Written by Joni Mitchell
Talk about favorite songs with the students.
Ask them what they like about music and their favorite songs.
Explain that songs are often poetic and many could be written as poems.
Explore the students thoughts and ideas about this concept.
Read the following song as a poem.
By Joni Mitchell
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot.
Don't it always seem to go.
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
They took all the trees and put'em in a tree museum.
Then they charged all the people twenty-five bucks just to see'em.
Don't it always seem to go.
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
Hey farmer, farmer put away you DTT now.
Give me me spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees, please.
Don't it always seem to go.
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
Late last night I heard the scream door slam.
And a big yellow taxi carried off my old man.
Don't it always seem to go.
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
Don't it always seem to go.
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
Play the song for the students.
Have students bring songs they enjoy from home.
Have students write the lyrics of the songs as a poem.
Play a few of the students songs as they are writing the lyrics.
Have students share their songs by reading them as poetry.
