Evolution of a Poem

Mrs. Davison    Evolution of a Poem

 

Here is an easy way to create a poem that includes great sensory details.

Answer the following questions: What is your favorite place? What do you see there?  What do you hear there?  What do you feel there?  What do you taste there?  What do you smell there?  What do you think about that place?

 

Mrs. Davison’s answers:

 

Favorite Place: Jackson Heights

I see the distant sparkle of the bridge meeting the night sky

I hear gentle waving of car wheels round my corner

I feel the clutch of two small arms around my neck

I taste the creamy first cup of coffee in the darkness of my morning kitchen

I smell the cool autumn air rushing in the open window

I think I love to be at home. 

 

Take away the underlined words and see what you have.

Jackson Heights

The distant sparkle of the bridge meeting the night sky

Gentle waving of car wheels round my corner

The clutch of two small arms around my neck

The creamy first cup of coffee in the darkness of my morning kitchen

The cool autumn air rushing in the open window

I love to be at home

 

Is it a poem yet?  Maybe it could be better.  I decided to move things around a little bit and change a few words to emphasize the parts I like.  Here’s my final poem:

 

Jackson Heights

 

Distant sparkles on

the bridge

meet the darkening sky;

    gentle waving of

    car wheels

    round my corner.

 

The clutch of

two small arms

around my neck.

 

    That creamy cup of coffee in my sleepy, morning kitchen.

 

Cool autumn air rushes in the open window

of my home.