Class Poem
Test Your Knowledge
Like a flower
Waiting to bloom
Like a light bulb
In a dark room
I'm just sitting here waiting for you
To come on home and turn me on
Like the desert waiting for rain
Like a school kid waiting for spring
I'm just sitting here waiting for you
To come on home and turn me on
My poor heart
Its been so dark
Since you've been gone
After all your the one who turns me off
You're the only one who can turn me back on
My Hi-Fi is waiting for a new tune
My glass is waiting for some fresh ice cubes
I'm just sitting here waiting for you
To come on home and turn me on
Turn me on
Poetry in Novels
Poetry can be found all around us! Not only are poetic elements used in poems but also music lyrics and novels.
Can you think of other places poetic elements can be found?
Alliteration, Assonance, and Consonance
Dear Mama
You are appreciated
When I was young me and my mama had beef
Seventeen years old kicked me out on the streets
Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face
Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place
Suspended from school, and scared to go home, I was a fool
with the big boys, breaking all the rules
I shed tears with my baby sister
Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids
And even though we had different daddy's, the same drama
When things went wrong we'd blame mama
I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell
Hugging on my mama from a jail cell
An who'd think in elementary?
Hey! I see the penitentiary, one day
And running from the police, that's right
Mama catch me, put a whooping on my back side
And even as a crack fiend, mama
I finally understand
for a woman it ain't easy trying to raise a man
You always was committed
A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it
Lady
Don't ya know we love ya? Sweet lady
Dear mama
Place no one above ya, sweet lady
You are appreciated
Don't ya know we love ya?
The complete lyrics can be found at : http:/www.lyrics.com/dear-mama-lyrics-2pac.html
Can you find the reasons for each element? Test your knowledge!
Simile
Bob Seger's Like a Rock is a perfect example of a simile. The comparison between himself and a rock is made throughout the song. Similar attributes include strength, lean, solid, and many others. After viewing the video see if you can find other comparisons!
Lets look at some poetry! There are many classic examples of similes. A well known poem that makes use of the element is:
A Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load
Or does it explode?
-Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes makes use of simile by exploring the idea of what happens to a deferred dream.
What are some of the things he compares to a deferred dream? What would you compare to a dream deferred?
Metaphor
In poetry, a methaphor is an implied comparison between two usually unrelated things indicating a likeness or analogy between attributes found in both things. Unlike a simile is does not use like or as to compare.
An example of a metaphor in music can be found in Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve. Lyrics can be found following the video.
Refrain Lyrics:
Cause its a bittersweet symphony, this life '
Trying to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to all the places
Where all the veins meet, yeah
No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
What two things a being compared in this song?
What are their similar attributes?