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%.
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!
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!
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A Cook’s Note
Life is the only way
to ladle steaming broth,
sweat onions in a pan,
cook with joy;
to stoke a fire,
or dampen one down;
to know fresh
from everything that’s not;
to squeeze yellow lemons,
manage your time,
to deliver hot food to friends in your home.
An extraordinary chance
to remember all the meals
we shared together
with the years passing by;
and if only once
to cut your finger on a knife,
end up throwing away a ruined stew,
mistake a table for tea spoon;
and to smell sweet fragrance of oranges at noon;
and to keep on with cooking
something delicious.
—2015; 8th version
A note
Life is the only way
to see twilit twilight,
feel our exuberance,
run at night;
to be a wind,
or blow off heaped leaves;
to change mind
what everyone believes;
to tear the orange rind,
push till it cleaves,
to taste the tangy juice that spreads over our tongue.
An extraordinary chance
to wonder at the universe
that will flabbergasts us
but no clue to solve;
and if only once
to face a event that’s worse,
grief as a black maw that lingers endlessly,
recall your solid resolve;
and to ponder the world in all its mystery;
and to keep a sense of awe
of all important.
A Note
Life is the only way
to climb up the mountain,
enjoy the scent of pine trees,
stand on top;
to be a bird,
or watch them fly away;
to find peace
in every place you go;
to inhale the beauty,
dazzled by views,
to search for answers to all your questions.
An incredible reason
to remember for a moment
a courageous action
behind closed doors;
and if only once
to forget about the bad luck,
end up drained in your own thoughts or thoughts of others,
lose your faith beyond your beliefs;
and to know it’s time to leave everything behind;
and to keep on forgetting
someone’s important.
A Note
Life is the only way
to eat berries in the sun,
feel pebbles between your toes,
dance on rocks;
to be a fish,
or catch it by the gills;
to be blind
when darkness finds you;
to forget the stress,
relax at home,
to find the secret of a wonderful day.
An exceptional time
to remember for a second
the short walks
that flushed out old thoughts;
and if only once
to give up after failing,
end up defeated by the monster inside you,
lose hope in finding a job;
and to climb out of the hole before it's too late;
and to keep on searching for
something important.
A Note
Life is the only way
to go hiking on mountains,
catch your breath on the snow,
clime on stones;
to be a bird,
or fly across the sky;
to tell rich
from your heart is not lie;
to travel around the world，
sample local cuisine,
to seek the beauty of all possible existence.
An extraordinary voice
to remind for persistence
a life as journey
with excitements and loneliness;
and if only once
to lose your way in darkness，
take a pause and look up stars in the heavens.
Avoid sirens song in the ocean;
and to follow your dream in your heart with enthusiasm;
and to keep on not knowing
something dangerous.
(114 words)
A Friend’s Note
Life is the only way
to see your sweet smile,
to feel our embrace,
run in sunshine;
to stay true
when everyone leaves you;
to carry a heavy burden,
I have a friend like you,
to help you walk through
the hard times.
An extraordinary chance
to remember you are always
an angel from heaven
who saves me every time.
and if only once
I would face the danger
and go with you,
I would protect you always
without question,
I remember your courage;
And the rules you break to save
the day;
and to keep on smiling as
the angel you always are.
A Note
Life is the only way
to hold a child on your chest,
live your dreams as your last,
free your heart;
to be a passenger,
or take your own lead;
to find love
from everything it’s not;
to see within your reach,
forget your past,
to wish for better days to come indeed.
An extraordinary chance
to remember once forever
a life without lesson
with no chance to fail;
and if only once
to lose hope or desire,
end up like a winner in your eyes,
lose your spirit with the wind;
and to follow your dreams on its destinies path;
and to keep on not misleading
something important.
--by Jenn Rizov
Life is the only way
to walk on crispy leaves,
beautiful autumn colors,
cherish life;
to buy lipsticks,
or red nail polishes;
to see peace
spread in every child's world;
to be optimistic,
and less fragile,
to get stronger with every failure I face.
An extraordinary chance
to be thankful for the brighter future in Canada where I'm the freedom;
and if only once
more I could be a child,
free of this and that swing lightly in the air,
with a non judgmental mind;
On my way up Stride Avenue jumping in puddles;
love stepping on crunchy leaves,
I guess I'm still a kid at heart.
Life is the only way
to conquer the everest,
travel across the Sahara desert,
dive in seas;
to be a coward,
or challenge yourself;
to tell joy
from everything it’s not;
to stay here whole life,
travel around,
to try the least of all possibilities.
An extraordinary chance
to remember for a moment
a trip start off
without any plans;
and if only once
to hit on a romance,
affections blow up at the moment,
get lost in a foreign country;
and to follow a star in the dark with your hearts;
and to keep on looking for
something important.
A Note
Life is the only way
to wake up from dreams,
enjoy the sunshine in the morning,
go with light;
to be a dandelion,
or try to stop it fly;
to feel fresh
in every place you go;
to squeeze inside events,
look at photos,
to catch the least of all beautiful memories.
An extraordinary chance
to imagine for a moment
a conversation held
with my little girl grown up;
and if only once
to go back to before,
end up struggle with myself or someone other,
mislead your road in the maze;
and to follow the advise as a guide beside your hand;
and to keep on looking for
something important.
A Traveler’s Note
Life is the only way
to explore the world,
experience different cultures,
meet with people;
to fly up the sky,
or dive into the sea;
to find the beauty
from somewhere you have never been;
to bike in the countryside,
breathe the fresh air,
to enjoy wild animals singing and dancing.
An unexpected moment
to capture a moment beauty
a journey accompanied
by a passionate confidant;
and if only once
to earn a free trip,
end up still waiting for the dream come true,
mistake my way in the intersection;
and to follow a guidance on the map with confused mind;
and to keep on searching for a
correct direction.
A Note
Life is the only way
to drift down a river,
catch a ball on the sand,
lie on grass;
to be a bee,
or gaze its grace dance;
to know true
from everything it’s not;
to learn how to forget,
act with warm heart,
to try spreading happy seeds to everyone.
An extraordinary chance
to remind for an occasion
an inner dialogue held
before flying to dreams;
and if only once
to lose hopes of reaching goals,
end up frustrated and struggled with a new hope,
release burdens from your heart;
and to open your eyes to welcome new dawn-light;
and to keep on ignoring
something important.
"Note"
Life is the only way
to go ahead in groove,
Heap your acts on heart,
rise on hope;
to be a bee,
or do more as can;
to get help
from everything it’s not;
to blow inner power,
believe in work,
to make the way of all possible events;
An extraordinary chance
to educate for a moment
a preparation make with the quick step-off ;
and if only once
to interrupt on a goal,
end up style you did in past or another,
Displace your fault in the back;
and to follow a road on the truth with wide sight;
and to keep on with working
something important
Death Note
Death is the only way
to get buried underground,
flash entire life in your mind,
rest in peace;
to point a blade,
or stab one from back;
to know life
for everything it’s not granted;
to wander on dark alleys,
walk on tiptoes,
to avoid the least illuminated of paths.
An extraordinary vision
to ease for a moment
a light emerged
at the end of the tunnel;
and if only once
to die without regrets,
end up freed of any bounds and emotions,
float your body in nothingness;
and to follow a light at the end with your eyes;
and to keep on not knowing you are awake.
Life is the only way
to lay in the clouds
feel the wind on a mountain,
fly like a bird;
to be a lion
or be weak as an ant;
to know right
from everything it's not;
to receive love,
wonder in dreams
to look for al the missing answers.
An extraordinary chance
to never forget
a wonderful memory of that special someone
and if only once
to hit a speed bump
and end up in a car crash
to hit your toe on the bed frame;
and to see the ripples of the ocean waves
to find that one perfect curve
something important.
Luis
Life is the only way
to lay in the clouds,
feel the wind on a mountain,
fly like a bird;
to be a lion,
or be weak as an ant;
to know right
from everything it's not;
to receive love,
wonder in dreams,
to look for all the missing answers.
An extraordinary chance
to never give up
no matter how tough the battle is;
and if only once
to hit a speed bump,
and end up in a car crash,
to hit your toe on the bed frame;
and to see the ripples of the ocean waves;
to find that one perfect curve
something important.
Luis
A Note to Remember
Life is the only way
To let yourself be free
Dancing like a marionette
Dulcet orchestration
Like a mouse
Scurrying away from the snake
To jump right in
Or keep your feet dry
In the midst of everything
Great souled darkness
A quiet explosion of stars in the sky
Releasing a poison dart
Yet wanting rose petals to throw
Blood on our hands but love in our hearts
Harp strings of light shine through
A series of photos
To capture great moments
Thoughts and memories like hallucinations
In a gently tossing ship
Falling quickly into haunted doubleness
The perfect joy of finding
Something important
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