Popular poet Naomi Shahib Nye received a letter from a man asking her to write him a poem. She wrote the inspiring "Valentine for Ernest Mann" as a result, which begins, "You can't order a poem like you order a taco..."
You can’t order a poem like you order a taco.
Walk up to the counter, say, “I’ll take two”
and expect it to be handed back to you
on a shiny plate. - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/23872#sthash.fvu1sVbl.dpuf
You can’t order a poem like you order a taco.
Walk up to the counter, say, “I’ll take two”
and expect it to be handed back to you
on a shiny plate. - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/23872#sthash.0j3bzih1.dpuf
You can’t order a poem like you order a taco.
Walk up to the counter, say, “I’ll take two”
and expect it to be handed back to you
on a shiny plate. - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/23872#sthash.0j3bzih1.dpuf
We studied the text of the Bareilles song and the Nye poem in all my classes on Friday. The lesson was inspired by a song lyrics lesson I found on the writingfix.com website -- one of the most inspiring sites for lessons that pull the students in and bring life to the classroom.
After spending some time looking for word connections between the two poems, either synonyms or antonyms (heart/valentine; beautiful/ugly; eyes/see; twisted/curled) we talked about how the texts were similar and how they were different -- particularly the vast difference in tone. Bareilles was being straightforward, challenging, and a bit sarcastic. Nye took a more sympathetic approach, even a bit didactic.
Once we were done with the study, I asked the students to brainstorm a list of things you can't ask for. Things like Straight A's. Talent. Happiness. Creativity. A million dollars. Wisdom. Sense of humor.
Then I gave my students a five minute challenge. Write a poem about one of the things you can't ask for. Explain why you can't ask for it, or just see where it takes you.
Remember, they only had 5 minutes.
Below I have posted the Bareilles video with lyrics. But first I want to share a few of the poems that came out of the 8th grade classes. I love doing this kind of thing, because I find out what is really on their minds!
You can't ask for wisdom
you can't say "can I need your
finest brain." You just can't.
Not everyone can have wisdom
and you most certainly can't ask for it.
It's a gift.
Not like one you put on a Christmas
list and receive under the tree.
Wisdom isn't just in your brain either.
It's in your heart, imagination, and mind.
--E.B.
You don't ask for straight A's
People learn differently
The grades that you have
are the ones that you get.
Straight A's are a reward
for the things that you do.
You can't ask for them,
you have to work to get them.
You don't ask for straight A's.
--L.L.
Gone and too far away
Come back, please
or am I not allowed to ask?
I miss all the good times we had.
Your food and my eating habits.
Can you just come back
for one day?
--M.C.
Don't ask forgiveness.
When you don't deserve it.
Don't ask for forgiveness.
When you don't give it yourself.
Don't ask forgiveness.
--P.P.
(Written by a huge One Direction fan who apologized for ranting!)
I'm sorry but you can't just buy merchandise and expect
to be accepted into this fandom.
We have been here since Harry and Liam
had curls and I've spent my first
teenage years obsessed over a band and in
a dark room with Twitter and all you
do is decide one day that you want to
be in this fandom because "it's cool."
No, you don't know what it feels like to
love these five individuals and have them
not even know who you are so please
leave because the One Direction fandom
is full. Try The Wanted.
--A.P.
(Written by a student who said he can't write poetry. You decide.)
You can't ask for poetic skills
because you aren't able to write poems anyway.
Poems are hard to write
and sometimes don't make sense.
Microwave.
--D.S.
Love Song
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