax
Note for a 40th Anniversary
ReplyDeleteLife is the only way
to ride far from my home,
breathe deeply on steep hills,
be alone;
to cross Canada,
or stay with my friends;
to know pain
deep in a young man’s bones;
to sleep on hard ground,
dream of the road,
to strive for at least a hundred miles a day.
An extraordinary chance
to remember a roadside bear
on an Ontario highway
with daylight fading away;
and if only once
to wonder if it’s worth the time,
fix another flat tire on the shoulder,
forget why I wanted to go;
and to feel a breeze on my cheeks as I descend;
and to keep on with going
somewhere important.
—Brad Hyde; 9th version; May, 2015 (remembering the date of my departure: May 28, 1975)
A New Mom’s Note
ReplyDeleteLife is the only way
to wheel a baby carriage,
time to stroll along the path,
stand on Holyland;
to be a pilgrim,
or be enslaved by love;
to be captured
by an immaculate heart;
to wind up an orgel,
promise eternal love,
to bring me on an another honeymoon.
A remarkable chance
to remember for a moment
the throes of birth
conveys shedding tears of joy;
and if only once
to move my all affection,
end up my husband brings spring frost,
a little chill breeze keeps telling;
and to remind he is also a new dad;
and to keep on remembering
something blissful.
103 words
A Mother’s Note
ReplyDeleteLife is the only way
to touch nose to nose,
peck on her cheeks in your arms,
love without condition;
to raise a child,
or to grow yourself;
to find joy
from unpleasant excretions;
to tickle your treasure,
listen to her laughter,
and dream of what she will one day become.
an extraordinary moment
to reminisce the time
your heart melted
at the first sound of mama;
And if only once
to be defeated by sleep,
end up oblivious to her cries,
Lose your temper for annoying;
and to throw her in the conner without guilt;
and to keep on persevering
motherhood’s hardship.
--103 words
Life is the only way
ReplyDeleteto climb up the tree,
pluck a fruit with your mouth,
walk on branches;
to be a river,
or a tidal wave;
to see storms,
as darkness cover you;
to kiss your MOM,
lie on her arms,
to discover the secret of awesome life.
An extraordinary chance
to remember forever
the wonderful nights
we spent together;
and if only once
to feel the loneliness,
to end up like a smashing tornado,
misplace my phone in the park;
and to follow the sun rays to track with your eyes;
and to keep going and thinking
something memorable.
107 words
Life is the only way
ReplyDeleteto clime up the heaven,
catch your salvation in the world,
stand on faith;
to be an angel,
or entrust God's warm hand;
to know joy
from everything from the wisdom;
to wander futile world,
forget your identity
to persue the best reason for being.
A dramatic moment
to meet absolute being
a conversation made
face to face with God;
and if only once
to yield to a temptation,
end up your soul in the swamp of sin,
redeem your passion for eternity;
and to follow an advice of the bible for your soul;
and to keep on not forgetting
something valuables.
(107 word)
Life is the only way
ReplyDeleteto be blowed by wind,
out of breath beside shore,
run like a rabbit;
to be a mapgie,
or listen its pica pica;
to tell helpless
for others it’s not;
to anxiety unbearably,
depress in eyes,
to seek the least of all possible to find it.
An occasionally chance
to remember for a moment
a chatting indulged
leaning the rail with tea;
and if only once
to write down my mood,
go home slovenly in the darkness or another,
forgot my diary on the chair;
and to follow the water traces after the buck swimmed;
and to go forward not noticing
something reminiscent.
110 words
#58623
ReplyDeleteOne More Chance
Life is the only way
To see the beautiful ocean,
Walk on the wet warm sand,
Free of stress;
To be a seabird
Or to watch them fly;
To see the ocean
From the top of sky;
To fly around world,
Forget the past
Think positive about brighter future.
A gorgeous view
To be thankful for God,
About His creation
Who gives everything that we need;
And if only once
To drown in cold water,
To feel the fear of death near,
To remember that God is there;
And to give you one more chance to live with happiness;
And to keep you happy
Something memorable.
107 words
Young love Note
ReplyDeleteLife is the only way
to wish you were here,
when no one was there to love me,
felt hopeless;
to forget you,
tears fells from my face;
to believe
this world looked so perfect;
to feel solitude,
she calls out silently for love,
to finally see a new life.
An extraordinary chance
to see your beautiful smile
with so much love in your eyes
until we meet again;
and if only once
to be heard and love inside,
and be able to crown you with love,
finding one again mean finding hope
all I wanted was a peaceful life of honesty
memories fades as dreams do at dawn
in her mind she relives.
Binta jawara
#66559
5/29/15
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAt note
ReplyDeleteLife is the only way
To walk down the beach,
Feel the wind on your face,
Walk on sand;
To be a bird,
Or be free as one;
To dream
And make your dream come
True;
To explore the universe,
Get lost in the wilderness,
To see the unseen
An amazing opportunity
To gaze aimlessly
At the million stars in the sky;
And if only once
To lose hope,
There’s nothing left but a body,
For walks on the beach;
And candle light dinners,
To keep moving forward;
With curiosity and with ignorance
(remembering myself to move on)