Writing a List Poem Based on "A Note"
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%.
22 comments:
A Teacher’s Note
Life is the only way
to meet a new class,
sweat into clothes at the front,
free many minds;
to be a judge,
or mistake one’s own power;
to know marks
reveal very little truth;
to wander down hallways,
forget a name,
to hope to do better every day.
A wonderful moment
to reminisce once again
about the students
who remember you from long ago;
and if only once
to struggle with a lesson,
finish sure that teaching was not for you,
lose your passion for learning;
and to wonder if it’s time to leave it all behind;
or to keep on with teaching
something important.
Brad Hyde; December, 2012
Note To Myself
Life is the only way
to dream thousands of worlds,
catch the magic behind the words,
follow the music;
to be a lover,
or live a passionate embrace;
to accept fate
from everything it’s not;
to blossom a smile,
Inspire a child,
to seek the greatest beauty in every act.
An extraordinary way
to remember for a while
the vivid eyes
of an amazed young child;
and if only once
to open a closed door,
end up surprised by one discovery after another,
forget your mind among wonders;
and to smile softly at a baby gazing at your face;
and to keep on not finding
life beautiful.
A Note
Life is the only way
to get coloured at sunset,
show your smile to the stars,
one step closer;
to be a moon,
or admire its solitude;
to whisper secrets
reveal nothing in shame;
to string along bitterness,
linger in shadows,
to think the least of all possible regrets.
An extraordinary moment
to remember once a while
the unforgettable tears
with a note she’s in heaven;
but if only once
to receive a curtain call,
end up blessed by one person and another,
comfort yourself in the land;
and to relieve a pain one by one with your heart;
and to keep on learning
anything beautiful.
A Friendly Note
Life is the only way
to fall flat on your face,
thinking twice and again,
stay focused;
to be a friend,
or have one on call;
to tell foe,
from everything they're not;
to avoid the anger,
walking away,
to save a remainder of dignity.
A common opportunity
to think of the past
a promise made
with fingers uncrossed;
and it is rare
to have “Sorry” flood your days
end up searching for lessons to learn,
mislay your stress in a dream;
and to follow advice for the future in your life;
and to keep on sighing
something senseless.
A Lover's Note
Life is the only way
to get lost in love,
catch a kiss from someone special,
rise on a cloud;
to be an angel,
or fly with the birds;
to tell that someone
you are the one;
to plan your life,
live in happiness,
to seek a life you always dreamed of.
An extraordinary fate
to remember where you came from
and what really
matters the most in life;
and if only once
to have all your dreams come true,
end up where you always wanted to be,
mislay your emotions for all to see;
and to remember who you really are inside;
and to keep on believing in
something amazing.
A Note of Winter
Life is the only way
to drink hot chocolate in cups,
catch falling snowflakes with your tongue,
dance in snow;
to be a squirrel,
or eat its hidden acorns;
to tell fairytales
from everything it’s not;
to watch skating shows,
stare in awe,
to seek the prettiest of all Disney princesses.
An extraordinary season
to remember for a moment
a precious gift
from your grandparents living faraway;
and if only once
to think about a trip,
end up gave up one plan or another,
mislay your scarf in the tree;
and to throw snowballs with all your might during snow fights;
and to keep on not noticing
someone growing.
A Note to all lovers
Life is the only way
to appreciate what you have,
keep close to your loved ones,
cherish with love;
to be a helper,
or assist them in needy times;
to create something
from everything that exists;
to hug your lover,
open your hearts,
to find love in somebody’s heart you loved.
An extra ordinary person
to recall for a moment
a feeling shared
between the two of you;
and if only once
to fall in a lifetime love,
end up heartbroken or with your soul mate;
miss the moments of your beginnings;
and to recall the love words whispered from your
aching depths;
and to keep the memory fresh
something memorable.
A Note to Myself
Life is the only way
to feel pains in memoir,
pull your soul to the hell,
fall with hopes;
to be an angel,
or admire the wings;
to face stains
from everything they are;
to plan every steps,
walk in tiptoes,
to prevent another chance for heartbreak.
An extraordinary time
to remember for a scene
a passionate kiss
under the twilight;
and if only once
to receive an anonymous delivery,
end up surprised by the letter or other,
retrieve your passion with others;
and to moan the misfortune on the bed with the one;
and to keep on with sharing
something daily.
Note to the Younger Me
Life is the only way,
to dive from the pier,
breath the salty air above the sea,
enter the waves;
to be a seal,
gliding through the depths;
to find truths
I've only recently discovered;
to cleave the haze,
swirling before me
clearing my sight, true paths becoming plain.
An extraordinary chance,
to remember for a lifetime
a passionate soul
with an ocean to cross;
And if only once
to face a new challenge,
stretching to reach a distant shore,
mislaid notes, in drifting bottles, from home;
my mother's voice a wind pushing me onward;
and keeping me warm and determined in its embrace.
Love is the only way
to be opened as books,
calm your nerve in the room,
open many eyes;
to be a clown,
or smile through gloomy weather;
to enjoy everything
of whatever sweet or sour;
to brainstorm deep insights
covered with appearance,
to gain understanding of all possible wisdom.
A fascinating moment
to praise for a while
a letter received
with words containing love;
and if only once
to read a page of sadness,
end up carried away by depressing mood,
rest your mind for more;
and to wonder if future will be wonderful;
and to keep on writing
anything unpredictable.
A Note
Life is the only way
to dream about a future,
make a big change you like,
try your luck;
to be alone,
or cry in dark nights;
to tell facts
from everything they’re not;
to meet a true love,
hold his hand,
to seek the best moments in everyday life.
A special event
to remember once again
the first achievement
with all its charm;
and if only once
to make a mistake,
end up reminded by one person or another,
misplace a flashlight in the dark;
and to follow the instinct that comes with you;
and to keep on not knowing
something necessary.
A Note to Myself
Life is the only way
to dodge in the storm,
catch a glance of a shelter,
rise on hope;
to be a horse,
or sit inside of carriage;
to tell joy
from everything it’s not;
to touch inside soul,
fear in night,
to seek the best life of all possibilities.
An extraordinary time
to remember for a moment
an infant births
with a great cheer coming;
and if only once
to injure from a jump,
end up sprained by one pain or another;
mislay your past in the wind;
and to follow the dreams of what you are working on;
and to keep on not knowing
something remarkable.
Reminder to myself
life is the only way
to get wet under the rain,
dress up elegant for an event
shine above all;
to be a doctor,
or the patient under his hand;
to tell truth
from everything it’s not;
to wear a ring on your finger,
change your past,
to seek the best chances in your life.
an extraordinary feeling
to remember for a while
the vow you said
while family and friends shared a tear;
and if only once
to take a risky shortcut,
end up far away from your goal,
misunderstood a wisdom from an old man;
and to remember a chat from someone who passed away;
and to keep on believing in
many liars.
A Note
Life is the only way
to stroll under the stars,
look into your eyes in the moonlight,
rise on feelings;
to be a rose,
or smell its sweetness;
to tell tenderness
from everything it’s not;
to hold your hand,
travel around the world,
to seek the best of all beautiful things.
An extraordinary scene
to remember for a moment
the first meet
with someone special to you;
and if only once
to get yourself drunk,
end up left with nothing or anything,
mislay your memories in deep heart;
and to erase the traces of years with a kiss;
and to keep on believing in
something eternal
Note to Myself
Life is the only way
to meet new people,
it may be a boy or girl,
jump on that;
to be a boring person,
or be very humorous;
to tell someone
that you like them;
to enjoy the moment,
whoever you are,
to seek the meaning of love.
An extraordinary feeling
to remember a first love
the first kiss
from the one you love;
and if only once
to make things right,
ends up wrong for the rest of your life,
mislay your sense of reason;
and to follow your heart for the one you love;
and to be true to seeking
something special.
104 words
A Note to My Mistakes
Life is the only way
to build all your dreams,
stand up for who you are,
feel the power;
to be someone different,
or blend within the crowd;
to see truth
share love not hate;
to give someone hope,
forgive a mistake,
to build trust that will last forever.
An unforgettable moment
to look back at
your loved ones
who still stand beside you today;
but if only once
to be able to erase,
the mistakes that you made and move forward,
love who you are now;
and to enjoy the wonders that life has to offer you;
and to light up your life
always smile.
Siawash Dost
A Note to Yourself
Life is the only way
to jump into icy ocean,
rest your body on the sand,
listen to waves;
to be an oyster,
or create its beautiful pearls;
to tell pain,
from everything it's not;
to meditate a poem,
taste its sweetness,
to seek the best inspiration in life ever.
An extraordinary time
to remember for a moment
the special care
from someone and feel loved;
and if only once
to miss a good chance,
end up lost some opportunities or another,
misunderstand of your loved one;
and to embrace enemy forgiving fully with all your heart;
and to keep on not remembering
many hurts.
NOTE
Life is the only way
to learn from your mistakes,
catch your breath and start again,
rise on wings;
to be a man,
or accept his dignity;
to tell wrong
from everything it's not;
to create happiness,
giving hopes,
to search out the least of all best.
An outstanding moment
to remember for once
a hand hold
with the light switched off;
and if only once
to make a commitment,
end tied up in a lot of questions,
mislay your words in the conversation;
and to follow a star with your passion;
and to keep on not knowing
something weighty.
Note to Myself
Life is the only way
to sing in the shower,
take a short nap on the couch,
relax in bath;
to be a tommy texter,
or talk 24/7 on the phone;
to hear lies
that u already know the truth;
to cuddle with your lover,
capture the classic moment,
to seek the best way to love more.
An extraordinary time
to embrace and achieve
all the possible
opportunity on your way;
and if only once
to shutter a heart,
end up with deep grieve and piercing of sorrow ,
mislay your t-shirt in the bedroom;
and to imagine yourself a baby covered with blanket;
and to keep on not feeling the difference.
Just a Note
Life is the only way
to walk the uncharted path,
catch a glimpse of a new world,
rise on desire;
to be a thinker,
or bask in ignorance;
to see truth
from everything it’s not;
to live with interest,
adore the details,
to seek what lies beneath the surface.
An extraordinary time
to remember the passing
of a bygone era
with all its former glory;
and if only once
to stop for a moment,
and see the world pass you by,
doubt your friends and family;
and forever regret your decision that day;
and to keep on believing in
something worthwhile.
-Eric Semeniuc
A NOTE
Life is the only way
to see rainbow after rain,
share the colors high and low,
rise on hopes;
to be strong,
or believe in the lord;
to tell truth
from every thing it’s not;
to hold your strength,
struggle in troubles,
to seek the best of all possible dreams.
An extraordinary time
to remember for a moment
a stubborn girl
with all her innocent smiles;
and if only once
to pick a wrong trick,
end up lost in one mistake or another,
mislay a track in your life;
and to follow the shadow of destiny on the long trail;
and to keep on believing in
something great.
A Simple Note
Life is the only way
to see the sunrise everyday,
write a poem or a song,
follow your heart;
To be a poet,
or turn poetry into songs;
To feel scared
of something it’s not;
To paint your life,
take your time,
to choose your theme your paint and brush.
An outstanding occasion
to walk down memory lane
a joyful chat
under a full moon sky;
And if only once
to trip over when walking,
wind up with a sprained foot and pain,
Lose your main focus in life;
and to go chasing something that is not what you want;
and to keep on not realizing
Something important.
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